Maybe a for sale thread in the future E220 cdi, what to do...

[Andy F]

As above, not quite sure what to do. Since purchasing this I'm going to be away a lot more touring than originally thought a lot happens in a week, that's show biz haha!

 

I knew this would be a bit of a project, but my project time has just evaporated in front of me. It was definitely too low at the back, but I could hear the suspension compressor kick in when I went to pick it up and it drove absolutely fine and felt wafty, so naively I thought it would be fine for a while. I knew there was a problem with it but I really like it so I bought it! It told me about a suspension malfunction on Tuesday and then yesterday I  had to take a moderate amount of kit to work, it was fine most of the day and but gave me the red warning of car too low on the way home. I haven't heard the compressor since Monday evening, so I think it's finally failed.

What's next?

Don't know, I love driving it, the gearbox and engine are superb, very smooth and powerful. (Still needs a thermostat for maximum mpgs) It looks great, is very well equipped, and supremely comfortable. I've got a list of jobs to do on the T4 and then I'll start to tackle this but I'm exhausted from work stuff at the moment, I've got 3 weekends at home and then I'm basically on tour until mid September so I need to focus my attention on other things really, wife, kids, house, caravan etc.

 

I will start fixing this but if someone was to offer me £750 in the next couple of weeks you'll save me from myself, I've just bitten off more than I can chew work wise in the last couple of days.

I want to have a look through the paper work when I get it from Kiltox at the weekend as I'm sure a previous owner mentioned a new pump and air bags, so if that's the case I'll start with wiring (there's a common wire break) the relay and bench test the compressor.

Like I said, not definitely for sale but keeping the options open never hurts, I'm confident it would get you home. 

[Kiltox]

Holy shit I can’t fucking believe that, it was absolutely spot on for the nearly 2000 miles I did in it since getting it from @NorthernMonkey

I wonder if it only misbehaves when there’s a load of weight in the back then? 

If there had been any sign of it doing anything like that I wouldn’t have sold it 

[Andy F]

No worries at all, yes must be a weight related thing. As it was fine on Sunday pootling around, unlike me, my family don't weigh much haha! 

It's just a timing thing, I wasn't expecting to be away so much in the next few months, I was hoping to work my way through it and get it working properly. I may still do that, but if it sells it's one less thing to think about!

It hasn't really recovered this morning, I left it idling for a while to see if it would wake up but nothing and today I need to take 30 trumpets with me to teach whole class brass (loud!) so I'm using the T4 carefully today as I don't trust it.

 

[St.Jude]

Is it air suspension all round on this thing? Or just the rears?

Could be a blown bag, compressor is kaput/overworked, or something daft like a sensor. All things that happened on the Land Cruiser of mine. But, this also happened on my wife’s Merc. Hers was air suspension front and rear though and the front would pump up but the rears wouldn’t.

Shit happens though, and believe me I feel for you here. I hope it gets sorted!

[Andy F]

It's just one of those things, that's what we get for playing with old complicated shite haha!

It's just on the rears on this. I haven't heard the compressor so I imagine that is kaput, looks easy to change and I'm amazed at how cheap they are and it looks pretty straightforward to swap too. Before I change that I want to check wiring and go from there. It's just timing for me that is making me think about moving it on so soon.

[mercedade]

When my sister finally bailed on it and @NorthernMonkey rode to the rescue, it was because of exactly that issue. Although she almost never used it as a load-lugger, she's a fairly brisk driver - the fact that neither Neil nor Gary @Kiltox had any issues at all, even after giving it a pretty thorough going over, made me wonder if it was just that the compressor struggled to keep up with the demands of a countryside commute across Hampshire and Berkshire's ruined roads. Perhaps that constant weight transfer is similar to lugging loads of gear around? All I know is that the garage she'd lost faith in had diagnosed a failing/ed compressor.

And yes, @NorfolkNWeigh spent some pretty decent coin on bags and a pump. I often thought it looked low - is there a calibration option? If it's starting point is too low, does any movement in the bags trigger a big red light, when actually, if it had started higher, it would just be within the normal range of movement?

The big advantage you or a purchaser will have is that at least it sounds like it's been narrowed down and it can only be the compressor or wiring. Neil gave the lines, bags and connectors a glowing report - something that my sister couldn't get done without an open cheque book.

[NorthernMonkey]

The bags seemed fine to me with no evidence of any perishing or leaks…I also checked the visible air lines and connectors with leak spray which also showed no issues. There was also no evidence of any fault codes stored, either current or historic.

I would start by chucking a cheap compressor on to rule that out whilst paying close attention to the air line connections into the pump body. There’s not really a great deal else it could be…if it was wiring related, I’d have expected to find some reference to it stored in the ECU?

