Should I Hire Someone Else to Fix My OM651 Oil Cooler and Water Pump?

[stevenkeyte]

Now I'll give you an update (and ask anyone who has dealt with this before).


With 15,000 kilometres on the clock since purchase, I should probably get another oil change soon anyhow.
The coolant leak, which has been going on for the past month, is emanating from the area around the water pump.
It appears to be very easy to order a new pump, so I have already done that.

On the other hand, I've discovered a huge oil leak.
The engine's undercarriage is a disaster, yet I'm not losing much oil.

It appears that the oil cooler/filter housing is leaking, according to some camera-based investigation.
My research suggests that this is a classic OM651 issue.

[stevenkeyte]

Wanted Components

Refurbished oil cooler set (with housing and gaskets)
Renovated water pump

Delivered for a total of €475—all authentic Mercedes parts from Germany.
The irony is that the identical components were estimated to cost €880 in France! 🇩🇪💶

[stevenkeyte]

«The Greatest Mystery»

Since draining the oil and coolant from an oil cooler is a two-part process, I see no reason not to do the water pump and cooler simultaneously.

My current line of inquiry is centred around —

Is it feasible to accomplish this task on my own at home? In your experience, how long did it take?

There are a lot of moving parts, but it seems like it's mostly just a matter of unbolting and rebolting.

[stevenkeyte]

 

[stevenkeyte]

 

[stevenkeyte]

 

[stevenkeyte]

Money vs. time

I'm reasonably handy and have everything I need, but I'm struggling to decide:


Approximately how long will it take from beginning to end?
Compared to simply paying a nearby garage (around €72/hr here)”
I'm interested in hearing about actual completion times, tips, any problems encountered by anyone who has installed the oil cooler housing and/or water pump on the OM651.

Thank you ahead of time!

[stevenkeyte]

I Achieved It, Yeah! This is the Worst Job Ever!

At last got around to doing it, and holy cow, was I a swine!
There are two points that are consistently overlooked:



The housing for the fuel filter: the new authentic Mercedes component differs from the initial.
For a long, I didn't know what to do with a few more mounting points here and a few missing ones there.
Despite my best efforts, I was informed by the local dealer that it is now a "one-part-fits-all" setup. 🤦‍♂️

[Black_raven]

Great work and congratulations!

[Ken_Lion]

Even though you were already investigating, the name SPR Autos popped into my head as I read your message.

You did an excellent job! A significant reduction in expenses makes it even better.

[stevenkeyte]

I may have done a little too much research on this one, but it was well worth it!
No one ever says this, but you have to change the gaskets every time you remove the throttle valve and the pipes that go with it. It is important to keep this in mind before beginning.



Warning: I spent approximately 8.5 hours on the project (not counting the time spent on the water pump).
Even while it's not great for a first-timer, it's better than paying the €2.2k that Mercedes asked for the identical job! 😅

[Ken_Lion]

Quite a bargain!

There is no way to "over research" anything like this, in my opinion. 🤎


Perhaps I stand out to many, but before beginning any activity, no matter how simple, I conduct extensive research.

Those who aren't aware of the gaskets will also benefit from knowing about them.

Having a significant savings is the cherry on top, once again.

[Black_raven]

The person who posted the question clearly does not appear to have much expertise car-spanking, but I love it when they complete a major task like this. So, nicely done!