Advice needed please.

[vtaylor78]

Good evening everyone.
I really need some advice from you good people out there, as to my options with this situation.
My partner (Her indoors) purchased her SLK (172) from a German car specialist in Leeds.
She has had the car 6 months now, after having it for less than 2 months we noticed a slightly leaking roof.
We contacted dealer and advised that this problem had happened (we got a 3 month warranty with car) we put this in writing and dealer replied, so I know it was received.
The leaking problem seemed to disappear after I fully Gummi Pledged all of the seals, and cleared all of the water drains, so we considered it sorted and didn’t pursue it with dealer.
Now the problem has got considerably worse, and when it rains water collects somewhere thinking in the headliner as when put finger in there it’s wet and then on accelerating/braking cornering etc it dumps the water via top of windows inside the vehicle and over driver and passenger.
I’ve done lots of research and this seems a Very common issue on early 172s, it’s seems after 2013 they have changed something at the front of the roof that fixes this issue, and stops water collecting.
Anyway the vehicle is booked into MB Milton Keynes for a full diagnostic to get to the root of the leak.
They have told me Worst case scenario it will cost between £1400/£1600 to drill holes in channels and fill with hot wax ?? Apparently this is a Main Dealer only fix.
I have approached MB for some “Good Will” IF it is as serious as this, but no chance because they say the age of the vehicle.
My question is where do I stand with the dealer we purchased from, they told me to go to MB, but my contract must be with them and not MB.
I contacted dealer to advise what MB had said, and I’ve not had a reply as yet from dealer.
This problem/ fault / issue was definitely there when we purchased this car, and to be honest until this repair is done the car is not fit for purpose.

Sorry for War and Peace , any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[vtaylor78]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Blobcat]

Your contract is with he dealer you bought the car from. I’d see what Mercedes say (get it in writing) then approach the supplying car dealer and take it from there.

Best of luck

 

[vtaylor78]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Sorry that’s really blurry will try again.

 

[vtaylor78]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[vtaylor78]

Well after 3 weeks at MB Milton Keynes, the 172 is back from its “Hot Wax” seal repair.
Ended up paying half each, with garage we purchased from , (£800 repair bill.)
Car has been supposedly fully water tested , under a shower for 4/5 hours, and is leak free.
Only downside is MB will only offer a 3 month/ 3000 mile warranty, I didn’t think this really fair for such an expensive fix.
What’s people’s opinions on this ? And what options do I have in Law ?

 

[Wighty]

Well after 3 weeks at MB Milton Keynes, the 172 is back from its “Hot Wax” seal repair.
Ended up paying half each, with garage we purchased from , (£800 repair bill.)
Car has been supposedly fully water tested , under a shower for 4/5 hours, and is leak free.
Only downside is MB will only offer a 3 month/ 3000 mile warranty, I didn’t think this really fair for such an expensive fix.
What’s people’s opinions on this ? And what options do I have in Law ?

If it works long term you won’t need any options ?

 

[rorywquin]

I'm surprised you had a problem - perhaps the previous owner did not do a regular Gummi. I had a 2012 SLK 350 (R172) in Queensland Australia where the sun blazes down all day with torrential downpours in between. When I sold it 3 years and 40,000 km later (was my daily driver) the roof had never leaked.

Hopefully the repair holds up and you Gummi frequently.

 

[vtaylor78]

If it works long term you won’t need any options ?

Good point Wighty, just would of felt a lot more confident with a longer warranty on an £800 job.
It’s “her indoors” first Merc and it hasn’t started well.
She has said any future leaks and it’s going !!

 

[vtaylor78]

I'm surprised you had a problem - perhaps the previous owner did not do a regular Gummi. I had a 2012 SLK 350 (R172) in Queensland Australia where the sun blazes down all day with torrential downpours in between. When I sold it 3 years and 40,000 km later (was my daily driver) the roof had never leaked.

Hopefully the repair holds up and you Gummi frequently.

I think you could be Right Rory , done quite a bit to it since taking ownership.

 

[Wighty]

Good point Wighty, just would of felt a lot more confident with a longer warranty on an £800 job.
It’s “her indoors” first Merc and it hasn’t started well.
She has said any future leaks and it’s going !!

