W203 Oil Leak into wiring Loom/ECU Contaminated and Split Breather Pipe - Help needed

Hustler

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Hi guys,


I really need some help and advice from you guys as I'm genuinely stuck on what I need to do.

A couple of month back I had the engine management light come on on my 2003 C200 Kompressor Coupe, 1.8L, Petrol (W203). I took it to a Mercedes specialist garage for STAR diagnostics. I had a rough idea having read this forum that there are two possible common faults:

1. Split breather pipe
2. Oil leaking from camshaft, down the wiring loom and ECU.

To my horror, the garage diagnosed that I had both these problems. The guy explained that they had found engine oil into the wiring loom from the camshaft adjuster and that the oil has contaminated the ECU.

He also asked me whether I noticed if the car was revving up and down by itself. At the time I did not have such an issue and told him that I did not. However, on my way back home, I stopped at a traffic light and noticed that this exact problem was happening - the car would rev up and down by itself dipping below and above idle revs, almost like it was going to stall.

I have never driven the car since mainly because I was quoted a price of circa £2,500 to fix the ECU/oil leak issue and the split breather pipe (£250).

Being a student, I have nowhere near that money to spend on fixing my car, and I have considered just getting the split breather pipe fixed only and selling my car.


My question is, how much should I expect to pay to get the breather pipe issue fixed and can anyone recommend any garages that can do the job at a reasonable price in the North East London/Essex area? Also, how much would a 'blocker' modification cost to stop any more oil leaking? Is

Also, would the car run fine with the breather pipe fixed and a blocker modification done? Is the revving up and down related to the breather pipe or the ECU?


I would really appreciate any help and advice - it's been quite stressful for me, being my first car and not having much money, time and knowledge on what I should do.

Thank You ;)

P.S. if anyone wants to see a copy of the STAR diagnostics printout, I can upload it at your request. Thanks
 

television

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Number one no oil can damage any ECU, oil is not conductive in any way at all.

You could fit the blocker for £30, its plug and play, the breather pipe you could fit your self and cheap enogh to buy.

It takes some time to get the oil out of the loom but it will clear eventually though you may have to do a bit of cleaning up for a while
 
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Hustler

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Number one no oil can damage any ECU, oil is not conductive in any way at all.

You could fit the blocker for £30, its plug and play, the breather pipe you could fit your self and cheap enogh to buy.

It takes some time to get the oil out of the loom but it will clear eventually though you may have to do a bit of cleaning up for a while

Thanks for your reply Television/Malcolm. Are you sure this is the case? The garage gave a strong impression that the ECU will need to be replaced which will cost a hefty £2500 for the job should I have the repair job done with them. Nonetheless, what you said is quite pleasing to hear. :)


As for the blocker and the breather pipe, where can I get these parts from? I would rather buy the parts myself and get the garage to fit them for me.

Does anyone have the part numbers for both and is that all I need?

I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks!
 

television

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Thanks for your reply Television/Malcolm. Are you sure this is the case? The garage gave a strong impression that the ECU will need to be replaced which will cost a hefty £2500 for the job should I have the repair job done with them. Nonetheless, what you said is quite pleasing to hear. :)


As for the blocker and the breather pipe, where can I get these parts from? I would rather buy the parts myself and get the garage to fit them for me.

Does anyone have the part numbers for both and is that all I need?

I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks!

Yes I am more than sure :D I do not think that anyone has replaced one on here for 8 years to my knowledge. I have told everyone to just wash it out with lighter fuel and warm it up to dry it.

Your mercedes dealer will have their own part number for the hose and the blocker.

Are you sure they are not ripping you off, the ECU was about £80 as far as I know
 

Irresistance

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Just did a quick search here on the PL online marketplace... I see here you can get an ECU for your model car for a mere 120 GBP. Part Number is A2711534979.

I imagine that you can not just fit an ECU and be done with it - probably needs STAR coding/programming..?

