AMG 63 Help and Advice

[lghdyr]

Hi Everybody.
I was after some advice and experience if possible. I have recently purchased a CLK 63 from a dealer. The car itself is very clean and very comfortable. I have however had some problems with the vehicle. After the first week of having it I noticed the Air Seats didn’t work. I also spotted a small area of lacquer flaking off the side of the driver’s door.
I spoke to the dealer I brought the car from and they advised me I could take it to a more local dealer to get the repairs done. At this point I was slightly miffed that they just let me drive a car of that value away with parts not working. I did however ring my local dealer, who I have a good relationship with as I had purchased my other cars from them. I booked it in and they had to replace the air pump as it was dead.
This is where the fun started. My local dealer also said that during the free vehicle inspection they had noticed that the front near side suspension spring had excessive play and the front offside spring was so worn it was rubbing on the lower arm. They also informed me that there was a blot MISSING from the front right brake calliper. The bolt in question was the middle safety bolt which is called the support bar. I was shocked and couldn’t believe that I had been driving around in a car of that magnitude with a part of the brakes missing.
They were unable to advise or touch the paint issue as they identified the whole of the driver’s side and bonnet had double the normal paint thickness. This, I am told indicates a paint job so they were unable to fix it under warranty.
I immediately rang the dealer I had brought it from and they informed me the sales person who sold me the car was on holiday, so I would have to wait for him to come back before they could take action. They did ask my local dealer for pictures to confirm what I had told them though. My local dealer was able to do the work under warranty for the springs, however had to fly the special bolt in from Germany cause it’s not something which just falls out or goes mising. They also advised me they would not let me take the car away as this bolt was vital to the brakes.
I am now in contact with the dealer I got the car from, who I’ve still not had even an apology for, and they are telling me the bolt isn’t that much of an issue. They are also still reluctant to comment on the paint issue or confirm if the car is covered by the 30 year paint and anti-corrosion warranty due to this bad paint job. Even though the car isn’t 3 years old yet they also gave me a valid MOT Certificate which I’m told at the time was invalid as the missing support bolt is an MOT failure and the suppression springs should have at least been advisories.
I’m not sure where I stand with the MB dealer I got the car from or even if there are any legal issues here. I would appreciate any comments or advice on the above matters.
Thanks in advance.
Leigh

 

[teddycatkin]

First thing I would do is get a full independant history check--has it been in an accident or a cat ? write off then go from there nobody paints the whole side and bonnet for nothing--it may be only that its been vandalised ( keyed) but you need to make sure.
Contact previous owner and the bodyshop who did the work ?
Hope this helps if you have not already done it .

 

[brandwooddixon]

Legally I think that the dealer that sold you the car is in breach of contract.

With everything that you've detailed it makes you wonder if the car has had a prang.

It was certainly unsafe and unroadworthy from what you've said. I'm pretty sure that there are grounds to sue them/reject the car on the basis that it is not fit for purpose and indeed they have misled you as to the state of the vehicle.

Look at it this way - if you had had an accident becuase of the missing bolt who would be liable? Certainly not you.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum,
From what you have said, the repaired damage, brake bolt missing, defective springs, I think I would take the car back and take advantage of the cooling off period and get a full refund, as I don,t think I would ever feel right about the car. I presume you bought it from a Main Dealer? As I find it strange that one dealer says the brake bolt is necessary to the point they won,t even let you drive the car away, and yet the supplying dealer are saying it is,nt an issue.

 

[television]

I fail to understand the bit on the springs, that does not add up

 

[lghdyr]

Thanks for your comments.
I did buy the car from a main dealer. It was the dealership in Salisbury. Unfortunately being over excited about getting my AMG I have done over the 1000 miles which is in their cooling off period contract.
I have taken the car to another dealer in MK who was kind enough to run the chassis and engine number to get a full history. The car has never been reported to been in an accident and also hasn’t got on record any paint job. Is there another company I can check the car with?
I’m thinking if I have any legal angle I can persuade them to give me a refund as I’m so peed off with the fact I spent a lot of money on a car which wasn’t even road worth when I went to pick it up. I’m really keen to find out if the paint job it had does in-validate the Mercedes paint and anti-corrosion warranty. If it does I may be able to get a re-fund with the fact I was told the car was covered.
I apologise if the spring bit doesn’t make sense. That’s what I was told by my local dealer.

 

[Speedmaster]

There are specific provisions in the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which relate to "luxury items" and the standard of quality expected. You would also have the angle that the car is not fit for purpose under the act?

 

[teddycatkin]

Your begining to worry me now --all dealerships record a panel by panel damage report for sales -get an independant check --I am not surprised the other MB dealerships will not find anything--also find the previous owners and why they sold/traded it ?

 

[100%Bitch]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum,
From what you have said, the repaired damage, brake bolt missing, defective springs, I think I would take the car back and take advantage of the cooling off period and get a full refund

And speak to the dealer principal quietly in his office whilst holding his short & curlies.

 

[television]

There is a simple way to check, the original paint would be Nano and the respray would not be as the Nano paint cannot be applied on a re spray

 

[whitenemesis]

There is a simple way to check, the original paint would be Nano and the respray would not be as the Nano paint cannot be applied on a re spray

How does one do that check Malcolm?

 

[television]

Just by looking at the finish, or by using a paint thickness gauge,,I think that st4's 211 had a uniform nano thickness of 120, a repair was up to 250.

You could use a finger nail on the Nano, and it would not mark it, where as it would on normal paint

 

[teddycatkin]

that,s only when you want promotion Helen?

 

[teddycatkin]

They must have done this already TV to ID the double thickness ?
Whats intruiging me is -The Question is HOW did it come to be double on one side and bonnet ?

 

[television]

They must have done this already TV to ID the double thickness ?
Whats intruiging me is -The Question is HOW did it come to be double on one side and bonnet ?

Good point and no one would or could spray half a bonnet, there is no way that you can blend into Nano paint, it basically ceramic, and the highest powered thinners in the world cannot melt that

 

[lghdyr]

Thanx

Cheers people.
They did measure the paint and actually showed me. The paint all down the driver’s side the all of the bonnet was about 210 give or take 20 (whatever paint is measured in). I’ve since had the manager of the branch phone. He has admitted the painted areas would not be covered under the MB paint warranty. He also tells me that this is a very common thing as people get things touched up outside the MB network all the time. He also said ANY paint work done outside the MB network invalidates the MB warranty. They also said no-one checks the paint work when they take on used cars, as it would take up to much time, thus how they never noticed. The car also came from MB direct as it went back to Germany after it was done being used as a company car over here. A little disturbing that even MB HQ didn’t pick-up on ANY of the things which were wrong when I picked the car up.
I’ve played the angle of getting a refund however he has stated that it was out the question. He said that the paint warranty isn’t part of the used car contract I brought the car under. If I want to pursue a refund for the vehicle I’m going to have to look at a legal approach, which is going to cost I guess.
In hindsight I shouldn’t have got the work done that way the car would be unfit for purpose. My problem is the car has now had the parts re-placed. All under warranty so it’s not cost me anything. They are going to have the car back to look at the paint issue however I dread to think what state I might get the car back in.
Thanks for all your info and comments everyone left. I’ll update this thread when I get a final result.