V6 E320CDi engine problem

[jonharker]

I bought a new E320CDi estate a little over 2 weeks ago with the new V6 engine. Apart from the first couple of days I have not been able to drive it due to 2 faults; the first is a starting problem where the engine turns over for much longer than normal before it fires; thias then activates the engine warning light. Thsi was presnt at the time I collected the car but I was assured by the salesman that this was normal! So far the garage and MB technical have still not been able to fix the fault; several days after I picked it up, it had to be towed to the garage as one of the turbo pipes came off.
Has anyone else experienced this fault?
It boggles my mind that I could have a new car that doesn't work for so long. I am tryiong to get a replacement car but this is proving long-winded; meanwhile I am driving a succession of cars including a Volvo, a E saloon and currently a 220CDi estate.
Any comments?

 

[Rory]

A couple of 'early life' failures are unfortunate but these things happen.
What did the salesman tell you was 'normal'? If it was the engine management light coming on then that's outrageous.

 

[jonharker]

What happens is when you start the car from cold it cranks over for far longer than normal, often for more than a complete cycle b4 firing; it makes no difference if you wait for the glow plugs light to go out; the orange engine light then comes on and stays on.
The salesman did not say the light was normal as it did not come on immediately just that the cranking time was normal; waht I find disturbign is the time it has taken for the fault ot be rectified and the very bureacratic MB head office.
When the car drives, the new engine and 7 speed gearbox are a revelation comapred to the previous generation 320CDi 5 speed.

 

[blassberg]

Has anyone else experienced this fault?

No, thankfully! Mine fires immediately. Good luck.

 

[c250 turbo diesel]

Glow plug light stays on

When the glowplug light stays on mostly it is either the glowpugs burnt out or the relay ! at least they will be paying !

 

[jonharker]

No it's not the glow plug light; it's the engine warning light (orange)

 

[blassberg]

am assuming there are some error codes giving infomration to the dealer?

 

[jberks]

I'd say you're following the correct course of action. I'd be insisting that they simply replace the car (with suitable compensatory extras, free servicing etc) and that you have no confidence in the car they delivered. Then just wait for your new one whilst putting some mileage on theirs. It simply isn't acceptable for a new car to fail so completely. Sure silly niggles do creep in, but I'd class these as the radio doesn't work and that it is swapped out with a new one whilst I wait. Not a fault that they can't figure out within a day or so of intensive investigation.

I had a failure on a new Audi a few years ago - 2 days old and half the cost of your E. Admittedly it needed a new engine, but I made it very clear from the outset that I wasn't having it back. A new one was despatched from Germany and in the mean time, we told the dealer what they could do with the loan vectra. A demonstrator Audi was subsequently delivered which we kept for the 3 weeks it took for the replacement to arrive.

I'd speak to the sales manager, explain that you'll be popping in to collect HIS E320CDI (He'll no doubt have one) and you'll bring it back when yours arrives.
You're paying for an E320 so that's what you should be driving! He can drive the bl..dy Volvo! (argument worked with Audi anyway!).

 

[blassberg]

I wonder if you called mobilolife from somewhere convenient like a nice pub on a sunday lunchtime and told them you started the car to move it but the engine wouldn't fire until too long, and then the management light came on so you were too worried to drive such a new car back home if they would take it seriously. I suspect they might.
Then your up against the company trying to minimise the bad reputation rather than the stealer trying to minimise the amount of (expensive to him? dunno) aggro.
I might even suggest the pub up the road from the dealership.

 

[dogsbody]

I would reject the car, on the grounds that the engine management system isn't.
Demand a comparable loan car, until a new one is delivered, so that there is a very positive incentive to the Dealership, to get you a replacement, because clearly they will not want you using their loan car for the next three months...
Pity though isnt it, that a quality maker like MB, is delivering cars which simply dont work... unheard of a few years ago before Chrysler came along

 

[jonharker]

Update as of last night:
Despite the might of MB technical, fault has still not been fixed. Had another shouting match with the dealer principal who assures me they're doing everything they can to get me another car; have taken to emailing Dermot Kelly of MB and Inchcape head office; finally seem to be getting some action my source at the garage tells me.
It's all very disillusioning; it's 3 weeks on Thursday since I bought the car.
Just leaves a bad taste; if I conducted my business (retail) like that I'd be out of business rapidly.

 

[robbo]

Jon,

Are you into hifi retailing by any chance?

 

[jonharker]

Jon,

Are you into hifi retailing by any chance?

yes I am; and you??

 

[jonharker]

Update as of today:
Lo and behold an offer of a new E320CDi this morning higher spec than mine but different colour which I can drive till a new factory ordered same spec car arrives decemberish
Anyone seen a Flint Grey E class estate and if so what do they think??
Looks wise and resale-wise.

 

[blassberg]

Flint Grey

mmmm - like that!

 

[robbo]

yes I am; and you??

Not a retailer, but have been a customer of yours (Oxford Audio Consultants) a few years ago. I thought I recognised the name!

Cheers, Neil

 

[jonharker]

Not Neil Fo....... by any chance????

 

[robbo]

No.

I bought a CD player and a Pre-amp some years back.

 

[jonharker]

it's a small world!!
Are you a Merc 'nut'?

 

[OlafMaxwell]

You did right to reject the car. Its the only way to deal with Mercedes. They are the worlds best at fobbing off and you just have to refuse it. With my knowledge of thier service I think I would have not accepted the new car with the fault and I know if I ever did buy another Mercedes it will be fully examined before accepting ait and will be left there if its not right.

Now all you need to do is borrow a Linn system from an Aston Martin....