Misfuel/Merc Specialist Needed

[Qaribbean]

Hi all, new to the forum, not the ideal way to introduce myself but I come desperately seeking advice!


I need to know of a good Mercedes specialist in East London, specifically for dealing with a misfuel situation.


I have a 2013 C250 CDI. Yesterday my wife accidentally filled up with Unleaded instead of the required Diesel! Was an empty tank and she filled it about half way then drove about 1min before realising something felt funny and then pulled over and shut off.


First response at the time was calling the Merc breakdown cover we have which took about 2.5 hours to come and they said they’d take it to the nearest dealer garage and then could take a look and let me know cost of any repairs if necessary. In hindsight I guess I should’ve called one of those misfuel specialists but oh well!


Issue arises this morning when they say they want over £400 just to take a look and tell me if there’s anything up! I’m disputing with them about this now as that is not what I was advised would happen, however reading around it appears that I shouldn’t need too much done other than flushing first and seeing what’s up.


Happy to pay to get the vehicle taken from Merc to someone else but wanted recommendations on who best to go to for something like this.


Thanks!

 

[A.J.]

Hi Qaribbean, welcome to the forum I did the self same thing about three years ago when I had a Diesel. I called the AA who run a mobile service. It takes them forever to arrive but the job itself takes about half an hour or so. Their charge was £220.00 which is probably cheaper than a MB specialist and certainly cheaper than an MB Stealer.

 

[Qaribbean]

Hi Qaribbean, welcome to the forum I did the self same thing about three years ago when I had a Diesel. I called the AA who run a mobile service. It takes them forever to arrive but the job itself takes about half an hour or so. Their charge was £220.00 which is probably cheaper than a MB specialist and certainly cheaper than an MB Stealer.

Hi AJD, yeah in hindsight now I realize that might have been the best solution however at the time wife was on her own and first thought was just getting her and vehicle picked up!

Given that I've got the car sitting in a MB garage at the moment, do you think I'd still be able to get AA or equivalent fuel fixer service to come and deal with it or more going to need to get it off MB's hands before I can do anything with it?

P.S. "MB Stealer"

 

[A.J.]

Hi AJD, yeah in hindsight now I realize that might have been the best solution however at the time wife was on her own and first thought was just getting her and vehicle picked up!

Given that I've got the car sitting in a MB garage at the moment, do you think I'd still be able to get AA or equivalent fuel fixer service to come and deal with it or more going to need to get it off MB's hands before I can do anything with it?

P.S. "MB Stealer"

Is the MB stealer one that you use on a regular basis ? Because they are obviously going to be a bit grumpy if you get the AA or similar in to do the job. Perhaps you should just sound them out. Tell them the cost with the AA and ask them to price match maybe. If they don't want to know maybe that would give you clear passage to call your preferred fixer assuming they will let them on site

 

[PovertySpec]

Check your car insurance policy for misfuelling cover.

 

[Qaribbean]

Check your car insurance policy for misfuelling cover.

Misuelling not covered unfortunately, got the standard level of Comprehensive cover.

Have breakdown cover with my bank, wondering if worth checking to see if it could cover any costs.

 

[Qaribbean]

Is the MB stealer one that you use on a regular basis ? Because they are obviously going to be a bit grumpy if you get the AA or similar in to do the job. Perhaps you should just sound them out. Tell them the cost with the AA and ask them to price match maybe. If they don't want to know maybe that would give you clear passage to call your preferred fixer assuming they will let them on site

I've been in the area about a year so I've only used that MB Stealer once for a service, but it will be the go to from now on.

Just had a call with the mechanic and he explained the £400 is cost to complete a series of checks on the fuel lines, pump, system etc for any "swarf" and potential damage first; he did say he's seen situations like this where they've just been asked to flush and then afterward theres still damage - want to believe thats an honest mechanic talking and not someone just trying to get my cash!

He said he could get a cost for and proceed with draining the tank and the system and flushing it, but then if they go to start and there is damage then I'm back where I started. He's going to get costs for drain/flush and come back to me but contemplating if should do checks for £400 and that way if there is real damage can just get on with that??

 

[A.J.]

I've been in the area about a year so I've only used that MB Stealer once for a service, but it will be the go to from now on.

