2014 e300 Diesel Hybrid

[Merc Head]

I bought a 2nd Hand 2014 Mercedes E300 Diesel Bluetec Hybrid in 2017, the engine lost power in December and I brought it to a Garage and was advised Turbo was malfunctioning. The Garage couldn't do the replacement they recommended booking it in to a MB dealership instead. I booked the car in to an Official Mercedes Benz Garage and while I was with them, I asked if they would give the car a service while it was there.

At first, dealership got wrong Turbo, I'm not sure how far they got until they realised it wasn't the correct one. Moving on, I got a phone call on 6th January to say that the car was ready for collection having passed a run test and I might just add that the service department fitted some sort of gadget to the diagnostics socket which, when paired to my phone, would give me endless stats of my Mercedes's performance, fuel consumption and fault errors. Here I am in February, having driven the car for only 850km. Without any warning, yes, no warning at all either on this gadget or engine management light, the car suddenly lost power. I was only 3km from home. The engine began to make a noisy clanging sound and suddenly went into Hybrid mode, powered by battery. 3km was too far to get me home. MB sent a tow truck and the car was returned to the MB dealership for investigation.

I received the dreaded phone call today to state that all works on the Turbo were not at fault. According to the Service Manager, the oil filter was removed and there were, in his words, metal particles in the oil filter which would suggest to him that the 'Big end' was gone and that the car would need to have an new engine replacement, €10,000. Take a step back for a moment if you will, in January, I asked that the Turbo be replaced, not a spurious one but a genuine MB one, I asked for a service to be carried out, which included replacing engine oil and filter and nothing was mentioned to me then about my engine's condition having removed the oil filter and the oil, January's bill was €4,329.14 and now, the cost of a replacement engine.

All I can do now is ask for your advice on what I should do next. Scrap the car seems to be the most likely avenue. By the way, to add insult to injury, the Service Manager gave me the phone number to a 'great salesman' if I wanted to buy another Merc.

Looking forward to hearing some helpful comments. I would sign off with a smiley face but it wouldn't be how I am feeling to be honest.

 

[mioba]

1) Turbo rarely fail but something linked to the turbo. I bet It was your actuator initailly and as merc dont sell them separately they replaced the whole unit. Garret turbos are usually top and I have never had a turbo fail.
2) I would be asking merc for a contribution. Speak to the service manager and then dealer principle.
3) Find yourself a good mercedes indy.
4) good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Merc Head]

Thanks Mioba. Great start to my weekend. I will post anything favourable.

 

[sonic]

Whats the service history & milage? You have more leverage with a full service history.
I would have taken it to an independent or another MB dealer for a report on the failure. They are not going to admit their faults unless you have the evidence.
Even now I would have it removed to an MB independent & get an assessment from them.

 

[Merc Head]

Thanks Sonic. These are MB are you saying take it from them and go to another MB garage. Service History is not MB garages only once before. Mileage is 165,000 km.

 

[ajlsl600]

I bought a 2nd Hand 2014 Mercedes E300 Diesel Bluetec Hybrid in 2017, the engine lost power in December and I brought it to a Garage and was advised Turbo was malfunctioning. The Garage couldn't do the replacement they recommended booking it in to a MB dealership instead. I booked the car in to an Official Mercedes Benz Garage and while I was with them, I asked if they would give the car a service while it was there.

At first, dealership got wrong Turbo, I'm not sure how far they got until they realised it wasn't the correct one. Moving on, I got a phone call on 6th January to say that the car was ready for collection having passed a run test and I might just add that the service department fitted some sort of gadget to the diagnostics socket which, when paired to my phone, would give me endless stats of my Mercedes's performance, fuel consumption and fault errors. Here I am in February, having driven the car for only 850km. Without any warning, yes, no warning at all either on this gadget or engine management light, the car suddenly lost power. I was only 3km from home. The engine began to make a noisy clanging sound and suddenly went into Hybrid mode, powered by battery. 3km was too far to get me home. MB sent a tow truck and the car was returned to the MB dealership for investigation.

I received the dreaded phone call today to state that all works on the Turbo were not at fault. According to the Service Manager, the oil filter was removed and there were, in his words, metal particles in the oil filter which would suggest to him that the 'Big end' was gone and that the car would need to have an new engine replacement, €10,000. Take a step back for a moment if you will, in January, I asked that the Turbo be replaced, not a spurious one but a genuine MB one, I asked for a service to be carried out, which included replacing engine oil and filter and nothing was mentioned to me then about my engine's condition having removed the oil filter and the oil, January's bill was €4,329.14 and now, the cost of a replacement engine.

All I can do now is ask for your advice on what I should do next. Scrap the car seems to be the most likely avenue. By the way, to add insult to injury, the Service Manager gave me the phone number to a 'great salesman' if I wanted to buy another Merc.

Looking forward to hearing some helpful comments. I would sign off with a smiley face but it wouldn't be how I am feeling to be honest.

Christ .I feel for you. When you get out of trouble .find another make. However unlucky you would not want that 2x!

 

[davemercedes]

Thanks Sonic. These are MB are you saying take it from them and go to another MB garage. Service History is not MB garages only once before. Mileage is 165,000 km.

I'm sure we all feel for you! If I was facing this situation and £ I would certainly be talking to an indy - even just to have a conversation and get an opinion and suggestion(s). You don't give your area location - post it up then somebody should be able to suggest who you could contact.

