2017 E200 Ad Blue tank replacement

[Kaybertoo]

I had a warning message come up saying Unable to read fluid levels for Ad Blu. I suspected that the car would shut down so I booked it in to my nearest a Mercedes Garage. The car is just 3 years old in April but the warning came up on March 22nd. Due to the Covid shut down the garage could only see the car today. On arrival I was told your car is out of warranty I agreed to have the car checked for the fault. Three hours later I got a call to say I needed a new Ad Blu tank and that will be 1550 plus 175 to diagnose the fault. I asked could the garage appeal this fault repair with Mercedes to which they immediately responded to say it has been refused and no good will will be offered. Obviously I was taken back and shocked. I was then told that if I had bought the car from this outlet good will could have been considered. Had this garage been competitive at the time I would have bought from them but as a cash customer other dealerships wanted my business.
I am not a happy customer as this is my fifth E Class and I really feel that the tank is not something that I could have damaged. I decided to phone four other dealerships to have a chat and they all have had to replace tanks on E200 of around the same age. Obviously the design of this tank should declare it as not fit for purpose and Mercedes should accept a car of this age with a known fault should look after the consumer.
My faith in Mercedes to date has been good but unfortunately this time I had just retired and this was my first car I had to buy myself. Today has not been a good experience with a top brand and tomorrow I just have to fork out the cash to get my car back.
I used to be a Lexus fan and loved them and only ever had one issue which was sorted immediately at their cost outside warranty.
I have hopefully made my point and I have been caught.
In Ireland Mercedes only give two years warranty yet 70 miles north in Northern Ireland they give three years.
I have enjoyed this car but when the trade in time comes I can’t see it being a Merc

 

[Headhurts]

This surprises me as I have read posts where good Will has been given quite far out of warranty.

Has the car been serviced outside of the dealerships?

I would try appealing to Mercedes customer service directly.

Good luck,
Robin

 

[ajlsl600]

Why did it need replacing. It's a fluid tank. I can't remember the last time I ever needed to replace a fluid tank. Did you drive over something and wreck it? If not get a written explanation for the requirement, or is there a sensor fitted in it that can't be obtained without the tank, which seems to be a new Benz fiddle.
Along with manifold bolts that only come with manifolds! Water level sensors that only come with header tanks.! And ball joints that only come with struts and arms. Next will be fan belts that have to come with alternators and water pumps.
Hope you get an acceptable result.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Sorry to hear this!

The ADBLUE issue you’re experiencing across the MB range of diesel engines doesn’t appear that often on the forum thankfully so I suppose you have to consider yourself unlucky. I do wonder about the viability of these cars as they age some of the EU6 compliant components failing on 10 year old vehicles might make them uneconomic to repair.

My son extends his MB warranty annually on his 220d which is one way round the risk but this comes at a cost of £700pa but that covers him for 20k miles it might be worth negotiating something similar I believe the mileage affects the cost

I would certainly talk direct to MB about the issue especially as you’re aware it affects your particular model/year.

Good luck with it this is one of the reasons I’ve gone back to petrol

 

[ajlsl600]

My14 plare ml250 had its adblue tank and other related parts replaced in 2017 and around 45k miles it cost the previous owner around 900 quid based on invoices that came with the car. So I would say it's not that unusual , and I would love to know why it should be required, short of perhaps a rear end shunt..

 

[Blobcat]

My14 plare ml250 had its adblue tank and other related parts replaced in 2017 and around 45k miles it cost the previous owner around 900 quid based on invoices that came with the car. So I would say it's not that unusual , and I would love to know why it should be required, short of perhaps a rear end shunt..

I’ve seen a few adblue issues on and off the forum and some ~£4,500 to fix....
The urea crystals come out of suspension and do quite a bit of damage. Not limited to MB all and the issue will only get worse.

The car will run perfectly well without adblue - however the software won’t let it run without it working. It would be a hanging offence to disable the adblue - worse than the VeedDub emissions scandal.

 

[ajlsl600]

Cheers for info. I Wil try to keep it working, but anytime a grand plus bill looms on horizon. It will be adblue delete.

 

[Kaybertoo]

My14 plare ml250 had its adblue tank and other related parts replaced in 2017 and around 45k miles it cost the previous owner around 900 quid based on invoices that came with the car. So I would say it's not that unusual , and I would love to know why it should be required, short of perhaps a rear end shunt..

No the car was never hit and yes it was the sensor that failed. Hard to believe a simple thing like a sensor require a whole new tank.
I have emailed Mercedes and waiting for their reply. Thank you all for your replies as it helps to understand the issues

 

[ajlsl600]

There was recent case where someone needed water level sensor for car header tank, Benz only sell sensor with tank! Cost the guy200 quid plus... Nuts for consumer.
Can't wait to understand why one needs to buy adblue tank to get sensor!!!

