NOx sensor failure on 2015 E220 Auto BlueTech

[Ian Phipps]

I have recently had my auxiliary battery replaced so my stop/start works now. When paying my bill, I was presented with output from XENTRY that both NOx sensors needed replacing. Apparently, there is a shortage of them and they could install one new and one refurb for £1000. On another forum I read a lot of posts about NOx sensor failures. Some of which had been replaced FOC by MB. Is this a known problem?

Anybody else had this problem? It is ok apparently to drive the car but the correct amount of AdBlue won't be delivered to the engine. I have not had a recall letter to do the software upgrade yet for removing the cheat software. Anybody experienced this or got some goodwill from MB?

Any help much appreciated as I don't know how to proceed.

 

[Cole@MBS]

You first have to see if the car excepts a 30o code using star, that updates the data card at merc Germany, that then gives a merc dealers the correct part, engine software then has to be updated once the parts are fitted, sorry to say but we see this now on a daily basis, it’s as common as a blown bulb now days!!! If you don’t have it done, the ad blue will count down and refuse to start the car once the counter hits 0!!

 

[Ian Phipps]

You first have to see if the car excepts a 30o code using star, that updates the data card at merc Germany, that then gives a merc dealers the correct part, engine software then has to be updated once the parts are fitted, sorry to say but we see this now on a daily basis, it’s as common as a blown bulb now days!!! If you don’t have it done, the ad blue will count down and refuse to start the car once the counter hits 0!!

Thanks Cole for your comment. Do you find that MB UK are making a contribution to the cost of replacing the NOx sensors?
I am about to write an Email to MB Customer Services asking for a goodwill contribution as the car has been serviced correctly by MB or Approved Specialists and this seems to be a known problem with these parts. What do you think my chances are?

Ian

 

[bladecrazy]

Its hit and miss as to if they will pay, i tried and was refused although i have full service history but 2 where from a specialist although still an approved mercedes specialist, a mate also had his refused, i have since emailed customer services and will see what they say but doubt anything will come of it, who fitted your battery and gave you the diagnostics result was that mercedes?.

 

[Ian Phipps]

Its hit and miss as to if they will pay, i tried and was refused although i have full service history but 2 where from a specialist although still an approved mercedes specialist, a mate also had his refused, i have since emailed customer services and will see what they say but doubt anything will come of it, who fitted your battery and gave you the diagnostics result was that mercedes?.

 

[Ian Phipps]

Autoclass in Milton Keynes replaced the aux battery and ran a scan on spec. I’m happy with that.

rather than email MB direct I’ve used a good free dispute resolution service at Resolver.com. So watch this space.

 

[homer215]

Autoclass in Milton Keynes replaced the aux battery and ran a scan on spec. I’m happy with that.

rather than email MB direct I’ve used a good free dispute resolution service at Resolver.com. So watch this space.

Hi Ian
Please let us know how you get on, having the same problem

 

[Ian Phipps]

Hi folks,
Just had the biggest surprise of my life. Went back to MB Direct and their tech did a diagnostic check (waived the £120 charge) and thought that maybe a NOx sensor replacement might be necessary. So engine management light on and no Stop/Start function working. Booked me in for the job to be done and I prepared to argue about the bill and goodwill afterwards. They ordered the parts and when I took the car back they did the full monty of a check, did the software upgrade beforehand and hey presto EM light off and when XSTAR used, no error codes and problem has gone away. All good. So no bill for £1500, just £30 for a courtesy car! All good. I have cancelled my Resolver.com case 2 weeks before it was due to be escalated to MB MD UK. Hope this helps.

 

[ajlsl600]

Thanks Cole for your comment. Do you find that MB UK are making a contribution to the cost of replacing the NOx sensors?
I am about to write an Email to MB Customer Services asking for a goodwill contribution as the car has been serviced correctly by MB or Approved Specialists and this seems to be a known problem with these parts. What do you think my chances are?

Ian

Benz nox sensors are, frankly rubbish quality. Don't know how they get away with it. Wonder how that pans out in the states. When that happens to me I hope to delete everything involved. Of note. I have yet to replace a sensor on my 01 clk!! Now they can't make em work out of warranty. Must be a reason for that!!!!!

 

[ajlsl600]

Hi folks,
Just had the biggest surprise of my life. Went back to MB Direct and their tech did a diagnostic check (waived the £120 charge) and thought that maybe a NOx sensor replacement might be necessary. So engine management light on and no Stop/Start function working. Booked me in for the job to be done and I prepared to argue about the bill and goodwill afterwards. They ordered the parts and when I took the car back they did the full monty of a check, did the software upgrade beforehand and hey presto EM light off and when XSTAR used, no error codes and problem has gone away. All good. So no bill for £1500, just £30 for a courtesy car! All good. I have cancelled my Resolver.com case 2 weeks before it was due to be escalated to MB MD UK. Hope this helps.

