I forgot to mention that this is for a 2009 E350 with roughly 58k miles on it.

 

Ouch sorry to hear that. That's almost one year of depreciation right there just in repair costs! Since it is a 2009 any way you can get them to do a good will repair?

 

Go to an Indy and get their opinion. Just like you should do with any doctor.

What are the codes showing up?

The pump is part of the sending unit, but the fuel tank is not. The fuel sending unit comes out of the tank. It's like a doctor saying they have to replace your liver when only your spleen is bad.

 

Looks like I am looking at a $3500 expense here.

Hang on, something is amiss, surely. Your friendly dealership is trying to gouge you here, by the looks of it.

Just deal with the fuel pump 'problem' first, to get you moving again. The fuel pump is located inside the fuel tank, and can be changed without anything else being changed. The fuel sender (fuel level indicator) and the tank itself will be fine and can be left alone.

According to parts.com (Auto Parts - Parts.com, For Every Part of Your Life) you can get a replacement fuel pump for $216.

I'm slightly confused by the references to 'primary' and 'secondary' fuel pumps in the catalog. The WIS only refers to one fuel pump (M3). Maybe someone else can clarify here?

In your shoes I would be inclined to find a good local Inde, and get your car towed there for the work. Finally, it is surprising that your fuel pump has allegedly failed so early. I am suspicious about that now.

 

In your shoes I would be inclined to find a good local Inde, and get your car towed there for the work. Finally, it is surprising that your fuel pump has allegedly failed so early. I am suspicious about that now.

X2 I just looked at the repair-trac record's on the 350, no-one in the world has replaced one yet. No-one. A couple of fuses, a few more relay's, but no pump's.


Only if it was 8,000 miles ago.

 

Well the fuel tank is most certainly not part of the pump/sender so I would like the dealer to explain that. That is a huge part of the bill for the tank removal and replacement.
They are either totally incompetent or ripping you off on this or both.
I have seen dealer pump/sender replacements go for $800 to $900 which is high, but $2800 is robbery.
Cabin air filter depends on whether or not you have quad zone climate. The filters for the interior are pricey. Labor is minimal.
Not sure which transmission gasket is leaking. If it is the pan gasket $550 is an insane price.

 

I just called another dealer in the area and explained the problem and he tole me that what was quoted by the other dealer was correct :crybaby2:

Apparently the whole unit (tank, sending unit, pump) needs to be replaced when the pump fails.

Can someone let me know if this is indeed true on the 2009 model? I dont want to go over the expense of towing the car to an Indy if they are going to say the same thing. I have no way of knowing if the fuse just blew at this point.

 

Just because I am the only one here (that I know of) that can really answer your question, I need your vin, I may very well be able to give you the info that you need to either get it done free or to get a reduced rate.

P.M. it to me.

 

Wow, I am basing my info on the 2005-2006 models.

Hopefully Mercedes Mechanic can get you some help. That $2800 is scary.

 

All I need is the Vin number, and then to call Juan at the shop.

I just called him about it, he also checked the repair-trac's from the shop's computer. No pump's have been replaced yet.

But if there was a bad batch or a one in a million problem, Mercedes may want the pump back. Installing you a new one free, along with a new filter, relay and fuse.


BTW, the extra warranty, is still in your reach, for a reasonable price.

 

For your information, here is a picture of the fuel tank on your car showing the components located inside.

The fuel tank is a 'saddle' design, with a left-hand and a right-hand side. It is located under the rear seats, and that is where the access is for the pump, filter, sensors, etc.

The reason that MB located the fuel pump inside the tank is because it is considered so reliable!

 

:bash:I'm probably way off on this but:

1) I would suspect the CPS before the fuel pump.

2) My 211 has the pump accessable under the rear seat without removal of the tank.

SO I am a bit surprised that your pump is out and the tank has to be pulled.

But then what do I know about this stuff anyway. :bash:

 

Thanks to everyone who replied. Unfortunately, I told the dealer to go ahead with the work before posting here and so I am afraid it might be too late to now call him and stop the work. My hope is that Mercedes Mechanic or the dealer is somehow now able to find a way to get Mercedes Benz to reimburse some or all of the costs...

