A good place for service and repair in NW London?

[dirkphoto]

Hello everybody,

Have been reading around the forum for a little while and just became a member.

I have been driving a W124 TE200 for the last two years without any note worthy problems UNTIL recently! The engine temperature is constantly heating up and then cooling down to almost normal again. It never overheats, but the needle goes up into the last quarter of the temp scale. It behaves like this on all occasions except of course when on the motorway. Also the car has become thursty for both water mostly and oil not quite as much. I would say I need to top up the water by about a liter every 300 miles or so? and I would say it needs about a litre of oil every 600 miles roughly.

btw, the car has about 105k on its back.

there a no visible external water or oil leaks in the engine block or underneath the car. not quite sure what to make of it. Any ideas?

i was thinking about getting my exhaust emission checked to see whether there is any evidence of water in the engine? Does anybody know of a good place to get the car serviced in the West or north west london area?

thanks in advance for any advise on this matter.

dirk

 

[Bolide]

Thirsty W124

Dirk


Unfortunately, I wouldn't say these are good signs. If the car is losing water, and there's no leak in the radiator, then I'd suspect the cylinder head gasket is failing. The final stages of this failure involve overheating, total loss of compression, a warped cylinder head and a big bill, so I'd act now

I'd contact George Fraser in Wembley or Automerc in Wood Green (East London) and take the car in for a compression test

First thing, though, is to take the oil filler cap off. If it's full of brown "mayonnaise" then the head gasket is probably failing. This test isn't definitive, though, so seek expert advice asap


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[dirkphoto]

Nick,

thanks for the info, I hope all is not too late. Is this situation something that develops rather quickly? I have always ( in the last two years, since I bought the car) had it serviced at Schmitt Automobile Services in NW6, they always complimented the engine???

It's do for a service now and I wonder if I should go there again?

Dirk

 

[Bolide]

Coolant loss

Dirk

I'd definitely go straight back to the garage that knows the car. That way they can compare the situation now with the last time they saw it. Ask them to diagnose and to cost a repair. Then you have the option of going for a second opinion if you want to

In my experience most non-main-dealer garages are very straightforward to deal with and work very much on building up a relationship with their customers. So they should be helpful & responsive

BTW I'm not knocking main dealers. They operate under different rules to everyone else (hugely greater running costs, different objectives, etc) so you can't compare the two for simple jobs


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[dirkphoto]

Thanks for the valuable advise - car is going to the garage tomorrow.....

dirk