Update on my Warped Discs

S.Speed

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An update re my 6 month old front discs..

In case you didn’t read my original post, I bought a pair of genuine MB discs from my local dealership.
6 months later and 7,000 miles they are warped.
I went into MB today to have my car assessed re a warranty claim for defective discs..

After examination the conversation went something like this:

Mechanic: Youre correct there are the symptoms of warped front discs, but I notice you don’t have original MB pads.
Me: That’s right..Green stuff are actually a little dearer.
Mechanic: And you fitted them yourself
Me: Yes I did..Its not exactly rocket science and in my car owning life time I must have changed 15 or 20 sets.
Mechanic: So you changed them yourself with non standard pads
Me: You have quite a grasp of the situation.
Mechanic: Well I doubt we can do anything because you did it yourself with non standard pads..
Me: I just assumed that THE PART had some sort of warranty in order to at least give customer confidence.
Mechanic: They do when we fit them and they are our parts
Me: The part that has failed ARE your parts !
Mechanic: Would you like me to dismantle and do a written report for £112 + VAT
Me: But you just said I am not covered so what would be the point?
Mechanic: Well it must be the none standard pads..They are too aggressive for road use.
Me: They are Green stuff and are specifically for road use, and I repeat, they are not some cheepo pads from a back street accessory shop..They cost more than the MB ones!
Mechanic: Well do you want to put some standard MB ones in and see if it cures the problem?
Me: Why..Do you think that the MB ones will de warp the discs?
Mechanic: I doubt it
Me: I replaced my brothers discs/pads in his Citroen using parts from Motorcare..His discs warped after 2 months. Motorcare sent the warped discs back to the supplier for examination.. A week later he received a full refund and an apology… We replaced his discs with Brembo ones and they have been fine for the last 8 months… I fitted those discs using none standard pads and it wasn’t a problem when I had to claim they were faulty..
Mechanic: But I have a problem with you doing the work with none standard pads…
Me: We are going in circles here.. I tell you what.. Leave it as it is and I will go to Motorcare for some Brembo discs.. If they should warp then at least I will have confidence in being treated with some common decency.. Your discs are faulty and substandard…
You’ve just lost a customer..
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Yet again I am amazed by the lack of common sense here.
A lot of you on this forum predicted the outcome..
I still stand by the fact that a high street accessory shop (WHO KNOW DAMNED WELL YOUR FITTING THE DISCS YOURSELF) will honour a warranty.

I will be getting the Brembo discs and will never use that MB branch again!
 
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television

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Sorry they had that attitude Simon, so much for those who say "MB parts are the best"
 

EuroCarParts

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Well that sucks :/

There are many dealers who would of brushed it off and supported you, however some will take it to the extreme (fitting 'performance' pads' your self gives them an argument, but there should never be an argument!)

It seems you've got the right attitude - walk away and not shop at that dealer again. Their loss!
 

M80

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Simon, fancy putting the pads in upside down. I assume that's how you fitted them incorrectly as back to front would have been a bit noisy.
 

cleverdicky

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If they have the wear sensor on you cant.
In all honesty I have never known a disc to actually warp, although I'm sure they might.
The closest came once when a new set I had bought and fitted 'warped' and so I put the old ones back on and took the new ones into our then testing workshop. They had all the dial gauges and guys with beards. So after having them checked the guy told me they were to a better tolerance than they could do. Which was impressive for cheapo discs.
I later found out that it was the seat or the back plate that was causing the problem. They did not sit squarely on to the hub. (corrosion, bits of grit etc)
Only 0.1mm grain of grit will prevent the disc seating squarely and could be (and won't be cocky and do the math but a lot) and enough for disc to appear warped at the outside edge.
Might just save some grief just to check.
 
OP
S.Speed

S.Speed

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I know about being hyper clean when fitting Discs..
I had wire wooled with meths the seating area on the hub.. Then thoroughly cleaned with a rag and brake cleaner..
Remember I fitted these five and a half months ago.. They have warped within the last week.
They were totally fine for 7,000 miles..

Anyway I have psyched myself up for discs from another supplier..

You know, I have had many, many cars over the years and fitted many replacement parts (Never cheap crap though) and usually bought from a auto accessory shop..
In the past I never seemed to have to be "precious" about going to the main dealership..
As is well known..Mercedes do NOT make the discs, so why should I use them when they wont back up the "quality" of their products.:mad:
 

television

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As is well known..Mercedes do NOT make the discs, so why should I use them when they wont back up the "quality" of their products.:mad:

I agree completely and there are other components that are questionable as well
 

LTD

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Bet you wouldn't have had this problem with an SL :)
 

turbopete

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this makes me wonder, would the situation have still been the same if (as far as i know he isnt) Simon had been a time served, qualified mechanic, as i am? its not like the guy in the dealers could then say because they werent fitted by MB, they were improperly fitted! and to blame the pads is ridiculous! what will they think of next? sorry sir, your car is an auto and theyre more prone to warping discs due to the way people brake and then hold them on the footbrake meaning the area where the pads are cools more slowly (which is true in many cases) therefore we cant cover you under warranty due to it being an auto!
 

E320mark

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Yet more evidence if we need it that the dealers simply just do not care! Why should we go to them and line their pockets? All we are to them is profit pure and simple! If you aren't buying a new MB I really don't think they care!
 

umblecumbuz

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Baz
 

47p2

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I think you need to keep the discs and send them back to Germany with a letter of complaint
 

Frontstep

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The get out always existed for Mercedes, but the moral argument was lost.
A correct course of action from them should have been to ask for the discs back to return them for inspection.
You could have been offered a half price pair till the results were known.
 

television

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The get out always existed for Mercedes, but the moral argument was lost.
A correct course of action from them should have been to ask for the discs back to return them for inspection.
You could have been offered a half price pair till the results were known.

You are spot on there, and that would have been the correct thing to do, or have done.
I have had some odd conversations with some of their older guys down here, but all to no avail as all they know is WIS. Even logic or reason could not enter the conversation.:confused:
 

jberks

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He was looking for an excuse and he found one. I may have taken the tac, if you can explain to me, technically, how incorrect pads can warp a disk I'll admit defeat, say no more and walk away, otherwise, get me someone who knows what they're talking about.
Chances are he just didn't want to do the paperwork.

Disks warp normally due to uneven heating and cooling. So splashing through puddles after hard braking etc. Other than that, all brakes warp slightly over time but not over that mileage. It's hard to see how pads could cause that effect.

My Dad had a leaky washer bottle. Would go full to empty in 5 mins. Dealer mechanic took it was and returned 20 mins later with a 'neck seal' diagnosis. The old man said nothing and quietly asked the receptionist to speak to the service manager. He explained that the diagnosis made no sense and he thought he was being fobbed off. Manager took the car away, came back 5 mins later, handed him the keys, apologised, told him they'd replaced the seal in the bottom of the bottle, would be calling the mechanic into his office for a talking to and.. no charge.
If you're not happy, always worth pushing it up the food chain.
So if you're getting rubbish from a mechanic, ask keep climbing the food chain.
 

Xtractorfan

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I think it is time we mobilised ourselves and joined the facebook and twitters of this world and posted these know alls with the brick wall attitudes .. just politely ask their names and their position in the company. and let them know that they will be held to ridicule and be responsible for losing business for their employers..
 

whitenemesis

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I'm suprised you spoke with the mechanic! The usual gripe with MB dealers is you can never get past the service team leader. I definately would have asked to speak with the set ice manager.
As posted above the. Orrect action should have to return the discs for inspection and sold you some replacements on the understanding if faulty you get a refund for both sets.
 

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