Crashed C240 repairs botched! - need advice!

[wagamama]

Hi, I need some advice about how to proceed:
I crashed my C240 (2001, 9k miles on the clock) about a month ago, and have collected my car from the garage tonite.... only there are some problems....
within 15 minutes of driving, 2 malfunctions occur:
1/ windscreen washer fluid level (level is fine tho)
2/ coolant level check
in addition:
a/ car does not store winter/standard driving modes
b/ external temperature is *always* at 85oC
c/ car was driven 200+ miles whilst being repaired & for 2 hours b4 i collected the car
d/ onboard computer maybe (i fear) fried. The garage admitted the battery shorted out.
e/ Leather seats are torn.

This was not a mercedes garage, but an 'approved repairer' by the insurance company.

I am not confident in letting the same garage try to fix the car, and they will most likely cause more damage. :cry:

I have contacted the insurance company, and they said to contact the garage. I will do so tomorrow, only to give them an earful. Then am going to tell the insurance company that am not confident about them carrying out any further work and would prefer a Mercedes garage to carry out the rest of the repairs. I am also going to be withholding the 'excess' payment of £350. Why should i pay if my car isn't repaired??

My question to all is:
Do you think the insurance company will fork out for the rest of the repairs to the car via Mercedes?
If they don't what can I do? I really am in a bit of a pickle here. So any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanx

 

[Malcolm Brown]

Your car should be in as good condition after repait as it was before the damage occurred. Don't let your insurance company get away with anything less.

And be difficult with them if they want you to return to the same repairer. If they have f*cked it up once, why would you give them the opportunity to f*ck it up twice?

 

[wagamama]

that's exactly what i thought! I reckon they've been joyriding in my car for 200+ miles. if they were 'checking' it, they should have noticed the 2 malfunctions that occur within 15 minutes of driving.

Is there an insurance company which use Mercedes garages as approved repairers. Does anybody know?

BTW if anybody's interested in the name of the garage let me know, and I'll post it. Cos they're crap. I assumed they were good, since they sell Audis, Jags, and now are BMW approved repairers.

TIA

 

[fuzzer]

Go on , name and shame , its the only way .. 8)

 

[wagamama]

Harwoods accident repair in Coulsdon.

I'm waiting for the manager to call me back to discuss this further. I will let them have a look at it it guess....

Though I am going to call mercedes and find out if they can have a look at it first, and possibly do repairs (under warranty) - as the car is not even a year and a half old. :cry:

If mercedes will charge me for it, then I have to get Harwoods to have a look and see what they think.... i really dont want themt o touch my car again... though i want the tear in my leather seats sorted.

UPDATE
Been phoned by harwoods regarding the mileage. they say it was 8950 to begin with, so the mileage on it is the same. :twisted: :evil: but i am certain it wasnt , it was 8734. I dont have a copy of the receipt from when they recovered the car. I cant do **** to contest :?

 

[Matt Crooke]

The thought of squealing to TV companies generally makes me so ****** annoyed, but it seems these days its the only way to get something done.

It may seem extreme, but once you have had a chance to compile all the details on this repair and the garage, maybe the chaps at Watch Dog wouldnt mind a listen?!

On a lighter note, if you are ever in London (Wigmore Street W1 to be precise) there is a restaurant called Wagamamas right on the junction with Baker street.......always worth a visit!

 

[dieselman]

A neibour of mine recently suffered minor damage to the bonnet of his BMW from a flying object. He took the car to the insurance companies approved repairer. On collection he wasn't happy with the colour and took the car back. The bodyshop refused to re-spray the bonnet, saying it was within tollerance.
They did re-polish the bonnet, which was still the same colour, but now shinier and with swirl marks.
Again my neibour complained to the repairer and insurance company.

The insurance company refunded the excess payment and the repairer sent their regional manager to inspect the car. He hand polished the bonnet and said it was within colour tollerance.

My still unhappy neibour then took the car to the local BMW dealer who said the colour was unacceptable.

The insurance company paid for the bonnet to be re-sprayed again at the BMW dealer. All is now ok.

Moral: Don't accept anything below perfection and take the car to your MB dealer for assesment.

Your contract is with your insurance company, who in turn have contracted the work to the repairer, who has damaged your car. It is your insurance companies responsibility to fix the car!

A report from the dealer will sway your insurance company to have the car fixed properly.

 

[Bob 2316]

Watchdog

you could write to `Watchdog` at Auto Express magazine.

Attn: James Baggott
Auto Express
Dennis Publishing Ltd
30 Cleveland Street
London W1T 4JD

or E Mail him at James_Baggott@dennis.co.uk

 

[Bob 2316]

PS

yeah id just start to make sure you have all the events logged dates, times meeting inspections names of people who you are dealing with on this one, as you might have to later on build a case for yourself and there is nothimg better than being thorough when it comes to insurance companies or possibly the small claims court. and write letters of complaint or letters of rejection and post them recorded!

if your not happy with the outcome whatever you do dont sign anything stating that you are happy with the repair. in your mind decide what you want and stick to it ie yr car back as it was before the accident. anything less is unacceptable.

all insurance companies have approved repairers on their books, so if you dont have the confidence in the comapny that has so far done a shoddy job insist that it is taken to another one of their appointed bodyshops which cant be too far away. but i dont know if legally they can refuse? is there a lawyer in the room???

i can sympathise with you on this .

Bob

 

[wagamama]

Thanx for all the help.
Well, after all that, I've booked my merc into the local dealer for this Friday, and am going to let them take a look into it.

