Main Dealer Speeding in my Car!!!

[Mic]

I think it's past time this thread was closed

I agree....nothing more from me.

Mic

 

[mercmadjim]

Proportion is everything.
Why would you not trust the garage?
Was it a conspiracy? Did the MD come down from his office with a hat full of everyone's names and have a draw with the winner getting the chance to take out a customer's car of his choice and thrash it?
Do they do this on a daily basis? Maybe at the 4pm tea break?
........Or did one young misguided tech simply give in to temptation and overstep the mark?

Ok - did the garage deny it? Did they say, "yeah, but so what?" - no they admitted it and offered compensation for something which in fact caused no damage or loss to the customer. - in other words they behaved in a responsible and honourable manner.

I'd trust them more to be honest. After all, they're probably the most likely dealer to have given their staff a severe warning recently.

People go to a resturant, have a great meal and return regulary. Then one night the food isn't great or they're short staffed and the service is a bit dodgy. They never return.
All the good work they did over many months is suddenly worthless. Now they're a crap resturant. Sometimes a touch of rational thought is needed.....

Fair point there jberks, I read your post and thought about it, and you are right.

 

[PeterCLK]

I've not read all of this thread but it just highlights one of the problems of employing staff. They do stupid things and the employer is held responsible.

I think that if you take your car to them in future they'll be ultra repsonsible.

As others have said, give the goodwill to Haiti, they need it more than you do.

 

[wilf1227]

I have not read all of the post's here but think that the driver should be reported to the police.The information given by the alarm/tracker would in my view be sufficient for the police to prosecute.It might also be worth asking how many pounts this idiot already has on his licence and how old he is.Having worked in the service department of a large "German" dealership no drivers under the age of 25 were allowed to drive the high value/powered models on the road.This was stipulated on the firms insurance.Could this dealer haver a similar policy?.

I also agree that this dealer will from now on make sure you get the best possible service so would stick with them if you are happy with any offers of recompence made.

 

[MSG2004]

Hi

great story, but even a greater security system - lol

these dealers do it all the time and i can't blame them tbh. if i was a youngish mechanic driving around in a ford fiesta that was bought on hp and got my hands on a car like you, i sure that doing 110mph in your car would feel like doing 55mph in their fiesta - lol.


i posted an experience of mine here where my humble merc had 60miles extra on the clock but what gave the game away was the head banger cd on at full blast in car stereo. when i went to collect my car, i was told not fault was found - given keys, went to my car, turned the iginiton and nearly blown out of my seat as sound system was FULL blast with head banger music, not my type - insult to injury it was a home made/pirate cd - insult, 60 additonal miles on clock - i'm sure the idiot had thrased my car as well but i did not have the proff like you - great car u have

 

[craig amg211]

i thought i might add my e55 v8 compressor will go from 40 to 110 and brake back to 40 in much less than 30 seconds so i would imagine the brabus would be quicker.these cars are made for this, no damage would have been done to the car,i think what has happened is wrong but the temptation must have been overwhelming

 

[jberks]

I have not read all of the post's here but think that the driver should be reported to the police.The information given by the alarm/tracker would in my view be sufficient for the police to prosecute.

Your view perhaps, but fortunatley for the principles of justice, not in the view of a court.
Standards of proof for such a prosecution are far higher than this. Gatsos have to pass extensive homeoffice testing before they are considered admissable. Even then, some have been beaten in court. Roadside breath tests are not sufficiently accurate so they have to use a scientifically calibrated police station based unit before the evidence is strong enough for a prosecution. This often leads to people close to the limit dropping back below it before they can be taken to the machine. The copper knows the guy was over, but there is nothing he can do. Police cars have to follow you for a certain distance and be equipped with calibrated speedos, checked in accordance with very stringent standards (and provable).
I can think of several ways this tracker's report could be discredited off the top of my head. And I'm not a defence lawyer.
Hence chances of successful prosecution, nil and the police would not get involved.

Lets be sensible here. It's highly doubtful this guy did this down a mainstreet in full sight of the public, where shoppers are crossing the road and cars turning out of side streets at that time of the morning. Far more likely he knows a quiet backroad with little chance of pedestrians and other cars. The back end of an industrial estate perhaps. (thats where I'd go ;-) )

 

[stumpy]

Maybe Jberks, but I'd like to think the police would have a quick word with the DP and keep an eye out for speeding Mercs. This won't be the only example. We have a supermarket delivery depot near us and after complaints from locals about fast moving vans, the police took low key action and paid regular visits to the depot.

