i have a '92 W124 Benz 200. what can i do to improve gas mileage?
PS: it's a carburetor engine.

emyworld:


you said its excellent? please in which areas did you look at?

Virtually every area, I bought mine here on nairaland, Naija used, and it had suspension problem, bad tires, faulty actuator, wrong electrical wiring etc then, , which was fixed (fixing is cheap, cos the parts are quite durable, toks)

Balancing surpasses most cars, I can assure u that,

Its quite reliable and gives you a sense of safety, actually its safer than most cars.

The Engine in my own opinion was mistakenly built that way, (I doubt if it dies, have u seen a smoking c-class?, I doubt or perhaps extremely rare), out of curiosity I swapped my engine cos of a history of overheating and faulty throttle head actuator, , nothing really happened to the old one,

Fuel economy is superb, same as camry of same year if not better,

In all, just do the right thing for the car and see how it performs and makes u happy, all the time,

CONS:, Most materials used for the interior seem to expire, cos I notice some of the plastic parts broke away easily, around the dashboard and the rear speaker woofer, the board there does expire, dont know if its only mine,


Bottom-line, I am certain , I would get another C class of same yr, but a 6-cylinder,

benz is benz, it will never put a model in market if its not sure about it

personally i dont see a need of V6 or V8

i have a V4 e230 , its very easy to reach 160kmh speed at highway, what do i need more?

inside town its more economic

anyway if you wanna buy a car, check the particular one ur buying, if the v6 u saw is clean go for it, bcs in 9ja we thank god the petrol is 65 naira only so the difference btwn the v4 and v6 will not reach 5000 naira / month inside town if u use it daily which is nothing if ur income is ok
some spare parts r cheaper for V4

thanks

hi guys.
I need someone to advice me on what to do
I am a first timer with benz and I uses a c200 benz which I bought from a naija user.
At first,I had no issue with the ride not until a day my neighbour informed of a likely fuel scarcity which made me fill my tank.
I drove back home.later,when I was about going out,it refused to start.so I had to raise it over and over before it can move because once it manages to start,it goes off once I put it in drive(it is auto).
Later,the mechanic worked on it and it a bit fair.
Later I changed my mechanic and result was better in that it starts at once at the first kicking of the day but the subsequent kicking will require small raising because it won't raise completely by itself.
Pls can you recommend a sound mechanic for me or what should I do
In addition,once I start it and I want to move it,it will not move and goes off again.

@ Olamkas,

I bought my C200 just in same manner, and knew no jack about mercedes, but I am an auto freak and curious about anything automobile, I have learnt alot from this nairaland, hence I often carry out a DIY maintenance with the benz.

On ur question, I cant really say who is an expert in Benz around lagos, believing that's ur location: I am sure there should be many, but I have not been lucky rather to see one that I can leave my car with and have that confidence that the repair would be excellent.

So what I do, is to look out for similar issues online and read all possible solutions then go to the mechanic in Ladipo to fix it, with 70% idea of what is to be done, ; cos I just explain to them what is to be done, buy any part that needs to be bought right there,

From what I can deduce from ur case, I suspect your throttle body could be dirty, if you can get a spray cleaner, remove the air intake hose and clean everything inside, , If THAT DIDNT WORK, perhaps you have to turn ur attention to the wire harness, Also , the over-voltage regulator could cause this, but I would advice you follow the order of troubleshooting I have stated,

- Clean throttle body
- Confirm wiring harness
- Over voltage regulator, under the hood of the passenger's side,


pls lets have the feedback, the issue outlined here are 90% of the wahala with that car, and its simple to fix,

mikkybrick:

i have a '92 W124 Benz 200. what can i do to improve gas mileage?
PS: it's a carburetor engine.

You didnt state ur fuel consumption, from the book, they say it can give u a highway driving of 100km with about 9 litres of petrol, i.e when driving @ a steady speed of around 80km/h , I thinks thats on the assumption that its ur car is still sharp sharp, and u r running on the correct fuel & mixture

Anyone with experience on the error "ESP VIST WORKSHOP" on a 2004 C240?

Sleek Reek:

Trac i need your advice,i'm about to buy a Benz for he first time,i'm trying to decide between a 2005 Benz C230 Kompressor engine 1.8 litres 4 cylinders or the 2006 Benz C350 Luxury sedan,can you advice on which is better and why?

