dru23:

Personally I have never had any issues importing cars from Yankee.. The cars that I do buy are from private owners and some are from auction.. But at the same time it is not like I import 50 cars a year.. And also the issues that I do have at times with the cars is rust.. The states that I buy from tend to get a lot of snow.. But overall have had more good cars than bad ones..
From my experience bad oil and use of water instead of coolant is the number one killers of cars on Nigeria.. Let me break it down for u .. I started investing in uber when uber was still fresh in Nigeria.. I had cars been managed for me . And every time the car is always having issues, sludge, engine smoke etc .. It got so bad that I had to remove sludge from all my cars.. So I ask the manager what is going on ,he said engine not strong, your cars are not built like Toyota etc .. So I Google what causes sludge in cars.. So now I ask the manager what oil does he use for my cars.. He said Total oil 5k naira ...but what grade do you use.. He says total and total is good oil.. But I said the car requires 5w30, but he said total is ok.. I shook my head.. And I now went into more research about engine oil .. The benefits of synthetic oil and mineral oil .. Types of oil etc when to change oil .. Did research on Mobil 1 oil and castrol oil etc. So I than started with castrol till I was able to settle with Mobil 1oil . So I personally use them and sell them.. I notice that mostly Nigerian do have the same attitude towards car maintenance, between mechanic and car owners I can't tell which ones are worse or ignorant.. A lot of them fail to educate themselves.. Mind you I can't even change tire at or do my own oil change.. But I notice a problem that was causing me to lose money and I look for answers.. All these oil stuff are just basic things that people should know about, but sadly people don't bother . Ever since I started using the correct oil, my cars are doing better..
My experience is that lack of good engine oil is the number one reason or one of the reason of car issues with cars in Nigeria.. They are others reasons too ,but trust me wrong engine oil will be top 5 .. ..
Ps. I had to replace 80% of my cars on uber due to wrong engine oil .. And started all over ( true story).

Jay3999:
[color=#770077][/color] hello guys i just graduted from school and i want get a benz thats fuel efficient and the maintenance is affordable with less electrical issues i had 2007 c300 in mind what do u fink i need ur advice

shortgun:

C300 is a good choice but if you crave power and speed like me you should go for d C350 2009 sport or u can go for the almighty C63 AMG na there work finish for C class. In all u do stay away from 4matics.

nakoks:


What is wrong with 4matics please?apart from the pricey shocks and shafts

shortgun:

Do you want owners of 4matics to come for my head?
Ain't saying anything more.

shortgun:

As much as I don't want to doubt ur story.
It's a fact that if u change from mineral to synthetic oil the chances of having oil leaks is very high. 2 out of 5 cars will have a smoking engine after the switch... this is because most synthetic oils contains detergents that will wash off deposits that had been acting as sealant in the the engine. Xw30 grade synthetic oils is a bad choice for our climate. The oil will thin out at high temperatures, our concern here should be on the behaviour of the oils at high temperatures and not freezing temperature.
The higher the number the better.
Also bear in mind that some engines are designed to burn oil(yes u heard right)...when u use oils that thins out at high temperatures the engine will burn off most of the oil before ur service due date and you will have oil shortages which will eventually result to a knock. This is one of the reasons why most people engine will knock.
They will pour in synthetic oils and believe that it will serve their engines for 6,8,or 12 months not knowing that the engines burns the oil gradually till it will get to dangerous low levels where the engine will eventually knock.

Awalla:
Hello Owners of Car with Class and Prestige, I was just cruising Home when my AC stopped working and the fan alone was working blowing just air, after some time I noticed that the main Engine Fan blade is on high speed and never stopped ,

I have taken the car to AC tech, and he said the AC Power Board just by the Front passenger seat is faulty, I couldn’t change immediately because of the cost but he said it can be Fixed, he took it for fixing and after the AC started working , the AC is working now with condition, It stopped every 6.10 Pm till the next day before it starts working again.

