June 2012 C220 CDI engine failure at 28k miles.

[stassin2]

I own a C220 CDI SE Exec , registered 26th June 2102, so still in warranty. Current mileage 28k.

I bought the car at a trade auction from Mercedes retail finance in December 2013 with 18k miles.


On 23rd March 2015 whilst driving about 40 mph on the A127 flyover the car started to shake violently and send out a lot of exhaust fumes. The car also began accelerating on it's own and I had to apply brakes to slow it down.


The car was taken to my local MB main dealer. Mercedes Uk recovered the vehicle and arranged a courtesy car for me which I am still using.


The main dealer diagnosed a catastrophic engine failure and advised there is a hole in the engine. They said they are awaiting approval from MB Germany to go ahead with the installing a new engine.


On the 1st April the main dealer advised that they could not find a record of the cars first "A" service and that the warranty on the car may not be intact and that they want £7.5k off me to go ahead with the repair which will cost £14kn in total.

The faulty engine will be sent to Germany and if MB agree it's an engine fault I will get my £7.5k back. I find this totally unacceptable.


I had a "B" service carried out on the car in May 2014 at 21k miles at the main dealer that has my car now. When I asked for a print out of the service history they said they could not find a record of the first "A" but that I should not worry as the car was now fully compliant with warranty requirements as it had just been serviced by them. Well they are now trying to move the goal posts.

They have also said they want the courtesy car back next week if I do not pay the £7.5k to get the work progressed.


The car has a OM651 engine and on reading the forums there have been issues but with these engines MB have not acknowledged it but they have been making " goodwill repairs".


Any advice on how I can move this forward appreciated.

 

[Giannis]

What you are describing is kind of weird and vague.

1. When you bought the car, there wasn't a service book with it? Some kind of proof of its service history? At 18k miles you'd expect it to have visited the dealership at least once. If not, you didn't check its background at all?

2. What do you mean there's a hole in the engine? It's not something you hear everyday and engines block do blow up so easily and at so few miles.

I understand that you are based in the UK. There must be some sort of public customers/ buyers protection agency. You should somehow learn what buyers protection laws are in force in the UK and how are you protected by the law.

 

[Monster]

Service A involve oil and filter inspection and not much else right? Service B should cover what was required for service A, plus more. If the dealer said the car has fully met the condition of the warranty after completing service B then that the car should be qualified for any future warranty repair from that point on. Until the dealer or manufacturer can determine the real cause of the engine failure, the dealer has nothing on you. You might as well turn around and said they have made mistakes when they carry out service B, which caused your engine to fail, if your dealer wants to play the blame game.

 

[Mr Robert]

Better call Saul...

 

[Kowalski]

dr Dunkel's comment made me laugh so loud that I made my neighbour's Evoque alarm go off.

Anyway, the problem with the OP's C220 is related to the piezo injectors, I think.

Mercedes ceased using the Delphi supplied piezo injectors due a high rate of failure and started using magnetic solenoid injectors.

 

[stassin2]

Service A involve oil and filter inspection and not much else right? Service B should cover what was required for service A, plus more. If the dealer said the car has fully met the condition of the warranty after completing service B then that the car should be qualified for any future warranty repair from that point on. Until the dealer or manufacturer can determine the real cause of the engine failure, the dealer has nothing on you. You might as well turn around and said they have made mistakes when they carry out service B, which caused your engine to fail, if your dealer wants to play the blame game.

I have asked MB for a formal report detailing their reasons for the engine failure. I plan to have their analysis reviewed by a suitably qualified expert and go from there.

 

[NikWilk]

Most solicitors will give a free initial consultation - or maybe citizens advice. May be worth checking out your legal rights ref the warranty etc?

 

[stassin2]

All sorted now after 2 month and a new engine is being fitted under warranty. I had the engine inspected by an automotive consultant and they diagnosed a component failure (Piezo fuel injector) which over fuelled the engine and caused a piston to melt and this failure had nothing to do with servicing of the vehicle.

 

[Monster]

All sorted now after 2 month and a new engine is being fitted under warranty. I had the engine inspected by an automotive consultant and they diagnosed a component failure (Piezo fuel injector) which over fuelled the engine and caused a piston to melt and this failure had nothing to do with servicing of the vehicle.

Thanks for keeping us updated, I am glad to hear the issue has finally been resolved. It is such a strange failure.

 

[Giannis]

First of all, it's great news that you got this sorted without having to pay a small fortune for a new engine!

Then, I am amazed by the nature of the problem. I've seen melted pistons or engine blocks blown up many times before, but all were a result of DIY engine tuning combined with stupidity. A destroyed engine due to a faulty stock piezo injector is a first for me.

 

[stassin2]

First of all, it's great news that you got this sorted without having to pay a small fortune for a new engine!

Then, I am amazed by the nature of the problem. I've seen melted pistons or engine blocks blown up many times before, but all were a result of DIY engine tuning combined with stupidity. A destroyed engine due to a faulty stock piezo injector is a first for me.

It's a concern that even 2012 cars still have the injector problem. Apparently all cars should have the injectors replaced at their next service. So did mine drop off the list? How many other late cars out there are just waiting to fail? And why are Mercedes playing hardball when they know major issues still exist? My whole experience has really put me off the brand, their arrogance has been disappointing!

 

[NikWilk]

Glad to hear you got it sorted

 

[Kowalski]

It's a concern that even 2012 cars still have the injector problem. Apparently all cars should have the injectors replaced at their next service. So did mine drop off the list? How many other late cars out there are just waiting to fail? And why are Mercedes playing hardball when they know major issues still exist? My whole experience has really put me off the brand, their arrogance has been disappointing!

Because very manufacturer does that (Even Toyota and Lexus do the same. No manufacturer will ever admit they f#cked up). And don't you dare to ask the government for help because government solution is always worse than the problem itself.