haydown
Member
I own an E240 Avantgarde Estate registered November 2000, with an M112 914 V6 engine, circa 88k miles. On 24th September 2007 my engine suffered a catastrophic failure! Whilst climing a circa 1:12 gradient at 30mph, I used "kickdown" to maintain acceleration, then "BANG", clouds of "white smoke" emenating from the rear of the car. Seconds later, a "CLATTER" from the engine compartment. I pulled to the side of the road and the engine cut-out. Smoke and steam in the engine compartment!
The car was recovered to a local non-MB garage and it was established that the rear of the engine block had blown! Oil everywhere! 600 miles was indicated earlier that day before the next "B" service was due.
The engine had blown in the centre between the two V6 cylinder heads and a piece of the rear engine casing is available for inspection! Not likely to be caused by a failed con-rod as this would have blown out the side of the engine block.
I can find no threads on this forum or elsewhere on the internet where such an incident has occured. My local MB dealership have never heard of such an incident either. Some 3 weeks earlier I had a new MAF Sensor fitted by MB. Any possible connection maybe??
There appears to be a shaft visible through the hole in the rear of the engine block. Could this be the balancer shaft? Maybe a failure of the rear bearing on the shaft? Or is there maybe another known cause? Could this be a possible Warranty Claim under "Mobilo Life"?
The car was purchased on 1st June 2007 from a private owner (no warranty given); but does however have a full MB service history. The last service ("B") was on 30th March 2006 when the mileage was 72,219 (circa 16,000 miles driven over the last 18 months). The next service was indicated to be due at either 18,000 miles (not achieved) or 2 years (not achieved).
A new/reconditioned/secondhand engine to be fitted is the only option, other than a write-off of the car which I am unable to afford to do!
My local garage (not an MB authorised garage), has sourced an engine at in excess of £3k + VAT and with removal of the old engine and fitting a replacement, the cost would be a total of in excess of £4k + VAT. The garage states that if I go via a MB guaranteed source the engine and fitting will be in excess of £7k.
I have personally sourced replacement engines via the internet at between £1,750 to circa £2,300 including VAT and delivery charges. These engines have a 90 day warranty attached to them, however with no guarantee of mileage undertaken on them to date. This is clearly a best-cost-option, but is it the right one?
The garage state that if I source and provide my own engine and there are either current of subsequent problems associated with it, then the garage will not be held responsible. This I can understand and accept as a commercial risk to myself, if I choose to go that route.
What I am interested in trying to learn, is whether this catastrophic engine failure is a "known failure" of this particular V6 engine, which I understand was MB's first production V6 at the time the car was manufactured (2000); or is this a previously unknown failure and a "one off"?
Any help from forum members would be much appreciated.
Haydown
The car was recovered to a local non-MB garage and it was established that the rear of the engine block had blown! Oil everywhere! 600 miles was indicated earlier that day before the next "B" service was due.
The engine had blown in the centre between the two V6 cylinder heads and a piece of the rear engine casing is available for inspection! Not likely to be caused by a failed con-rod as this would have blown out the side of the engine block.
I can find no threads on this forum or elsewhere on the internet where such an incident has occured. My local MB dealership have never heard of such an incident either. Some 3 weeks earlier I had a new MAF Sensor fitted by MB. Any possible connection maybe??
There appears to be a shaft visible through the hole in the rear of the engine block. Could this be the balancer shaft? Maybe a failure of the rear bearing on the shaft? Or is there maybe another known cause? Could this be a possible Warranty Claim under "Mobilo Life"?
The car was purchased on 1st June 2007 from a private owner (no warranty given); but does however have a full MB service history. The last service ("B") was on 30th March 2006 when the mileage was 72,219 (circa 16,000 miles driven over the last 18 months). The next service was indicated to be due at either 18,000 miles (not achieved) or 2 years (not achieved).
A new/reconditioned/secondhand engine to be fitted is the only option, other than a write-off of the car which I am unable to afford to do!
My local garage (not an MB authorised garage), has sourced an engine at in excess of £3k + VAT and with removal of the old engine and fitting a replacement, the cost would be a total of in excess of £4k + VAT. The garage states that if I go via a MB guaranteed source the engine and fitting will be in excess of £7k.
I have personally sourced replacement engines via the internet at between £1,750 to circa £2,300 including VAT and delivery charges. These engines have a 90 day warranty attached to them, however with no guarantee of mileage undertaken on them to date. This is clearly a best-cost-option, but is it the right one?
The garage state that if I source and provide my own engine and there are either current of subsequent problems associated with it, then the garage will not be held responsible. This I can understand and accept as a commercial risk to myself, if I choose to go that route.
What I am interested in trying to learn, is whether this catastrophic engine failure is a "known failure" of this particular V6 engine, which I understand was MB's first production V6 at the time the car was manufactured (2000); or is this a previously unknown failure and a "one off"?
Any help from forum members would be much appreciated.
Haydown
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