Sleek,


I'm just coming across your quest. If you haven't bought any, then you can read on.

In my personal opinion, I would suggest running from any supercharged engine. Besides cooling, the turbine is also a wear item and it cost thousands of dollars when it fails. It may or may not fail but that is the main worry. I don't know about the 1.8L and I am not too familiar with the C Class model lineup. Fast-forward -- I am not aware of a 2006 C350. The 203 chassis wasn't fitted with that engine except different markets launched at different times. However, I will be blunt with you. If it's the v8 engine fitted in it, run! I am referring to the sectioned 273. This is why they are so cheap and nobody wants them. They all are of low-mileages. This goes for all the lineups, not just the C's. The problem is that the engine itself is defective and the sprocket to the shaft will fail causing a serious advance-repair. It will take so long to explain it but it's an internal engine problem. A quick-fix that the dealer would do is to replace the crankshaft positioning sensor but the problem still exist.

AMADU77:

benz is benz, it will never put a model in market if its not sure about it

personally i dont see a need of V6 or V8

i have a V4 e230 , its very easy to reach 160kmh speed at highway, what do i need more?

inside town its more economic

anyway if you wanna buy a car, check the particular one your buying, if the v6 u saw is clean go for it, bcs in 9ja we thank god the petrol is 65 naira only so the difference btwn the v4 and v6 will not reach 5000 naira / month inside town if u use it daily which is nothing if your income is ok
some spare parts r cheaper for V4

thanks

You are wrong.  . . .  17 years wrong to be precise.

You have the mentality of Mercs when engineers ran the entire company.  Now, you have financial analyst and other business administrative running working in tandem with the engineers.

tweex:

Anyone with experience on the error "ESP VIST WORKSHOP" on a 2004 C240?

Check all your fuses. If any is burnt, replace it. Check all your external bulbs. If it's not of these, you have a faulty ESP module or a module going bad.

You can actually reset it. If I remember correctly, turn your wheel to a full left lock then turn it to a full right lock and take out the keys from the ignition. I believe it should be at the ON position.

Hi Trac,

In addition to the "ESP visit workshop" error, I tried scanning the ESP module with a Carsoft scanner and got got a message cannot connect to the ESP module. Initially I suspected a faulty ESP but realised on the W203 the ESP is integrated with the ABS. So I did a dynomode test (This switches off the ESP) to simulate an ESP failure and realised that the ESP couldnt be bad (because when the ESP module is totally switched of the ABS and BAS faulty signals would come on).
From your new response I am beginning to suspect the fuse. Can you confirm where the fuse box is located and where i can get fusebox map.

tweex:

Hi Trac,

In addition to the "ESP visit workshop" error, I tried scanning the ESP module with a Carsoft scanner and got got a message cannot connect to the ESP module. Initially I suspected a faulty ESP but realised on the W203 the ESP is integrated with the ABS. So I did a dynomode test (This switches off the ESP) to simulate an ESP failure and realised that the ESP couldnt be bad (because when the ESP module is totally switched of the ABS and BAS faulty signals would come on).
From your new response I am beginning to suspect the fuse. Can you confirm where the fuse box is located and where i can get fusebox map.

Complicated -- but I will answer your question accordingly.

A generic scanner won't help you on this.  Even if you correct things, you can't clear the errors except you know what your are doing and do the non-recommended method.  You will need an MB electronic tools & PLC's and with all of that, it is still a mingled work because the majority of the task depends on your understanding and skill.  It would have been easier if you had the MB codes 'cause we would have just zeroed in on the actual problem(s) but let's work with what we have.

Overriding the ESP launch will not emulate a faulty ABS/BAS.  You only have one module and that is the ESP module (let's hope this isn't faulty because it is pricey).


Many things can throw the error.  I will list a few but it isn't just limited to what I will list.  A faulty bulb, brake pad sensors, worn out pads, worn out rotors, ABS pump or the ESP module is going bad.  I also know this for a fact that if you drive spiritedly and push it continuously to its limit, you get the ESP service error but it goes off when you restart the car.

In the first place, we don't know if it's bad.  If you are sure you have no deferred maintenance, the first thing to do is to remove the negative terminal on your battery and leave it disconnected for about 5 - 10 minutes.  Then drive around.  If it comes on, then you have a problem.  This is so because anything could have tripped (e.g. potholes at inappropriate speeds).  If it comes on, you will need to investigate the aforementioned possible scenerios.