 

[EmilysDad]

There was recent case where someone needed water level sensor for car header tank, Benz only sell sensor with tank! Cost the guy200 quid plus... Nuts for consumer.
Can't wait to understand why one needs to buy adblue tank to get sensor!!!

The water/coolant sensor on my Omega was integral to the header tank too.

 

[alexanderfoti]

We have done a few tanks, also had a few where the wiring was broken and corroded!

 

[CJD]

I had a warning message come up saying Unable to read fluid levels for Ad Blu. I suspected that the car would shut down so I booked it in to my nearest a Mercedes Garage. The car is just 3 years old in April but the warning came up on March 22nd. Due to the Covid shut down the garage could only see the car today. On arrival I was told your car is out of warranty I agreed to have the car checked for the fault. Three hours later I got a call to say I needed a new Ad Blu tank and that will be 1550 plus 175 to diagnose the fault. I asked could the garage appeal this fault repair with Mercedes to which they immediately responded to say it has been refused and no good will will be offered. Obviously I was taken back and shocked. I was then told that if I had bought the car from this outlet good will could have been considered. Had this garage been competitive at the time I would have bought from them but as a cash customer other dealerships wanted my business.
I am not a happy customer as this is my fifth E Class and I really feel that the tank is not something that I could have damaged. I decided to phone four other dealerships to have a chat and they all have had to replace tanks on E200 of around the same age. Obviously the design of this tank should declare it as not fit for purpose and Mercedes should accept a car of this age with a known fault should look after the consumer.
My faith in Mercedes to date has been good but unfortunately this time I had just retired and this was my first car I had to buy myself. Today has not been a good experience with a top brand and tomorrow I just have to fork out the cash to get my car back.
I used to be a Lexus fan and loved them and only ever had one issue which was sorted immediately at their cost outside warranty.
I have hopefully made my point and I have been caught.
In Ireland Mercedes only give two years warranty yet 70 miles north in Northern Ireland they give three years.
I have enjoyed this car but when the trade in time comes I can’t see it being a Merc

Have you tried to contact the dealership he bought the car from?
If it has a full service history I would be very surprised if the don't at least offer some good will, or preferably replace FOC saying as how this happened when the car was still under warranty?

 

[ajlsl600]

We have done a few tanks, also had a few where the wiring was broken and corroded!

Got that but what's wrong with repairing the wiring, which I think is what you may be getting at. The policy of change tank to get sensor is still nuts, lot here bringing up issues of pollution, emissions. What about energy, raw materials, transport, costs of making all this stuff that we really did not need? I am at the cost but I guess all the same parameters apply here as well.

 

[Blobcat]

Got that but what's wrong with repairing the wiring, which I think is what you may be getting at. The policy of change tank to get sensor is still nuts, lot here bringing up issues of pollution, emissions. What about energy, raw materials, transport, costs of making all this stuff that we really did not need? I am at the cost but I guess all the same parameters apply here as well.

Because all of those are hidden emissions... so irrelevant

 

[ajlsl600]

At the crux of all this, I don't mind being a consumer. I just want to pay to consume what I decide to buy, not what some Dtf boardroom meeting decides.

 

[Kaybertoo]

I got my car back and had to pay my bill to get the keys. While I did not buy the car from MSL (Mercedes Motor Group - Ireland) they are my nearest dealer and I have a feeling they did not fight my case hard enough. Compared to any other dealerships I have been with over the last 15 years MSL (Mercedes Motor Group - Ireland) are quite different. You only have to try and phone the garage to get an answering machine and a guarantee of no phone call back. Some service during the Covid where I had to have notice to travel to collect my car.
I have written to Mercedes and await a reply. Lets hope I get it within the Three years before this tank goes.
As it happened my Wifes Skoda was in for its 5 year service the same day and from a customer care point of view MSL (Mercedes Motor Group - Ireland) should spend just half a day with them to see how it can be done

 

[John Laidlaw]

Just to be clear to anyone reading this thread, we are talking about MSL Mercedes Motor Group , Ireland, not MSL in Birmingham who are a respected Indy (and tuner)....

 

[Kaybertoo]

Just to be clear to anyone reading this thread, we are talking about MSL Mercedes Motor Group , Ireland, not MSL in Birmingham who are a respected Indy (and tuner)....

Apologies for not stating I am based in Ireland and Not in the UK. Apologies to MSL Birmingham for any confusion

 

[Blobcat]

Apologies for not stating I am based in Ireland and Not in the UK. Apologies to MSL Birmingham for any confusion

I've added the (Mercedes Motor Group - Ireland) for you

 

[John Laidlaw]

Apologies for not stating I am based in Ireland and Not in the UK. Apologies to MSL Birmingham for any confusion

Understandable, not a problem