Help expensive problem with Mercedes ML..

chaso

New Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2012
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
ml cdI 270 2002
Can anyone advise me please I have a Mercedes ML 270 CDI 2002 plate. Last week when I started the engine I noticed grey smoke coming from under the bonnet, when I lifted the bonnet I noted the oil dipstick had been forced out by the smoke causing oil to spurt out. I turned the engine off and opened the oil cap and the same smoke was coming out of there. Engine was running ok at this time. I drove a short distance home (which in hind sight I should not have done) and when I got home oil was spurting out more and now all over the engine.
I took it to my local garage and they have told me they suspect the pistons is the cause but they can not get to examine these bacause 3 of the 5 fuel injectors are seized with black tar like substance which I understand to be a common problem in diesel Mercedes. They have advised me to scrap the car or get a new engine as they say despite soaking the injectors they are not freeing up and I will therefore have costly bill to free them before they can even begin to examine the engine. Then if as they suspect the pistons have gone I will need a new engine anyway.
Does this add up? Could the seized injectors not be the only cause of this problem or is this likely to be an incidental finding? I have been quoted 2-3k to get everything done and as the car is only worth 3k I am thinking I need to scrap which would be a shame as it has all high spec interior and only just over 100k miles on the clock. I have over the last year spent a fortune on this car with new fuel pipes, diesal pump, full break system. Gutted.
 

panason1c

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2004
Messages
1,927
Reaction score
7
Age
70
Location
Somerset, UK
Your Mercedes
Mercedes ML270CDI, VW Polo 1.9tdi, BMW K1200RS
The cylinders can also be inspected by inserting a bore scope via the glowplug holes.

Sounds like a piston failure though, possibly due to one of the inlet manifold swirl flaps being ingested?
 
Last edited:

oigle

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2005
Messages
3,467
Reaction score
914
Age
83
Location
Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Website
members.optusnet.com.au
Your Mercedes
2003 ML270 sold but not forgotten. 2022 Kia EV6 RWD LR
Can anyone advise me please I have a Mercedes ML 270 CDI 2002 plate. Last week when I started the engine I noticed grey smoke coming from under the bonnet, when I lifted the bonnet I noted the oil dipstick had been forced out by the smoke causing oil to spurt out. I turned the engine off and opened the oil cap and the same smoke was coming out of there. Engine was running ok at this time. I drove a short distance home (which in hind sight I should not have done) and when I got home oil was spurting out more and now all over the engine.
I took it to my local garage and they have told me they suspect the pistons is the cause but they can not get to examine these bacause 3 of the 5 fuel injectors are seized with black tar like substance which I understand to be a common problem in diesel Mercedes. They have advised me to scrap the car or get a new engine as they say despite soaking the injectors they are not freeing up and I will therefore have costly bill to free them before they can even begin to examine the engine. Then if as they suspect the pistons have gone I will need a new engine anyway.
Does this add up? Could the seized injectors not be the only cause of this problem or is this likely to be an incidental finding? I have been quoted 2-3k to get everything done and as the car is only worth 3k I am thinking I need to scrap which would be a shame as it has all high spec interior and only just over 100k miles on the clock. I have over the last year spent a fortune on this car with new fuel pipes, diesal pump, full break system. Gutted.

How could it be piston failure if it was "running OK at this time"? Any holed piston would cause the motor to run very badly.
 

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
I wonder if diesel has been leaking into the sump and its all over filled, it does need some one who knows these engines
 

panason1c

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2004
Messages
1,927
Reaction score
7
Age
70
Location
Somerset, UK
Your Mercedes
Mercedes ML270CDI, VW Polo 1.9tdi, BMW K1200RS
How could it be piston failure if it was "running OK at this time"? Any holed piston would cause the motor to run very badly.

Obviously, it depends on the DEGREE of piston failure........slight damage to the piston, or rings, can still give reasonable compression (hence engine running ok) whilst allowing sufficient blowby to cause the OP's symptoms. :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:

taxii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
112
Reaction score
0
Age
55
Location
Bristol
Your Mercedes
c200, 1996, 2000
How much is a recon engine for one of these? It could be cheaper to just change the lump in the time it takes to find and rectify the fault.
 

panason1c

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2004
Messages
1,927
Reaction score
7
Age
70
Location
Somerset, UK
Your Mercedes
Mercedes ML270CDI, VW Polo 1.9tdi, BMW K1200RS
How much is a recon engine for one of these? It could be cheaper to just change the lump in the time it takes to find and rectify the fault.

