2015 A200 CDI Auto - Engine seized

[Buzzz]

My car decided to give me an interesting Christmas present.

Parked between Christmas and new year.

Went to start it in the new year, flat battery. Tried to jump start it, starter turned, but but didn't fire.

Full dealership service history (last service late March 2020, ~70,000 on the clock) and under service plan so Mercedes roadside assistance. Failed to jump start, taken to dealership.

Put on ramp and found oil leak from sump.

They tried to start the car, start belt slipping, So disconnected the starter motor and tried to turn the engine by hand. - Seized.

They checked air filter and it was dry - no deep water.

The dealership haven't really said anything else other than suggest a new engine and a price higher than the cars value.

The receptionist mentioned something about claiming on my insurance, but as no damage to the car, I really don't see any basis to make a claim (fully comp).

At the moment, I'm looking for other garages to find and fit a second hand engine.

Is there anything else I should be considering?

 

[mioba]

Typical receptionist answer.

Welcome to the forum. do stick around!

 

[bembo449]

Wow , thats a tough go ! I have a suggestion but im not willing to air it on the open forum

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome- I’d be wanting to know what’s seized? If they found oil leaking from the sump there was some there when they put it on the ramp , what happened ?

 

[ajlsl600]

A modern car engine failure seems price wise, paid job pretty much car write off at considerable cost to owner.. Modern design feature it seems to me. . Thankfully at least for a few more yrs I can fix my own tho makers are ganging up to make that much harder, more expensive. I have decided I must go older cars and those built prior to the punative design and business models of today.
I once removed my 1.6 Kent Ford from escort van, striped, cleaned, rebuilt overnight and drove it home again at 5 am the following morning, at the time I was rebuilding Ford gearboxes as 2nd job so cleaning and other facilities were no problem.
However today one will be near all day trying to 1 find engine. 2. Get all the modern crap off.
Progress. 1 hr saved on production time, cost. 1 days labor added to repair time, cost.
Can't call that progress for those tasked with trying to fix them... Or paying for it.
I see a noted interest in older cars whose design was, 1,simpler and 2 of far better build quality/longivity.

 

[Srdl]

As the car has a full dealer service history, I wouldn’t expect this sort of problem at 70k miles and 5 years old. I would be expecting Mercedes to take quite a big part of the cost as a goodwill gesture. If the dealer won’t consider this, then get them to escalate to Mercedes UK or raise the matter yourself with Mercedes UK. First, though, they need to give you a proper diagnosis of what caused the problem in the first place.

 

[star]

Is the engine seized or locked up. If you drove it and just parked up, not sure how it could seize, unless it was making a horrendous noises. If a head gasket failed, it could have filled a cylinder with water and hydraulically locked? Just a thought.

 

[robin.large]

As the car has a full dealer service history, I wouldn’t expect this sort of problem at 70k miles and 5 years old. I would be expecting Mercedes to take quite a big part of the cost as a goodwill gesture. If the dealer won’t consider this, then get them to escalate to Mercedes UK or raise the matter yourself with Mercedes UK. First, though, they need to give you a proper diagnosis of what caused the problem in the first place.

This. The engine could and should last longer. Irrespective of mileage and/or implied warranties there is an obligation under the sale of goods act and, depending on the cause of the issue, MB may be obliged to do something about that and cost share would be reasonable.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

 

[Buzzz]

As the car has a full dealer service history, I wouldn’t expect this sort of problem at 70k miles and 5 years old. I would be expecting Mercedes to take quite a big part of the cost as a goodwill gesture. If the dealer won’t consider this, then get them to escalate to Mercedes UK or raise the matter yourself with Mercedes UK. First, though, they need to give you a proper diagnosis of what caused the problem in the first place.

Thanks,

The dealership is being quiet, I hear about the car on Thursday afternoon, was promised a call on Friday about the hire car I have have on their account - may get swapped to a pool car). However, no call. I've just chased, but no one available.

