DPF problems on W203

patxi

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Hi, new MB owner and first post here, shame it is a cry for help!

I have owned my '04 C220 Estate for 1 month now, I thought it was a good buy with its full MB service history and 85k on the clock.

For the first 2 weeks all was well and then I noticed it was feeling a bit sluggish and the economy was a worse than I expected (only mid-30s). A couple of days later the engine warning light came on. I took it to a local garage who told me the DPF was clogged, codes 2079 (purge control, check particulate filter), 2621 (high ash content) and 2626 (dpf full). They forced it to re-gen, cleared codes, road tested and declared it now OK. They fixed a very minor fuel hose leak at the filter and said this may have been the cause. Foolishly I believed them.

A week and 200 miles later the same thing happened. I took it to a different local garage who claim to be MB specialists (they service all makes though). They found 2626 and 2621 again and also 2509 (check heater booster N33/2 control unit). They are telling me either the DPF sensor is faulty or the DPF itself needs replacing. This is obviously not the news I want to hear less than a month after purchasing the car. I specifically asked about the MAF sensor and they said it was working fine.

As I understand it my options are to:
i) take a chance it is just a faulty sensor for £40ish part cost
ii) replace the DPF and sensor (£££)
iii) get rid of the DPF and get the ECU reprogrammed

I am reasonably proficient with tools but currently lack a fault code reader. I can probably remove the DPF myself but understand that the ECU should be reprogrammed first, but specialists can do this (any recs in East Berks / Heathrow area)? Is this the way to go?

I would welcome any tips, advice or sympathy that will set me on the path of happy, trouble-free motoring that I had hoped for.

Cheers, Patxi
 
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patxi

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Ok , I had a poke around today and I just want to establish exactly where the DPF is as some people seem to call it a catalyst.

I read the post http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=106246 and looked at the right hand pic at http://mb.ilcats.ru/part/class/1/ccode/1/cat/69P/type/203/subtype/208/group/49/subgr//vers//imgno/6 and reckon it is the first cannister.

Is this correct? It seems quite DIY doable to take this out, get rid of the insides and put it back again. I'll give GAD a call on Monday to get a price but they are not exactly near me, I'm still hopeful that someone here will recommend a remapping service a bit closer to west London?

Thanks in advance for any input.
 

WG M-B

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Gad are professional at the dpf delete!!!!!!
 
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patxi

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I gave GAD a call and the chap was very helpful but they are too far away to help. Has anyone had any experience with London Remaps or any of the other London based people that claim to be experts?

Engine warning light is on permanently now, I need to get this sorted quickly.

Thanks in advance
 

Miffy

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If your in Berks, GAD are not "that" far away from you. Surely your better off driving a little further to get it done properly? We have seen quite a few complain at others who have done a bad DPF delete still getting errors.
 

Steve@Avantgarde

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Had the same on my C220cdi, i did this and have done the following on many of these cars.

Or replace the DPF pressure sensor at £40 as they are modified. Change the oil and filter for fresh low ash oil. Remove the DPF and pressure washer it out and erase the fault codes. Check the injector quantity correction and leak off. Replace any shoddy injectors.

Old low ash oil can cause this fault as can worn injector nozzles especially when the DPF needs to regenerate.

On mine I had 1 injector running at 2.5 mg/hub which is usually acceptable but since I replaced it and did the above the fault has not returned.
 
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patxi

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Update

OK an update since I last wrote.

I investigated DPF delete but for the moment I have decided against it, I would like to understand the root cause of the problem as reading around indicates that a delete and ECU re-program does not always solve the problems I am having.

I've done pretty much everything Steve@Avantgarde suggested:
- pressure sensor replaced with new
- oil and filter changed (it was about due anyway)
- air filter replaced (looked very overdue despite service record)
- fuel filter changed
- DPF pressure washed out - there was not much soot in there, water flowed straight away and did not seem restricted in any way.
- codes reset and all was well for a few days

Then it started dropping into limp mode which was reset by turning car off and on again. No warning light showed at this stage. Initially it would go to limp after about 25 mins driving, but this time got progressively shorter until it would do it after only 5 mins driving. Until the 5 mins the car seemed to drive without problem. Eventually the warning light was continually lit.

I got the codes checked again today:
P2509-002 - check heater booster control unit (N33/2)
P2079-001 - DPF engine protection is active, differential pressure is above limit

Any pointer about what to check next very gratefully received.

Cheers, Pat
 

Steve@Avantgarde

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You need to look at live data and you can only do this on a STAR machine, checking the quantity correction values and the load state of the DPF
 


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