Oil Sump Replacement

[Evgen Grabarchuk]

Hello,
I have recently purchased my E Class Coupe Mercedes (which was sold as a Category S vehicle). I took the risk of buying it after an examination upon purchase from a private dealer. When I brought the car to my own mechanic, he found that the oil sump has previously been sealed (pictures attached below). Neither of us have an idea of what kind of sealant was used, but apart from that damage, no other major issues were detected.

My question is, had anyone used an oil sump sealant before and if so how long do they last (worst/best scenario)? And if so, would you reccomend changing the oil sump as a matter of urgency? The job itself is worth £1000+ as far as I am aware, so it’s one to consider.

thank you

 

[MinionBob]

Looks like some form of epoxy resin to me - something like araldite.

How long it will last is impossible to say; depends on surface prep, what type of epoxy it is...

 

[Evgen Grabarchuk]

Looks like some form of epoxy resin to me - something like araldite.

How long it will last is impossible to say; depends on surface prep, what type of epoxy it is...

Yeah that’s what the mechanic said, he said it looks very similar to Auldite Sealant (not sure if spelled correctly). Pretending it’s the worst sealant possible, how long does it usually last?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

When I purchased my S210 it needed the windscreen washers sorted out under warranty so my local garage did the job and I also asked them to thoroughly check the car over.. Unfortunately what they found was exactly what you’ve found the sump had been damaged and was sealed up with some type of epoxy mixture which was seeping. I’d only had the car less than a week so back it went to the trader for a new sump. I later surmised that the sump had in all probability been damaged when the wheels had been refurbed at my request before delivery. There had been no attempt to cover the damage up due to there also not being an underbody panel which had obviously been beyond repair. My view is that if you are keeping the car get another sump fitted ASAP

 

[Evgen Grabarchuk]

When I purchased my S210 it needed the windscreen washers sorted out under warranty so my local garage did the job and I also asked them to thoroughly check the car over.. Unfortunately what they found was exactly what you’ve found the sump had been damaged and was sealed up with some type of epoxy mixture which was seeping. I’d only had the car less than a week so back it went to the trader for a new sump. I later surmised that the sump had in all probability been damaged when the wheels had been refurbed at my request before delivery. There had been no attempt to cover the damage up due to there also not being an underbody panel which had obviously been beyond repair. My view is that if you are keeping the car get another sump fitted ASAP

Thank you for sharing this with me. I’m in the same position as you, as I’ve only had the car for 3 weeks, and buying the car as a Cat S was my own risk taking. Did you manage to repair it at the end and if so (if you don’t mind me asking) what was the final price for the job?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Thank you for sharing this with me. I’m in the same position as you, as I’ve only had the car for 3 weeks, and buying the car as a Cat S was my own risk taking. Did you manage to repair it at the end and if so (if you don’t mind me asking) what was the final price for the job?

Going back a bit in time it was 2004, the trader delivered the car from Southampton so it was picked back up and taken back down there for a local MB specialist to do the job so not quite sure of the cost it would certainly have been >£500. I wasn’t prepared to take the risk even if it hadn’t been seeping and was pretty annoyed with the trader the car was only 4 years old with a £17k purchase price. Once fixed I kept the car for 16 years the OM613 is a peach of an engine

 

[Evgen Grabarchuk]

Going back a bit in time it was 2004, the trader delivered the car from Southampton so it was picked back up and taken back down there for a local MB specialist to do the job so not quite sure of the cost it would certainly have been >£500. I wasn’t prepared to take the risk even if it hadn’t been seeping and was pretty annoyed with the trader the car was only 4 years old with a £17k purchase price. Once fixed I kept the car for 16 years the OM613 is a peach of an engine

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I’ve contacted a few local garages to price it up, but like yourself I don’t want to take an unnecessary risk of the sealant popping somewhere on a motorway.

 

[Jim2]

If it was a successful job,( and your driveway will tell you soon enough,) I'd be on the look out for a 2nd hand replacement sump and replace it ASAP. But if your driveway is telling you that it is a heavy leakage,...your options are limited, IE new sump.

 

[EmilysDad]

How accessible is the sump? Some are straight forward while others are anything but

 

[Evgen Grabarchuk]

How accessible is the sump? Some are straight forward while others are anything but

The sump is a little bit of a headache apparently as half of it hides under the engine which is covered by other car parts, so allegedly the engine should be lifted slightly in order to remove the sump and be able to screw a new one back in, hence the price of the job potentially being quite high...

 

[Uncle Benz]

You won’t get it out just by lifting the engine unfortunately. The subframe needs to be lowered too, but not by much.

 

[Evgen Grabarchuk]

You won’t get it out just by lifting the engine unfortunately. The subframe needs to be lowered too, but not by much.

Is it quite a timely job?

 

[Uncle Benz]

Couple of hours with the right kit and experience

 

[Mark A]

Still cheaper than the cost of a replacement engine if all of the oil suddenly makes a break for it.

 

[Evgen Grabarchuk]

Still cheaper than the cost of a replacement engine if all of the oil suddenly makes a break for it.

Too right

 

[EmilysDad]

Still cheaper than the cost of a replacement engine if all of the oil suddenly makes a break for it.

Many many years ago ..... when I left a temporary car park, my car grounded as I dropped down the shallow kerb and as it turned out, the sump plug was ripped out of the sump. I carried on, unaware, for half a mile or so and parked up again. I just happened to notice a small puddle of oil on the dirt/soil when I got back to the car & had a look under my car to see the last drips of oil on the sump pan.
Got a tow home off my Dad, replaced the sump & all was OK & Bolton council coughed up the money for the oil & sump pan

 

[Uncle Benz]

I’ve only ever scrapped two m112 engines as not economical to repair. One was hydrolocked in a flood. The other drove over a traffic island in Mitcham. The sump had a hole the size of my fist through it. All the oil would have been lost in seconds. The owner drove the length of the m23 and then some more to reach my workshop. To be fair the engine was pretty vocal when he arrived, and when he switched it off it seized. It did however complete his journey. I threw it away and fitted a good secondhand engine. Testament to them though, probably the most robust power unit Mercedes have ever made.