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Right, a nice chat with the mechanic at Continental Cars who is very nice and as hoped full of detailed knowledge and experience. He test drive it with me and agreed that there's an issue of some kind. He said the most likely case would be a blocked DPF....
Good result, hopefully the vendor will now fix or accept it back.
Good result,
hopefullythe vendor will now likely take it for an Italian Tune Up andfix or accept ithand it back.
Much as the fixer in me would love to fix it, I am not sure I want to keep a car with a DPF fault. On the other hand, if I got them to replace it, I'd have a car with a new DPF which would be a plus.
On the other hand again, these two cars aren't a lot more than the money I'd get back:
https://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/en/used-cars/volkswagen/passat/20-tdi-se-business-150ps-dsg-estate-fkcpstb
https://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/en/used-cars/volkswagen/passat/20-tdi-gt-scr-190ps-dsg-jqcptjk
Good result
It's still with them, they are doing a full check.
Also - I was under the impression that codes had the status 'stored' when they were old, but it actually means not currently happening. He told me that ABS wheel sensor codes are always 'stored' when the car's not moving. Logical on the part of Mercedes engineers, but a bit pointless. There's apparently no way of knowing when they occurred. At least with VW it stores a date/time, the issue there is that my old car doesn't actually know what date it is. But it does store the mileage so you get an idea of how old the code is.
Oh and he said you get 90 days to return the car, not 28...
Of course.. if a new DPF makes it properly smooth and responsive, I might actually really love the car. Because that's really the only reason I don't currently.
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And just when you think it can't get worse still, binners won't shut up.
So with no codes he thinks dpf? Why? And why would this affect the auto box.
Got any pressure values over the filter. If it was blocked youd have an error code.
I'm not saying I dont belive him but I'm sceptical.
Just reading about this. It can be reading high soot load which would generate lots of regenerations which would cause intermittent power loss and also crappy fuel economy, which I've observed.
It could affect the gearbox because the engine/trans ECUs are talking to each other and the engine's going 'right, we've got X throttle and Y boost, that should be Z amount of torque' and the trans is saying 'ok that means I need to shift like this' and it's the wrong shift because the actual generated torque isn't what the engine ECU thinks it should be.
Seems plausible to me I must admit. However you'd expect a code before it got this bad. He said that sometimes you just don't get the code yet but there can still be problems. I've noticed from working on the Passat that the different teams that work on the car and the software don't necessarily talk to each other. So the emissions team says 'well, the car will continue to work up to X soot load, so we'll throw a code at that point' but the torque mapping team has only coded for Y variance in torque under normal conditions so if you are between Y and X there's no code but you're getting poor performance. I may not be a mechanic but I am a software engineer and that's the kind of thing that happens a lot 🙂
What data is there to back this up?
I get what your saying
Will the car not log when a regen last happened
What data is there to back this up?
I'll let you know when they call me back with a full STAR readout 🙂
Has there ever been a case recorded of munchausen syndrome by proxy being applied to a car?
^ LOLS lots
Stuttgart 🙂
Seems plausible to me I must admit. However you’d expect a code before it got this bad.
From my recent experience, each module can create codes that cause issues (ECU, ABS etc) but don't automatically tell the OBD or show engine light until they go from being intermittent to permanent problems. These codes won't show with a standard OBD reader, this is where Star or a 3rd party item like ICARSOFT MB V2.0 is needed.
The modules must share data when the ECU reported problems with exhaust back pressure sensor the gearbox became lumpy and reluctant to shift. They are all inter related.
10 pages 👏👏 and there is light at the end of the tunnel 😊
Right, we have an answer.
It's not the DPF, that's at 18% load.
The wheel bearing codes didn't return.
The aircon codes didn't return either.
No mechanical faults were evident from the transmission.
Software all up to date. And this is likely the problem because..
The answer is...
DIESELGATE
Yes, MB have been updating engine maps as part of normal services - apparently sometimes in secret, or as free updates, and even denying they've done anything. And as well as the usual reduction in power and economy, it may have messed up the transmission adaptations as well. The car is actually in very good shape otherwise, apparently. There are now no stored codes and none came back during this week. And physically it's in good shape too.
We assumed that the previous owner had it serviced, the update was applied and he didn't like the change so got rid. There's some hope though. The internal adaptations (not the driving style ones) take a long time to adjust, and if the car wasn't driven long after the update it may not have had time.
Some more useful information re the gearbox though. One of the issues seems to be with the driving style learning, which takes something like 40 gear shifts to change to how you're driving it so is relatively short term. What I didn't realise was that each transmission mode has a different adaptation. This means that if you want to drive fast (or tow) use S mode and if you want to drive normally use E. I was mixing it up just trying to test everything out, so I probably mixed up all the style adaptations and confused it.
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To find out if it's had the software change then, could you ring a MB dealer & say something along the lines of "I've just bought this car & want to make sure it has all of the ECU updates relating to the diesel scandal. Can you tell me if this was done on the car already, or should I bring it in?"
Or do you know for sure that it has had the work done.
I never got our Ibiza done. There were loads of reports of reduced torque at low revs, much more diesel clatter etc. & other problems after the engine was 'fixed'. There was even some guy who had it dynoed before & after to prove there was a change - this was on an Octavia. VAG were quite sneaky as they said peak power & torque won't be affected. They said nothing about the power & torque everywhere else though.
Or do you know for sure that it has had the work done.
I'm not sure if he was able to say for sure actually, but he wasn't able to find anything else wrong with it whatsoever (besides some light rust on some parts and he advised me to get it proofed). And it has been serviced at Merc at the times that it would have been done. Both checkups have shown no outstanding recalls or updates either.
So, where does that leave you?
Are you going to pester the garage, given that there appears to be no fault & this is just how it is?
