R-Class dreaded Oil cooler seals

[Motzil]

Hi Guy needs some advice

my beloved R320 2009 105,000 miles has developed an oil leak. Yet to be fully determined. But looks like it could be the dreaded Oil cooler seals. Apparently a common issue for this 30lt V6 engine.

requires a Major strip down and I’ve be told to expect no change from £2,000. Absolutely love the car, and totally gutted as I find it hard to justify £2,000 car’s only worth £4,000 tops

will need to have it pressure washed for a proper inspection. At the indi, Anyone got any thoughts on this

 

[Wighty]

Hi Guy needs some advice

my beloved R320 2009 105,000 miles has developed an oil leak. Yet to be fully determined. But looks like it could be the dreaded Oil cooler seals. Apparently a common issue for this 30lt V6 engine.

requires a Major strip down and I’ve be told to expect no change from £2,000. Absolutely love the car, and totally gutted as I find it hard to justify £2,000 car’s only worth £4,000 tops

will need to have it pressure washed for a proper inspection. At the indi, Anyone got any thoughts on this

It’s about £900 ish at an Indy . Couple of members on MBClub have had it in the last couple of weeks

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Such a common problem, in truth they probably start to seep way before you see the visible signs most of the oil sits in the vee, most have to have it done sooner or later.

Contact a local MB Indepenedent to do the work which is 90% labour so expect <£1000 bill including replacing the oil cooler.

To rack up a £2k bill the inlet manifolds and swirl flap motor are probably on your list as well

 

[Wighty]

Oil leak. M642 again. | Engine

Hi, My car is currently in the main dealer for investigation of an oil leak. 2012 ML350 cdi, 56k miles. The car drips oil onto the drive and I have had the under-tray off and it is full of dirty oil. They have rang me to advise that the oil is coming from the seal around the air inlet to the...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

 

[Motzil]

It’s about £900 ish at an Indy . Couple of members on MBClub have had it in the last couple of weeks

Hi Wighty it is my indy that's quoting me £2,000. I may have a look around then, don't want to get rid unless I really have to

 

[Wighty]

Hi Wighty it is my indy that's quoting me £2,000. I may have a look around then, don't want to get rid unless I really have to

I think Mercland in the link I posted above are £900 ish , they are a well known MB Indy

 

[Wighty]

Maybe the R class om642 engine is harder because of the bulkhead ? I’m sure a phone call to a couple of Indys will resolve the question/price

 

[mioba]

2K, someone is yanking your chain, ask them what thier labour rate is how it is then 2K, there was a parallel post on this topic only recently. No more than a grand.
Its ca 8 hours labour (max) and 2 quid for the seal.

 

[JBell]

Maybe the R class om642 engine is harder because of the bulkhead ?

It is, total pain according to my Indy but £2k is over double what it should cost, mine was £700 IIRC and they had to drill the Turbo off as the bolts had welded themselves in

 

[JBell]

2K, someone is yanking your chain, ask them what thier labour rate is how it is then 2K, there was a parallel post on this topic only recently. No more than a grand.
Its ca 8 hours labour (max) and 2 quid for the seal.

Seals are £4 each plus VAT then you have a load of other seals to replace as well

 

[alexanderfoti]

Yes there are usually around £150 worth of seals, but 900 is about right for the R class, which is a bit more involved that others, and the scuttle has to come off.

 

[Wighty]

Seems like the forum has saved the op £1100

 

[alexanderfoti]

That's a whole other car!

 

[EmilysDad]

....for the R class .... and the scuttle has to come off.

I failed miserably trying to remove it from the one I had .... I gave up in the end

 

[axelcls]

Seems like the forum has saved the op £1100

Without sounding cheesy, I’ve been on couple of different forums before ... by far is the best forum, with best attitude regardless your level of English, place you’re coming from, level of knowledge and so on .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Uncle Benz]

Access is harder on the R class than all the others. I'd expect the bill to be a little larger.

 

[Blobcat]

Without sounding cheesy, I’ve been on couple of different forums before ... by far is the best forum, with best attitude regardless your level of English, place you’re coming from, level of knowledge and so on .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I blame the members.... (and long suffering mods...)

 

[dry run]

I blame the Mods.... (and long suffering members...)

FTFY

 

[Mr Greedy]

If you let us know an approximate location/county, we can give you a solid steer on independent specialists, like Alex in post#13, who know what they're doing, have great reputation and can sort this out at a sensible price to reflect the real amount of work involved.

If it's a little harder to access and a bit more expensive, if you are keeping the car then whichever the well-trusted independent you use, I'd consider chatting with them about whether you should have the oil cooler itself changed at the same time, and maybe the swirl flap motor. If you needed to do the swirl flap motor later (£125 part) it's £700 because it's much the same job due to the same access problems.

I've just had my oil cooler seals done (a week ago) and I opted to replace the oil cooler with a new genuine Merc unit (because if there's a leak again within 2 years Merc will sort it under warranty) and I fitted a new swirl flap motor. But I know barring extreme unforeseen circumstance, I'll be keeping the car for a good few years, so over that timeframe, it's worth it to me for the piece of mind.

 

[Craiglxviii]

I can report that our R Class FunBus is back from having had (amongst other things) the oil cooler seals replaced.

Or not, actually.

The symptom was continual oil spotting on the driveway with a trail of black, suspiciously oily-looking oil down the front of the engine block at the front. My wallet prepared itself.

The cause was actually..... no.3 injector seal leaking just enough diesel to wash all the accumulated grime off the engine and do a very good imitation of failed oil cooler seals. Result, £1500 saved albeit at the cost of a very, very soaked with diesel Gary from Welwyn Merx, who happened to stop the jet of 2000psi diesel (when the injector seal catastrophically failed) with his hair.