The main Engine Fan Blade since then with start just 20 Secs after starting the car But will not reduce to Low speed or stop until you switch off the engine.

I have done checks by both Electrician and the AC tech, all they could say to me is that I should Change the AC board.
Please could any body say anything about this and how much and where can I get the Board.
The Car is W204

nakoks:


One of the most educative,informative and enlightening post here in a long time.Long time bro i missed ur contributions.One PH guy with lots of brain.

Essont:
Best response ever. God bless you my friend. Please can you give a quotation of how much the pump and rack may cost?


Thank you once again bro.

shortgun:
I've not made any comments on this thread for long cos the hypocrisy here is out of this world.
People who don't know jack about Benz are forming experts in Benz matters.

Many of "The experts" we have here will ask you to use Toyota coolant for your Benz but will turn around and tell you to stick to OEM engine oil
Do they even know the right oil...today is 0w30, 2moro is 10w40.
I
My advice, consult your qualified mech b4 u ruin your car.

HeavenlyBang:

Oga, keep shut.

auhanson:



Hello Awalla, before you start changing expensive things, though i would not doubt your electrician(because it is his profession) know the following things first:

When there is no signal between your radiator fan and the ECU/ECM your fan will start spinning in high mode as the default in order to prevent overheat until the fan itself will burn out overtime if not fixed.

You should rather ask why there is no signal between your ECU/ECM with your radiator fan control module:
i)Well, it could be a very simple and cheap thing like your coolant temperature sensor(you could find a good one to test before
replacing it.
this is usually the commonest unknown factor here)
ii)It could be a fuse or relay , if your relay is stuck up it may behave the same way, but i don't thing this is your case, though it is not bad to
check your fan relay or fuse as it will cost you nothing to do that.
iii)It could also be that your relay on the fan is stuck on high speed , in this case the fan would have to be changed as the control module and
fan are sold together. Most time people spend this kind of money changing the fan but the problem still persist to tell you that it was not
the culprit. My candid advice to you is to test (i) above before your change your ecm, i believe that's what your electrician mean by fan
board, as bad ecm can also cause this but first check link between the ecm and the radiator fan , that is the coolant temperature sensor
and the wiring along this part. I hope this will help you.





Thanks Bro. I am always glad to help those i can whose mind are willing to accept, because you could spend fortune in solving problems that shouldn't even have occurred in the first place if adhered to simple instructions.





Amen! and bless you too. The rack cost about 85k over here , but simple fix on the seal(its the seal that usually leaks) in the rack by a good techi could cost just 6k. but be mindful of the pump too , inspect to fix as well if it is leaking , else you will just be going through the cycle of fixing rack/pump every now and then. Check my previous post. The pump cost about 15k, not really sure.




My brother , a stitch in time saves nine. Thank God that MB engine could stand all these stuffs thrown at them , of cause , VW and Kia, Hyundae, etc may not be able to do so, hence engine swap now and then . Haven't you wonder why we are fun of engine swap? I have never changed any of my Benz's engine. Those things are suppose to run a lifetime of the car, if not for the use of wrong oil viscosity.

Higher oil viscosity have higher frictional level, hence higher drag coefficient , the effect may not happen immediately but over time, in some cars it does happen sooner than expected. The higher oil viscosity than the manufacturers prescription, the oil may not be able to penetrate the tiny crevices of the crankcase easily hence, your guess is as good as mind when practice continuously over time. Your qualified mech can not be more qualified than the car manufacturers. Some years ago VW owners learnt this in a hard way.

Do one simple experiment, at same level of operation try your 20w40 observe your rpm and drag coefficient at take off and at normal drive , flush it out and use any w40 and try same experiment come and honestly tell us your feel as in drag coefficient at take off and at normal drive and your mpg.