I'd perhaps contact them & ask about a gearbox service, as it 'feels a bit rough'? Try to get an oil change out of them & see if that makes any difference?
If this is 'how it is', are you going to keep it? It's probably one of those things that once you stop worrying about whether it's about to shit its pants you will just get used to it and actually realise that it's fine?
As a tesco delivery driver during covid I was hopping between multiple different MB sprinter [platform] vans with the 7Gtronic auto. They all behaved differently from each other presumably from the person who was using it before. It was very obvious who had been ragging them (because it would hold gears) and who was driving normally.
Great gearbox though, I assume it's the exact same as in the cars, all the switchgear etc is. But yeah, there were small but noticeable differences between them all if you cared to pay attention.
Gooooood luck in winter when you're stuck in grass with the traction control (even when turned off and using flappy paddles) not letting you move off 😉
Are you going to pester the garage, given that there appears to be no fault & this is just how it is?
No, there's nothing I can tell them. I'll probably cancel the appointment since there's not really anything for them to do. We've proven there's no fault so I've got no case. And to be honest, I'm relatively happy-ish with the outcome because I now know that there's not an actual fault and the car's in pretty good condition. And I think that I can improve matters now I understand how the adaptations work.
If this is ‘how it is’, are you going to keep it? It’s probably one of those things that once you stop worrying about whether it’s about to shit its pants you will just get used to it and actually realise that it’s fine?
Yes I agree - knowing what is going on is a huge relief, even if there's nothing that can be done.
Will I keep it? I might consider simply selling it on - I might lose £1.5k or so - but the car does have a lot of plus points:
- It's huge which is great for holidays
- It's really good when loaded up and towing because of the self levelling thing which is flippin great
- I've already bought the Thule roofbars for it!
- It's go no faults, which would not necessarily be the case with any other car unless we went significantly newer
- It still handles really really well
- Bodywork is really nice
- Great driving position and setup
Negatives:
- It's noisy because of the stupid wheels - which can be rectified but at a cost
- It's not as slick or smooth as a VW with DSG would be
- Less modern satnav setup and the connected features don't work
Was there an update on the sunglasses holder?
😉
It’s huge which is great for holidays
– It’s really good when loaded up and towing because of the self levelling thing which is flippin great
– I’ve already bought the Thule roofbars for it!
– It’s go no faults, which would not necessarily be the case with any other car unless we went significantly newer
Hmm, could be of interest to Mrs K if it goes.
the sunglasses holder
Ouch oh yes thats missing. I'll give you £8k for it.
How about getting another Passat?
PM me Kryters 🙂
Was there been an update on the sunglasses holder?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201955161595
How about getting another Passat?
There's one in Merthyr for £15k with only 30k miles on it.
Why didn't you buy that instead?
I’m wondering how many folks have a Mercedes with the same gearbox and have no clue 🙁
@binners I've got the two previous editions of that
I’m wondering how many folks have a Mercedes with the same gearbox and have no clue
There are a lot of unhappy drivers with it - even before dieselgate it seems the adaptations cause some annoyance. But I think that if you are careful to use S for fast driving and E for cruising it should make a significant difference.
PM me Kryters
You do know my own angst issues would only prompt another thread like this if I bought that off you don't you?
So I’ve bought this Mercedes from Molgrips and I have questions
I'm sure nobody wants that. 😀
Lol
But you know its history now..
Sounds almost like a good ending...going through all that hassle, getting told time and again what should be done with people getting properly wound up by it all (and ignoring it all then coming back to ask similar questions again and again - top marks on staying with it), to then read if you got good news from the 3rd opinion you'd be happy with it...and now...we find out that you may just sell it and make a loss (that would be more than the price it would cost for the new wheels and tyres you need).
A roller-coaster of emotions only to be properly burst at the end due to finding it it might be getting sold despite all the benefits and the really small negatives...
I mentioned Jerry Springer in another thread, but I'm now wondering if this is the makings of a Jerry Springer-esque comeback somewhere!!!
Personally, great news it isn't anything catastrophic and just needs used, but seriously cheesed off that it might be getting sold after finding out nothing is wrong with it.
I probably won't sell it tbh. Not for a couple of years anyway. But I will mull it over.
Should have bought Japanese 🙂
Maybe take it back to the Dealer and see what they say? May give you somehting for your trouble
I'd replace the paint on tyres with old fashioned profile wheels and tyres if the computer systems allow it, enjoy not chipping your teeth and getting white finger from the vibration, store them away and stick them back on when you sell it.
This thread did prompt me to buy some sunglasses holders
I’d replace the paint on tyres with old fashioned profile wheels and tyres if the computer systems allow it, enjoy not chipping your teeth and getting white finger from the vibration, store them away and stick them back on when you sell it.
That is the plan, in a few months when the wallet stops hurting from this and holidays and the previous car and the garden etc etc.
The car has pressures specified for 8.5 x 17 and 8.5 x 18 which would mean tyre depths of 110mm and 102mm respectively as opposed to 82mm now, if my maths is right. The overall wheel size will be the same or very nearly.
They are pretty difficult to find in the right offsets though, unless I buy from Germany which at €500 a set plus lots of postage and VAT (**** Brexit) is still relatively sane if not exactly cheap. I'd get most of the money back if sold on later, and if I do it when the tyres are low I'd be able to offset some of that cash against cheaper, more comfortable, quieter and more efficient tyres.
I'd be more worried about the corrosion, tbh.
That's not a good sign on a vehicle you plan to keep.
Get rid.
Buy a Honda. 🙂
I’d be more worried about the corrosion, tbh.
I haven't looked at it myself.
He said it was slight though, and a rust-proofing service isn't that expensive and probably a good idea in general.