Usually loads of these engines on ebay at reasonable prices.
 

taxii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
112
Reaction score
0
Age
55
Location
Bristol
Your Mercedes
c200, 1996, 2000
Usually loads of these engines on ebay at reasonable prices.
That's what I thought. It could be cheaper in the long run to just bite the bullet and get the lump out and another one in and save on the labour costs.
 

Frontstep

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2007
Messages
9,201
Reaction score
3,436
Your Mercedes
T210 320cdi
This seems like some conclusions are being made without the facts.
Some one who knows what they are doing needs a look before any determinations are made.
 

oigle

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2005
Messages
3,467
Reaction score
914
Age
83
Location
Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia
Website
members.optusnet.com.au
Your Mercedes
2003 ML270 sold but not forgotten. 2022 Kia EV6 RWD LR
Obviously, it depends on the DEGREE of piston failure........slight damage to the piston, or rings, can still give reasonable compression (hence engine running ok) whilst allowing sufficient blowby to cause the OP's symptoms. :rolleyes:

Being a diesel and very reliant on good compression to fire the mix, I would have thought any damage that was enough to cause REALLY SERIOUS blowby, as maybe is the case here, would have lowered the comp ratio enough to prevent that cylinder firing.
I wouldn't be making any assumptions re piston failure until properly examined.
 

Some guy on the internet

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
1,350
Reaction score
9
Your Mercedes
A few.
This seems like some conclusions are being made without the facts.
Some one who knows what they are doing needs a look before any determinations are made.

Agreed. That's why I asked the OP where he was based.

Anybody know a good MB indy in his area?
 

Uncle Benz

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2006
Messages
4,220
Reaction score
3,548
Age
53
Location
West Sussex
Your Mercedes
Mainly Mercedes
I'd suggest a good look at the engine breather unit on the top of the cam cover before condemning the engine.
 

Some guy on the internet

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
1,350
Reaction score
9
Your Mercedes
A few.
See post #11

I think Crewe are more in the business of selling engines than being true independent MB specialists who will diagnose a fault. Quite possibly any fault they do diagnose will be cured by selling a replacement engine!

It hasn't even been determined what's wrong with this engine, let alone whether the OP needs a new or replacement one.
 
Last edited:

taxii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
112
Reaction score
0
Age
55
Location
Bristol
Your Mercedes
c200, 1996, 2000
Not trying to jump to conclusions but if merc hourly rates are anything like bmw then it might be cheaper in the long run to just replace the lump rather than pay for a fact finding on the present lump. I once paid 185 for a wiper relay to be replaced on a beemer 5 series and only 15 of it was to actually buy and fit the relay. the rest was to find out it was the relay.
 

taxii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
112
Reaction score
0
Age
55
Location
Bristol
Your Mercedes
c200, 1996, 2000
This is another reason why fix it days and finding out where nearest members are to each other. If one of our more knowlegeable types was near the op then a quick wander round for a cuppa and a gander so to speak might well shed some more light on the problem than the op is able to get across in just posts. I for one take being a member of these types of clubs and forums pretty seriously and if anyone near Knowle in Bristol who was a member needed a hand and I was able to help I would already be on my way with tool kit and trolly in the boot. It's what I feel the idea of these clubs is meant to be about and I'm pretty sure most if not all members of this club feel the same. :)
 
OP
C

chaso

New Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2012
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
ml cdI 270 2002
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #20
Thank you to everyone for your advice and discussions. I have copied and pasted them onto A4 and intend discussing with my local garage today. I am keen to get a Merc specialist to comment so thank you for suggesting this. I will let you know the outcome.
 

Peter Best Insurance is a leading specialist in Mercedes-Benz insurance. All MBO members are eligible for exclusive rates on all our classic car policies.
Call now for our 'BEST' quote. Tel: 01376 573033
Top Bottom