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View Full Version : Brabus 300 Ce - Any Ideas?



warrior
03-04-2004, 05:57 AM
Hi,
I Have A Brabus 300 Ce. (3.6 Litre) Engine. Its A Full Brabus Modified Car Based On The 300 Ce Pillarless Coupe.

Does Anyone Know Why The Car Has Low Oil Pressure. Further Can Anyone Please Assist In Letting Me Know Where I Can Buy A Head Gasket For This Car? Tried Brabus In London And They Were Not Too Helpfull. Further, They Want £500 For A Part That Mercedes Make For £40. Albeit One Which Brabus Does Modify.

Thanks

Egg Nog
03-04-2004, 07:52 PM
They're definately rare parts, but that price is outrageous. Are you sure it's a problem with the head gasket? If it was, you might be getting white smoke/steam from cooland leakage.

How's the oil pump itself? What kind of oil are you using, and in what climate? Is the reserve full?

If you're sure its the gasket, what about the engine. If Brabus hasn't modified the bore/stroke, then you might be able to get away with a standard MB gasket...

Matra et Alpine
03-04-2004, 08:05 PM
Can't help with a specific answer.

BUT, you bought a BRABUS because it was a tuned version of the M-B.
You can't complain now that you find the replacement parts are very expensive.
That's the way life is with low volume tuned parts.

Warnign about using standard parts.
The Brabus gasket may be a different thickness or material.
It may have modified oil/water ways.
Some new ones may have been added or even some blocked off - this happens often.
Fitting a standard M-B without checking could cause your new gasket to go almost immediately.


With low volume, the manufacture date can mean different gasket.
My A610 gasket could be one of 3. Unfortunately, the French don't seem to be as good at paperwork as BMW/M-B et al. I've the choice to either order 3 gaskets or take mine apart then measure and fax details and have German specialist provide the right gasket !!

Welcome to the world of performance cars :(

warrior
03-05-2004, 04:01 AM
They're definately rare parts, but that price is outrageous. Are you sure it's a problem with the head gasket? If it was, you might be getting white smoke/steam from cooland leakage.

How's the oil pump itself? What kind of oil are you using, and in what climate? Is the reserve full?

If you're sure its the gasket, what about the engine. If Brabus hasn't modified the bore/stroke, then you might be able to get away with a standard MB gasket...

I was told that the Gasket needs replacing..The Bore/Stroke has been modified by Brabus, hence the need to use a modified head gasket. Herein lies the problem.. because the engine is not made anymore by brabus, spare parts are a problem.

I used fully syntetic 0w/15 mobil 1 oil. That was the wrong oil to use because these car engines are "heat" engines. In other words they operate best at very high temperatures- which causes the very thin synthetic oils to be burned away. Again told to use a part synthetic 15w/50 oil by mobil which is specifically made for these cars..

Dont get me wrong, the car is a fantastic ride. Speedo calibrated to 200mph. I have done 160mph Without so much as a sniff. ON Merc cars, the oil pressure should show 3 bar.. at the moment mine is about 2.5 bar... which is worrying me.

Really need a Brabus Technician out there who could help out.... Brabus UK are really the most arrogant. No help from them at all. Further a friend also hasd a brabus and had a oil service with these guys. £3000 pounds was the bill.. Come on Brabus get real here!!!

Brabus3.6
03-29-2004, 02:28 PM
Hi Warrior,

I have the same engine but in Brabus Q3 form (saloon brabus 3.6). Is yours the 12V M103 engine like mine? I had to replace the head gasket on mine about 6 months ago. It was drinking water by the bucket load and when I smelt oil in the coolant I knew it was the head gasket. £564.87 later I had myself a new head gasket. Thankfully I did the repair myself, getting the head skimmed, valves reseated and changing the timing chain at the same time. That solved it . I don't know of anywhere else but Brabus to get the gasket from and to be honest I wouldn't put any 2nd rate items on such a car anyway.

I am interested to know as what you define as low oil pressure. I run mine on Mobil 1 0W-40 fully synthetic. Who told you this oil is now good for the engine. Also my engine runs cool not hot! When I'm cruising at 70, 80, 110 whatever, the coolant temperature is BELOW 80 degrees C, about 70. The oil temperature as indicated by the Tempamatik system is around 60 degrees when cruising due to the oil cooler. My oil pressure is only 3 bar at idle when I start it. At normal operating temperatue it sits at 1 bar or just above at idle. It goes down to as little as 0.6 bar when the oil is hot ~80 degrees. But there is not a problem with this.

Out of interest whereabouts do you live. I live in London and would be happy to meet a fellow W124 Brabus owner, I thought I was the only one! All the best of luck in resolving your troubles.

Mehmet