[Team PMS Racing]

Welcome 300E and congrats on your new car!!!

I'm very new too, so we can learn together as we go. However, i may be able to field some of these questions for ya.



1) There are two reservoirs in the engine compartment on the passenger side...

The front one is your window washer and you are correct about the back one being your radiator as per the silver cap. I think it would be safe to say you should flush out the front one and refill with a safe washer fluid. Perhaps MB has one...wouldn't dought it. The radiator...well, that's a different story. I thing a good back flush from a MB tech or the Stealership may be in order. MB sells gallons of antifreeze for $15 or so and is worth the extra dollars (assuming that is your currency..grin). It's made for aluminum and it is your safest bet. BTW, mix it 50/50% with distilled water.


2) I notice a leak around the front passenger tire... could this possibly be an oil leak? It's not of a water like quality that I image would be the cause of the airconditioner.

Ok, this one someone more ept than me may need to reply to this one. But here is my guess. Antifreeze? From your own admission, it was brownish right. The reserve is right over that tire. If your over heating you will push fluid right out of that reserve, or if it is cracked you may be leaking. Again, just a guess.

3) Every 30 seconds like clock work I can faintly hear a hissing/rattling noise around the vents/stearing wheel. Is it because of the vacuum I've heard so much about? If not, is this an area of concern?

I'm not touching this one...sorry.

4) Unrelated to the above question, I hear a hissing noise around the tailpipe of the car. From what I've read in this forum, it's probably the fuel pump. Is that correct? What is the average cost to get that replaced?

Is there a pusher pump back there? I thought they were under the hood. Have the fuel pressure checked and install a new filter....hmm, perhaps reverse that statement.(grin) I can't tell ya price yet. I haven't been down that road.

5) Out of curiosity, what are the causes of red discoloration on the lower half of of the engine? Should this be of great concern?

Again, I haven't noticed this on my car so no idea...but a guess would go back to antifreeze escaping the tank and splashing?

6) Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the E class CD/owners manual without going through the dealership.

This i can help ya with. i just got mine off eBay for $10.75 shipped.[:D] It's a "happy" if ya catch my drift. Send me an email...cool? Anyone else too.

Well, ther' ya go. Keep reading the forum. These guys are the pros. They will be happy to help ya as long as you don't start telling us a Lexus is a better car. (Sorry Andrew...just a small dig. I think most of us like ya much better now...including myself.)