Going to have to use Mercedes Service

[Plezier]

OK so some of you might have read the problems that we have with my 2003 C200 CDI with SEQ semi auto box and with the front SAM unit! The car has been laid up for over a month now while we wait on the local Independent Mercedes specialists and for the last week has been stuck over the pit of a respected local mechanic whom has been most helpful even getting a chap in from Ruse to scan the car and I thought fit and programme the replacement SAM however that is not what happened it seems he got hung up on the fact that the gearbox won't select any gears and so a second "specialist" has failed to do what was asked of them leaving us with an inoperable car.

So this morning we looked up the nearest official Mercedes service place and dealership which is also in Ruse and I phoned them only to be told they do not work on weekends, I take it that's the service reps, but he then said what's the problem? So briefly explained it and he is going to speak with the service people on Monday and see about arranging to get the car picked up and taken to Ruse and get it diagnosed and then give the quote for repair.

Not an ideal outcome as I can see them wanted to supply and fit a brand new front SAM at the outrageous official Mercedes price the gearbox hopefully just needs the hydraulic oil renewed and bled through oh yes and there is a sensor on the throttle pedal that STAR says is not giving the correct values so no doubt a new one of those which all in all will cost 50% of what we paid for the car or more. Am thinking that perhaps we might be best breaking it up for parts and buying another car! Getting some of the money spent back that way!!!!

 

[ajlsl600]

Very sad but modern mercs (maybe others?) can turn into money pits with electric, electronic dramas. It's just a lottery as to how long components last these days as makers constantly look to shave a penny of all build components.unfortunatly quality has gone out of the window., next, they will be plastic!!

 

[sl500amgsport]

Think you may have answered your own question, unless the car is an appreciating classic, sometimes it is better to cut the losses.....

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[Plezier]

Think you may have answered your own question, unless the car is an appreciating classic, sometimes it is better to cut the losses.....

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This is my first experience with Mercedes and I only bought it in December 2023 when it runs and drives it's a nice car however it is putting me off them and my nephew who has owned several Mercedes in the past including a flagship S class is not very impressed.

 

[sonic]

Its a 20 year old car I dont think MB are any different to other manufactures with cars of this age.
Checking DVLA my old 2003 CLK270CDI hasn't been taxed or insured for over a year. The wife 2004 SLK200K is still on the road but only doing about 2K miles a year.

 

[Plezier]

Its a 20 year old car I dont think MB are any different to other manufactures with cars of this age.
Checking DVLA my old 2003 CLK270CDI hasn't been taxed or insured for over a year. The wife 2004 SLK200K is still on the road but only doing about 2K miles a year.

The only reason that I am not still driving my 2002 Rover 75 CDT is due to it being wrecked in a collision and only reason for selling the 2001 Discovery TD5 is due to it being too high and we cannot get mother into it now so sorry if I do not agree with your thoughts on 20 year old cars heck at 2003 this is the newest one. If we had found a really nice 75 then that's what I would have bought the one I was considering suddenly sold so I thought then it reappeared for sale the day AFTER I bought this C200.

 

[Blobcat]

I doubt there will be anyone at an official Mercedes garage old enough to have any knowledge of your car at all. It’s not anywhere I’d be taking a 20+ year old Mercedes

 

[sl500amgsport]

A 15 year old car is officially categorised as a classic by HMRC (if it is worth over £15k), at 20 years old it is a bit rich to judge...

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[Srdl]

Think you may have answered your own question, unless the car is an appreciating classic, sometimes it is better to cut the losses.....

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^^ what he said

 

[SL63 Mark]

It is an ex-car. It is deceased. Bereft of life, it rests in peace.

 

[mioba]

The problem with merc is they are fitters who follow wis which instructs on how to replace.
No merc garage will have the courtesy to repair anything for a customer.
Good luck OP in your endeavours.

 

[Plezier]

I doubt there will be anyone at an official Mercedes garage old enough to have any knowledge of your car at all. It’s not anywhere I’d be taking a 20+ year old Mercedes

Your judging thing from you UK perspective I am in Bulgaria and things are very different here local garages still rebuild things like water pumps it's not just a fit a new part culture think on 1960's UK!

Now I have tried to get this SAM and gearbox issue sorted using independents and they have failed to do what was asked of them so who else do I try?

 

[Plezier]

The problem with merc is they are fitters who follow wis which instructs on how to replace.
No merc garage will have the courtesy to repair anything for a customer.
Good luck OP in your endeavours.

Bulgaria is a strange place almost in a time warp so we shall have to wait and see.

 

[Plezier]

It is an ex-car. It is deceased. Bereft of life, it rests in peace.

Ahhh well old cars are more of a norm here than a lot of places in Europe.

 

[Blobcat]

Your judging thing from you UK perspective I am in Bulgaria and things are very different here local garages still rebuild things like water pumps it's not just a fit a new part culture think on 1960's UK!

Now I have tried to get this SAM and gearbox issue sorted using independents and they have failed to do what was asked of them so who else do I try?

Local garages yes, same here, main dealers… something else entirely. I saw enough new AMG Mercedes in Bulgaria in the summer to notice what the main dealers are focusing on.
Still your car, your money best of luck and let us know how it gets on.

I might combine your threads so it all makes sense as you’ve threads all over on the same subject.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

In the UK we rely heavily on MB specialist Independent garages to keep labour costs down with older cars very few >10 year old cars end up with MB for servicing/repairs

 

[VitoVanMan]

The number of times I have taken my Vito to an MB dealership and they plug the vehicle into their computer and they misdiagnose the problem.
I have come to the conclusion (i) the computer is too complicated for its own good or (ii) the guys aren't trained on them properly, with to much emphasis on the computer and not enough on mechanical experience. To this end I have "bit the bullet"and invested in a Launch X431 Pro scanner, which by coincidence the local college use to teach their students according to my MOT guy. the beauty of this scanner it will help diagnose every vehicle on the road, even your Bugatti Veyron.....

 

[Plezier]

The number of times I have taken my Vito to an MB dealership and they plug the vehicle into their computer and they misdiagnose the problem.
I have come to the conclusion (i) the computer is too complicated for its own good or (ii) the guys aren't trained on them properly, with to much emphasis on the computer and not enough on mechanical experience. To this end I have "bit the bullet"and invested in a Launch X431 Pro scanner, which by coincidence the local college use to teach their students according to my MOT guy. the beauty of this scanner it will help diagnose every vehicle on the road, even your Bugatti Veyron.....

The nephew has a Delphi system however we do not have the training to do something like SAM programming. George who has a Star machine at the localish garage says he knows how to and has done several which is good however three times he has let me down now on this !!!! It's all well and good knowing how to do it but then refusing to get of his backside and actually do it!!! We cannot wait forever for someone to decide to actually get off their backside and do something and living on a pension means that funds are severely limited.

 

[Plezier]

In the UK we rely heavily on MB specialist Independent garages to keep labour costs down with older cars very few >10 year old cars end up with MB for servicing/repairs

It was not my first choice especially as recovery is going to add to the cost.

 

[Srdl]

My gut feeling is still that it will be cheaper to sell this for parts and buy something else than it would be to go further down the very difficult repair route?