Keep quiet about it for now , sell it to another forum member if it goes wrong in the future (useful having this private PM function so nobody else knows )

 

[joderest]

I would have thought that the stuff used and the labour would have a 12 month warranty ?
But I am only guessing.

 

[vtaylor78]

I would have thought that the stuff used and the labour would have a 12 month warranty ?
But I am only guessing.

Me to , we are going to email MB customer service to ask the question.

 

[vtaylor78]

Well the saga continues, after days of non stop rain here , the 172 still has a SLIGHT leak from driver A pillar.
It’s hardly much, but imho it shouldn’t be happening at all.
Car is booked back in to MB Milton Keynes on 2/1/20, to be delt with.
As far as MB customer services are concerned regarding length of warranty, they are now arguing that because the repair had been bodged somewhere else before our ownership, they are only prepared to offer a 3 month/ 3K mile warranty.
The argument we are going back with is, the car has come to you as the supposedly Experts and is a “Dealer” fix only, so you should now , the job has been completed to MB standard give at least a year warranty.
I’ll keep thread updated accordingly.

 

[LostKiwi]

Well the saga continues, after days of non stop rain here , the 172 still has a SLIGHT leak from driver A pillar.
It’s hardly much, but imho it shouldn’t be happening at all.
Car is booked back in to MB Milton Keynes on 2/1/20, to be delt with.
As far as MB customer services are concerned regarding length of warranty, they are now arguing that because the repair had been bodged somewhere else before our ownership, they are only prepared to offer a 3 month/ 3K mile warranty.
The argument we are going back with is, the car has come to you as the supposedly Experts and is a “Dealer” fix only, so you should now , the job has been completed to MB standard give at least a year warranty.
I’ll keep thread updated accordingly.

If they sold the work with a 12 month warranty that was part of the contract of sale. If they don't honour it they are in breach of contract.
Similarly if their standard terms and conditions are 12 month warranty and there was no exclusion of that before the work carried out then that was the implied warranty.

 

[vtaylor78]

If they sold it with a 12 month warranty that was part of the contract of sale. If they don't honour it they are in breach of contract.

Sorry LK don’t quite understand your post ? .
Car was purchased from an independent garage.

 

[LostKiwi]

Sorry LK don’t quite understand your post ? .
Car was purchased from an independent garage.

Just updated

 

[vtaylor78]

Update on this,
it’s now been proven that the vehicle needs a complete New mid section of the roof.
Hot wax repair and new seals still have not completely cured the leak, but it’s a lot better.
Mercedes have offered 25% contribution, bringing the total bill down to a bargain £1800.

Her indoors is now in a dilemma, she loves the car, as it is the model she wanted in the right colour.

Dilemma is does she take the garage to court for the cost of a new roof or reject said vehicle and ask for a Full refund as the vehicle was not fit for purpose.

I be interested in people’s thoughts on this, she is really upset about it .

 

[mercmancdi]

Update on this,
it’s now been proven that the vehicle needs a complete New mid section of the roof.
Hot wax repair and new seals still have not completely cured the leak, but it’s a lot better.
Mercedes have offered 25% contribution, bringing the total bill down to a bargain £1800.

Her indoors is now in a dilemma, she loves the car, as it is the model she wanted in the right colour.

Dilemma is does she take the garage to court for the cost of a new roof or reject said vehicle and ask for a Full refund as the vehicle was not fit for purpose.

I be interested in people’s thoughts on this, she is really upset about it .

tough decision, how sure are you of getting full refund , if you could I m o
that’s how I would go as you would have that extra £1800 to play about with when searching for replacement.
Instead of paying it out on a repair.
That is of course if you can find a replacement that suits.

 

[vtaylor78]

tough decision, how sure are you of getting full refund , if you could I m o
that’s how I would go as you would have that extra £1800 to play about with when searching for replacement.
Instead of paying it out on a repair.
That is of course if you can find a replacement that suits.

Who knows Mercman ?
We are in a good position with sales of goods act, as it’s been proven it had a bodged repair before our ownership.
But with court cases it can go either way.
+ To take court action will cost £500.