What else can go wrong.....?

[rizlar]

OK so I've had my yr 2000 E320 CDI Estate with 74k on the clock for 7 Months now, when I bought it it had 66k on the clock.

Here's what has gone wrong so far...........

1/ Rust around rear wheel arches (knew abt this when I bought it) par for course and I just slowed it down with Bilt-Hammer stuff

2/ Rear reversing lights don't work, sounds simple but my local garage or the local MB dealer can't work out why, still don't work

3/ Suspension Geometry done, the tyres were wearing on the inside edge, didn't notice this until I had a blow out on one of the rear tyres, ended up replacing 3 tyres. Got 18inch AMG Mono blocks so a bit spenny

4/ Glow plugs, one failed, changed them all in one go.

5/ Intercooler, changed as it was cracked

6/ Indicator repeater in passenger side door mirror fixed as stopped working

7/ Thermostat replaced, as engine temp low

8/ ATF fluid being changed tomorrow as gearbox playing up. Getting stuck in 3rd etc etc (see an earlier post)


I've been reading this forum since I got the car and as far I can see I've had most of the faults that are common on this model apart from a faulty MAF.

Anything else that commonly goes wrong that I have missed? I love the car and want to keep it but can't really afford to keep throwing money at it.

 

[d w124]

Sorry to hear that,I hope this will be it for a while
Did they mention anything about the gear selector regarding the reverse lights?

 

[rizlar]

Thanks, after spending a few hours trying all the obvious things that might be wrong with the reversing lights e.g bulbs,fuses,ECM the dealer did say it might be the gear selector, and asked if I would like it to be changed, but by that time the bill was mounting up with all the other things they had done, so I told him not to bother.

 

[camerafodder]

Cheer up rizlar. Remember you can consider 3,4,7 and 8 as consumable/servicable items, you already knew about 1. So you've only really suffered 2,5 and 6 as actual faults
...if that makes any sense of course!

 

[johnsco]

Sorry to hear of your bad luck.
It gets a bit like this sometimes.
I'm going through a similar bad patch myself !!

 

[Rob77]

I must admit, if I bought a second hand car and only had to deal with the list you've encountered I'd be delighted

You really don't want to see my list

 

[jon browne]

You should be glad that you didnt buy a W203 then.......never ever spent so much on a car in a year!! How people put up with the suspension on them is beyond my comprehension.

 

[jkeith]

The joys of motoring!

I had a one owner 2001 E320 cdi with full MBSH and no known faults a few years ago, bought second hand from MB Sunderland (no complaints there).

The only thing I didn't like was the stone like depreciation I suffered during the first 2 years. I had not anticipated loosing £10k in less than 2 years and have never looked at buying anything as new as that since.

Ok, I suffer the repair charges but depreciation has either dissappeared, been minimal or in one case, been reversed (yes, that means I actually made money).

Hope you can have peace of mind that your particular car gives you lots of 'smiles per gallon' for the funds you have invested.

 

[rizlar]

I got the ATF changed and it's made a huge difference, car is much smoother and responsive. So far cost of purchase and repairs have been 6k, I got 1k when I sold my old focus so 5k ( excluding fuel, insurance etc) net isn't too bad I suppose compared to 10k depreciation!!! I'll stop moaning. I don't think the maf needs doing yet but might just do it anyway as I can do it myself. The car did go into limp mode the other day for no apparent reason which I think is a sign if the maf failing but also I see it has happened to cars that have been filled with suspect fuel. I filled up at not my usual garage and now I'm back on the BP ultimate it hasn't happened again.

 

[Uncle Fester]

You should be glad that you didnt buy a W203 then.......never ever spent so much on a car in a year!! How people put up with the suspension on them is beyond my comprehension.

i HAVE TO AGREE, the suspension on my works van is much better (more comfortable and handles better)
Also car starting to become a money pit...... might be my first and last MB, will consider Jap next time, as far more reliable!

 

[jon browne]

Yep! You were the only person to have the honesty to agree! Made the decision that day to sell it and have just done so using Autotrader. Will NEVER buy a Mercedes again. Badge blindness lures us all in and we put up with ridiculous running costs poor heating crap suspension soggy brakes etc etc.

 

[Mcnasty]

Surely buying a 9 year old vehicle is a risk generally for any make of vehicle? There are a lot of vehicles made by other manufacturers that wouldn't last that long.

So I think additional costs are to be expected when buying a vehicle at the back end of its life, but I guess no-one can anticipate what those costs will be, luck?

 

[jon browne]

Any older car is risky I agree! I also have a 17 year old Astra convertible with 116k on it. Owned that for 6 years. As I have posted before it rides smoothly suspension wise unlike the Mercedes. The Astra has only ever had two front springs (due to one snapping) in contrast to the Mercedes which in a bid to try to make it less crashy and thumpy over road imperfections has had front suspension arms rear shocks anti roll bar new tyres etc and still rides nowhere like the old Astra! Couldnt use Mercedes in the snow who could? Heater takes 10 mins to put any heat out even with new stat! brakes only just acceptable etc. And I guess I am not the only one with these gripes!!!!

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

Brought a C220d on an 03 plate and had so many problems, to the tune of 1500 quid I got rid of it for a trusted and reliable BMW 5 series. 1 week ago:bannana:

..........................................


Thats currently in the shop having a new diff installed

 

[camerafodder]

Brought a C220d on an 03 plate and had so many problems, to the tune of 1500 quid I got rid of it for a trusted and reliable BMW 5 series. 1 week ago:bannana:

..........................................


Thats currently in the shop having a new diff installed

You still 'ere?

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

well, your such a nice bunch I thought i'd stay..GROUP HUG!

 

[camerafodder]

((((())))) here you go mate

 

[Charles Morgan]

Just don't hug my car please. You're even more unlucky with cars than me.

So the whine was from the diff?

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

Seems to be so, they replaced alternator 'told em it was not that but hey, got a new one now!', been told they need it for a week and im off on hols so suits me well.

The car dealer have been OK and no grief to get things sorted

 

[jon browne]

Any older car is risky I agree! I also have a 17 year old Astra convertible with 116k on it. Owned that for 6 years. As I have posted before it rides smoothly suspension wise unlike the Mercedes. The Astra has only ever had two front springs (due to one snapping) in contrast to the Mercedes which in a bid to try to make it less crashy and thumpy over road imperfections has had front suspension arms rear shocks anti roll bar new tyres etc and still rides nowhere like the old Astra! Couldnt use Mercedes in the snow who could? Heater takes 10 mins to put any heat out even with new stat! brakes only just acceptable etc. And I guess I am not the only one with these gripes!!!!

So all you guys are happy with your W203s then? I bet!!!