Reply To: Utes BBall at Oregon

It’s a 2007 SLK 280, so yes way out of warranty.

The intake manifolds are complicated as they have vacuum actuated tumbler flaps that alter the air flow into a long passage at low rpm and a short passage at high rpm to improve performance at both ends of the rpm range. Problem is that the parts are all plastic and as they age in the face of repeated heat cycles, the plastic becomes brittle. If there’s any resistance from buildup the result of EGR gases running through it, the actuator is the weak spot and breaks every time. Take it to the dealer and they’ll replace it with a new manifold for $1,200. The aftermarket has developed laser cut aluminum billet actuators that sell for around $75 to $100. You have to pull the manifold and install that. Alternatively, you can buy a new OEM manifold for as little as $500 on eBay. I’m a pretty good wrench and with the how to videos on the Internet, can do most anything myself. Still it was a bitch to get the gaskets positioned properly. Finally used fishing line to tie them in place to the manifold. Then you cut and pull the line and install the bolts one at a time. That worked quite well and the car is now running great and no longer throwing codes.

Here’s an article on the problem:

http://www.eeuroparts.com/blog/1692/mercedes-benz-intake-manifold-woes/

I like to work on my cars, boats and trucks. I like to do projects that improve them, but I don’t like repairs for shoddily made product like the Mercedes. It’s my wife’s car and not her primary driver. She now prefers the Toyota 4Runner I bought her.

My next project is to convert my 1999 Suburban K2500 diesel (GMT 400 truck style) to the next era GMT 800 Truck brakes which are huge dual piston calipers and pads. I love my ’99 diesel, but the brakes from that era were substandard, especially on the heavy Suburban. So life of late has this wealthy guy cruising pick a part boneyards looking for 2000 to 2007 Silverado or Sierra 2500s to harvest the steering knuckles or spindles. Also looking for rear axles assemblies of that same era as they also had dual piston disc brakes.