Ductman
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2013
- Messages
- 367
- Reaction score
- 79
- Location
- Hampshire
- Your Mercedes
- C350 CDI Estate/R171 200 SLK/Lotus Exige V6/Lotus Evora GT410 Sport
I haven't been on the forum for quite some time but I hope somebody can help please. It isn't for me as both my Mercedes (touch wood) are currently running well, but for a very good friend who seems to have a big problem with his E Class and I'd really like to help if I can.
Background to this is last weekend they were about to start a return journey from a short holiday in Nice, S.France back home to Hampshire and upon starting the engine, they heard a loudish ticking noise. He tells me he didn't do any basic checks like checking oil level etc or calling in to a local MB dealers but, instead, rather inadvisedly decided that as the engine otherwise appeared to be running ok, they would head for home. They proceeded to drive at a continuous and fairly high speed up the autoroute system and he tells me that although the engine was perhaps becoming more noisy and starting to run quite roughly, it didn't appear to lack power and continued to run. I should add at this point that, lovely chap though he is, my friend has absolutely zero mechanical knowledge or empathy! I can't believe it was still running well but as I say, he is a complete mechanical numpty.
Anyhow, they joined the train at the tunnel and back in the UK, they had only been on the road for about 2 miles, doing more than 70, when there was a loud mechanical noise followed by the engine cutting out and they coasted to a halt on the hard shoulder. Again, somewhat inadvisedly, he proceeded to try starting the engine and carried on cranking it, despite the previous mechanical noises! He eventually accepted it wasn't going to start and had the car recovered home.
The following day, he called out his local mobile service guy, thinking he could fix the problem and get him back on the road. Service fella, upon hearing the story, apparently just shook his head and said it sounds like the engine is completely fubared and he will need a replacement engine. Friend then phoned our local MB dealership to be told a replacement engine is c.£14,000 + labour so, out of desperation, and knowing I knew a lot more about cars than him, phoned me yesterday afternoon to ask what he should do. His predicament is exacerbated by the fact he was calling me from the airport before they boarded a plane to China for a 3 week holiday, so he didn't have any time to get anything arranged.
From what he has told me, I very strongly suspect it was a failing turbo causing the initial noise on startup and it finally failed in spectacular fashion, probably with broken turbo components being ingested into the engine. I meant to say the car has completed around 115,000 miles, so a failed turbo is very likely to be the culprit at that mileage, I should imagine.
With the car in good condition, it is probably only worth around £7.5 at best, so depending on cost of repair, it maybe only good for scrap, which is probably what I would opt for, but he wants to keep it and get it repaired as economically as possible. In his absence I've said I will make some enquiries for him with a view to finding a reputable company who could supply and fit either a reconditioned or replacement engine so can anybody please recommend a reputable and reliable company preferably, towards the south of England but will consider anybody who is good? Ideally, he would like a company who could collect the car, to save the problem of getting it recovered to their works.
I have found one company called "Engine-reconditioning Ltd" who seem to be a franchise type operation with 9 workshops dotted about the country the nearest, of which, is in Oxford, I think. Has anybody heard of or experienced this company and can comment at all please? All other recommendations much appreciated too please.
Before anybody says it, I've already told him he's an idiot for just pressing on after hearing the original ticking noise. At that stage, it probably only needed a recon turbo and he'd have been on his way, albeit a day or two late perhaps! I think he now understands the error of his ways.
Background to this is last weekend they were about to start a return journey from a short holiday in Nice, S.France back home to Hampshire and upon starting the engine, they heard a loudish ticking noise. He tells me he didn't do any basic checks like checking oil level etc or calling in to a local MB dealers but, instead, rather inadvisedly decided that as the engine otherwise appeared to be running ok, they would head for home. They proceeded to drive at a continuous and fairly high speed up the autoroute system and he tells me that although the engine was perhaps becoming more noisy and starting to run quite roughly, it didn't appear to lack power and continued to run. I should add at this point that, lovely chap though he is, my friend has absolutely zero mechanical knowledge or empathy! I can't believe it was still running well but as I say, he is a complete mechanical numpty.
Anyhow, they joined the train at the tunnel and back in the UK, they had only been on the road for about 2 miles, doing more than 70, when there was a loud mechanical noise followed by the engine cutting out and they coasted to a halt on the hard shoulder. Again, somewhat inadvisedly, he proceeded to try starting the engine and carried on cranking it, despite the previous mechanical noises! He eventually accepted it wasn't going to start and had the car recovered home.
The following day, he called out his local mobile service guy, thinking he could fix the problem and get him back on the road. Service fella, upon hearing the story, apparently just shook his head and said it sounds like the engine is completely fubared and he will need a replacement engine. Friend then phoned our local MB dealership to be told a replacement engine is c.£14,000 + labour so, out of desperation, and knowing I knew a lot more about cars than him, phoned me yesterday afternoon to ask what he should do. His predicament is exacerbated by the fact he was calling me from the airport before they boarded a plane to China for a 3 week holiday, so he didn't have any time to get anything arranged.
From what he has told me, I very strongly suspect it was a failing turbo causing the initial noise on startup and it finally failed in spectacular fashion, probably with broken turbo components being ingested into the engine. I meant to say the car has completed around 115,000 miles, so a failed turbo is very likely to be the culprit at that mileage, I should imagine.
With the car in good condition, it is probably only worth around £7.5 at best, so depending on cost of repair, it maybe only good for scrap, which is probably what I would opt for, but he wants to keep it and get it repaired as economically as possible. In his absence I've said I will make some enquiries for him with a view to finding a reputable company who could supply and fit either a reconditioned or replacement engine so can anybody please recommend a reputable and reliable company preferably, towards the south of England but will consider anybody who is good? Ideally, he would like a company who could collect the car, to save the problem of getting it recovered to their works.
I have found one company called "Engine-reconditioning Ltd" who seem to be a franchise type operation with 9 workshops dotted about the country the nearest, of which, is in Oxford, I think. Has anybody heard of or experienced this company and can comment at all please? All other recommendations much appreciated too please.
Before anybody says it, I've already told him he's an idiot for just pressing on after hearing the original ticking noise. At that stage, it probably only needed a recon turbo and he'd have been on his way, albeit a day or two late perhaps! I think he now understands the error of his ways.