Reading the replies, it looks like I may have been taken for a ride. I think a few things happened here...

First, the car died suddenly on Saturday afternoon, in the middle of a shopping trip, it was fully loaded with my family and purchases. I used the Mercedes roadside assistance (I have the connected vehicle service). I wanted the car towed home initially (in which case I guess would have gone to a local indy dealer) but they agreed to tow it for free only if I took it to the local dealer. So, I agreed. In retrospect, I should have paid the $150 (which they wanted) to tow it home, I clearly was not thinking well in my frustation.

I have sold all of my earlier cars before the warranty expired and so this is the first time I am having to deal with out of warranty repairs, esp Mercedes. Pretty much all I have had to deal with till now were regular services and warranty repairs and I have always gone to the dealers. Even then, if the car was drivable I would have taken it out of the dealership today and looked around for better prices. Since the car was dead, I felt I had no choice but to get it fixed and also felt the price might be reasonable when another dealer confirmed it.

Third, I have been busy at work and wanted to avoid the hassle of visiting the dealer, calling other shops, arranging the car to be towed again etc and was hoping the dealer was being honest. I may be paying the price for this.

Well, I guess this experience has just made me wiser and better prepared for the next time.

 

I feel that the OP's experience here from their local MB dealership is absolutely disgraceful. Probably much of the conversations were verbal, so firm evidence would be difficult to establish.

The fact that that two fuel pumps are used on later 211 models (my earlier WIS only shows one) makes pump failure even more improbable as the reason for the engine failure. Care to name and shame?

 

How people pay so much money without shopping around is beyond me. Maybe you have that much money!

It takes one call to an indy to just check how much they will charge to do the same thing that dealers are doing. They dont even need to see the car. You just ask them how much will they charge to replace so and so part.....I know all the reapairs are done and its too late now, but just a thought for next time!

 

You have been taken for a ride by the stealer, take the information below and confront them, this is the instructions direct from WIS the Official workshop manual used by the stealers;

 

So, I spoke to an Indy dealer and based off my VIN he confirmed that if the pump goes bad, then, the pump, the sending unit and the tank would need to be replaced. Appraently, the cars come with plastic or metal tanks. The ones with plastic tanks could just have their pumps replaced. If you have a metal tank (done for emission control purposes apparently) then you are out of luck and need to replace the whole thing. Mine has the metal tank.

Well since an Indy and another dealer confirmed it, I am going to assume that my dealer is right. Just bad luck here I guess to have the pump fail...

 

Well from the knowledge I have, the ten cars infront of and behind yours have not needed service for the pump yet. No internal documents nothing. I would ask for pictures of the old pump.

I would have their work checked by another shop.

Do not sign anything until you get it written, no fix - no pay. Ask for a detailed itemized list.




It smell's like cow pies in this topic.

 

How do you really know it was the pump?

In my state we have the right to ask for the parts replaced. If the dealer does not save
them and give them to me I get them for free. It is state law. Some states have similar laws.
I would check and see if that is the case. Is so tell them you want all the parts replaced.
Stop by and write it on the repair order.
Since my last post I spoke with a service adviser that has written thousands of repair
orders for W211s and has never has to a replace fuel tank. He has also never seen a
dead pump, a cracked one yes. One that did not pump fuel is 1 in 100,000 as he put it.

You never answered which transmission gasket is costing $550 and what the scoop was
on the cabin air filter for $152.

 

He already authorized them to do the work. It is being done as we type in this thread.

 

Can we get some confirmation that there are actual plastic and metal tank designs? He mentioned "for emissions", but the only thing I can thing of is "weight savings". Wouldn't the plastic version be lighter? Unless, if they did something stupid like used aluminum for it, it might have something to do with the other materials being made of different materials which are harder (think of aluminum screws and oilpans)..

 

Live and learn, I guess.

I still have a couple of questions about this.

1) I know of two (2008 and 2009) E350s that needed the "leaking fuel sender fix" done. Both were under warranty. Both were fixed by replacing both sending units and pump. And from what I was told, there is a right and left pump attached to the right and left sending units. But maybe the pump is only on one side of the two sending units.