 

[jberks]

Maybe Jberks, but I'd like to think the police would have a quick word with the DP and keep an eye out for speeding Mercs. This won't be the only example. We have a supermarket delivery depot near us and after complaints from locals about fast moving vans, the police took low key action and paid regular visits to the depot.

They may send a bobbie to have quick word but the DP already knows about the issue and won't have been too happy about customer's cars being spotted flying around at high speed so I can't see what a police visit would achieve, other to antagonise them. After all, from their perspective, they've dealt with this issue so to 'set the police' on them seems a bit harsh to me. If they weren't taking it seriously then I'd agree but from what I understand they are.
In terms of watching, I'm sure they'll be aware of it if this is a regular thing and to bring more weight down on them would make it far harder for them to do test drives at all, which after all are in the interests of us, the customer. If a quick blast to 100 allows a tech to identify an issue on my car, then I'm all for it (provided it is safe to do so).
I'm just for leaving the dozing canine alone.

 

[npuk]

Which dealer did this happen at?

Similar to what happened to the Monaro owner on pistonheads. His car was recorded doing 125mph but not in a 40 zone!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/...ping bashing VXR8s and ROs how about garages?

 

[M80]

We all know MB's can go on for mile after mile, but this post is doing the same.

I think it's past time this thread was closed

Words well spoken then.

(personally I think the same applies to 'the little old lady thread'.

 

[Silver_Star]

As already pointed out - you know the car was doing 110mph or can at least be 99% certain it was, however the evidence will not be admissable in court. Also there is no concrete evidence that the MB tech was at the wheel at the time of the alleged offence.

There will be no damage caused to the car mechanics, the car is designed to be driven like that, as you did driving up and down a residential area at speed. Perhaps 'wear and tear' items such as your tyres, brakes will have worn ever so slighly and also the cost of your fuel. I guess all these are negligable costs under £10 - if you can afford to run a car like that then I very much dobut those costs will bother you.

I guess this then boils down to principal. Yes I for one would not be happy if it was my car and somebody was driving it recklessly; it is a car that stands out so may have brought your name down, also if it was just in for a service then there was no need for it to be removed further than the forecout without your consent. If it were me I would possibly let them pay for a new set of tyres or a service etc and or make a donation to charity. In addition I would want a 'word' with the MB tech that did this, not to threaten him, merely to ask him why he did what he did etc and hear his chain of events. However I would not want him to loose his job, we have all done stupid things in the past he was just unlucky to get caught. I should imagine he has learnt his lesson and would think twice about doing something like that again. In addition look at the bigger picture, he may have a wife and kids etc to feed so him loosing his job would also affect them.

 

[roadhog]

We all know MB's can go on for mile after mile, but this post is doing the same.



Words well spoken then.

(personally I think the same applies to 'the little old lady thread'.

Threads 'close' themselves when people stop posting in them. Why did you post?

 

[rovingHawk]

Also there is no concrete evidence that the MB tech was at the wheel at the time of the alleged offence.

Will that defence work when I get a speeding ticket? The dealer is responsible & will nominate the individual concerned if a NIP arrives

we have all done stupid things in the past he was just unlucky to get caught.

Plus reckless and unethical to do it in the first place, but we digress........

I should imagine he has learnt his lesson and would think twice about doing something like that again.

Is it his first 'offence'? I'd tend to doubt it. If he didn't learn his lesson previously then what's so very different now? He'd just be more careful to not get caught.

he may have a wife and kids etc to feed so him loosing his job would also affect them.

Maybe that's his responsibility not the car owner's.

RH

 

[tromppost]

this was on aol today http://autos.aol.com/article/hotel-valets-destroy-cars

 

[sailorP]

Garage Managers

Interesting thread. I agree with a lot of the posts.

Makes me wonder what management systems the garage managers/owners have in place to prevent this sort of abuse.
MB should have procedures which describe how a car should be tested after a service.
The garage should have something in their management system which describes how they check on procedural compliance (audits etc).
Sounds like MB Head Office might be interested in the garage management systems.
Others have posted about the immorality, and the potential to damage a child etc, but surely MB would also be interested in the potential for reputational damage. Imagine what the press would make of it..."MB mechanic kills child while test driving customer's MB at 110mph in a 40mph zone". It sends all sorts of bad images about MB, the cars, untrustworthy garage owners, cowboy mechanics etc.

I hope someone at MB reads this forum.

 

[roadhog]

I hope someone at MB reads this forum.

I'm pretty sure someone does.

 

[truthfindergeneral]

My only thought....
I'd like my car treated the way I treat it... with care and consideration.

 

[roadhog]

My only thought....
I'd like my car treated the way I treat it...

Ah well in that case, the OP should be fine.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I hope someone at MB reads this forum.

I think we may also have "guest contributions"!