[Bear]

These do have a calibration setting, don't they? But I can't see how it would let it be normal and then fail under heavy loads unless a sensor wasn't working correctly as you do calibration unladen. It was fun making an S-class do silly things with the suspension programming via Xentry, if I'm remembering when I messed with it last - but the last thing I needed to calibrate was my 528 touring (with INPA obviously, not Xentry) and that's because someone had welded a patch in the boot and singed an air pipe.

[ChampionRabbit]

23 minutes ago, Bear said:

These do have a calibration setting, don't they? But I can't see how it would let it be normal and then fail under heavy loads unless a sensor wasn't working correctly as you do calibration unladen. It was fun making an S-class do silly things with the suspension programming via Xentry, if I'm remembering when I messed with it last - but the last thing I needed to calibrate was my 528 touring (with INPA obviously, not Xentry) and that's because someone had welded a patch in the boot and singed an air pipe.

Yeah; can't see how calibration could be at fault unless one end of the calibration involved half a tonne of sandbags in the boot. Otherwise surely it's just pressure and/or height?

[Barry Cade]

The ambulances used to do this all the time, over a speed bumps or a pothole a little too quickly, and the little arms that control the height sensor would pop off. No sensor meant they just dropped right down. Pop the arm back on and normal service was resumed. Good job as they were a nightmare to get on the truck when they were on the deck .

This reminds me of a proper **** up many years ago with my Xantia.. I shuffled underneath to check something, and for some reason grabbed and pulled  the height corrector linkage. Good job I'm a skinny fella....

[gadgetgricey]

28 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

This reminds me of a proper **** up many years ago with my Xantia.. I shuffled underneath to check something, and for some reason grabbed and pulled  the height corrector linkage. Good job I'm a skinny fella....

Did exactly the same thing. Scared the absolute £$% out of me.
One of those memories that is as vivid now as when it happened.

[scooobydont]

4 minutes ago, gadgetgricey said:

Did exactly the same thing. Scared the absolute £$% out of me.
One of those memories that is as vivid now as when it happened.

Yup, VERY nearly did the same on a Xantia (2,1TD, lovely thing)

[vaughant]

Usually an LVDT for measurement.

My guess is the sensor is a 4-20mA  and all you'd do would be to set full height at say 18mA and lowest at 4ma which means if it goes outwith of those figures, the sensor flags a fault. Most likely as well some control in PID format to keep the desired ride height which would certainly involve a pulse of the compressor quite frequently.

If the compressor thing isn't working then of course under load, it can't maintain that pressure enough to keep it afloat. 

It's a real shame and I actually did really want this on the assumption the suspension fault had been cured as I'd be putting a lot of weight in it over time as well.

I hope you can get it fixed as I'm sure it can't be anything too horrific as it has been through 2 owners who've racked up the miles on it. 

I'd still like to take it on but a bit like yourself I've got so much on right now I'm not even confident I could find a spare hour or two to pick it up 😱😱😱😱..... Basically 3 people to do a minimum of a 4 man crew so I'm stuck on perm nights.

 

[Andy F]

Thank you very much for all the input gang. First things first, thank you very much to @Kiltox for keeping me mobile with the use of the mega mile Vivaro EV. Looking forward to using that tomorrow!

Lots of useful info there. At the weekend, weather permitting I'll have a look under and see if the little arm is still attached, but I'm Also going to order a compressor and give that a go. If that doesn't work I'm out and I'll offer it up here. Compressor looks easy enough to change, so I'll try that report back!

I'm hoping that 15 years of running Xantias will help with this, but I do know it's completely different. Bit half arsed if you ask me only being on half the wheels!

Here's the load that flattened it, not particularly heavy, I can lift 2 boxes at a time with relative ease, which is more than can be said for the E class!

@vaughantyes I think you dodged a bullet here I was semi convinced the suspension was sorted too, such is life, but I am convinced there is a decent car underneath!

[vaughant]

9 minutes ago, Andy F said:

Thank you very much for all the input gang. First things first, thank you very much to @Kiltox for keeping me mobile with the use of the mega mile Vivaro EV. Looking forward to using that tomorrow!

Lots of useful info there. At the weekend, weather permitting I'll have a look under and see if the little arm is still attached, but I'm Also going to order a compressor and give that a go. If that doesn't work I'm out and I'll offer it up here. Compressor looks easy enough to change, so I'll try that report back!

I'm hoping that 15 years of running Xantias will help with this, but I do know it's completely different. Bit half arsed if you ask me only being on half the wheels!

Here's the load that flattened it, not particularly heavy, I can lift 2 boxes at a time with relative ease, which is more than can be said for the E class!

@vaughantyes I think you dodged a bullet here I was semi convinced the suspension was sorted too, such is life, but I am convinced there is a decent car underneath!

Blimey that's really decent of @Kiltox to help out on what's ultimately a trade sale, shows what a decent guy he is. 

I agree though, it will be a great car with these small faults fixed and let's face it you could have dropped £5k on one to get exactly the same result 😭😭😭.

