Hi everyone,
New here & nice to find a group where I can ask a few questions...
1.) Car hit 40k+ mark so no warranty. FSS "B" is coming up & dealer wants $425. A local Benz shop has quoted me a price of $300. I realize 8.5 quarts of synthetic oil is pricey, but what else are they doing to justify that kind of cash? (And why design for so much oil in the 1st place?)2.) Would never have bought the car if I'd know the engine doesn't have a dipstick! Owner's manual says engine is model 112. Newer C230 class cars
*do* have a dipstick. Only difference in the manual that I can for the engine is in terms of stroke length (2.68 -vs- 3.30).Question: Can I just go to a wrecking yard or tell dealer I'd like a dipstick for a model 112 engine (from an "E" class say?). Parts Dept. @ dealer says my car's system is designed that way and I'm just SOL. Is there literally a plug or something to prevent me inserting dipstick to inspect oil? If that sensor fails & computer doesn't catch it...
3.) Been hearing tappet (lifter) noise on cold mornings. Thankfully the noise seems to go away when temp is warmer. Does this issue relate back to question 1? (Possible valve adjustment as part of FSS "B" at 40k mark?) I shudder at *any* noise that's not supposed to be there... :)4.) Finally, my insurance company would give me a better deal if I had complete records for car from Benz-USA. Can't figure out what one item is from that history. "06/02/2005 ; 31,0093mi ; Camp 2006 030004" What on earth is a "Camp 2006 030004?" Just curious.
Also why so much work on front end? Car was owned by a guy in OH; I live in Texas and got it through CarMax. (Not my 1st choice but that's another matter) At 10,500mi "front torsion bar/linkage/plate" is listed. So soon? I got the car and local dealership basically had to replace the entire front end. Known issue, snow chains? They previous owner dogged it by driving into potholes at 90mph? What gives. Car *still* pulls to the right after alignment & wheel/tire check, etc. Interestingly steering wheel is canted a few degrees to the right as well.
Live with it, or can something be done about this? I suspect car may have gone off the road as hardpoint for tire jack has been sheered off on right front side & plastic molding scraped up. Last time I have anything to do with CarMax...
I realize this is a very long post for a new comer. Thanks for reading & thanks in advance for any replies.
-- Bruce