I have a 2005 CLK 320 that I purchased new from a dealership. The car has 57,000 miles, and has always been meticiously maintained and has had all service work done at the dealership. I was driving the car cross country a few weeks back and when I was in AZ the car broke down. I had been driving for about 5 hrs, and was going 75-80 mph. Got the car towed to the dealership, and they said I had put a rod through the side of my engine block! The car is just out of warrenty and they are telling me the car needs a whole new engine ($20,000)! They said they don't know the cause of the failure, the engine had oil in it. I don't know what to do at this point. Mercedes are supposed to be top of the line cars, and they should not fail at 57,000 miles! Has anyone heard of this happening before, or does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

 

If you purchased from a dealer, contact that particular dealership. Dealer service centers have something called RSA or goodwill warranty. It is designed by mercedes to give an allowance for warranty work to be performed on cars just out of warranty in cases like this. Dealers have a cap on the amount of goodwill but they might cover the repairs totally or do a spilt or 30/30/30 where mb pays a 3rd, the dealer covers a third, and you pay a third. Also, depending on the dealer you can have different repairs. Some dealers have engine only techs like mine that can do a partial rebuild rather than complete engine replacement. You can get the block with fitted pistons with new rods and crankshaft and reuse the cylinder heads if done at a dealer with an engine repair tech. Try contacting the service manager at the dealership you purchased it from. If that does not work, start going up the food chain and you are likely to get help the higher you go. You may get something done at a corporate level but dealer where purchased is your best bet. These engines are strong and failure, especially at that mileage is extremely rare.

 

So why has the rod come thru the block.
Rod broken?
Big end cap come off due to one nut not being tightened.

Whats the history on the engine. As it left the factory or has it had work done on it for some reason.

Yep. I guess you should be in line for some Goodwill payment.

Establish the facts, then go softly softly before going HEAVY if necessary.

Stuart