C180k Faulty oil sensor and a coolant leak!

[Micman]

Hi all,

Typical, just when the last thing you need is another bill.... the car goes wrong!

I have a 54 C180k, It's 3 year warranty runs out in September 07. Not had any problems with it the whole time until now!

The computer display told me to 'check coolant level' Friday night. That I did, it was low and on Saturday morning I topped it up.

Used the car Saturday for short run, on way home it says 'check coolant level' again and also gives another new malfunction 'faulty oil sensor - take to workshop'.

Checking the coolant level again this morning and the level has dropped overnight so it's obviously leaking somewhere although I can't pinpoint where.

Also I have the computer giving me the 'faulty oil sensor' malfunction.

My question is are these items likely to be covered under the warranty? (I'm thinking yes to the oil sensor, perhaps not to a leaking coolant hose?)

Anyway, there is nothing I can do on a Sunday, so Monday morning will be a trip straight to the Main Dealer. (I normally go to a local independent garage, but thinking the Main Dealer might be the best place to start with this issue as hopefully they will be warranty items).

Are the two faults likely to be linked?

Any thoughts/feedback welcomed...

 

[BlackC55]

It will all be covered under the warranty. Take it to the dealer and explain fully what the problems are.

 

[Micman]

Thanks for that Black C55

I will let you know how I get on, as you say, fingers crossed it will be rectified under the warranty.

 

[Micman]

New Head Gasket and more!!

Well, I said I would report back and boy do I have plenty to report...

Called dealer on Monday 16th June, told them the problems and they said don't drive it we will send MobiloLife to your house to check the car over. Great service they arrived within 30mins (8.20am).

He checked car, confirmed the problems and said it had to go to the main dealer for repair. It was safe for me to drive there which I did and they arranged for me to collect a nice 56reg C180K from the dealer to use the whole time my car was in the garage. Great service.

So... My car was 1,000 miles away from needing it's 3rd service. It is a 54reg car with only 28k miles on clock. Fortunatley they confirmed all work would be covered under the warranty which is due to end in Sept07. To cut a long story short they had my car in the garage all week and found that oil and water was indeed mixing! During this time they replaced various parts - thermostat, oil sensors, coolant hoses etc and traced a fault to a smaller gasket at the front of the engine which had failed (not the head gasket).

While doing the work they also carried out my service and gave me a nice discount due to the fact that they had been changing oil and the like as part of the warranty repairs anyway. So I had no complaints with that.

The smaller gasket was replaced only for them to find the car continued to display the same problems. Eventually they had to check the head gasket and found a fault with that so that got replaced. The car was finally repaired and ready for collection on Friday 20th July so I went down to collect it in my courtesy car.

On collecting it I started it up only for the engine warning light to stay alight. Obviously I walked straight back inside. They said I better continue to use the courtesy car until they had checked further.

So, on Monday 23rd July I collected the car, the warning light had come on as something to do with the cam timing apparently which needed further adjustment.

My car is running fine so far. I have no problem whatsoever with my local dealer (Gatwick) who looked after me every step of the way. Also I was very impressed with MobiloLife and the fact they gave me a like for like replacement car the whole time it was in for repair.

Thank you to all who worked on it and thank god for the warranty!

My only problem now is my confidence in the brand is dented and do I really want to own a Mercedes anymore?? I've always loved owning a Merc, but a car that cost me over 20k and within 3 years and only 28k miles I have to have major work carried out and a failing head gasket!! Not good.

Suddenly a trip to the local Audi, VW or BMW garage is looking very appealing.

Anyone else experienced similar?

 

[jberks]

My only problem now is my confidence in the brand is dented and do I really want to own a Mercedes anymore?? I've always loved owning a Merc, but a car that cost me over 20k and within 3 years and only 28k miles I have to have major work carried out and a failing head gasket!! Not good.

Suddenly a trip to the local Audi, VW or BMW garage is looking very appealing.

Anyone else experienced similar?

As per my other posts - head gaskets on mercs are extremely rare failures but anything can go on any car, however expensive.
What matters is what they do about it, and in your case, they've done all they could.
Before you rush off, my brand new Audi A3 1.8T sport threw a conrod after 60 miles. The next one was perfect as was the one that followed that.

 

[Glenn Smith]

Well, I said I would report back and boy do I have plenty to report...

Called dealer on Monday 16th June, told them the problems and they said don't drive it we will send MobiloLife to your house to check the car over. Great service they arrived within 30mins (8.20am).

He checked car, confirmed the problems and said it had to go to the main dealer for repair. It was safe for me to drive there which I did and they arranged for me to collect a nice 56reg C180K from the dealer to use the whole time my car was in the garage. Great service.

So... My car was 1,000 miles away from needing it's 3rd service. It is a 54reg car with only 28k miles on clock. Fortunatley they confirmed all work would be covered under the warranty which is due to end in Sept07. To cut a long story short they had my car in the garage all week and found that oil and water was indeed mixing! During this time they replaced various parts - thermostat, oil sensors, coolant hoses etc and traced a fault to a smaller gasket at the front of the engine which had failed (not the head gasket).

While doing the work they also carried out my service and gave me a nice discount due to the fact that they had been changing oil and the like as part of the warranty repairs anyway. So I had no complaints with that.

The smaller gasket was replaced only for them to find the car continued to display the same problems. Eventually they had to check the head gasket and found a fault with that so that got replaced. The car was finally repaired and ready for collection on Friday 20th July so I went down to collect it in my courtesy car.

On collecting it I started it up only for the engine warning light to stay alight. Obviously I walked straight back inside. They said I better continue to use the courtesy car until they had checked further.

So, on Monday 23rd July I collected the car, the warning light had come on as something to do with the cam timing apparently which needed further adjustment.

My car is running fine so far. I have no problem whatsoever with my local dealer (Gatwick) who looked after me every step of the way. Also I was very impressed with MobiloLife and the fact they gave me a like for like replacement car the whole time it was in for repair.

Thank you to all who worked on it and thank god for the warranty!

My only problem now is my confidence in the brand is dented and do I really want to own a Mercedes anymore?? I've always loved owning a Merc, but a car that cost me over 20k and within 3 years and only 28k miles I have to have major work carried out and a failing head gasket!! Not good.

Suddenly a trip to the local Audi, VW or BMW garage is looking very appealing.

Anyone else experienced similar?

I would say you have been unlucky, possibly the head weren't tightened correctly or it was a faulty gasket, don't believe all you hear about the other makes, they do have their problems as well.

 

[television]

Yes things can go wrong with anything, this goes for any car or make, sadly we only get to hear of the ones that do have the odd problem.
Head gaskets are a rare failure these day, but as said anything can go wrong. You have been looked after well why not enjoy the car now.

 

[Rory]

Any thoughts/feedback welcomed...

Glad it's all sorted for you. I have a few thoughts / observations:

1) You say you normally use an independant - did that not cause any raised eyebrows with Mobilo or the Dealer?

2) Your car at 28K has now been serviced 3 times. My Oct 04 C270 had its first service at 18500 and it's next one is due at about 35000 (has done 31000 now) so you seem to have had a lot of servicing?

3) I think you're being generous in your praise of the dealer when they gave you the car back with a warning light still showing.

4) If you're hanging on to the car and are worried about reliability then get a ServicePlus quote - it covers pretty well all servicing, MOT's & repairs and shouldn't be too much on your car with lowish mileage. It can be cancelled with worst case 3 mths notice so maybe still worth getting if you're thinking of changing the car at some point.