Possible Inlet Manifold leak?

[Davllar_99]

Hi all, I thought I'd create a separate post regarding my issue.

So my engine management light came up. When plugging in the OBD it says I've got am air leak, I get q that whooshing sound under acceleration coming from the left somewhere.

I heard the Labour to replace the manifold is very pricey. Now the genuine manifold from mercedes is around £400 but I saw some from autodoc for much much less.

What's your opinions? Would I get away with the one from autodoc. ?

qny advice or help would he much appreciated

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I’d stick with the genuine MB part which is guaranteed to fit and last as long as the first one especially as the labour cost is high

 

[tpn]

You need to establish exactly where the leak is before you do any buying.

I recently replaced my inlet manifold.

I bought the manifold from maxpeedingrods for approx £60.00

There is no difference in it from the original Mercedes one. It even has the same casting numbers.
All that is missing is the Mercedes part number.

I have kept my old manifold, as all that is wrong with it is the expected sheared bottom bolt.
It is a very annoying job to do as space is so limited, but not a hard job.
A few of the bolts are a right pain in the posterior.

 

[Davllar_99]

You need to establish exactly where the leak is before you do any buying.

I recently replaced my inlet manifold.

I bought the manifold from maxpeedingrods for approx £60.00

There is no difference in it from the original Mercedes one. It even has the same casting numbers.
All that is missing is the Mercedes part number.

I have kept my old manifold, as all that is wrong with it is the expected sheared bottom bolt.
It is a very annoying job to do as space is so limited, but not a hard job.
A few of the bolts are a right pain in the posterior.

Oh right, you see if I can save on a part then I'm happy too especially when I just replaced both front shock absorbers, springs and front suspension arms.

An mercedes Indy quoted me 800-1000 for the labour. So I asked about and found a local garage who is happy to do it for 400. Looks like a very pricey job.

 

[tpn]

Oh right, you see if I can save on a part then I'm happy too especially when I just replaced both front shock absorbers, springs and front suspension arms.

An mercedes Indy quoted me 800-1000 for the labour. So I asked about and found a local garage who is happy to do it for 400. Looks like a very pricey job.

It is very slow and annoying. Some take out the engine, more take out the firewall, I bought squiggly socket extenders etc.
The EGR has to come out and that is the hardest. Use all new seals and clean everything, there will be loads of gunk there.
Under the circumstances £400.00 is reasonable, if everything is done.

 

[alexanderfoti]

It is very slow and annoying. Some take out the engine, more take out the firewall, I bought squiggly socket extenders etc.
The EGR has to come out and that is the hardest. Use all new seals and clean everything, there will be loads of gunk there.
Under the circumstances £400.00 is reasonable, if everything is done.

Yes, make sure that prices includes all the seals from MB.

 

[Davllar_99]

Yes, make sure that prices includes all the seals from MB.

You reckon I could buy a manifold off autodoc for 100 quid and then order the seals from mercedes? Or you meant labour?

 

[alexanderfoti]

You reckon I could buy a manifold off autodoc for 100 quid and then order the seals from mercedes? Or you meant labour?

Sorry, I meant the local garage that are charging £400 for the job. Make sure this price includes replacement of all the gaskets.

 

[Davllar_99]

Sorry, I meant the local garage that are charging £400 for the job. Make sure this price includes replacement of all the gaskets.

Yeah, I'll definitely mention that to them. There's so many different brands of manifold on autodoc not sure which ones the go to.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Yeah, I'll definitely mention that to them. There's so many different brands of manifold on autodoc not sure which ones the go to.

I don't buy from them because they take an age, and then returns take an age if the part is wrong etc. All the wrong stuff for a fast paced workshop!

 

[tpn]

As Alex said Autodoc are a pain. I have had severe problems with them in the past. I will never use them again.
Try Maxpeedingrods directly.
Get the original gaskets from MB, if your garage has not included them and if the EGR is coming off with the cooler, split it and put in a new seal.
I found that all the seals were actually cheaper from Mercedes than from other sources

 

[Davllar_99]

I don't buy from them because they take an age, and then returns take an age if the part is wrong etc. All the wrong stuff for a fast paced workshop!

I've been using them for ages, all the parts I ordered always fit nicely. As before I bought I checked with the VIN number. Will have to just get the seals from MB.

 

[mioba]

Who has diagnosed the inlet manifold as being the problem.
What was used to read the codes and who read them.
A wooshing soundis usually an inlet pipe.
I would get a second opinion from a merc indy.

 

[Davllar_99]

Who has diagnosed the inlet manifold as being the problem.
What was used to read the codes and who read them.
A wooshing soundis usually an inlet pipe.
I would get a second opinion from a merc indy.

A local garage said its a common issue with these cars. If it was a split pipe surely you'd be able to hear it stationery when you just rev the car no? I can only hear it on hard acceleration I also get black smoke from exhaust.

 

[tpn]

A local garage said its a common issue with these cars. If it was a split pipe surely you'd be able to hear it stationery when you just rev the car no? I can only hear it on hard acceleration I also get black smoke from exhaust.

It is a common issue but no business going to all the trouble and expense without doing some investigation. If it is the sheared bolt you may find it in the undertray. Mine was there, so that was a good indication. It only put on the EML when I asked for boost when overtaking etc.
Have a look with an endoscope. If it is the bolt you will usually see some carbon deposits on the oil cooler.

There have been cases of the inlet manifold cracking. You would need a smoke test to find out if that is the problem.
Inlet pipes are not that east to detect initially.
....And while you are in there replace the diesel filter housing/heater, if it has not been upgraded already.
There are just two types of original ones; those that are leaking or those that are about to leak.
It will safe you time and trouble if you do it when parts are already stripped down

 

[Davllar_99]

It is a common issue but no business going to all the trouble and expense without doing some investigation. If it is the sheared bolt you may find it in the undertray. Mine was there, so that was a good indication. It only put on the EML when I asked for boost when overtaking etc.
Have a look with an endoscope. If it is the bolt you will usually see some carbon deposits on the oil cooler.

There have been cases of the inlet manifold cracking. You would need a smoke test to find out if that is the problem.
Inlet pipes are not that east to detect initially.
....And while you are in there replace the diesel filter housing/heater, if it has not been upgraded already.
There are just two types of original ones; those that are leaking or those that are about to leak.
It will safe you time and trouble if you do it when parts are already stripped down

Thanks for the reply. Once I'm off from work I'll try to get my car high enough to remove the undertray. Tbh I feel like there could be something, as I have an issue with suspension 2 weeks ago I replaced front shock absorbers, front springs, both suspension arms as well as top mounts and I'm still getting metal rattling noise, so I was wondering if perhaps something came off lose and dropped on undertray.

So what would you do first then if nothing was on undertray? Take it to an Indy and do a smoke test first? Also would I get an answer what it would be?

 

[tpn]

I would always go for the easiest and cheapest option first. Check and recheck the pipes first. Very, very easy to miss the leak. After that endoscope and if a diagnosis still evades you, try the smoke. Edit: the endoscope will pick up the carbon deposits on the oil cooler

 

[mioba]

Have you read the codes and with which machine.

 

[Davllar_99]

Have you read the codes and with which machine.

OBD 2 but the local garage had a proper computer obviously not STAR though.

 

[Davllar_99]

I would always go for the easiest and cheapest option first. Check and recheck the pipes first. Very, very easy to miss the leak. After that endoscope and if a diagnosis still evades you, try the smoke. Edit: the endoscope will pick up the carbon deposits on the oil cooler

Okay, I'll give it a go. Thank you