ML320 Garage / engine disaster! Help!

[mshughes]

My ML320 had a cold start problem most the winter, has been to a Merc specialist numerous times and eventually diagnosed with a leaking injector seal. The car went into the garage running, just taking a bit longer to start when cold. The £150 repair was carried out, I was then called from the garage to say it does not start at all now and has been taken to an engine specialist garage by recovery vehicle. This garage has had my car for two weeks now, the engine has been out, they say the timing chain had stretched and valves damaged - quoting around £1,500 repair job. I get an email today as car should of been fixed to say more damage to engine than initially thought and they won't know until Monday! The car is 2006 year but just 72,000 miles.

Obviously this repair bill is getting larger & larger and possibly be worth more than the car.

Disappointed I thought this model would last for at least twice that mileage without engine problems. Also, confused how it can go into a garage running to then not starting and needing huge engine repairs.

Any advice would be welcome, thanks, Leonie

[DuraAce]

So you took it garage one.... Who then sent it to garage two who stripped the engine... Did you authorise that? Or get an estimate of the cost beforehand?

If not, why not?!

[Dunit]

What 320 is it ?The diesel suffered with a known Glowplug controller fault but not to expensive to repair.
If the engine was not noisey when you sent it in unlikely that it had a chain fault.
Possible that if they replaced the injector something was accidentally dropped down the opening causing the valve damage.
Both engines are pretty much bomb proof and good for well over 100 k miles.