If you want to get rid mind I'd put it on Gumtree or whatever for £1300 and prepare to get knocked down to say £9-950, no point losing money if you can help it. I find oddly spares/repairs stuff sells easier on there than something actually working 🤭🤭.

An innovative Eastern European will have that on its way to Latvia full of cheap UK car parts all being held up by a £10 eBay 12v tyre inflator by the time the DVLA have sent you a letter telling you it's no longer yours.

[Andy F]

Definitely above and beyond, I can't thank him enough! That's a good shout too re Gumtree. Seems a shame because I've always wanted one of these and I couldn't believe my luck when it was just around the corner. 

I will take derisory offers too, maybe even a roffle. It's just been one of those weeks: the dishwasher is broken, I dropped quite an expensive part of my trumpet today and dented it, I got home on Monday and both toilets in the house had decided to break (one flush assembly disintegrated and the other leaked all over the floor due to bad installation by a plumber) annoyingly, that's in the bathroom that's new! Oh well, it's nearly half term.

[vaughant]

15 minutes ago, Andy F said:

Definitely above and beyond, I can't thank him enough! That's a good shout too re Gumtree. Seems a shame because I've always wanted one of these and I couldn't believe my luck when it was just around the corner. 

I will take derisory offers too, maybe even a roffle. It's just been one of those weeks: the dishwasher is broken, I dropped quite an expensive part of my trumpet today and dented it, I got home on Monday and both toilets in the house had decided to break (one flush assembly disintegrated and the other leaked all over the floor due to bad installation by a plumber) annoyingly, that's in the bathroom that's new! Oh well, it's nearly half term.

Oh blimey that's the last thing you needed then 😭😭😭.

Hope your luck changes for the better soon 😀😀😀

[loserone]

One please 

[St.Jude]

1 hour ago, vaughant said:

Blimey that's really decent of @Kiltox to help out on what's ultimately a trade sale, shows what a decent guy he is. 

+100 on this point alone.

[Andy F]

Compressor ordered! Should be here on Tuesday and we'll go from there.

[artdjones]

19 hours ago, scooobydont said:

Yup, VERY nearly did the same on a Xantia (2,1TD, lovely thing)

It never happened to me, but that's because at the time I got into Citroens a friend of mine froze my blood by telling me of an acquaintance who died with a GS sump pressed into his chest.

[ChampionRabbit]

Absolute top tier AS this; standing behind your banger sale. Superb behaviour from @Kiltox who definitely did not moan about the TT I sold him which although a nice drive, deffo was getting wetter (buyer advised).

[Andy F]

I think I'm nearly there! Today I took the old compressor off and found this pipe with the filter hanging off and full of water! I think that's probably what killed off the compressor.

 

Other successes today are new oil cooler, thermostat and housing and drop links on the T4 so @kiltox can have his Vivaro back! Thank you so much again, you got me out of a hole big time.

 

Still only got one flushing toilet and a broken dishwasher though haha!

[Christine]

You know you can buy just the rubbers for T4 droplinks ..i think £1  or so each ..!  

[Andy F]

11 minutes ago, Christine said:

You know you can buy just the rubbers for T4 droplinks ..i think £1  or so each ..!  

I didn't (next time I'll search for those, thanks!)  but it was only about a tenner for lemforder ones and putting new rubbers into tight places like that isn't something I enjoy, even on valentine's day...

[Andy F]

What a difference it makes to the mind when the sun shines!

[Christine]

Really easy swapping them , the hard bit is getting them on the ARB ! 

I bought a dozen ,  as its an annual  job !

 

[Andy F]

New compressor fitted and up she rises! I blew through the filter ( not sure why I did that) and it just poured out water so I think that won't have helped! Rain stopped play this afternoon and I'll get a filter tomorrow before putting the wheel arch liner back. I'll see if I can reach the parking sensor while its apart and then all should be well.

 

[St.Jude]

Good lad!!!

[Andy F]

I had to order the filter from the Mercedes dealer in the end at a whopping £13 and I even treated it to new pipe work. Got a message to say it arrived this morning, so it's now fitted, wheel arch lining and under tray refitted, test drive complete and it's back in business! Correct ride height is maintained and it hasn't sunk in the 2 days since the compressor was fitted so I'm declaring it fixed. What a machine.

I'll use it for a while as I've always wanted one of these E classes and then probably move it on as now the T4 is sorted I don't really need a vehicle this size to run alongside the bus. But with one of the Picassos going imminently it'll be used daily until I decide what/if to replace it with. I've also got a lot of touring to do and the E class will be a sublime way to travel late at night!

Who knows, but the big news is it's fixed now and we've gone from 1 working car to 3 again.

Thank you to everyone for the suggestions and filling in the history of the Merc, it made troubleshooting so much easier. And of course massive thanks again to @Kiltox for the use of the Vivaro!

 

Mods, can this be moved to the main forum please?