Fair play you were very lucky......

 

[Ian Phipps]

Fair play you were very lucky......

Yes I was. I do wonder whether the software upgrade has been changed. The note from MB left in my car states that it won't affect power, mpg, blah, blah, to the point I was left wondering what it did affect! Perhaps some of the NOx problems would go away if more people had the upgrade done. I don't know as these engine systems are far beyond my ancient skills from back in the day. Anyway, I hope it helps somebody.

 

[ajlsl600]

Yup.prob with benz upgrades .everything gets upgraded,then at times issues you never had come up .new nox sensors,cant avoid upgrade.BUT you dont own the software !!

 

[Botus]

its all doing exactly what they planned...

the unknowledgeable pay a lot of money to a main dealership, the brighter ones force to get their statutory rights upheld, either way the car gets back in the dealer network.

1) so they can check things are failing exactly like they designed them
2) they can see how servicing is or isn't being electronically captured
3) so they can get your details and offer services
4) you wander round the showroom and see how far the world moved. Then get you on a lease scheme after scaring the living daylights out of you

 

[ajlsl600]

Not falling for ANY of that again.not interested in payin to play benz R&D scheme any more.

 

[LostKiwi]

its all doing exactly what they planned...

the unknowledgeable pay a lot of money to a main dealership, the brighter ones force to get their statutory rights upheld, either way the car gets back in the dealer network.

1) so they can check things are failing exactly like they designed them
2) they can see how servicing is or isn't being electronically captured
3) so they can get your details and offer services
4) you wander round the showroom and see how far the world moved. Then get you on a lease scheme after scaring the living daylights out of you

Cynic....

 

[Ian Phipps]

UPDATE: So after the software 'upgrade' the EM light went off and apparently no error codes on their system. Happy days well for two days and the engine mgt light back on. Personally I think they just recalibrated and hoped for the best. Any hoo, I challenged them and car booked in for the nth time to have the NOx sensors replaced. Now I had a Resolver.com claim in with MBUK which had two weeks to go before it would be escalated to MBUK's MD. I had an email back from MBUK HQ saying 'they were not a compensation organisation and I should go through the retailer'. Fair enough, back to the MB retailer in Hemel.

So booked in, then told they would need to keep the car overnight as one of the NOx sensors was delivered faulty when they tested it and they had ordered a new one! So driving in their courtesy car and then have to go back for 5pm to collect mine. I told them I didn't expect to get a bill for £1500 and I didn't. Good will claim to HQ and agreed.

All in all very stressful but very glad to get back into my E220 estate. Car working fine without the reported problems after the upgrade. I have a 7-speed. Have they changed the upgrade?

Hope my blether helps - I do recommend resolver.com for putting pressure on large organisations and streamlining the complaints process for free.

Also 20% off service plans which brings them down to the independents' pricing near me - finishes end September.

Cheers Ian

 

[bladecrazy]

I did mine myself and cost £500 fitted, one thing is they still have not done the emmissions software update desite them sending emails on a weekly basis, i wont be going.

 

[ajlsl600]

One nox sensor delivered faulty. Tells us what we, I already know. Benz sensors, made by the lowest bidder, to a std that at least statistically gets past warranty, a grand with update!! If that don't change it will be delete as far as I concerned they are crxx. And that's it simple,

 

[ajlsl600]

I did mine myself and cost £500 fitted, one thing is they still have not done the emmissions software update desite them sending emails on a weekly basis, i wont be going.

Unless u have to.. Don't go. I think everything gets updated in some cases you get updated to worse mpg as well!!!!!!!

 

[Botus]

I did mine myself and cost £500 fitted, one thing is they still have not done the emmissions software update desite them sending emails on a weekly basis, i wont be going.

I may be muddled.... I'm under the impression the correct sensors are designed to only go with the software update - they go hand in hand do they not ?

or more worryingly, because you didn't apply part one of the fake update, (which triggers the parts system to give the right components), it still offers you the old sensors, which by the way will only make the light come on inside a month or so - because the "fault" isn't real.

All it ever was, is a get you in the dealership to spend some money alarm, purely triggered in software not by any faulty component... the only way to put the alarm clock back to snooze, is to apply part two of the software update.... which after all is only to mask the fiddle, so you believe everything is legit and its not someone pulling a fast one. Thus it combines the new parts and the new software... and all they really did was code off the alarm feature

which as they have worked in conjunction with the enemy, you need to off, as no lights on is a prerequisite to get past an MOT....