GUIDE: Replacing your fuel filter (W208)

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
Step 1 - Jack up the rear offside nice and high so you have room to work (don't make the job harder by cramming yourself in a tiny gap).

Secure the car with axle stands

(not shown in this photo sorry)

MFFStep1.jpg


Step 2 - Locate the plastic cover over the fuel pump, this i just in front of the suspension as shown

MFFStep2.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #2
Step 3 - There are three plastic 10mm nuts that hold the plastic undertray on, you will need a couple of extension bars on your ratchet to reach them through

the holes cut out in the plastic cover as shown

MFFStep3a.jpg

MFFStep3b.jpg

MFFStep3c.jpg


Step 4 - Remove the 3 nuts then wriggle the plastic undertray out. It is quite squashy so easy enough to move around but it is a little awkward - don't just

tug it because you could damage pipework

MFFStep4a.jpg

MFFStep4b.jpg
 
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
Step 5 - You will now see two metal cylinders, one is the fuel pump (the smaller one) and the other is your fuel filter. I have circled both on the picture

MFFStep5.jpg


Step 6 - Hopefully your filter carrier will be in better shape than mine, if so then release the carrier so you can access the filter

MFFStep6.jpg


Step 7 - Now onto the pipework, you have 4 connections to deal with, the first is easy just pull it off

MFFStep7.jpg
 
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Step 8 - Next is the output line which runs to the fuel rail, this one will leak quite a bit of fuel so have a vessel ready to catch it. When you release the

jubilee clip it will start leaking so get some goggles on and make sure you're not right under it!

MFFStep8a.jpg

MFFStep8b.jpg


Step 9 - Next is the link between the filter and fuel pump, again, this one isn't too bad and won't leak loads so you can take it off and replace the pipe if

it is in bad shape. It's worth inspecting the hoses if you can as there are often defects you can't see on the car, I highlighted one of mine in the second

picture

MFFStep9a.jpg

MFFStep9b.jpg
 
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
Step 10 - Be prepared to fit an array of new jubilee clips as required! They get very tired under the car and you are likely to need to replace some of them

MFFStep10a.jpg

MFFStep10b.jpg


Step 11 - Finally, there is the main feed line which will leak a lot of fuel. The way I did this was to switch over each pipe one at a time to the new filter

, finishing with this one. If you try and disconnect all 4 then change it over you'll spill a lot of petrol!

MFFStep11.jpg


Step 12 - Reattach your pump, I had to do it with a cable tie!

MFFStep12.jpg
 
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Step 13 - Once everything is back together, fire up the car and check for leaks

MFFStep13.jpg


Step 14 - Now slide the cover bak up (two bolt holes are nearest the wheel and the single bolt hole nearest the centre of the car). Be careful not to hook on

any of the wires. One thing I forgot to mention, check all the rubber mounts are hooked up (I circled two of them on the second picture) before you cover it

up

MFFStep14a.jpg

MFFStep14b.jpg


Step 15 - Tighten up the 3 plastic 10mm nuts and drop the car down off the jack

MFFStep15.jpg
 

Uncle Benz

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2006
Messages
4,220
Reaction score
3,548
Age
53
Location
West Sussex
Your Mercedes
Mainly Mercedes
Nice write up!

Always use an axle stand or two if venturing under a car. A trolley jack is not sufficient on it's own.

Play safe out there guys!
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Nice write up!

Always use an axle stand or two if venturing under a car. A trolley jack is not sufficient on it's own.

Play safe out there guys!

From another aspect I was working under a MK10 whilst on a trolley jack, I came out to get some tools and my 2 year old came out and let the jack down, it makes you think
 
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Yup, as per step 1 - use an axle stand

I've seen more than a few jack incidents occur now so look after yourself
 

grober

Senior Member
Joined
May 15, 2002
Messages
2,947
Reaction score
27
Location
Scotland
Your Mercedes
W204 C200cdi estate
Excellent write up. However I would take issue with a couple of things. Holding up a component on a high pressure fuel line with a nylon tie is simply not good practice. Especially if the component in question A2024711341 BRACKET http://www.neoriginal.ru/cat/mb/part__1_1_45Y_208_465_/47_030



is a mere £10-31 from Inschape probably less than the cost of the filter! You will also reduce the spillage of inflamable fuel by the use of proper fuel line clamps e.g. these are very neat and will fit into confined spaces http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuild...rogroup=1238&analysiscode=&requiredresults=16 and cost a mere £13-50 Their rounded jaws are better than using vice grips which is probably how the flexibles were damaged in the first place.
 
Last edited:
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Grober, thanks for the feedback it's all welcomed.

To be clear, I wasn't recommending you ditch the cage and go for a cable tie - my sarcasm obviously didn't come across! That said, if you find yourself in the situation I was in then you can easily cable tie it back up (temporarily) as the fuel pressure does not move the filter around.

I'm not a fan of clamping the lines, the way I did the filter you just switch one line at a time and never clamp them but interesting clamps though, I hadn't seen them before
 

anyweb

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
3,147
Reaction score
362
Age
57
Location
Sweden
Website
www.niallbrady.com
Your Mercedes
c238,w120 (diesel)
i love guides like this, good work documenting, you should do more

but !!!!!!!!!

next time show photos WITH car stands, i've seen cars on jacks that have 'fallen' down or lost pressure and come this close to damaging someones head...

i hope you don't mind but i've edited your post to spell it out loud and clear
cheers
niall
 
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
I hope there aren't too many more, they just grow as the wife's car needs attention! :)

There were already comments in there about axle stands, I move mine around so they are right next to me when working on the car so they appear absent from the pics but they are in constant use (2 usually), no problem if you have/want to add more comments about it though
 

jefrs

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2010
Messages
407
Reaction score
0
Location
Berkshire
Your Mercedes
S210 98 E320 Estate Av petrol full load
Cable ties - rarely known to fail and cost less than a penny each. I might have slapped two in there to prevent it wobbling. New bracket? - great but you haven't got one when you're under the car. Cable ties then.
It may be a "temporary" but you won't get a round tuit to go digging under there again just to change a cable tie.

Slightly OT - I'm a little surprised by the amount of rust on a few of the components lurking under there. Might have taken the opportunity to splash some Waxoyl about. I know it's not the best stuff but it does come in a handy squirt can.
 
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #15
jefrs, you know how long 'temporary' fixes last :)

It's a very rusty underside, that's true of most of the car. It looks immaculate on top but underneath there is plenty of tin worm lurking sadly
 
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #17
:) That could get expensive! There are a number of different rust treatments out there, nail polish would not be high up my list
 

wroudy

New Registration
Joined
Jun 4, 2012
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
NY,NY
Your Mercedes
C280 1998 W202
HI, I cannot see the pictures.
 
OP
J

JSeaman

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
237
Reaction score
11
Location
Derbyshire
Your Mercedes
C220 CDI 2005
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #19
I'm afraid I have reached my limit for usage so they will be back on the 8th
 

d:class automotive are specialists in automotive interiors and upholstery. From Mercedes and modern cars to custom and classics. Tel: 01483 722923 Email:info@dclass.co.ukWeb:www.dclass.co.uk
Top Bottom