Jeff's A Class update (1999)

[WelshMerc78]

Hi all,

I am so upset, the car was ready to be picked up, my partner drove it for few miles and noticed that the gear was not changing (auto) and return it to the garage who said now that after the pressure pad saga the gear box is not working and need to go back to merc garage for gear box to be repaired. It will not be ready until end of this week at least.



Grrrr

Jeff

 

[WelshMerc78]

Still fuming!

The car is now going back to merc garage to investigate why the gear box is not working and I was told that it is possibility that the gear box itself may need to be replaced.

I just want to scream by Friday it will be two weeks since I secure the deal for this car.

:cry:

 

[The German Flower Pot]

have you had it long?

 

[WelshMerc78]

A class

Hi,

I saw the car last Saturday and secure finance deal and told should be ready on Wednesday then discover fault with pressure pad so told will be ready today then my partner just left the garage after few miles and noticed fault with the gear box. So in short, not had it yet and ready on Friday subject to how serious the repair is.

Sigh

Jeff

 

[The German Flower Pot]

get your money back from the garage and cancle the finance

you have a cooling off period

sounds like the garage have sold you a faulty car

there are way too many of these cars around to have to put up with one that has gone wrong twice in a week

modern mercs for you

 

[WelshMerc78]

A class

My partner drove it and noticed that on the dash board it should come up as D but instead it came up as F.

Jeff

 

[The German Flower Pot]

send it back stating the cooling off period as your not happy with things going wrong and the car was not sold in a drive away road worth condition

 

[WelshMerc78]

A class

That the trouble, the price of the car and the finance deal was suitable for my current budget.

I am not really keen to cancel the deal as the person who deals with this car drove it for couple of miles without any problem and my partner drove it away afterward and the problem started (!)

I guess it could be one of those things and perhaps I should be glad that they are footing the bill and it not me after the warranty has expired.

Jeff

 

[WelshMerc78]

Further development

Just had a call from the garage to let me know that the test on the gear box shows that it required further investigation and it is being moved to another garage which has someone who is expert who can investigate the problem indepth.

Sigh.....

 

[WelshMerc78]

some news....

The test showed that the car gearbox faulty is not electrical or software. It is fault with one of the part (unsure which one) hopefully it will be replaced shortly in time for this weekend!

Will keep you all posted.

Jeff

 

[The German Flower Pot]

hope they do

atleast they care

 

[WelshMerc78]

Have to say their customer care is quite good.

They have offered me free mat (not Mercedes Benz brand but the thought's there!)

Full tank (diesel) and free service for next year (which is lovely but was hoping for Mercedes service but cannot complain since I got free service from them!)

The best thing so far, is that they have not started my warranty yet even though that the car have left the garage and driven back after couple of miles. the garage are footing the bill themselves not via warranty. (So far they have spent £600 servicing the car inc tyres etc and £300 for pressure pad and any cost for the gear box)

It not even Mercedes approved garage but they have sent the car to Merc garage to ensure that the work is spot on and 'approved' by the merc.

Jeff

 

[The German Flower Pot]

seems they are going all out to please you

at last the customer is king

well done

 

[WelshMerc78]

Good bye....

Had a call from the garage to say that the whole gear box need to be replaced and it worth almost the same as the car itself. Thus the garage will not be able to foot the bill and it will be scrapped.



I am so gutted and have to look for another car, the only trouble is, the deal was so good.

The car was 1999 reg, and I am rather surprised that the car's gear box actually broken down. Is this due to neglected or one of those things that has happened?

Jeff

 

[jaymanek]

dont be surprised... the full auto gearboxes are absolute rubbish. I have sold two fully auto A classes and replaced the gearbox on both of those.

I sold both of those cars for around 3K and the gearbox replacement cost me £1200 a time and they are second hand boxes.. which by the way are like hens teeth to find..

i would never buy a fully auto W168 ever again.

 

[The German Flower Pot]

jay quick question about w124 convertible

is it fully automatic or do you need to twist and hook the roof to the windscreen frame to secure it?

 

[jaymanek]

you release two handles at the front and then the rest is auto...

 

[The German Flower Pot]

are they (whilst sitting in the drivers seat) left of the left vanity mirror and right of the right vanity mirror?

or is it centra above the rear view mirror?

cheers

 

[Juddian]

Jeff, it may feel disappointing now, but i think you've had a narrow escape, and been fortunate really.

Hearing the experiences of Jaymanek, are you sure its an A class you really want?

TBH i haven't heard many good reports of them, but i'd be glad to be wrong.
I won't pass on the opinion of my indy regarding them.

 

[rhud]

As time goes by the evidence that the new version of the A Class (169) is in a completely different league to its predecessor seems to be mounting, to the point where no one should seriously consider a 168, however apparently good the deal. If I were in that position a low mileage Honda Jazz would probably be my choice.