The theory was garbage

[S.Speed]

glad things are starting to show that there is possibly light at the end of the tunnel for you on this Simon. then hopefully you can get back to enjoying your car

Thanks Pete..
I am starting to see the attraction of a manual gearbox..
If the repair that's been done lasts 5 years then I shall just have to consider it a service item.
What really got up my nose was the sheer lack of professionalism.. "We shall try this" and "we shall try that" .. "We cant connect to Germany".. "We get our e-mails bounced back from Germany"..
Its almost laughable !!

 

[S.Speed]

Good news (hopefully) Simon - fingers crossed...

Thank you John..
You are a valued friend as you know..

 

[turbopete]

Thanks Pete..
I am starting to see the attraction of a manual gearbox..

if im honest, Simon, other than the fact i prefer to drive a manual, its things like this that are the biggest factor that puts me off the automatics. with a manual car, i can strip the box, change bearings/seals etc myself with minimal specialist tooling (a few spanners/sockets and bearing pullers etc) whereas with an auto, you have the joys of the Torque converter that can fail (an expensive 'bin old and fit replacement job) all the various valves and electronic goodies in the box that can fail (more expensive stuff) and then theres all the gearbox ECU's etc and connections to other systems in the car too, and thats WITHOUT getting into the realms of ATF coolers, oil and filter changes on the 'box, and of course the expensive kit needed to set the box up again! at least a manual box you just have simple stuff inside the box, a clutch and, worst case scenario a Dual Mass Flywheel to worry about.

If the repair that's been done lasts 5 years then I shall just have to consider it a service item.
What really got up my nose was the sheer lack of professionalism.. "We shall try this" and "we shall try that" .. "We cant connect to Germany".. "We get our e-mails bounced back from Germany"..
Its almost laughable !!

5 years? have you ever kept a car that long???

i have to agree though, if the car is being worked on in a MB dealership's workshop, then if they couldnt connect to Germany, they shouldve been straight on the phone to them to find out what the issue was, and how to get the job done for you ASAP!

to be honest, i dont know why half of these modules need to be coded to the car anyhow. to my mind, a 7G box, is a 7G box. the only changes that need to be made are to the shift points and other software (purely engine dependent) to get the box to work. IMO all the OTT coding etc makes it near impossible to fit good used parts (as the cars get older) so the cars will lose value faster due to people not wanting to own older, expensive to repair cars, when similar alternatives can be bought and repaired using a second hand part (like a failed auto box) from a breaker

 

[st4]

Phew...I really hope this does fix the car

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

You may well be correct about the most expedient solution to the problem but Simon only has a Contract with Sterling which is therefore his only formal line of communication which should always be an audit able written (email will do) trail for if the worst comes to the worst. The MB dealer's only contractual responsibility is to Sterling, not Simon......the fact that they have allowed Simon to talk to them direct was probably foolhardy on their part but no doubt allowed with the best of intentions.
The MB dealer themselves surely do not have a parts warranty liability (or am I missing something?)......so far as we are aware they have never owned nor sold the car.....they are merely a contractor to Sterling acting on Sterling's instructions which in the first instance at least will have included a directive to minimise costs.
It is far too late for cost to be the driving criterion and Sterling should by now be instructing the MB dealer that expediency is now of the essence regardless of cost because they have a duty of care to their client, Simon, which is now embarrassingly somewhat stretched.
This is a difficult situation for Sterling who are likely to end up losing money on the transaction......it is a difficult situation for Simon who for the past few weeks has not got what he bargained for but the only way to a satisfactory conclusion is for Simon and Sterling to keep calm and work together by maintaining an honest understanding of each others predicament.
Sterling will have bought and sold the car in good faith......s**t happens although constant and accurate communication makes the odour more agreeable.

Mic

You are only in part correct Mic.

MBUK offer a 2 year warranty on any part supplied, which can be rectified at any dealer or approved service centre when an invoice for said part is produced. Regardless on who bought the part, it is fitted to Simon's car and in that respect he has rights to ask questions of anyone who is touching his property.

To my mind, this should be straight forward to 1) report the fault 2) Diagnose the fault 3) repair the fault. From what Simon has told me there have been an array of excuses and lagging on this job. Like I said earlier, if a part doesnt code be it a TCU or whatever else, you check the software, check the comms with the car MBAG, then retry the flash of the ECU and if it doesnt work a second time or maximum a 3rd time then you can safely assume there is a coding issue.

If there had been any concerns regarding the fitting of the part then an hours work tops and a bit of gearbox oil to drop out the EHCU and check everything would have sufficed and straightforward, bearing in mind it would have been a question MB technical would have asked anyway.

Next stage would be to contact MB technical. They will advise next step. Usually to try a different coding string, they usually reply inside 24 hours. The coding proceedure takes roughly half hour. Sometimes less sometimes more. If that doesnt work you can go back to technical they will then look at the part number of said part, cross reference it to what it should have and then advise replacement. Could it have been the wrong plate was supplied and installed (something that has happened to me twice in the past).