Am going to let them check out the car, and see what they think. Then I'm going to request a detailed report, which I will use with the insurance company.

I have the car booked in on Wednesday next week at Harwoods, but am hoping Mercedes will repair the damage for free, since it's all under warranty. And if Mercedes do fix the damage, all Harwoods have to do is replace the leather seat with the 1cm tear in the leather. Admittedly, the tear could have been done by my girlfriend, but I would have noticed something like that.

UPDATE
My car now seems to be ok, 'cept for the external temperature reading of 85oC. I find this bizarre, thou I will still let MB take a look at it.

Could this be cos the battery was removed?? i.e. all the funniness with the coolant/washer fluid levels?

 

[dieselman]

[UPDATE
My car now seems to be ok, 'cept for the external temperature reading of 85oC. I find this bizarre, thou I will still let MB take a look at it.]

Probably the external sensor in the front lower grill is disconnected.

 

[wagamama]

Well another day, another error... the 2 faults have appeared again... just wondered when I tell Mercedes 'bout the failed repairs, would they fix all the problems for free? (warrantly repairs an' all)

what does everyone else here think?

thanx for all ur help guys.

 

[Bob 2316]

hi my personal cynical view is to tell a MB dealership as little as possible about any botched repair from another garage, say nothing and get the electric gizmo sensor stuff sorted under warranty.

bob

 

[waga]

hmm... i was thinking that... tell them only if I get questioned. But I will have to ask MB, for a report on what went wrong so that I can give it to the insurers so they know what Harwoods have not repaired.

 

[Bob 2316]

just ask them for a written description of what work has been carried out as yr a very fastidious person and like to keep a record of all repair and maintenance on yr vehicle!!

 

[wagamama]

sounds like a plan!

UPDATE
Heated wing mirrors dont work either....

 

[wagamama]

what mercedes said...

Well... yesterday I took it to Mercedes, they spotted it straight away that the car had been in an accident.
In their own words they said the job had been done "very badly" and they left "wires hanging all over the place"
The written description of the damage MB gave me was:

Electrical Sytem Check, recor
Found ambient temp sensor wires missing
battery has been jump started which has caused faults to occurr"
test program carry out"

etc. etc.
they charged me £65 for it and wouldnt repair the f*ck up Harwoods did. Fair enough cos it's not a warranty repair.

Did I also mention there's a browny stain on the drivers seat, which i can't get out, cos it's stuck in the grain of the leather? and the side front wing doesn't align with the bonnet either ( my god the list goes on.....
Have faxed and mailed insurance company, going to mail credit card company now to dispute excess payment.

You're probably all bored by this by now :wink: , but I just need to vent!

 

[grober]

Repairs by Insurance company "selected repairers"

Guys, take a good look at your insurance policy documents. The "FINE PRINT"!!!
you may see the following, or something similar " in the event of an accident your car will be taken to our nearest approved repairer, OR TO A REPAIRER OF YOUR CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Always insist on a Mercedes dealer or specialist. only they have the specialist knowledge and jigs to repair your merc correctly. Dont take no for an answer. In the past you certainly had the right to select the repairer for your car, maybe that has changed, best to check your policy I guess since this may vary from company to company. The insurance company will resist this but if its in the policy document you are within your rights. They possibly wont give you a replacement vehicle while your vehicle is off the road and maybe ask you pay part of any additional recovery costs, but maybe the mercedes repair specialist will help here for the business opportunity. Check with the motoring organisations if your are a member. Remember also that the insurance policy often states that "only genuine manufacturers parts will be used in the repair" Insist on documented proof that genuine mercedes parts are used rather than pattern parts. This would be in the form of invoices from a mercedes agent to the repair company. If they cant supply them they may be in breach of contract. Of course many people are in a state of shock after an accident and it is difficult to think straight. You want your car repaired ASAP, but take a minute to thinK, look at all the options and CHECK THE FINE PRINT!!!!!!

 

[wagamama]

well...

took it to harwoods, and they (darren) cleaned up the leather seats a bit, though they say they are happy with the work done :lol: yeah right, but ...
They (clare @ harwoods) are going to book the car in for me @ the local merc garage soonish. though i have been advised by MB, that i have lost the warranty on my car (thou thought it would have been on just the repaired bits).

Anyway, I phoned the insurance company, and they weren't aware about MB's 3 year warranty and 30 year bodywork warranty... they couldn't help when when I asked "will you cover me for the 30 year body work guarantee? cos Harwoods aren't Mercedes approved!" and they said "dunno, probably not" - useless!

I want the car in the same state before I had the crash with all the warranty still void! Is that too much to ask from an insurance company? Cos if they won't honour this, I'll have to contact the QA manager @ the insurers or possibly the insurance ombudsman.

Clare at harwoods, faxed MB Croydon to do work on my car, she can't get thru to them, so has asked me to contact and book it in for myself. Useless buggers. So i am.

think i got all the spelling mistakes on this now

 

[Bob 2316]

Oh Man! this is going from bad to worse!

have you talked to a solicitor about where you stand legally on all this?clearly if you have now lost yr warranty on yr car its a serious matter and you will need to be compensated by someone! or in some way have it re newed
Hope you are keeping records times and dates of all conversations, though at this point id rather be sending registered letters to all concerned instead of relying on what people say on the phone.

sorry to hear that all is still not well. please keep us posted.

what does everyone else think?

Bob