 

[Merc Head]

Dublin, thanks for your support.

 

[Botus]

I would suspect cam chain failure? this is now a standard point of fail that is killing lots of Mercedes engines.

unfortunately they deliberately dropped the quality of this component and then fitted start stop... the combined outcome is often catastrophic engine failure at low mileages (regardless of service history and or vehicle abuse).

Start Stop puts a terrible increase in the number of times the engine has to spin the cam from stationary... this is a terrifically difficult job.

If I gave any of you a cam sprocket to turn by hand fitted to an engine with the valve gear attached, NONE of you would be able to turn the cam through a single revolution - yet your mums could all maintain it spinning once going without trying.... the tremendous forces involved were OK with a good duplex chain and 4 starts per day over 15 years.

Now replace with a Chinese budget necklace and ask it to do 60 starts a day and it fails around the 4 year mark... just after you swapped the car at the end of its lease. Unfortunately many UK motorist are just finding this tipping point. Whereas most Germans have been getting a clean car every 3 years for a few cycles already

 

[Merc Head]

Thanks Boris, would seeking a reconditioned engine be a way to go, if I was to source one similar, though being in Dublin might be an issue. I have no idea of the cost involved. The MB garage have not confirmed what the issue is, and so I am at their mercy.

 

[Botus]

buy a crashed low mileage one ?
does a hybrid have a different engine / parts making finding one much harder?

On a USA forum a chap was asking about software updates on his hybrid... a chap chimed in with all S class hybrids are dropping like flies... don't hesitate off load at all cost asap was his-advice.

we see few hybrids Merc here, but they seem to have huge issues and the main dealers don't seem to have any idea how to help/resolve

 

[Merc Head]

Thanks Boris.

 

[ajlsl600]

I would suspect cam chain failure? this is now a standard point of fail that is killing lots of Mercedes engines.

unfortunately they deliberately dropped the quality of this component and then fitted start stop... the combined outcome is often catastrophic engine failure at low mileages (regardless of service history and or vehicle abuse).

Start Stop puts a terrible increase in the number of times the engine has to spin the cam from stationary... this is a terrifically difficult job.

If I gave any of you a cam sprocket to turn by hand fitted to an engine with the valve gear attached, NONE of you would be able to turn the cam through a single revolution - yet your mums could all maintain it spinning once going without trying.... the tremendous forces involved were OK with a good duplex chain and 4 starts per day over 15 years.

Now replace with a Chinese budget necklace and ask it to do 60 starts a day and it fails around the 4 year mark... just after you swapped the car at the end of its lease. Unfortunately many UK motorist are just finding this tipping point. Whereas most Germans have been getting clean car every 3 years for a few cycles already

You aint wrong !! Frankly with benz experience this must be deliberate.I just cant see how such an organisation could achieve this outcome by accident we have already seen software designed to send you to dealer with no actual faults so a pushbike chain that lasts warranty then karks it at yr 4 is no giant leap in speculation.
A first yr pushbike fitter would grasp this!!!!

 

[Merc Head]

Where should I go from here? Any suggestions, greatly appreciated.

 

[Jason63]

Well I'd suspect the turbo failure was the first symptom of some kind of oil starvation. Turbos spin extremely fast and are the first things to fail when there is an oil problem. There may be a case to say MB failed to diagnose the real fault and just repaired the symptom (a failed turbo). Their failure caused the ultimate engine failure. To go down this avenue you'd need to get an independent inspection. You then need some professional legal advice. If you have legal insurance with your home contents or even maybe legal insurance with your car insurance maybe that could be used. Your problem is that MB will claim to be the experts and deny responsibility. There is also the possibility that the damage was already well underway when the turbo failed.

My theory would be an oil pickup blockage/lack of oil changes/oil pump failure. This killed the turbo and subsequently the big ends. White metal in the oil means a new engine. Yes you could repair the big ends and crank but what else has been damaged and the metal particles themselves will have caused tremendous damage.

If I was you with a nice 2014 car I'd be looking for a second hand engine and a Mercedes specialist (not a main dealer) to fit it. A second hand engine (with a service history) from a crashed car should be a good bet and a whole lot cheaper than a new engine. The specialist may be best placed to source the engine for you too.

 

[ajlsl600]

Low oil press. Not diagnosed at turbo change.(should have been) oil light on dash are rubbish and only indicate that yr about to become a pedestrian
I always harp on sorry guys...but useful tech would perhaps be a chip detector ala chopper gearbox style.or a blxxdy pressure guage! Far more useful than doin away with dipstick ..got that wrong he has been promoted ,head of benz design.

 

[ajlsl600]

Where should I go from here? Any suggestions, greatly appreciated.

Feel for u bud .rock n hard place victim of warranty to gate policy. Thirty yr ago you would have been looked after. Now giv us yr cash n p.o.seems about it, near everywhere,n frankly not just benz.
Deffo use an indy .unless u get some dealer goodwill..

 

[Merc Head]

Thanks Guys for your opinions and advice. I'm not a man of means so I will probably cut my losses and say goodbye to mt third and last mercedes.

 

[davemercedes]

As someone said above, you need to contact the dealer principal and described what has happened and what it's cost you so far etc. Also a call to MB Customer Service might help to move things along a bit. I really hope they provide some financial assistance.

 

[Merc Head]

Thanks Davemercedes. Who is Mercedes principprincipalal. Would this be the Top man in this Garage?