There is nothing wrong with the fuse for if it were the case, you'd be in limp-home mode.  But you can't escape this in your diagnosis.  I don't know your vehicle market but from my knowledge, you should have three sites.  The first site is in the hood (bonnet) and the zone is at the firewall, the second is at the drivers cockpit normal to the dashboard profile (left) -- the door has to be opened because the door panel flushes against it.  The last site is at the trunk (boot) at the drivers half. 


Some caution - if you have to do any kind of replacement on the discs or pads, disconnect the batteries. 

I really do hope you have a cheap to medium solution.  It is more likely that you will take your vehicle to a professional.  Above all, the last you should do is to replace the ESP.  Funny enough, the purchase of some Mercedes' don't end with the initial purchase.

2000 - 2006 mercedes benz s class air suspension compressor for sale @ 75k negotiable. Few units left. Call 07089728887

Love seeing the different Benz models.

Here's one of mine in the US



I also have a 190E in the fleet.

Here's my Audi, what can I say I love German engineering

@Tweex

How did your diagnosis turn out?

@EuroMeka

Where are you located and what Mercedes is that? What's your lowering profile.

EuroMeko:


Love seeing the different Benz models.

Here's one of mine in the US



I also have a 190E in the fleet.

Here's my Audi, what can I say I love German engineering

Hi Trac,

I used a mercedes carsoft scanner to diagnose the ESP. I got the following message: "No connection to ESP" or something like that. I am so confused.

tweex:

Hi Trac,

I used a mercedes carsoft scanner to diagnose the ESP. I got the following message: "No connection to ESP" or something like that. I am so confused.

This is because the signal is too high for your scanner plus it's a different tier of access.  There is no such thing as Mercedes carsoft.  It is aftermarket for Mercedes and it is not the real thing and a bit overpriced.  The real kit is a family and the end result ends up on a dedicated workstation.  The system also tells you what the issues may be and gives you the skimped summary of what your repair approach should be.  It doesn't tell you how you will do it.  It's a serious investment -- making carsoft a joke.  Some generic scanners can read it but I don't know which.  I am referring to the $39.99 brand.  This I know because I've had to put support in a thread where the codes read from a generic reader was what we had to work with.  The codes would be different from what Mercedes list as trouble ID's.  You'll still have to do the rest of the diagnosis yourself with or without MB recognised trouble codes.

Take the car in for mechanical repairs.  It's a mid to advance repair and there are some work-in-progress cautions that you might not be aware of.  Doing it by yourself will take weeks since it's all new to you and you don't have the Benz PLC's and tools to work with plus you are missing the blueprint of how it is suppose to work.

Just got someone to use a STAR scanner. Same story. hmm,

Just to a brief history: Before this issue started, I had my front ball joints changed. That was the first time the ESP light came up. Taking the car for alignment solved it for week. It came up again and a scan showed the the wheel angle sensor was the problem. Changed that again and I was fine for a while. Then it came up again and this time around, the steering controls and horn stopped working too. The car electrician concluded it was steering wheel angle sensor. I changed that, the horn and steering controls have started working but the "ESP visit workshop" has not cleared from my dashboard.
What is peculiar about the error this time is that, unlike before when it comes up when I am driving but now it comes up immediately the car engine starts. I am so dumbfounded.

tweex:

Just got someone to use a STAR scanner. Same story. hmm,

Just to a brief history: Before this issue started, I had my front ball joints changed. That was the first time the ESP light came up. Taking the car for alignment solved it for week. It came up again and a scan showed the the wheel angle sensor was the problem. Changed that again and I was fine for a while. Then it came up again and this time around, the steering controls and horn stopped working too. The car electrician concluded it was steering wheel angle sensor. I changed that, the horn and steering controls have started working but the "ESP visit workshop" has not cleared from my dashboard.
What is peculiar about the error this time is that, unlike before when it comes up when I am driving but now it comes up immediately the car engine starts. I am so dumbfounded.

