Anyone else been caught by ADAS calibration after windscreen replacement?

[Digsy]

Pretty angry with my local MB dealer right now.

I have had my C-class from new for almost three years and during that time I have needed two new windscreens. This has always case a headache with the subsequent ADAS camera re calibration. The first time (Autoglass) they said they assumed it was the screen itself and fitted a second only to find that the camera still would not calibrate. They were about to refer me to MB for a diagnostic when someone somehow managed to get it to work.
The second time (Auto Windscreens) they spent over an hour trying the re calibration before telling me that according to their system my camera had a "permanent fault" which they could not clear, and they referred me to MB. They also supplied a screen grab of the error which I passed on to MB when I dropped off my car.

I have to say that right from the get-go with MB I had a feeling they were going to try to screw me over. They told me that if whatever they found wasn't covered by warranty there would be a £140 charge, to which I replied that the car was under warranty, and hat they should know that. Also as I was being referred by Auto Windscreens, if it turned out to be a wild goose chase, then I would be going after them to settle any bills.

Anyway, long story short MB did manage to get the calibration done somehow, but when I collected they car the conversation went something like this:
MB: "We've done the re calibration, but unfortunately there will be a £140 charge for diagnostics".
Me: "Really? So what did you find?"
MB: "It was because of the damage."
Me: "What damage?"
MB: "The damage that meant you needed a windscreen replacement. It knocked everything out or alignment."
Me: "What was out of alignment?"
MB: "The radar in your front bumper"
Me: "But the fault was with the ADAS camera, not the radar. The radar works fine."
MB: "Well... it's all linked".
Me: "And the car went in for a windscreen replacement because of a stone chip."
MB: "Oh....it was just a stone chip...?"
Me: "Yes. I have had that car from new and it has never been hit by anything. It's under warranty. Sorry, I'm not paying your diagnostic fee."
MB: "Wait there I will talk to the manager."

After about 20 minutes I was told It was "all resolved and I could go". I did't get any paperwork for the job so I have no idea what they did (or didn't) do to my car. Auto Windscreens called me the next day to check the job had been completed and they said they would have to contact MB to confirm so they could close the ticket off at their end. I did warn them that they might run into some problems as I had no paperwork to prove the work was actually done.

So: I reckon that this is a common issue and a nice little money spinner for MB .I am worried that instead of fixing the issue they have masked the error somehow and when I inevitably need another screen after the car is out of warranty I will have to go through this all again. I am currently debating making a complaint to MB about my dealer.

Anyone had a similar experience?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

This is all becoming ‘a good little earner’ as Arthur Daley would say. I had the front tracking adjusted on the S212 a couple of years ago which necessitated an ADAS recalibration on my night vision camera for an unknown £££ needless to say I declined (I don’t use the the facility).

 

[mioba]

No experience with your particular issue, but many in the past recommend getting a new MB screen delivered to MB and getting them to fit - once agreed with ins co.
There are many tales of ppl having new screens fitted by a 3rd party and always ending up at MB for the calibration work.

My guess is they put it on star, hit a few buttons and its all fine.

 

[Digsy]

Hi. I didn't know that was an option. I will definitely ask my insurance company next time if the screen can be fitted at the main dealer. The first time with Autoglass I insisted on a genuine MB screen when it wouldn't calibrate properly initially.

 

[ajlsl600]

Whatever that money spinner is. I will be living without it if subject to breakage and that bullxxite.
Getting to stage where icarsoft should hav a booth at benz dealers and new car gets sold with it 2 visits to stealer and its paid for itself.
In my office I have 2 laptops, mine which work fine and NEVER CONECTEDCTO THE NET and 6. That hardly ever work properly, always some function not avail. Nearly all having electronic and or online pts and service info
Told my employers not to buy future machinery that don't come with books or pdf to print from. We see but when spending 1.2 m on new dozers excavators I suspect we have a little leverage. Coupled with useless Internet. Real docs are a must.

 

[mancman]

When I had my screen changed by auto glass I then booked it in for calibration at Mercedes’ paid the £130 for it and passed it on to my insurance who paid for it no quibble.

 

[Botus]

all cars with ADAS must have calibration done after a new screen is fitted - its a safety system - its ILLEGAL for them to not check / set it up - they have a duty of care to give back a SAFE vehicle

the fact 2 x animals are us, couldn't do it isn't Merc's fault and nor is the fact the screen needed replacing - your issues lies exclusively with the junk screen fitters using the wrong tools and the wrong people to do the job

third party tools that don't talk to the car correctly and idiots with insufficient training are probably the problem - the camera and the screen position have moved and the screen might have different characteristic / modifications - so of course the set up needs to be checked

FYI any BMW or Merc with auto lights and wipers should have the sensor re calibrated after a screen replacement - if you don't it doesn't work properly

140 is a bargain

 

[Digsy]

@Botus

I'm perfectly aware that a car with ADAS must have the camera re calibrated after a screen replacement. There aren't exactly a zillion different widescreen replacement companies out there so what is one supposed to do when they - for whatever reason - state that can't do the job they undertook and then leave you in an "our word against theirs" situation with the MB dealer over where the fault lays?

And no - £140 isn't a "bargain" when I am already paying an insurance premium to get the whole job done end-to-end for the windscreen excess and nothing more.

But I suspect you are right - the root cause of this is my only two local windscreen companies not having tor right tools. As others have helpfully mentioned above if this happens again I shall certainly be asking my insurance company to cover the cost of the re calibration at my MB dealer and save myself a ton of time and hassle.