E350e Hybrid battery issues?

[Ben Farrer]

Hi all,

I purchased a E350e a couple of weeks ago and so far it has spent 90% of that time on a ramp at my local dealership.

I was so excited the day the car arrived. I jumped in, took it for a quick spin, messed about with the gadgets and drove it back to the office on charge mode to get the battery level up.

I arrived back at work and as soon as I came to a stop, a warning light came on saying ENGINE MALFUNCTION - DO NOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE - CALL MERC NOW.

So I called recovery - they turned the car off and....it wouldn't come back on again. It got towed the same evening that it arrived. I could have cried.

It then spent 2 days at Mercedes. I called and asked how it was going and they informed me that they couldn't find any faults or issues and the car had started first time and continued to do so every time they tried. So, i collected my car that afternoon with a big grin on my face, thinking it must have been something I pressed/did and that it was just one of those things...

I got the car back to the office again, plugged it in to charge and when the battery got to around 80% I got an error message. I unplugged it all and plugged it back in (common IT fix) and it errored again. I got in the car and tried to start it up only to be greeted by the very same error messages.

Once again, the car was towed to Mercedes. I called them a day or two later and they informed me that they no longer had a Hybrid Technician so the car would have to be moved to another dealership. This was on Wednesday last week and as I sit here now typing this, it is where the car remains.

My conclusion is that its a battery issue as I believe I got to about 80% charge on my first trip out and then again when manually charging. I had to tell Merc my theory as they had no idea - and they agreed.

Has anyone else seen or heard of an issue like this and is it an easy fix. I guess my actual question is - will I get my car back?

 

[John Laidlaw]

Not sure how this particular PHEV works to be honest, but if the battery is reaching 80% + then I can’t see why it won’t start, often that can be transmission related rather than Powertrain. The older hybrids (E300 Diesel), which didn’t plug in had the electric motor attached to the transmission, hence my earlier comment.
I had one which failed miserably after 18 months from new and never has been seen again.
My advice at this stage would be to demand some answers, there must be someone in all the dealerships can understand the hybrid system, if not hand the car back for a refund as not fit for purpose.
Where are you based by the way?

 

[John Laidlaw]

Sorry, forgot to say ‘welcome’!

 

[Ben Farrer]

Thanks John!

I'm in Wakefield but bought the car from Worcester. It's currently at Leeds Merc!

 

[V6Matty]

Do Leeds have a Hybrid specialist? If not then I know Lincoln do, different group but they seem have have helped a few people with hybrid issues so far

 

[Ben Farrer]

Do Leeds have a Hybrid specialist? If not then I know Lincoln do, different group but they seem have have helped a few people with hybrid issues so far

Yeah they do. That's why Wakefield transferred the car there I believe. I should know more today... I hope.

 

[carlls]

hi and welcome hope you get sorted

 

[John Laidlaw]

Yeah they do. That's why Wakefield transferred the car there I believe. I should know more today... I hope.

Good stuff, I hope so as they are exceptionally good cars, the 213 platform is wonderfully high tec.
MB Liverpool and Cheshire Oaks both have Hybrid specialists too but a bit far for you!

 

[Ben Farrer]

Good stuff, I hope so as they are exceptionally good cars, the 213 platform is wonderfully high tec.
MB Liverpool and Cheshire Oaks both have Hybrid specialists too but a bit far for you!

For the 10/20 mins I had in it - I loved it!!

 

[davemercedes]

OMG... We all feel for you, Ben - the disappointment must be quite enormous so here's hoping the cure is round the corner.

It occurs to me that any day now there will be all-electric, self-driving, self charging and self-diagnosing cars pushed out to the waiting guinea pigs (- er, sorry, I mean public)... And when they go wrong - as some inevitably will - how many qualified technicians will be available per dealership?

Not many, methinks!

 

[Capra]

Hi and welcome, I hope this gets sorted ASAP.

 

[Ben Farrer]

OMG... We all feel for you, Ben - the disappointment must be quite enormous so here's hoping the cure is round the corner.

It occurs to me that any day now there will be all-electric, self-driving, self charging and self-diagnosing cars pushed out to the waiting guinea pigs (- er, sorry, I mean public)... And when they go wrong - as some inevitably will - how many qualified technicians will be available per dealership?

Not many, methinks!

Crossed my mind too! Unbelievable disappointment Fed up of waiting and they're not been very forthcoming with answers

 

[Ben Farrer]

Hi and welcome, I hope this gets sorted ASAP.

Thank you!

 

[jp williams]

Thanks John!

I'm in Wakefield but bought the car from Worcester. It's currently at Leeds Merc!

Did you buy from WORCESTER MERC, ANOTHER dealer, or was it a private sale?

 

[Ben Farrer]

Did you buy from WORCESTER MERC, ANOTHER dealer, or was it a private sale?

Bought from Worcester and they've been very good throughout so far. Sent me up a lovely car to use whilst mine has is away.

 

[jp williams]

Bought from Worcester and they've been very good throughout so far. Sent me up a lovely car to use whilst mine has is away.

Thanks Ben.Glad to hear that.
If you do a search on here you will find that a lot has been said about Merc Hybrids in general.

 

[Srdl]

Welcome Ben and so sorry to hear about your problems. Getting a new car should be something to really enjoy and it is awful that you have had these problems. Unfortunately, any Hybrid or electrical technology is still relatively new (in Mercedes world certainly) and problems do occur. Sadly, many dealers just do not understand this tech.

You have the option to reject the car and get a full refund. How long you wait before making that decision is your call and not an easy decision. Keep us up to date!

 

[davemercedes]

I bought my car from Mercedes Wakefield in 2013 originally intending to move it on and change up later. But I changed my mind and decided I had a keeper and the odometer rolled over 100K a couple of weeks ago. The dealership staff were very helpful (although most are when they're in "sales-mode"). But I didn't have any issues with the car or them.