A140 What a great dissapointment this car has been!

[PINBALL]

Firstly, this is not my own car, but was reccomended BY ME to the 2 elderly owners back in Aug 2004, when they were thinking of buying an Audi to replace the elderly Saab they'd been happy with for 8 years.

Jointly, with the owners,WE would appreciate any serious input or advice about the following ongoing problem associated with this LEMON of an A series.

CAR: is A-140 Avantgarde Auto petrol 1st registered 17/9/2003.
Car was purchased second-hand from "Mercedes Benz of Gatwick" when only 10 month's old in Aug 2004.

1st Warranty visit:
1) 25/11/2004 with complaint of POWER LOSS when going up through the gears when hot or cold whenever car decides to do it (no pattern as to when n where).
2) Auto gear shift snatches or jolts when cold and gets better to 'as it should be' when warmed up!
RECIEPT SAYS: Shock Absorbers changed, no mention of power loss.

Car operated properly for 3-5 weeks after this visit & same problems then returned.

2nd Warranty invoice:
12/5/2005 - Same problems on gear change & loss of power.
Warranty reciept says Contact coils changed (ign coil) all.

3rd Warranty invoice:
12/12/2005 - same problems returned, after 6-8 weeks
Reciept covers: short test / motor check / speed control check / throttle valve actuator check / control unit for electronic engine control replaced after check.
Mobilo reimbursements for loan cars etc.

4th Warranty invoice:
7/3/2006 - Same problems experienced after running fine for 6-8 weeks again.
Reciept says: Short test perform / Automatic transmission check (after quick test) / Full throttle (downshift) switch for automatic transmission replaced (after check).
Dealer servicing personnel comments? NO COMMENT just apologies & red faces.

5th Warranty invoice:
18/5/2006 - same problems again, gears juddering when cold & power loss after nice running for 3-4 weeks this time.
Warranty invoicereciept says: FOC Health check / short test perform / motor check / control unit with intake air temperature sensor replaced / throttle valve replaced.
More red faces!

6th Warranty = Now titled as "job card" invoice:
30 / 5 / 2006 same problems re-emerging after only 2-3 weeks perfect running.
JOB CARD photo-copy sheet reads:
Snatches into gear when first driving car, then engine warms up its fine. (never any mention of any power loss still existing).
TECHNICIANS REPORT:
1) Has had pressure sensor plate replaced.
2) Engine control unit replaced.
3) Kickdown switch replaced (now they're obviously guessing as this was covered once before above).
4) Throttle valve control unit.

And now up to date car started giving same problems a week ago, and dealer has never given any indication that they intend to fix this problem permanently.

In fact when thier warranty runs out in September, the dealer has said that to get extended warranty they will have to pay a wopping £50 per month.

Any advice gratefully recieved & kept confidential from dealers if you so wish - so please state this with any answers or suggestions you may have.

Finally, the old couple in question love the car to bits, but has become an 'in' joke to all thier friends particularly when they regularly visit veteran car shows with thier classic award winning =Triumph Herald soft top.

Its been extremely embarrasing for me, as they only live a few doors down, particularly while I've got a 195k miles E280 that works perfectly, and is over 12 years old.
Never again will I be reccomending Mercs to anyone except myself!

Thanks for any help,

Keith.

 

[RCLORLEY]

I've Got An A140 Suffering Exactly The Same Although Mine Is A Manual. I Get Terrible Flat Spots When First Started Then Again When Changing From Second To Third. Got It Diagnosed As A Problem With My Maf Sensor Been Quoted £800 By Mercedes To Fix But It May Not Repair The Problem Totally. Have Been Told The Only Sure Fire Way To Fix Is Getting A New Ecu At Cost Of £1500. Can Your Friends Not Get Their Money Back Or A Replacement , I've Had Mine Since Feb And Have Been Offered My Money Back Because Of The Problems

 

[PINBALL]

Update to this thread on A-140 auto

In brief problem WAS eventually resolved on the 9th visit to dealers.
and while I was away galavanting all over Europe for the following 3 yrs or so.
Turned out that these friends of mine were starting to get a bit rattled about the same problem and as a result they got a nice letter from MB-UK with a huge bouquet of flowers!

Turned out that the dealer to bodge the problem kept ressetting computer to resolve it even though it was only for a short time and FULLY KNOWING WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM WAS, but keeping it from the customer.

In the meantime an updated gearbox / computer relationship was being made & both of these was replaced on the 9th visit sometime towards the end of 2007.

Since then they still love their A-140 and it doesnt look like their in any hurry to part with it unless they become enamered with an updated version.
So a happy reslove was reached in the end.
Hope it helps,
Keith.:lol:

 

[PhiliusM]

Shouldn't the title have been "What a great dissapointment this dealer has been"?

 

[PINBALL]

yes your right phil, but I don't know how to change original title as its now quite old.

 

[grober]

With the complexity of modern "high end" cars the "ownership experience" of a particular marque is highly dependent on the competency of their supplying and servicing dealer. I would go as far as to say in many instances the "post sale customer service " of a particular marque from a local dealership should be the decisive factor in the choice of next car to buy for many motorists considering a new purchase. For the average motorist it may be more important than the actual marque of car they drive. Its a bit like buying a second hand car privately. Sometimes you gain more insight from looking closely at the person selling the car than looking at the car itself.