Here are the 2009 E350 OEM parts (with numbers) for driver and passenger side units: Mercedes Benz E350 Fuel Pump - Auto Parts World

Anyway, the tank was not removed. Did MB move to metal tanks in mid-production or something? And what did using a steel tank do to change the design of the fuel senders? The part numbers haven't changed with any facelift model years of the E Class.

Could the OP post the build date of their car (it's on the mfg plate on the door sill.)

2) Does MB Assist require that the car is towed to a dealer only? I know that they changed the rules for lifetime assist and still offer it providing you have used a dealership at least sometime during a calendar year, right? But has it always been towing only to a dealer?

If the OP could please post the work order with parts numbers after they get the car back, that would be really helpful to members. And also what codes SDS showed. Thanks!

EDIT: I found this on another forum about a 2007 E350:
"He did the diagnostic(he has a laptop that he hooked up to the car) and told me there is a problem with a fuel pump. I called a dealer and was told that its not sold separately, but only with entire fuel tank, which retails $1,800. Do any of you know or could suggest any cheaper solution to my problem? Is there anything else could be done instead?"

The response was the same as here: a) doubts that it was the pump itself b) the tank doesn't need to be removed to replace the sending units. c) it's probably the crank position sensor

But then the OP never posted what the issue turned out to be....... but the dealer did tell him that the tank needed to be replaced, too. And that was on a 2007. I know somebody who had sending units replaced on a 2007 E63 and did not replace the tank, just the pump/sending unit assembly. I'll try and get the work order info from them.

 

If they did change to metal mid production I can't find it in EPC.

Time to call Jerry at MB of Naperville and make sure about the parts list.

 

MB never used metal tanks, it is another con and he fell for it. You will not find a metal tank in EPC but you might find one on the Jeep (made in Beijing)

 

I am surprised a 09 E350 having this trouble. This is only 2 years old car...... the mileage shouldn't affect in this.

 

I figured as much. I still want to know about the$550 trans gasket and the $150 cabin filter.

 

I only hope he gives us the name of this company then everyone can avoid them.

 

I don't know for certain if the OP has a metal or plastic tank, but it sounds like he obviously has a code 917 vehicle.

That means it's a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV.) The fuel systems on code 917 Mercedes have to be 100% sealed. And the gas tank cannot emit any gasoline fumes, period. The usual plastic tanks made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) that Mercedes has been using are not PZEV compliant. So it's very possible they used steel instead to make it PZEV compliant.

In fact, the industry has been arguing about this and the steel lobby says PZEV plastic fuel tanks cannot be built cost effectively. However, Mercedes just signed a new contract last year for newly designed PZEV compliant plastic tanks from a vendor in Michigan, TI Automotive. TI Automotive Earns Largest Contract in Company History :: TI Automotive

But those new TI Automotive PZEV plastic tanks weren't available for the 2009 cars. So to be PZEV compliant, Daimler probably had to use metal fuel tanks that are fully sealed and PZEV rated. "The vehicles constructed to meet the PZEV requirements must achieve both SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) exhaust emissions and zero evaporative (fuel system) emissions." The PZEV category was recently created as a bargain to postpone ZEV requirements (zero emission vehicles.)

Here's a note for OEM fuel pumps that I saw on a Peachparts Mercedes DIY posting: Notes: Assembly includes Fuel Level Sending Unit : without PZEV Emissions (917) For Vehicles with Code 917, the fuel pump cannot be serviced separately only the whole sealed fuel tank can be purchased through the dealer.

So the issue here is that the OP has a code 917 vehicle. And it's very possible that many of the 2009 cars were code 917. And they have sealed systems and steel tanks. And if the PZEV plastic tank contract was just signed last year, then the early W212 cars may also have the same set up.

 

Well that is very enlightening. It also would explain the tank replacement.

I hope the OP can confirm the 917 code.

 

We would need the vin # to check for this code.

 

That or he may have his data card. The dealer could also confirm it for him.

This has gotten mighty interesting.

 

It sure has, never even heard a whisper about this before. I hope we do not have any in China