- #385 of 570
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Re: Having problems with 05 E320CDI [captainjoe]
by bduser
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Jun 13, 2006 (8:16 pm)
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Replying to: captainjoe (Oct 18, 2005 8:45 pm)
I recently had the same problem with my 2005 CDI. It lost power when accelerating and wouldoften stall. I brought it in to the local MB dealer, and they didn't know what was wrong, so they called MB. MB asked if I was using biodiesel, and when they found out I was, they said the warranty was voided for the fuel system, and replaced the fuel system. I am trying to get them to refund the cost of the repairs, as the never said biodiesel was not allowed when I purchased the car.
However, while researching my problem, I came across your post. You seem to have experienced the same problem, as did several other people, and MB never blamed the fuel. In fact, it sounds like they have no idea what causes the problem, but they got $2600 from me for replacing the fuel system, and it may have had nothing to do with the problem.
Have you, or anyone else had this problem since? What was the diagnosis?
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- #386 of 570
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Re: Having problems with 05 E320CDI [bduser]
by gagrice
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Jun 15, 2006 (8:33 pm)
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Replying to: bduser (Jun 13, 2006 8:16 pm)
I think it may be the use of biodiesel after you have used very dirty diesel. Biodiesel is a very strong solvent. It can clean out built up stuff that will plug injectors etc. That is pretty shaky on a new car. It would make me very unhappy with Mercedes.
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- #387 of 570
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Re: Having problems with 05 E320CDI [gagrice]
by bduser
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Jun 15, 2006 (10:02 pm)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 15, 2006 8:33 pm)
The only diesel I ever used in the car was the first tankful provided by the dealer. Since then, I had run over 15,000 miles on B100.
I have read other posts from CDI owners with similar problems, where it ended up being in the emissions system. I don't believe MB knows exactly what the problem is, but they seemed eager to blame it on BD.
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- #388 of 570
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Re: Having problems with 05 E320CDI [bduser]
by gagrice
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Jun 16, 2006 (6:59 am)
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Replying to: bduser (Jun 15, 2006 10:02 pm)
You might want to contact Pacific Biodiesel. They have had a couple run ins with MB over B100 in the E320 CDI. I know Willie Nelson uses B100 exclusively in his E320 CDI. If you have run it for that many miles it would be interesting to find out where they are coming from. As long as your source is up to ASTM D 6751, I think they are out of line not repairing your car.
http://www.biodiesel.com/
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- #389 of 570
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Re: Having problems with 05 E320CDI [gagrice]
by bduser
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Jun 18, 2006 (10:25 pm)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 16, 2006 6:59 am)
It's tough getting anywhere with MB, because they refuse to discuss the issue with me. Their toll-free customer "support" employees will not let me speak with anyone else, and all they will say is that the warranty is not valid. I've never bought anything from a sleazier, more unfriendly company. It doesn't matter what the BD supplier (or anyone else, for that matter) says, because MB refuses to listen. Obviously, I will never buy another car from them, but they don't care about that. Their arrogance is amazing.
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- #390 of 570
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Press request
by KarenS HOST
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Jun 19, 2006 (4:45 pm)
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A large local newspaper is looking to interview consumers who recently purchased a diesel vehicle and would like to talk about their car. Please send an e-mail to ctalati edmunds.com no later than Thursday June 22, 2006 by 2:00 PM PST/5:00 EST containing your daytime contact information and the make and model of your car.
Thanks,
Chintan Talati
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com
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- #391 of 570
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B100 -> voided warranty -> oh well !?
by elias
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Jun 19, 2006 (5:18 pm)
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Replying to: bduser (Jun 18, 2006 10:25 pm)
why complain about voiding your warranty if you knowingly voided it by running B100? did you RTFM before driving the car or did you discover B100 was prohibited after cluelessly using it. either way it seems valid that the warranty was voided - at least on the engine. tough love!
but i hope MB would honor the warranty on your window-motors for example!
also please enjoy this parting bumper-sticker idea:
drink locally, attack globally.
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- #392 of 570
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Re: B100 -> voided warranty -> oh well !? [elias]
by gagrice
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Jun 19, 2006 (8:07 pm)
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Replying to: elias (Jun 19, 2006 5:18 pm)
I have to agree. As much as I am an advocate of biodiesel, I don't think I would risk voiding the warranty on a $60k car. I am very curious if the biodiesel is the culprit and where the fuel came from. If it was made in some garage from old cooking oil, well that is risky. I don't know of anyplace here in San Diego that sells B100. B20 would have been a better start. MB has no problem with B5. I do think that MB would have to prove that the Biodiesel caused the failure.
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- #393 of 570
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Re: B100 -> voided warranty -> oh well !? [gagrice]
by blissful
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Jun 20, 2006 (10:00 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 19, 2006 8:07 pm)
I don't think MB would have to PROVE that Biodiesel caused the failure. However, if you kept the parts they replaced, perhaps you could prove that it did not. Regardless, the question that is really telling is: Did the car no longer exhibit the symptoms with the newly replaced fuel system? If the symptoms persist, or recur, despite using non Biodiesel, then you have a case worth pursuing. 
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- #394 of 570
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Re: B100 -> voided warranty -> oh well !? [elias]
by bduser
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Jun 20, 2006 (10:17 am)
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Replying to: elias (Jun 19, 2006 5:18 pm)
MB NEVER told me I couldn't use BD. When I purchased the car, I specifically told the dealer that the only reason I was buying it was so that I could run it on B100. He never said I couldn't, and even nine months later, after I had the problem with MB and spoke with him about it, he still wasn't aware that the CDI shouldn't be operated on BD.
Read the manual? A few days after I received the car, I noticed that the manual and warranty guide that came with the car were for a 2006 E350, not the 2005 E320 CDI that I purchased. I called the dealer up and asked for the correct manuals. He said they were very similar, not to worry. Well, of course the E350 is a gas-powered car, so it made no reference to the use of BD. When I told the customer support person this he first blamed it on the dealer. The dealer said they just gave the package of manuals that came with the car from MB.
Nowhere on its website does MB say that the use of BD is prohibited. Nor do they tell their dealers to inform customers that BD will invalidate the warranty. This is willful deception. They believe there is a problem with BD, but won't tell anyone, and won't make the information public.
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