Turbo…or actuator… reconditioning?

[carreauchompeur]

Folks,

Put my 2009 E350CDi into a respected Merc specialist due to issues I’ve been having with lack of power and occasional limp mode.

They initially said that there was a actuator fault code…boost control malfunction I think, and that the turbo would need replacing. I started to have a look into it and I found a place that remanufactures the actuator quite cheaply, however on speaking to the specialist again they say that the actuator breaks because something sticks in the turbo and therefore I need to replace the whole lot.

Setting aside the £3000 direct from Mercedes option, does anyone have experience of whether the actuator fix is worth doing or a red herring. And secondly, experience of any of the turbo refurbishers/remanufacturers in the uk?

Ta!

[njw1]

In my experience what the specialist is saying is right, the vanes within the turbo wear and/or get sooted up which puts excess strain on the actuator and burns it out, a new actuator will get the turbo working again but until the root cause is dealt with (wear and/or dirt in the turbo itself) it'll be on borrowed time.

[carreauchompeur]

Thanks, that’s fair comment and I did understand after they explained it… although it’s odd that so many companies refurbish the actuators only! On 130k it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect the turbo to need doing.

[ssray]

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/243533-the-m... currently doing this on a ford Kuga, 2 goes so far and it's a bit better

[carreauchompeur]

ssray said:

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/243533-the-m... currently doing this on a ford Kuga, 2 goes so far and it's a bit better

I will definitely break my car if I try this!

[lemonslap]

I used a actuator repair service off Ebay for my E320cdi, also worth checking the swirl flap motor isn't causing the issue as they both sit on the same circuit. If you remove the turbo heat shield, disconnect the circlip on the arm from the actuator to the turbo and check it moves freely. When you reassemble check the actuator is moving when you rev the engine Mine is now on 156k miles on the original turbo. I had symptoms of bucking after a hot restart and then I lost boost, so replaced the actuator and did the swirl flap motor bypass mod just incase. I will gladly help you diagnose if your near Rye East Sussex.

[carreauchompeur]

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated. I’ve managed to get it into Avantgarde in Clevedon who are quoting about £1200 to replace with a Garrett remanufactured turbo, and about £150 extra for the air inlet motor, which seems fairly reasonable.

[carreauchompeur]

Aaaand the previous specialist are not in my good books! Avantgarde have found no problem with the turbo, it was the air inlet actuator.

Still not a cheap job, but over £900 saved!

[Scrump]

I started to read this thread and was about to post to suggest you speak to Avantgarde at Clevedon.

Glad I read all the way to the bottom before posting.
Also glad to hear the fix was not as expensive as feared.

P.s. I have a new exhaust on the 911, not that you get to hear it now!

[carreauchompeur]

Nice! A loud one I hope.

I’ve been really impressed with Avantgarde, from the reasonably priced A service they did earlier in the year. Not so impressed with their attention to detail giving me a list of things wrong with the car

I only went with the other specialist since they quoted far less than Avantgarde for the oil cooler seal replacement, however definitely won’t be going back there! I’m really annoyed at the whole affair.

Car drives beautifully now!

[Scrump]

carreauchompeur said:

Nice! A loud one I hope.
…

Car drives beautifully now!

The new exhaust is a bit quieter on tickover but sounds even better than the old one as the revs rise.

Glad to hear your car is running beautifully, I have a E350 as well now.