NOX sensors replaced in Spain.

[sciac2001]

As is to be expected of all modern vehicles at some point in our ownership, the infernal engine light came on as we made our way down through Spain. The light would display after start up and then disappear after 30 seconds or so and we could drive on with unimpaired performance.To comply with the handbook instructions, we took it to the nearest approved dealership to where we would be staying for the winter.

Expecting just a diagnostic cancellation of the display in view of the lack of performance impairment we were shocked and horrified to be informed that both nox emission sensors required replacing. Full bill €1475, although the dealer said that the manufacturer - M/Benz - would pay half.

I have always been a cynic when it comes to the electronic gizmos fitted to vehicles nowadays and although some have been very good advances, I do believe that many might be a sort of scam to get owners to use dealership workshops now that servicing periods have been greatly extended. Emissions is one area that ring alarm bells for me because it is an area where we, Joe Public, have absolutely no control over and can never therefore question the “evidence”.

My vehicle is 3 years old and has done less than 15k miles. It has been built by one of the major stalwarts of vehicle manufacture - the main reason for my purchasing this aspirational-for-us marque - and in my opinion should not fall victim to these types of failures so early in their lives.

I was advised in Spain that their recommendation and work carried out complied with the manufacturer’s warranty applicable in Spain. I have written to M/B Uk for their take on the issue in the hope that the warranty here covers a longer period and await their response. To complicate matters perhaps, my motorhome, having been manufactured by a German company does not show on M/B UK data records as of fully UK-spec despite it being a rh drive and I suspect was imported through different distribution channels. I assume that all foreign motorhome marques would be the same.

I await UK’s response whether my warranty would be greater than what is offered in Spain and in turn, if it is not covered by a UK warranty will look to the German one as for some reason I believe it might be even more comprehensive than ours.

That’s off my chest for now.

 

[shrek snr]

Good luck with that.

 

[martin2603]

Reported this week that MB are being investigated for concealing the true emission stats for their 3lite engines used in the E Class by addition built in software.

 

[Jackd]

Just to give you the heads up,
OEM nox sensor circa £350
Pattern nox sensor circa £150 with 5yr warranty.
They only screw in one end and plug in .the other should you choose to use somebody other than MB.
Good luck

 

[sciac2001]

Just to give you the heads up,
OEM nox sensor circa £350
Pattern nox sensor circa £150 with 5yr warranty.
They only screw in one end and plug in .the other should you choose to use somebody other than MB.
Good luck

Many thanks.
Had it done in Spain as at start of long stay trip.

For future ref, is Pattern a make?

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[Jackd]

Many thanks.
Had it done in Spain as at start of long stay trip.

For future ref, is Pattern a make?

No. It’s pretty much any part that specifically fits your vehicle that wasn’t an OEM part.
You’ll probably find that the original nox sensor is nothing to do with Mercedes, and in fact is a Bosch part or similar.
You can pretty much get most parts for your base van from Euro Car Parts. Look them up and enter your reg No for the parts available.

 

[sciac2001]

Reported this week that MB are being investigated for concealing the true emission stats for their 3lite engines used in the E Class by addition built in software.

Say no more. Perhaps emission “failures” such as mine are a way for them to recover some of the litigation costs they have or will have incurred.

 

[Jackd]

Say no more. Perhaps emission “failures” such as mine are a way for them to recover some of the litigation costs they have or will have incurred.

You only have to look at car manufacturers MPG figures to work out their ALL playing the same game.

 

[sciac2001]

Office of fair trading comes to mind. (Joke!)

We seem to have normalised being shafted.

 

[Gaston aires]

The more that you put on them, the more can go wrong with them. MB are no more reliable than any other manufacturer these days.
Phil

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[Jackd]

My MPG isn’t what it said on the tin!
My emissions isn’t what it said on the tin!
Etc etc

Mind you, it is very shiny and it don’t half smell nice and look at all my gizmos.......

We, the consumer are to blame. We have let them get away with it for years. We just carry on buying their products.

No other industry in the world could pull this off.
Yes sir, you will lose 50% of your money in three years and no sir, it won’t perform like the brochure said, but, look how shiny it is. Sign here.

 

[Clipgate]

A major brand once refereed to the UK as Treasurer Island, never forget Jaguar were no different with built in corrosion way back.
We must be easy prey, now EV the next debacle in my view.

 

[gus-lopez]

A major brand once refereed to the UK as Treasurer Island, n

& some years back Peugeot sold 8% of there vehicles in the UK which contribted 32% of company profits.

 

[sciac2001]

Adding salt to the original wound, the Engine Management light came on again on Sunday.
Took it to the local Mercedes workshop who confirmed that the Nox sensors had failed again.
Thankfully covered under their parts warranty but what confidence will that give us going forward? We had only covered 300 miles since they were replaced in November.

Mercedes engines might be “bullet-proof” but their sensors are probably made in a sweatshop in China.

Disgraceful performance for an “elite” marque.

 

[Portland]

Not surprised by this at all, The only new car I ever bought was a Mercedes E class, on holiday in France the central locking went cukoo so we took it to Mercedes in Perpigan. Leave the car here and come back at 4.30 to collect it they said, when we returned the car was exactly where we left it not touched, I asked why they said they could not find it in the system so I would have to pay, I reluctantly agreed thinking I could get it back in the UK and wandered of for another couple of hours, when we got back the car was outside in the same place but they said it was fixed they had replaced the control 250 euro plse? It was fixed but the clock was 25 minutes slow and so I asked the Merc Stoke manager about it and he said the cure was to disconnect battery for 20 minutes and then connect but if I gave him the control he would put it through warranty, so I phoned them (well my mate did) for the part, still waiting only 23 years

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