While we're on the subject - is ECU replacement at all a viable thing...? Coz I see plenty of them for sale... - are those sold mostly as part donors?

And I think the breather hose is this part: A2710181282 (http://www.everythingbenz.com/z/part/2710181282-mercedes)
 
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jibcl500

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ECU will be coded to your chassis so an ECU from another car wont plug and play. Breather pipe is about £10 from MB dealers and most will have it in stock.


jib
 

Steve@Avantgarde

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The worst I have ever had to do is replace the wiring loom for consistent contamination of the 02 sensor and MAF. But they are only £300 and about 2 hours work. As Malc has said, oil in the ECU has never caused one to blow. The garage has got it wrong in this case.
 

television

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After sleeping on this I can now understand the effect of oil in the loom, I will continue in the other thread on oil.

Thanks Steve
 
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Hustler

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Hi guys,

I've been quoted £212 to get both the blocker installed and the breather hose fitted (including parts and labour). Does this sound like a fair price?

I'm not sure if I'm being ripped off or not and would appreciate some guidance on what I should be expecting to pay for:

1. Blocker installation to prevent further leakage
2. Breather hose replacement

Thank You ;)
 

Alex Crow

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Hi, that is about £50 worth of parts and 1hr labour max for those familiar.

HTH
 
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Hi, that is about £50 worth of parts and 1hr labour max for those familiar.

HTH

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your reply. So £212 sounds quite expensive to get the jobs done?

Anyone know how much I should expect to pay, roughly?

Thanks ;)
 

robparker

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Well going by what Alex says that would be about £120-£140 inc vat.
 

Alex Crow

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On an M271 engine, to replace the commonly split breather hose does not take too long.
However, MB workshop times do allow for making this easy job into a great big one.

But, as I said, to replace the commonly split pipe, and fit 2x oil blockers (a very easy and quick DIY) takes no more than 1 hour in our workshop - you know, in truth, it can usually be done quicker...

We charge £50 per hour, plus vat.
The pipe is not expensive, say no more than £15.
The 'blockers' are £22.20 each, inc vat. http://www.mercedes-benz-parts.co.u...ls&flypage=shop.flypage&option=com_virtuemart
That gets us to £131.28 at most.

Do bear in mind that this does not include any diagnostic costs, and that we are well up to speed with this job...
 

television

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Do bear in mind that this does not include any diagnostic costs, and that we are well up to speed with this job...

Do you calculate the effects of getting old into the cost as time goes by.;)
 

Alex Crow

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Malcolm, if I have the energy you have when I am as senior as you, I will be very pleased :D
 

Cole@MBS

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On an M271 engine, to replace the commonly split breather hose does not take too long.
However, MB workshop times do allow for making this easy job into a great big one.

But, as I said, to replace the commonly split pipe, and fit 2x oil blockers (a very easy and quick DIY) takes no more than 1 hour in our workshop - you know, in truth, it can usually be done quicker...

We charge £50 per hour, plus vat.
The pipe is not expensive, say no more than £15.
The 'blockers' are £22.20 each, inc vat. http://www.mercedes-benz-parts.co.u...ls&flypage=shop.flypage&option=com_virtuemart
That gets us to £131.28 at most.

Do bear in mind that this does not include any diagnostic costs, and that we are well up to speed with this job...

Most of these I see need the valve and two small bits of pipework under the super charger as well, that's a whole new ball game then......
 

Alex Crow

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Most of these I see need the valve and two small bits of pipework under the super charger as well, that's a whole new ball game then......

Fair enough, and that takes into the bigger job quoted by MB...
 

WG M-B

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If there is contamination in the pipe work then you can guarantee the cvp valve and pipe work behind the kompessor need changing as well.
Tbh the correct procedure is to replace this together with the upper pipe, but it will not always be done this way due to cost.

Steve 2 hours to do a loom on a 271 is pretty hard slog! I must drink far too much tea :D
 


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