If star cannot read your onboard, then someone has done something that ought not to have been done. I can't comprehend how Star would come up with no reading. Consider the person that altered your onboard system a genious. Find someone to fix it. Your issue is simple if all went well. The E Classes of the lineup are worse. You have a number of counts for the brakes to actuate before a lockup. This is not due to the brakes but software or control systems architecture. Well, somebody that understands how to fiddle with electronics will have to help you on this. You'll need a blue print to undo "opinions" done on your vehicle.

tweex:

Just got someone to use a STAR scanner. Same story. hmm,

Just to a brief history: Before this issue started, I had my front ball joints changed. That was the first time the ESP light came up. Taking the car for alignment solved it for week. It came up again and a scan showed the the wheel angle sensor was the problem. Changed that again and I was fine for a while. Then it came up again and this time around, the steering controls and horn stopped working too. The car electrician concluded it was steering wheel angle sensor. I changed that, the horn and steering controls have started working but the "ESP visit workshop" has not cleared from my dashboard.
What is peculiar about the error this time is that, unlike before when it comes up when I am driving but now it comes up immediately the car engine starts. I am so dumbfounded.

I just re-read this and it seems this is where something went wrong. My only theory is that it is out of place or the sensors that trail to the module is not connected. In the interim, check all your fuses. If a fuse is blown, DO NOT REPLACE THAT FUSE. You will need to source why that fuse went out. Also, hav e the person that worked on your ball-joint re-evaluate his work. If the work was done as suppose to, you shouldn't have done the latter. Is your vehicle for the American market & equipped with Kompressor? Where are you?

hi Trac,

Its a 2004 c240, here is the PIX

2000 - 2006  mercedes benz s class air suspension compressor for sale @ 75 k negotiable. Few units left. Call  07089728887

2000 - 2006 mercedes benz s
class air suspension compressor
for sale @ 75 k negotiable. Few
units left. Call 07089728887

tweex:

hi Trac,

Its a 2004 c240, here is the PIX

It doesn't tell me if it's Canadian or American market. There is a difference. I also hope it wasn't a left-hand drive conversion because they are put together differently.

Open the hood and take a clear picture (good resolution) of the engine bay and another as if you were standing right in front of it. I will have to point certain things to you. But first, I don't know what you have. Use a picture hosting site to link it to your post. This way, the image is bigger and easier to emphase upon.

I do understand what happened and will explain it. I will only tell you to take it to a professional and have him reinforce his own diagnosis with what I will tell you. There is also a possibility that the harness has been compromised on its initial service. Using the car as a site, you have 18 different ESP zones and the zones encompasses the car. You've also wasted money on two different occasions for you ought not to have replaced your angle sensor. I hope you still have the initial sensor. Get your money back if you can. The first job was never finished and you paid for all the repercussions.

I don't know how to help you on your steering controls. It is not an electrical issue (apparently). An electrical fault may have occured or a module disabled. Mercedes Benzes with FSS or 2000 and up are connected via network and not electrical systems as other cars are. The car never sleeps but you can switch the motor off but not the car. I don't delve into this area.

Here is a pix of the engine. I could mail it to you.

@Tweex

The region I want is cropped out.  I've gotten the answer I needed. 


I will break it down to you, so that you can arm yourself.  I also believe you have been driving your car with those wheels long before any issue.  I'm not really referring to the rims but the overall diameter.  Moving from 16 inches to 18 or 19 will cause problems.  I think you just have a shorter sidewall (just checking).

I will put it together and also give you a number (that's if you stay in Lagos).  He works on german cars but very strict.  That is because he doesn't tolerate repeat-services (complications due to service just done).

hi Trac,

Yes they are 18 inch rims, with low profiles. and yes again I stay in Lagos. Expecting your feedback. Thanks alot

tweex:

hi Trac,

Yes they are 18 inch rims, with low profiles. and yes again I stay in Lagos. Expecting your feedback. Thanks alot

I wasn't referring to the rim size but the overall diameter of the tyre. If it's been fine, then it is fine. You need not mess with it. I will table your feedback tomorrow. It's going to be a long day for me and I can't smuggle this into my schedule. I will cover all that can possibly go wrong from removing the left wheel. You will also do some reset and that is why it will not be a swift post. The fuse box for the meantime to inspect should be the rear. That the zone that governs your ESP. It is on your left. Just inspect. I dont think anything is wrong there.

@Tweex

Give me the full engine. Also give me a birds-eye view. I need to know the suspension fitted.

Hi Trac,

When you say suspensions, are you refering to the engine or car suspensions?
I will try and get the pictures. I just sent the car to the body shop. I will send you the pictures once it been returned. Cheers