Advise re issue with B180D

[Roy.C.]

Hi

Looking for some advice please and apologies for the lengthy detail……

Got a 2016 B180 in March from Mercedes dealer, with the years warranty.

Gave it in yesterday to my local Merc, due to slight starting issues and the stop/start not working (which didn’t bother me but thought I should get it checked)

Initially advised if it’s battery related it’d be covered under warranty, but today I got a call advising there’s a telematics device wired into the battery which is killing it!!! so clearly not covered under warranty and I have to pay to remove the device then replace the battery etc! If I chose to remove the device myself then a replacement battery still wouldn’t be covered by Mercedes!

This device doesn’t belong to me, so either the battery clearly wasn’t checked by dealer during their so called checks, or they knew about it and still sold it!!

I’ve had numerous issues with the dealer as it is, vehicle was sold during lockdown in March, so everything was done via a video and calls! I had 14 days to decide on keeping the car, but after 6 days the vehicle was taken back in for some issues not mentioned before; and the dealer kept the car for a month, so I didn’t even get my 14 days!

So since having it back mid April it’s not been driven much and I’ve not had a reason to check the battery otherwise.

For now, I’ve contacted the dealer I bought from and left messages, as conveniently nobody is ever available!
I’ve also logged it with complaints, but from previous experience even they were pretty unhelpful.

I want to be prepared for this mess, so looking for some advice on what grounds/rights etc I could have, if any.

Also, anyone with knowledge on these telematics devices, does it tend to wreck anything else on cars when fitted….other than battery?

Big shame, but it’s put me right off Mercedes and especially this car, I just don’t want it anymore!

Thanks

 

[Blobcat]

It’s more likely the battery has discharged due to a lack of use… modern vehicles have so much electrical demand that they require regular use or regular charging (preferably with a battery conditioner) to keep in good order.
No idea what the telematics you have fitted is, but it will draw some current, same as the Mercedes Me tracking device and SOS function

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

If you bought it “used approved”, then I would be using the fact that they failed to check or ignored it as my “stick” to beat them with. How could they miss a telematics device or a higher than normal current drain..
Perhaps contact MB in Milton Keynes and have a chat to them.

Don’t let this put you off what is imho, a decent car..


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[Roy.C.]

If you bought it “used approved”, then I would be using the fact that they failed to check or ignored it as my “stick” to beat them with. How could they miss a telematics device or a higher than normal current drain..
Perhaps contact MB in Milton Keynes and have a chat to them.

Don’t let this put you off what is imho, a decent car..


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yes it’s approved used……making some progress now since I complained via MB Customer Services, hopefully gets resolved, but yes as you’ve said how on earth could they have missed the device!

cheers

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

It shouldn’t be the case but you have to push all the buttons to get anything done with some dealers even in the franchise network. Good luck with the car the MB warranty is one of the best out there.

 

[Botus]

the small stop start batteries all "wear out" and shouldn't be covered by warranty.... its about £90, but to prove it was worn out the tech will have spent 30 mins plugging it in to check the data..... when Merc do this they want to charge £250 for the effort - so it seems they made up an issue to help bridge the gap for the workshop time and push the cost back to the owner (usual car garage way of working)

actually you want the old worn out one.... as it only cuts out the stop the stop start function which is a good thing ! stop start puts severe strain on the car's engine and wears it out. People with a technical back ground all pay out to have it disabled in software as its an evil thing.

the whole purpose of stop start is two fold,
1) to allow the manufacture to get THEIR overall CO2 targets down
2) to break the car so they can sell more of them (then even weakened various elements of the engine to help the stop start kill it faster)

secondly if there's some kit on the car causing "other battery drain", that's their issue for not checking and returning the vehicle to standard before selling approved used.

welcome to the modern world of a warranty thats just like modern insurance you pay out, they never do ….

 

[Roy.C.]

the small stop start batteries all "wear out" and shouldn't be covered by warranty.... its about £90, but to prove it was worn out the tech will have spent 30 mins plugging it in to check the data..... when Merc do this they want to charge £250 for the effort - so it seems they made up an issue to help bridge the gap for the workshop time and push the cost back to the owner (usual car garage way of working)

actually you want the old worn out one.... as it only cuts out the stop the stop start function which is a good thing ! stop start puts severe strain on the car's engine and wears it out. People with a technical back ground all pay out to have it disabled in software as its an evil thing.

the whole purpose of stop start is two fold,
1) to allow the manufacture to get THEIR overall CO2 targets down
2) to break the car so they can sell more of them (then even weakened various elements of the engine to help the stop start kill it faster)

secondly if there's some kit on the car causing "other battery drain", that's their issue for not checking and returning the vehicle to standard before selling approved used.

welcome to the modern world of a warranty thats just like modern insurance you pay out, they never do ….

Thanks Mate, quite an interesting read…..

to be honest by habit each time I start the car I always turn off the stop/start, as it’s annoying if anything.
Normally wouldn’t have even battered an eyelid over it not functioning properly, but on this occasion I just had a gut feeling and I’m glad I did as they found this damn black box!

The dealers taking it away next week to rectify everything, hopefully soon the wife will get to properly enjoy her car!!