2 years old engine died!!

[Jennifer108]

My C180 Sport Coupe (04 Reg) may need an engine replacement due to engine damaged. I didn't do anything to the car and follow all the instruction given by the car computer. I bought my car just over a year ago as an approved used car, however, they said this will not cover by the Warrenty.Repairer couldn't find what the problem is and ask me to response for the cost to strip down the engine for further investigation which cost around £800.
Anybody has this experience before? or could any of you could give me some advice for what to do?

 

[television]

My C180 Sport Coupe (04 Reg) may need an engine replacement due to engine damaged. I didn't do anything to the car and follow all the instruction given by the car computer. I bought my car just over a year ago as an approved used car, however, they said this will not cover by the Warrenty.Repairer couldn't find what the problem is and ask me to response for the cost to strip down the engine for further investigation which cost around £800.
Anybody has this experience before? or could any of you could give me some advice for what to do?

Hello Jeni, and welcome, have you any idea what went wrong or why, have they told you, how did it all start.

Malcolm

 

[Jennifer108]

Well...its a long story....Bought my car Aug 2005...Computer flash up to refill engine oil twice already within 6 months times....Bought my car to the dealer and ask for why because I know its unusually to top up so frequent....charged me £70 for examination and said the car is fine...no leakage and ask me to keep driving it...By May 2006, White smoke start coming out from the exhuast occasionally, went back and ask the repairer again, they still said no problem. Until I took it to the Service B in Aug 06, they found there is a leakage in engine and fixed. However, after i collected my car back the white smoke problem still there....Bought it back to the repairer, they said they repaired a wrong place/part. Book me in again, and found the engine is damaged with an unknown reason. They said this is not cover by the warrenty and need to strip down the engine for further investigation, but i need to response for the cost of labour of £800. I haven't give them premission to do so yet because i beleive i shouldn't response to the cost. Now they get the their Warrenty manager to look into my case but still no result yet. so now i am doing as much as research as i can to back myself up.

 

[television]

You will get some good advice in the morning, I think you will get it done under warranty, as there is nothing that you could have done to cause this, and you took it in when the warning came on, you do not state the milage of the car,but these things are normally good for several hundred thousand miles, and it should not need topping up between services.


Malcolm

 

[mioba]

seems ludicrous they clainm they will not fix it.

have a read of your warranty booklet, your engine is covered, you foloowed everything by the book as it were, they even twice claimed there was no leaks athough they found thyere was, its seems they have been very incompetent.

kick up a fuss, you will be sorted out for sure.

 

[bitonw]

Do you have any thing on paper from them of your previous visits when they did the other work on your vehicle. Don't accept this from them since they even told you that they have changed the wrong part(s)...

Who is the dealer any way, is it a Mercedes Benz garage? Approved used car you wrote... I personaly think that there was already something wrong with it.

 

[rio678]

Phone trading standards and explain the issue

 

[jberks]

They'll replace the engine under warranty - unless there is something you aren't telling us?

Assuming you took it straight in to the dealer when the 'add oil' message came up (not some back street garage) then ypu gave them the opportunity to check it over and so there is no doubt in my mind that they will replace the engine under warranty. They have no choice either morally or legally and knowing MB, they wouldn't argue anyway. If they are, then there is something else going on here we don't know about, such a you doing 5,000 miles with it screaming 'Add Oil'. Even then, as it shouldn't be leaking or using oil at that age, you'd have a case!

I am very suspicious though. The fact that they've even quoted for investigation in such a case is extremely unusual so...
what aren't you telling us?

 

[Jennifer108]

I don't think I need to hide anything in this forum. To be honest, I am a typical girl driver, apart from drive the car and do some regular maintainance, such as typre pressure n check oil level via the car computer. I never touch anything further and I dont even got the strength to open the oil cap and add the oil by myself. so everytime it flash up anything i took it back to the MB dealer and let them sort it out, even jus the light bulb gone. I still havn't hear anything from the dealer yet, n i m still worry about.

 

[mioba]

ok so your a girld driver, maybe they are trying to trake you for a ride.

be firm and definately as mentioned get trading standards involved. but tell the dealer this politely.

what dealer was it, we could do with a name and shame.

 

[jberks]

I don't think I need to hide anything in this forum. To be honest, I am a typical girl driver, apart from drive the car and do some regular maintainance, such as typre pressure n check oil level via the car computer. I never touch anything further and I dont even got the strength to open the oil cap and add the oil by myself. so everytime it flash up anything i took it back to the MB dealer and let them sort it out, even jus the light bulb gone. I still havn't hear anything from the dealer yet, n i m still worry about.

Apologies for the tone, it's just that we occasionally get posts that just don't add up. Some people come on here and complain, but leave out a point that they are embarrased to admit to, like, 'the tyre did look a bit flat, but I was late for a meeting 200 miles away ...' and then go on to complain that the manufacturers won't accept responsibility for his blow out.
Anyway, all things being equal, there is absolutley no excuse for them to do anything other than repair the car FOC. AN 04 car is well under warranty (UK I assume?) so engine failure is their problem.

 

[Stevie A]

Sounds like the dealer / repairer cocked up in the first place by not fixing the oil leak properly so in theory they caused the engine to be damaged through lack of oil so they are most likely at fault. Sounds like the engine could be seized or damaged through lack of oil.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

To be honest the MB dealers still try to take their customers for a ride. the bottom line in this case is you followed their rules, took the car back, alerted them to a fault and it was up to them to recognise it and address it. If they don't agree to the replacement fairly quickly I would have a lawyer on it. I cannot see they have any argument.