Simonium
Member
New member and MB owner from May last year.
I am hoping someone here can offer some help. I have an extremely temperamental S211 E500, which we love (well my wife loves and I currently tolerate). I wanted a V8 as a last hurrah before we are doomed to drive milk floats, and was advised a S211 E500 because the engine and gearbox are very durable and reliable, and because only an E class estate is big enough (well a Volvo 240 would have been better in that regard, but they're daft money).
It has been beset with issues after picking it up - most of which we have cured, and some of which we have not. It has a seemingly capacity for developing new faults - it has done exactly that today. I have set aside money for service, rectification, and maintenance both usual and extraordinary, but it's finding new ways of eating through that!
I have changed, so far;
Oil & Filter
Gearbox oil
Spark plugs
Pollen filter
Track rod ends
Tie rod ends
6 tyres (punctures!)
Front discs and pads
Front brake hoses
Battery- Varta so a decent one
2 new keys
NSR Air balloon - twice, one cheap, one Aerosus
All three suspension level sensors - genuine OEM sensors
Toothed belt & pulley
Underside cleaned and waxoyl'd
Front wheel arch liners & under tray
I now have three issues.
1) Suspension playing up - usually, but not exclusively, the front raising itself to its highest level, leading to an uncomfortable ride quality. It has been reset by the local specialist twice (using Star), but soon starts playing up again. The suspension does change height, and the raise car button by the gearshift will raise the back when the front is at its maximum. Voltages are apparently fine, and there are also no leaks, apparently. My little OBD fault reader iCarsoft MB v2.0 recalls no error codes. A diagnostic techie friend has suggested there is a valve at the back of the compressor which may be stuck and which could result in this problem as the air isn't being evacuated correctly. The compressor is also fairly noisy so I'm guessing changing that wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
2) Gearbox issues - this is a replacement gearbox from a main dealer, not recently but not fifteen years ago, either. The car won't change gear on start up once driving, but if switched off, and then back on, will do so, most of the time after one restart, but will occasionally need two. There is sometimes also a huge clunk when going engaging Reverse and another when engaging Drive - this is when it's cold and won't do it again that day. A whine, which also goes away when the car is warmed up. No oil leak noted either from oil draining on to the ground, or when the car was in for it's waxoyling last month.
3) The dashboard display flickers, and twice has gone out altogether although that hasn't happened for months. I wonder whether replacing the auxiliary battery might be helpful here?
As you can imagine I have spent enough on this car now that I ain't going to concede defeat, and my wife is even more determined than I am, but believe me I have thought those thoughts!
I apologise for the dissertation, but I am hoping someone might have some suggestions that I can put to the specialist when I book it in next.
Thanks in advance!
Simon
I am hoping someone here can offer some help. I have an extremely temperamental S211 E500, which we love (well my wife loves and I currently tolerate). I wanted a V8 as a last hurrah before we are doomed to drive milk floats, and was advised a S211 E500 because the engine and gearbox are very durable and reliable, and because only an E class estate is big enough (well a Volvo 240 would have been better in that regard, but they're daft money).
It has been beset with issues after picking it up - most of which we have cured, and some of which we have not. It has a seemingly capacity for developing new faults - it has done exactly that today. I have set aside money for service, rectification, and maintenance both usual and extraordinary, but it's finding new ways of eating through that!
I have changed, so far;
Oil & Filter
Gearbox oil
Spark plugs
Pollen filter
Track rod ends
Tie rod ends
6 tyres (punctures!)
Front discs and pads
Front brake hoses
Battery- Varta so a decent one
2 new keys
NSR Air balloon - twice, one cheap, one Aerosus
All three suspension level sensors - genuine OEM sensors
Toothed belt & pulley
Underside cleaned and waxoyl'd
Front wheel arch liners & under tray
I now have three issues.
1) Suspension playing up - usually, but not exclusively, the front raising itself to its highest level, leading to an uncomfortable ride quality. It has been reset by the local specialist twice (using Star), but soon starts playing up again. The suspension does change height, and the raise car button by the gearshift will raise the back when the front is at its maximum. Voltages are apparently fine, and there are also no leaks, apparently. My little OBD fault reader iCarsoft MB v2.0 recalls no error codes. A diagnostic techie friend has suggested there is a valve at the back of the compressor which may be stuck and which could result in this problem as the air isn't being evacuated correctly. The compressor is also fairly noisy so I'm guessing changing that wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
2) Gearbox issues - this is a replacement gearbox from a main dealer, not recently but not fifteen years ago, either. The car won't change gear on start up once driving, but if switched off, and then back on, will do so, most of the time after one restart, but will occasionally need two. There is sometimes also a huge clunk when going engaging Reverse and another when engaging Drive - this is when it's cold and won't do it again that day. A whine, which also goes away when the car is warmed up. No oil leak noted either from oil draining on to the ground, or when the car was in for it's waxoyling last month.
3) The dashboard display flickers, and twice has gone out altogether although that hasn't happened for months. I wonder whether replacing the auxiliary battery might be helpful here?
As you can imagine I have spent enough on this car now that I ain't going to concede defeat, and my wife is even more determined than I am, but believe me I have thought those thoughts!
I apologise for the dissertation, but I am hoping someone might have some suggestions that I can put to the specialist when I book it in next.
Thanks in advance!
Simon
