Help needed! Whats up with my SL350?

[nick4692]

Hi.
Ive got a brand new SL350. Ive only owned the car two months and its not my everyday car - its driven once in the week and at weekends. Whevener i try to start the car it struggles to engage reverse - the only way i can get it to work is to engage the handbrake by a further couple of clicks or press the footbrake further still and even then its not 100% right.
It first happened when i went on holiday and parked the car up for two weeks. it starts fine but then reverse wont engage. At that time the hydraulic boot closing mechanism failed and needed replacing as did the central locking system. Now its happening again. I cant stand my main dealer! they're awful - any suggestions before i have to take it back to them and endure more appaling customer service and grief?

Im getting a bit peeved - this is meant to be my dream car and my pride and joy and I think im going to end up the same way with my previous porsche cayenne...........always down the flipping main dealer sorting niggles out.

Does anyone know if current sl's are suffering reliability issues or is it just an unfortunate me?

Thanks
Nick

 

[Arnie]

Unfortunately it's a symptom of MB introducing the newest technology before giving it a good hammering in the pre-production phase. MB was always more conservative than it is today, but as a salesman told me, you now get more car for the same money. The previous R129 SL used to cost around £80k-£120k, with little or no extras, when it was launched. The new one is 2/3 that price, with more gizmos and computers than Nasa's shuttle. The saleman went on to add that many of the problems are not too dificult to fix, but that it takes too long for the fix-it know-how to trickle down the chain from Germany to the UK and to the technicians.

I reckon the best thing is to wait for at least two years before buying any new model. That way, one hopes that at least the major niggles will have been ironed out in production and the fixes for most of the minor ones will be known.

Sorry, if this does not help your present situation. There are some known problems with the sensotronic brakes on the SL with some recent recalls. I have also seen quite a few getting their boot hydraulics replaced too. There are also all kinds of (mainly software) problems with the COMAND units.

In your case it may just be the brake-pedal micro-switch that detects if you have your foot on the brake before allowing you to engage a gear?

Take it back and ask to talk to the dealer principal.

 

[nick4692]

thanks for your reply.
i thought the current SL had been out a couple of years and most niggles would have been sorted! i know the 350 is a fairly recent addition but ive had really bad experiences with cars of late and my previous C class and SLK had been spot on! so i came back to merc.

I spose i'll have to take it to the dealer. Frankly the thought of going back to mercedes benz in gloucestshire fills me with dread............appalling customer service (except for the salesman who sold me the car) i cant even take it to swindon or bristol cos they're all part of the same group im told..........

Any advice? What can i do if im not happy with the dealer? they never answer their phones, they keep you waiting. the last time i was there they just handed me the keys to my car and i had to walk around their compound trying to find it.
is it worth complaining to m benz uk?
Nick

 

[OlafMaxwell]

At the risk of sounding chipped off the service you have got is par for the course. At least you don't have to wait an hour for your keys before you play hide and seek for your car. That's what it's like in dark winter days. You could be like someone else here, Arnie, who gets his nice SL500 bent in the dealers while they are arguing over warranty repairs they previously agreed to....repair refused because its outside warranty, even though they confirmed that would do the repair for him. They are good at pulling that stunt, drag it out until the warranty is expired then telll you to get lost.

My advice? Car straight back to them, with keys, with a letter saying it is unfit for purpose as it is and please sort it out within [14 days??] or give me a refund. MB are buying back bad cars right up to CL600s. Why does one buy an SL350? For enjoyment, driving pleasure, driving experience and of course 'legendary Mercedes Benz reliabilty and customer service'. You are not getting any of that. Better still if its on a lease [not hire purchase type though], you have much more legal rights. Either way its imperative you solve it now as after time it's much much harder.

 

[rsilva]

SL500 R230 central locking

Hi guys

There is a construction defect with the SL R230 range. It leaks water into the boot causing the central locking and sometimes the hardtop to stop working.
My SL500 2002 has been into the dealer 8 times and is still not sorted. I am trying to get MB to buy back the car.

Need help

Can you guys contact me on ronil@gmx.net

Thanks
Ro