If your manufactures says that you should use 10W40 pls do it that way and stick to it as oil swap in itself is not also good too as it has tendencies of burning up the oils, it doesn't matter if you bought it too cheap. But if you don't have the money to go synthetic way, and you don't want to neither spend that kind of money too you can still use the mineral oil as modern oil has all additives and minerals compound to clean up your engine and keep them well, but you must remain within the confinement of the viscosity and make sure you change them as at when due(3 months or 3000km,which ever that comes first) it is even more saver to go short intervals with this oil and change them as at when due than to go so long as one year, even when the oils is dead black due to our dirty environment as in the name of synthetic. But you must obey the rule of the viscosity else you are killing that engine slowly for the next buyer.

If your manufacturer says 10 w40, 5 w40, for synthetic, you may hack mineral oil for w40 like Total classic SAE40 etc and stick to it, but not 20w50 of even an heavenly brand. This oil stuff has been overflogged , we should have graduated from it by now.

Meanwhile, in the long run the so viewed synthetic oil as in cost is even cheaper to run than the mineral oil. Do your calculation give us the findings.

shortgun:

C300 is a good choice but if you crave power and speed like me you should go for d C350 2009 sport or u can go for the almighty C63 AMG na there work finish for C class. In all u do stay away from 4matics.

shortgun:

C300 is a good choice but if you crave power and speed like me you should go for d C350 2009 sport or u can go for the almighty C63 AMG na there work finish for C class. In all u do stay away from 4matics.

Jay3999:

So yhu say maintenance and part are cheap 2007 c300

shortgun:

Depends on the depth of your pocket and what u consider cheap.
Always set aside between 150-200k for replacement /maintenance of very important parts that may fail.

Eddee:


Hahaha, which important parts this money go buy?

CityNGR:
hehehe that key lock thingy....hehehe
ESL

Eddee:


4matic or no. Parts are generally expensive for a Merc, talk less of the amount for programming abi na adaptation dem dey call am. Once you get a toks Benz, you’ll enjoy it for two years after servicing religiously after that be prepared to pay Caesar his due

shortgun:

C300 is a good choice but if you crave power and speed like me you should go for d C350 2009 sport or u can go for the almighty C63 AMG na there work finish for C class. In all u do stay away from 4matics.

CityNGR:


Not really

Eddee:


Well, older Mercs have built up tremendous goodwill that plasticky and non-tolerant new models are currently enjoying.

Eddee:


Yet to see an AMG that isn't 4matic

Eddee:


Well, older Mercs have built up tremendous goodwill that plasticky and non-tolerant new models are currently enjoying.

CityNGR:

kingreign:


AMG sedans are proper RWD bro

Eddee:


Yet to see an AMG that isn't 4matic

Essont:
My local mechanic is warning me against a w202 C200 with air flow meter, please is that really something I should be scared of? Can someone explain what the MAF is and how frequently does it fails? How much is the cost?

Is it something I should be bothered about?

shortgun:

Oga say wot u know C63 is a rear wheel drive

kingreign:

W123, W124. W140, W201 etc

shortgun:

Oga say wot u know C63 is a rear wheel drive

Eddee:


Baba, I said what I know. Didn't say all are 4matics, I explicitly implied that I'm yet to see one that isn't. Good morning

kingreign:

Brother man, why you so angry and bitter and rude?
Please, who offended you?
What do you need to feel better?
In what ways can we assist to make you feel better?

NOTE: I am genuinely concerned about you as I have been noticing your writeups in this thread shows a trend of anger, bitterness, and uncouthness.

I am sorry if you may find this offensive in anyway but I am seriously bothered about you and I wish you well.
Thanks.

shortgun:

This is an insult...how did my posts showed anger?
Have I threatened anyone?
Did I insult anybody.?
I have a right express my opinion(s)...do u want me gagged?
Do u want me to stop posting in the thread?

Good to know that I have people like u who care about me and wants me to feel better.... Since you want me to feel better.
Get me one of these,it will put a smile to my face.