C220CDI - Brake pipes - HELPPPPP

[MSmile22]

I am at my wits end with MB.

The brake pipes have been rubbing on the sump for a considerable amount of time causing a severe groove in the sump and wearing away the brake pipes to the point where it has leaked and consequently the car has no brakes. Firstly, has anybody else experienced this problem?

Secondly, I had the car serviced last year with MB and have been told by one of their technicians (at another dealership) that it should have been spotted at that time. Since then I have accumalated 30K miles, and MB are telling me this could have happened since then, would this have happened in 30k miles or am I getting fobbed off. An independant diesel specialist garage who noticed this fault advised me that in their opinion this has been happening since new. The car was registered in 1999 (T).

Futhermore, I have logged a complaint with Milton Keynes only to be told that they will not do an inspection and that they believe their technicians. This leaves me with smoke coming out of every oriface. They have me by the goolies so to speak.

Does anybody know who I can contact that would investigate this matter or a vehicle body that has powers to overule decisions by the MB dealership technicians?

 

[DWB!]

...there seems to be thread after thread on this site about people spending large amounts of money for substandard product/service.

This seems to be stuff 'Watch Dog' et al on TV love to pursue, perhaps Patrick on the 'Wife Swap' thread on this site may be able to recommend someone...

JAT,

DWB!

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Dangerous car.....

This is a fault that should result in the cars being recalled. Nothing less. Any other responsible manufacturer would have the cars back for this one.

This in my mind is nothing short of outrageous attitude. I too have had brake trouble, twice broken down in six months both due to leakages. I am very willing to support some action on the service.

I would love sometime to have a high profile picnic day out protest at MB somewhere, a major motor show is best and make this point. Lovely cars, crap service.

Poor Ford got some over the Pinto, cars with dodgy brakes ???????????

 

[Arnie]

This type of fault should never have happened and is certainly a fundamental design problem if it did. Especially as Mercedes trades on safety.

If the car has always been properly serviced, according to shedule, it should not matter when it happened, and MB should treat it with serious concern.

As long as the car has not been tampered with by any other non-MB mechanic, then I think MB should not be able to wriggle out of a serious claim.

Take some pictures, if you can, of the fault and write to Milton Keynes again on the basis of the serious safety implications that it has.

If the car had been properly assembled in the first place, and has had no undue work done in this area, then even 100 years of normal use should not cause this problem.

You should be persistant and even try to get some advice from local trading standards. The fault seems very unsual and I would say that it must have been there from new. Otherwise, there is obviously a design fault in the fixtures for the brake pipes. Again, a more serious issue, possibly affecting a number of cars.

Can you see any signs of broken or missing fasteners?

 

[piestore]

worn brake pipes

HI

I have seen several hundred's of this model and I have never seen or heard of any problem related to brake pipes, whatever has happened could easily have occured in 30 K miles, whithout seeing it it is difficult to form any opinion.

Is it possible that its had some accident damage at some time at not been repaired correctly? Have the engine mounts collapsed and let the egine lower onto the brake pipes.

MB are very keen on any safty related Items and if they thought that there was any possibility of a repeat of this fault they would recall them, I have seen many recalls for much less serious problems.

If you really want to take the matter further you should get an idependant engineers report as to what has happened and why, another garage can do this for you but the report tends to carry more wieght if it is done by a consultant engineer there is a company in the north west called Strange, Strange and Co but I am sure you could find someone local.