Mercedes-Benz E 220 CDI
Mercedes' first common rail diesel. Economical and torquey, but prone to injector problems and torque limiter failures.
Diesel Standard
105 kW diesel. Functional and economical, emotionless.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The dual-mass flywheel on the OM611 wears particularly quickly with a manual gearbox due to the high torque at low revs. LUK recommends preventive replacement from 150,000 km during clutch work.
Symptoms: Rattling and chattering at warm idle, vibrations when pulling away and changing gear, judder at low revs, noise disappears when pressing the clutch
Injector sealing rings wear and allow combustion gases to escape into the injector bore. Deposits on the seating face make disassembly considerably harder.
Symptoms: Poor cold starting, rough idle, faint hissing with engine running, increased fuel consumption
Plastic inlet channel shut-off flaps become brittle through EGR soot deposits and break. Fragments can enter the engine.
Symptoms: Hissing on acceleration, reduced engine braking, engine warning light, power drop
The vacuum actuator for boost pressure control fails; the turbocharger has no more boost pressure regulation. Often only the actuator is defective, but the turbo unit must be replaced.
Symptoms: Severely reduced acceleration, black smoke under load, limp mode, boost pressure fault message
The EGR valve on the OM611 becomes contaminated with soot and carbonised oil and can no longer close fully. Typical problem with short-trip and taxi use.
Symptoms: Power loss, limp mode, engine won't rev past 3,000 rpm, smoke on acceleration, rpm fluctuations at idle
On the OM611, the O-rings on the fuel filter housing harden and allow air into the fuel system. Engine stumbles or barely starts after extended standing.
Symptoms: Starting difficulties after standing, engine stumbles and cuts out, air bubbles visible in transparent fuel lines
Vehicle Weaknesses 6
Bacterial contamination in the electrophoretic coating bath compromised paint adhesion. Rust appears on doors, roof, boot lid and trim strips. Mercedes offered goodwill repairs.
Strut towers corrode severely and can break away from the bodywork. Safety-critical defect: the vehicle can drop uncontrollably.
Wheel arches, sills and strut towers rust heavily. Hidden rust forms beneath the sill cladding.
Front and rear strut towers rust through. At the front the towers can break while driving. At the rear this is an economic write-off.
Electronic ignition lock wears out over time. Key turns but vehicle won't start. Problems worsen in cold weather.
Typical electrical problems: alarm system triggers false alerts, cruise control cuts out, air conditioning shows faults. Cable oxidation is frequently the cause.