The only reason Simon had to get involved were because MB Peterborough did not communicate the correct information or did not communicate at all.

Both Sterling and Simon have the rights to instruct MB P'boro to expedite this asap.

 

[S.Speed]

At last....
someone who gets why I am so damned peed off with this saga.
Thank you Steve..
You and your workshop shall be seeing me and my car before too long.
Thanks again for all your support on here and behind the scenes mate.
s.

 

[V6Matty]

just catching up Simon, great to hear you may get the car back today, keep us up to date.

 

[redbaron1973]

Good news at last!

 

[S.Speed]

Its now 4.25pm and not a peep about collecting my car.
I dont know why I should feel surprise.
It's just been one disapointment after another.
I have e mailed Stirling to tell them NOT to allow MB of Peterborough to do any more so called work.
I intend to have it transported elsewhere (the crusher) for the 2nd replacement of the electro plate/valve block.
its a damned disgraceful state of affairs !!

 

[st4]

I wouldn't do that until you have more information about the state it is in, it maybe just getting prepared, tested. I agree afterwards sterling need to move it on if MB Peterborough cannot fix it. Athough, as life goes on, I'd get a refund and move on.

 

[roofless]

I find it hard to believe that Mercedes Peterborough simply can't fix it.
There must be more to it Than that ?

 

[KennyN]

It's just been one disapointment after another.

I have been following this thread with interest and once all the "banter" has been filtered it seems seem that you have been more that fair , if a little keen to get involved , with Sterling and MB regarding the time you have been kept waiting for your "new" car.

IMHO it is time to move on and ask for a replacement / refund as four weeks is just not acceptable in anyone's opinion and the bad experience you are having will only taint your new car experience.

At work if we need a part for the plant it is here within a couple of days , we also have a direct 24/7 link to the company that deals with the control side of things who can remotely access our network and work on / modify / repair any issues we have , I am sure MB Germany have the same facility.

Just my 2p worth.

Kenny

 

[S.Speed]

Hi Kenny..
Thank you for your input..
The latest is...
5.25pm I got a phone call from Stirling Cars to tell me that Mercedes of Peterborough want it over night because they need to check the fluid cold!!!!!!!(Why is it hot if all they have been doing is coding it)
My BS detector is twitching!
I told Stirling that after tomorrow absolutely NO MORE so called "work" to be done by MB of Peterborough.
I have already arranged to pay for the cars transport to take it elsewhere.
As you say I shall never enjoy the ownership of this car as I once would have hoped to.
Its been a rotten experience..
Some of you lot on here are giving me the impression you are tired of this thread...
Not half as tired of it as I am !!

 

[Developer]

While it's a pain Simon, you need to let the main dealer do his stuff.
Won't be long now.

 

[redbaron1973]

I would imagine they have been coding and testing and want to be sure that levels and or performace is right from cold start.

Lets be honest - as much as you are displeased with MB Petereborough they are unlikly to have done any of this out of spite and will be wanting to make sure the ****** thing doesnt boomerang - so let them test it cold.

Obv if more excuses follow then will be the time for Sterling to put the boot in on your behalf...

 

[S.Speed]

Lets be honest - as much as you are displeased with MB Petereborough they are unlikly to have done any of this out of spite
QUOTE]

Don't forget the service foreman has a crappy on with me for "grassing him up" to MB Europe..
Pity I needed to !

 

[davemercedes]

Don't forget the service foreman has a crappy on with me for "grassing him up" to MB Europe..
Pity I needed to ![/QUOTE.....

I shouldn't worry about that... on the basis of your experience he probably gets "grassed up" twice a week so it's unlikely he will remember you doing so!

- But I'm sure he wants to see the back of your car ASAP!

Fingers X'd that you're on your way to happy motoring at last!

 

[S.Speed]

AT LONG LAST

Well wonders to behold..
I got a phone call from Sandra (Stirling Cars) this morning at about 11.30..
Met up with Andrew at a half way point between us at 2.30pm

Its probably just my nervousness of the saga but I daren't use kick down.
The gear change quality is excellent. I suppose it will now have the latest software installed...
Andrew very kindly gave me a rather nice bottle of whiskey (see photo).
I also got a 12 month electrical/mechanical warranty thrown in.
Photo 2 & 3 show the electro plate/speed sensor..Take a good long look..You will be saying Hello to one eventually !!
Part was £328 and Labour to fit & code was £348 !!
Last photo is of her sunbathing outside my place..

She looks gorgeous (but that's why I bought it)..
I just hope she stays gorgeous!!!

 

[Developer]

Well done Simon - I hope it will be fine from now on.

I think next weekend after the GTG should be ok.

 

[roofless]

good things come to those who wait

Must be true