Cat D....Is my warrany void?

[s5aif]

Hi,
I have a c class which was cat d and now fully repaired. It is a 2005 plate so would the warranty be valid or void.

 

[jberks]

depends on who repaired it, what they repaired, what parts were used and what failed.
If you just went and asked MB, they'd cover their backsides and say yes - its void - or they'd say book it into the dealer for an inspection before they'd give you an answer.

If something unrelated went (say the stereo) and you took it in and didn't say anything then chances are they'd just fix it. After all, why would they even question it.
I doubt MB are aware of the cat d status (they don't do an HPI check as part of a warranty approval afaik) so unless it's been bodged and therefore obvious, I'd keep quiet.
What they don't know won't hurt them!

 

[gworilla]

Hi,
I have a c class which was cat d and now fully repaired. It is a 2005 plate so would the warranty be valid or void.

If the work was carried out by an official MB dealer bodyshop to their standards and approved for use on the road, then this will have no effect on your warranty!!

 

[s5aif]

The repair was not major as it was mostly body panels so i got it done from a friend who has a local garage. The only thing is the car can only be locked and alarmed by pointing the fob at the door handle and i only get a few if any radio stations.

 

[television]

You have an amplifier for the radio and locking in the rear of the car, the chances are it is unplugged or faulty

 

[s5aif]

if mb decide the warranty is void how much would this roughly cost to fix. My cd player Audio 20 stopped working and when i took it to them they simply replaced it with a new one, no questions asked.

 

[gworilla]

if mb decide the warranty is void how much would this roughly cost to fix. My cd player Audio 20 stopped working and when i took it to them they simply replaced it with a new one, no questions asked.

Just take in into them (MB) and ask them to look at this particular problem. You don't have to tell them that the vehicle has suffered a CAT D and they don't always check particularly where the issue is something totally unrelated to what you will be asking them to do.

You have nothing to lose....Just ask.

 

[D3Less]

The thing is with it being such a new car, that has had a lot of panel damage unless your friend has done a perfect job finish wise (and I am not saying he hasn't) MB could quite easily pick up that something has gone on and then they will look more deaply.

 

[s5aif]

Could be the case but will have to try and see what happens. Like gworilla said" i have nothing to lose." Would the rust cover still be valid or is that part of the same warranty?

 

[type49]

The problem with your remote & radio reception is probably the aerial amp located at the top of the rear screen & can be replaced quite easily. Unless it's had a new roof, I doubt if this is near your repaired area so just book it in & say nothing

 

[hawk20]

Could be the case but will have to try and see what happens. Like gworilla said" i have nothing to lose." Would the rust cover still be valid or is that part of the same warranty?

No it won't be valid as you have not used an approved MB workshop to do the body repairs. What people should be saying to you, instead of encouraging you to be way less than honest, is that it was not sensible to get the repairs on such a new car done outside approved bodyshops. You will have harmed your resale value IMO and lost the thirty year rust guarantee. With the door lock, alarm and radio problems, and resprayed panels, it won't take Sherlock Holmes to guess the story, will it? It just could be that honesty might be the best policy.

 

[Marco Polo]

I agree with Hawk - you pays your money and takes your choice. You can't have the best of both worlds.

Why should MB warranty work that has not been done to their standard using appropriate quality of materials etc?

I'm not into deception - some years down the line it might be me buying this motor in all innocence.

 

[s5aif]

I understand but the repair was not life threatening or anything and if i was to sell the car i would obviously state that it had been repaired. Basically someone stole the car and stripped off the bumpers, wings and lights.

 

[hawk20]

I understand but the repair was not life threatening or anything and if i was to sell the car i would obviously state that it had been repaired. Basically someone stole the car and stripped off the bumpers, wings and lights.

Wouldn't it have been better to have claimed off the insurance and got the car properly repaired and kept the guarantees in place?

Are you saying you will actually state that it was not repaired by an approved bodyshop??

 

[D3Less]

It must have gone through the insurance process, that is why it is cat D

 

[jberks]

My assumption here (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the car was bought as a catD - presumably the ins co paid out and then the car was found 6 months later. As the owner doesn't want it back, they can't repair and return it, hence its a cat D. A new C class would have to be a near write off to be catD otherwise.
So you buy a cat d, and fix it up as cheaply as you can. I wouldn't go to an MB bodyshop either - or the overall cost would probably be no different to picking a clean one up off the forecourt. This way, you get a newish MB for a greatly reduced price.

Now, MB are a business like any other. They will try to squeaze out the cost of of a warranty claim if they can. So, whilst honesty is nice, in this world, it generally just gives them carte blanche to stuff you.

Clearly, if it's been resprayed, the 30yr warranty is dead. You couldn't lie if you wanted to, as paint thickness is the first thing they check. However, if what you say is right and the rear amp has packed in, this has no relevance to the damage. That fact wouldn't stop MB from refusing to pay out if they felt like it, hence don't tell them. It's just common sense, don't volunteer information that could be used against you. If they ask, then that's between you and your consience but chances are they won't. After all, it's no skin off the dealer's nose, and even if he suspects, if it's not obvious, he's not doing himself any favours by asking. After all, he gets paid to do the repair so its not in his interests to start digging. He's a business to, so he won't!

One minor point, do check that the amp is actually there first!! (It will look a bit odd if it's been nicked!)
Just play the game.

 

[s5aif]

Jberks, your spot on. I bought it at a reduced price and as the car was stolen the original owner claimed the insurance and when it was found about 3 months later it was used for parts( body panels and lights) and the owner already had a replacement so the insurance company just put it as cat d and got rid of. I purchased the body panels on ebay as they came along. Got it fixed at a local garage of my mates for a very good price where as Mercedes would have charged way more. As for the amp, what does it look like and isit located at the rear. Thanks.

 

[jberks]

As for the amp, what does it look like and isit located at the rear. Thanks.

Sadly, this is a question for Malcolm, but he's been banned (not for long I hope - missing him already!)
Anyone else know?

 

[hawk20]

I agree with Hawk - you pays your money and takes your choice. You can't have the best of both worlds.

Why should MB warranty work that has not been done to their standard using appropriate quality of materials etc?

I'm not into deception - some years down the line it might be me buying this motor in all innocence.

Precisely. And it is a disgrace that it is still legal to buy cars in this way, and recycle them eventually back into the secondhand market. Sad to see some senior members encouraging what is not in the public interest and encouraging dealing with Mercedes in what is hardly a moral way. Whatever happened to the golden rule and do as you would be done by. I am glad to say I have never dealt with a dealer who behaves as Jberks describes. To assume the worst of the dealer and of Mercedes does not justify immorality on your part. Two wrongs do not make a right -however much you try to kid your self.

 

[Blobcat]

There was a post awhile ago of a member buying what he thought was an 04 S class only to discover it was an 02 S class that had been imported from Holland. This was from a main MB dealer.
There are lots of guidelines and hoops to jump through regarding insurance write offs and that is why HPI checks should be used when buying second hand.