I've not managed to speak to anyone senior enough to discuss goodwill gestures.

I haven't authorised any further diagnostic work, but I would be expecting Mercedes to investigate at their own cost as I would agree that "this shouldn't happen"

 

[Buzzz]

Is the engine seized or locked up. If you drove it and just parked up, not sure how it could seize, unless it was making a horrendous noises. If a head gasket failed, it could have filled a cylinder with water and hydraulically locked? Just a thought.

It was running fine, no warning lights, no sluggishness. The last drive was my regular commute ~35 miles with most of it cruising on motorway.

Parked up for a week (low ambient temps), dead battery and failed to turn over, jump start ineffective, warning message to not change gear and contact dealership. Mercedes breakdown (RAC) tried to jump it, starter turns, but engine didn't catch. --> low loader to dealership.

They said seized, but nothing in writing yet, and I've only spoken to receptionists...

Normally, I would go down to them in person and wait until I get an answer, but in COVID times, I'm on the phone. (But I think I'll be going down on Monday in any case).

I've been looking up the complaints process.

 

[bladecrazy]

Is this the 2.1 merc lump or 1.5 dci renault engine?.

 

[Srdl]

Is this the 2.1 merc lump or 1.5 dci renault engine?.

According to Wikipedia, A200CDI for 2015 is 2143cc OM651 Are you thinking timing chain?

 

[Buzzz]

Is this the 2.1 merc lump or 1.5 dci renault engine?.

Excellent question.

I didn't realise that there were two until I spoke to a different garage yesterday.

Based on a couple of websearches on the reg plat:

Webuyany car:
Manufacturer:
MERCEDES-BENZ
Model:
A CLASS DIESEL HATCHBACK - A200 [2.1] CDI Sport 5dr Auto
Year:
2015
Colour:
Red
Transmission:
Automatic
Engine Size:
2100
First Registered:
2015


Ebay engine search base don reg: 2143cc 100KW 136HP OM 651.930

Ebay think that it's a GLA, and a standard A class.

I don't have any other info to hand specifying the engine part number. (If there is a better reg number search online , please let me know)

 

[Blobcat]

Excellent question.

I didn't realise that there were two until I spoke to a different garage yesterday.

Based on a couple of websearches on the reg plat:

Webuyany car:
Manufacturer:
MERCEDES-BENZ
Model:
A CLASS DIESEL HATCHBACK - A200 [2.1] CDI Sport 5dr Auto
Year:
2015
Colour:
Red
Transmission:
Automatic
Engine Size:
2100
First Registered:
2015


Ebay engine search base don reg: 2143cc 100KW 136HP OM 651.930

Ebay think that it's a GLA, and a standard A class.

I don't have any other info to hand specifying the engine part number. (If there is a better reg number search online , please let me know)

Do a vin number check (vin is on your V5 document)

 

[Srdl]

Do a vin number check (vin is on your V5 document)

https://www.lastvin.com/

 

[bladecrazy]

I know the dci engines are belt, but maybe because its the 2.1 lump and chain driven its a possible because they do break.

 

[Srdl]

I know the dci engines are belt, but maybe because its the 2.1 lump and chain driven its a possible because they do break.

Problems with OM651 timing chains are well known and often discussed on this forum.

 

[ajlsl600]

Must admit I getting a bit fed up with term "goodwill" in reference to awful design and reliability of same.
To me its a simple issue of poor construction,penny pinching design and outright fraud,software ,being rectified by those who create the issue and profited by the sale of same.nothing goodwill about it.

 

[mioba]

goodwill is simply admitting a degree of liability to it shouldnt happen. But the owners is still out of pocket to the gain pf dealer.

 

[Buzzz]

https://www.lastvin.com/

ok, Engine number and variant (?) from : https://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/Mercedes-Benz

Engine no.:
651930 32 734317
Major assembly variant: A 651 010 57 18
Part var. design.:
Text

Engine number matches on the link you provided