You need to get yourself a good independent rather that an MB dealer. Would save you a lot of money. Once we know your location an Indie can be recommended from experience of our members

 

[Qaribbean]

Update! Mechanic said he'd take the system check down to £200 (from £400) and then if there's no damage, clearing out system and refueling would be just over £900.

If there is damage, well then that needs to be assessed but could be looking at minimum £3,000!

 

[Qaribbean]

You need to get yourself a good independent rather that an MB dealer. Would save you a lot of money. Once we know your location an Indie can be recommended from experience of our members

I'm in the Docklands are of East London.

 

[Blobcat]

Update! Mechanic said he'd take the system check down to £200 (from £400) and then if there's no damage, clearing out system and refueling would be just over £900.

If there is damage, well then that needs to be assessed but could be looking at minimum £3,000!

So £1,100 to drain and refill...

 

[umblecumbuz]

£1,100 - that buys a lot of fuel!
Your choice then - either go with what you've got and stump up, or have the car taken to another garage - possibly just for a flush.
As your wife only drove a very short distance before realising her mistake, any damage - even if there is any damage - should be minimal and confined.

 

[A.J.]

Update! Mechanic said he'd take the system check down to £200 (from £400) and then if there's no damage, clearing out system and refueling would be just over £900.

If there is damage, well then that needs to be assessed but could be looking at minimum £3,000!

Well that is a sort of result, my only fear would be if they report engine damage when in fact there wasn't. That is just my fear, maybe I just have a mis-trusting mind

 

[LostKiwi]

I would like to know how they check for swarf. If it's a physical check it's pretty meaningless as unless the pump has broken up all there will be is fine particles too small to see.

 

[A.J.]

£1,100 - that buys a lot of fuel!
Your choice then - either go with what you've got and stump up, or have the car taken to another garage - possibly just for a flush.
As your wife only drove a very short distance before realising her mistake, any damage - even if there is any damage - should be minimal and confined.

When I was in the same position I guess I drove about a 3/4 of a mile and there was no damage !!

 

[LostKiwi]

AMF isn't a million miles away... Call @alexanderfoti on here and see what he suggests.

 

[Qaribbean]

Well that is a sort of result, my only fear would be if they report engine damage when in fact there wasn't. That is just my fear, maybe I just have a mis-trusting mind

My fear also - we aren't mistrusting, just pessimists who expect the worst and like to be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Qaribbean]

So £1,100 to drain and refill...

I know...starting to get the MB Stealer joke now!!

 

[Kersidan]

This happened to me a few years ago. Mercedes said the bill could be upwards of £4K (replace high pressure pump etc). AA did a drain, flush and fill for approx £300. The AA man said he used to work for Mercedes and said the risk of damage after a mile or so was negligible. Mercedes tend to work on the basis that they need to guarantee that the work is as per 'new condition' so the only way is to replace and spend £££'s. NB the car then clocked up a further 60K miles with no problems.

Mark

 

[ajlsl600]

wow !!!!! twas me would drain/ pump out tank much as poss (no doubt some bean counter has done away with drain plug !) ,change fuel filters drain common rail (assumes thats design )? re fuel adding a small amount of castrol R 40 or similar . take feed of common rail turn key pump fuel TILL NO SIGN OF PETROL (maybe messy ) replace feed pipe give it a whirl . areas of concern . high press pump normally lubed by diesel , not much lube in petrol hence oil in new fill ! you are inevitably going to run a small amount of petrol thru system. if it starts let it run a bit ,off it and repeat a few times till it starts first flick or as normal dont cane it .hope for best think this how i would go about it.. that should not cost £400. needless to say i am not suggesting you do as i might... the only expensive part i know of in the equation is the electrically heated fuel filter near £80 I believe from benz ! and if twas me i would, unless it was due change simply flush it out well and refill with clean diesel. its plain robbery that the heating element cant be swapped to the new filter.. good luck

it not benz /fuel stn problem but with all this so called GREAT ? tech it cant be rocket science to have .yes, another sensor in/on pump nozzle that talks to same on/in tank spout that "says" wrong pump man try again.. ie useful tech . ! remember on my diesel G it use to say in the handbook to add a little petrol in winter !!