W221 S Class 320 cdi 'limp home mode'

[BRP]

Having now completed many European journeys and the mileage having reached 31k some reliability issues have presented themselves.
Recent events seemed to start with the "change air filter element" warning being displayed for a few minutes then never again. Two days later the car lost power (3000 RPM max.) followed by the warning light which signified "limp home mode" The dealer in Marbella said that no faults were logged and that this suggested the sensor (? oxygen) was the culprit. The part was available in Madrid and because of a Fiesta etc. the timescale was beyond my planned return to the UK. They said that as no faults were showing it was OK to drive. We returned to the UK, going like nutters down hills to gain momentum. The faulty sensor did a couple of times allow full performance and when at the UK dealer the warning light was off and full power restored. Mr Sytner of course went into "don't believe the customer" mode and replaced the air filters (£97.53) as I had mentioned the brief message. The next day "limp home" and warning light showed so they changed the sensor. Since then all has been OK but I did hear "mumblings" about a recall and software update. Is there a way of checking if a car should have been recalled. In the middle of all this the parking brake stopped holding on steep inclines and then started sticking on when stationary. Sytner tackled this by cleaning the assembly, which seems to have worked apart from inducinng a low speed squeak.
I still like the car (most of it anyway) but sort of expected these issues to be part of the make up of lesser makes.
BRP

 

[jberks]

rather odd. I'd expect the filter to be a service item.
However, the symptoms you describe inc possibly the air filter message could be traced to our old friend the Air Mass Sensor (MAS or MAF all the same thing).
These are extremely common failures. A little premature on an 06 but not unheard of at that mileage. In fact I understood that some models now had them as service items.
You mention a lot of european journeys. I wonder whether the air filter spec is different in say Spain to the one in the UK, as Spain (and other countries in the region) have a drier and therefore dustier climate. If dust is getting through a UK filter, this could cause the MAS to fail prematurely and give the issues you describe.

 

[BlackC55]

They are so new and are not generally going wrong much there is little information out there for when they do break.

I will keep my ear to the ground and see if I can unearth anything.

 

[television]

As Jberks, this sounds more like the MAF needs changing

 

[BRP]

rather odd. I'd expect the filter to be a service item.
However, the symptoms you describe inc possibly the air filter message could be traced to our old friend the Air Mass Sensor (MAS or MAF all the same thing).
These are extremely common failures. A little premature on an 06 but not unheard of at that mileage. In fact I understood that some models now had them as service items.
You mention a lot of european journeys. I wonder whether the air filter spec is different in say Spain to the one in the UK, as Spain (and other countries in the region) have a drier and therefore dustier climate. If dust is getting through a UK filter, this could cause the MAS to fail prematurely and give the issues you describe.

The car was serviced at about 17k and presumably air filters did not require changing. Sytners said that the filters were 'black' and in their opinion should be changed. I will try and find out if the specification is different for Southern European regions.The next service is predicted in another 5k (36000). Since the sensor change no problems have arisen (apart from parking brake)
Sytner say they can only act on current fault messages. Is the MAS a trivial part which I should get replaced as a precaution to eliminate a potential problem as I will be away again soon.
Thank you for your input.
BRP

 

[BRP]

They are so new and are not generally going wrong much there is little information out there for when they do break.

I will keep my ear to the ground and see if I can unearth anything.

Just wondered what sort of faults are happening. Both in UK and Spain the dealers 'hid behind' they are so new excuse at times
BRP

 

[BlackC55]

Just wondered what sort of faults are happening. Both in UK and Spain the dealers 'hid behind' they are so new excuse at times
BRP

Well nothing really.

They seem to be really well screwed together.

 

[television]

As you are following this post BRP you may not know it but your SAT NAV is 40 miles out before it indicates that you are going west, this is from Grenwich but the figures quoted are correct both LAT and LONG, MB are working on this but so far this has not been solved

 

[BRP]

As you are following this post BRP you may not know it but your SAT NAV is 40 miles out before it indicates that you are going west, this is from Grenwich but the figures quoted are correct both LAT and LONG, MB are working on this but so far this has not been solved

Malcolm I remeber you mentioned that a pilot friend of yours had spotted this. Madrid seems to have a bad effect compared to my previous car.

 

[jberks]

The car was serviced at about 17k and presumably air filters did not require changing. Sytners said that the filters were 'black' and in their opinion should be changed. I will try and find out if the specification is different for Southern European regions.The next service is predicted in another 5k (36000). Since the sensor change no problems have arisen (apart from parking brake)
Sytner say they can only act on current fault messages. Is the MAS a trivial part which I should get replaced as a precaution to eliminate a potential problem as I will be away again soon.
Thank you for your input.
BRP

Air filters aren't changed every service any more. Mine has just been changed for the first time at 45k.
I suspect that it was the MAS they changed. The oxygen sensor is far less likely and unrelated as it lives in the exhaust system (plus you car probably has 2 or more of these). The MAS is immediately behind the air filter and a more common cause of your described problem so I suspect this is what they changed and with that and a new filter, with luck, your problems should be behind you.

 

[BRP]

Air filters aren't changed every service any more. Mine has just been changed for the first time at 45k.
I suspect that it was the MAS they changed. The oxygen sensor is far less likely and unrelated as it lives in the exhaust system (plus you car probably has 2 or more of these). The MAS is immediately behind the air filter and a more common cause of your described problem so I suspect this is what they changed and with that and a new filter, with luck, your problems should be behind you.

The dealer says it was the "deisel particle filter sensor" that was changed they are sending a copy of the warranty invoice with part number on. Does this seem that this could have been the trouble. Done about 600 trouble free miles since change.
BRP

 

[BRP]

I asked the dealer for details of what parts had been changed and they sent a copy of their warranty invoice to MB. Below are details of parts they changed in addition to the air filters:-
Differential pressure sensor for deisel particulate filter
and the seal oil filler neck.
The invoice says:-
Engine light on
G 54101101
Short test perform
G 07705401
Differential pressure sensor for deisel particulate filter replace
G 02556801
Operations: Seal at oil filler neck replace acc.
No.: 15 910 32' Code: 0611P15B21
MA005 1537728 138118/sender unit
MA642 018 00 80/05 Gasket
ZZ handling Warranty Handling

I was quite surprised that this totals Just £90.88 which seems low for all their effort, I always thought that dealers got fat on warranty jobs.
The car has done over 1000 miles since the repair and seems ok. I might keep it now!
BRP