Major Issues!!!!

[JPM993]

Hi Guys,

The car is VERY sick at the moment!

I noticed a judder recently at certain speeds, I assumed that I might have taken on some that contaminated fuel that was around in the SE a couple of months ago, and have duly put the car into Mercedes to check it out. To my horror, I've been informed that some coolant has leaked into the gearbox (I believe that there is some form of cooling system there) and it means that I need a new Rad, the gearbox to be dropped and cleaned out and I'm looking at a bill in excess of £3K!

When the service guy was explaining the problem, it sounds like it has happened to others before. Have you guys heard of it? Is it a design fault? The car has only covered 40K miles (nearly all motorway) and I wouldn't expect this kind of thing to happen so early.

Cheers!

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

I have no personnel experience ( if I drove onto a stealers forecourt my wallet would commit hari kari ) but acording to this forum the work should be
covered by the Merc Warranty. Try looking for MOBILOlife & Gearbox Threads.

Cheers
Teddy Bear

 

[television]

Hi Guys,

The car is VERY sick at the moment!

I noticed a judder recently at certain speeds, I assumed that I might have taken on some that contaminated fuel that was around in the SE a couple of months ago, and have duly put the car into Mercedes to check it out. To my horror, I've been informed that some coolant has leaked into the gearbox (I believe that there is some form of cooling system there) and it means that I need a new Rad, the gearbox to be dropped and cleaned out and I'm looking at a bill in excess of £3K!

When the service guy was explaining the problem, it sounds like it has happened to others before. Have you guys heard of it? Is it a design fault? The car has only covered 40K miles (nearly all motorway) and I wouldn't expect this kind of thing to happen so early.

Cheers!

This is whats known as the Valeo issue, and the problem is well documented.

The water has leaked into the gearbox, and the torque convertor has to be replaced.

Since this is not your fault, and you could have done nothing to stop this from happening, also MB have not warned you that this could happen, I think that you should complain to the head office.

Yes it is a design fault.

If I can help you further please do ask

 

[JPM993]

Thanks guys, I've just done a search and seen it's come up before!

Excuse my French, but these guys are B*stards!!!! I'm going to give them hell tomorrow. (Moderator - Feel free to take this out, I am just really annoyed right now)

 

[television]

I can understand how you feel, and yes it is lousy situation, do feel free to vent your anger for I would.

 

[JPM993]

So, I spoke with the Rip off merchant, sorry Merc dealer this PM and made my disaappointment very clear on this whole subject. They have confirmed that they will contact Mercedes and ask for a "goodwill contribution". I'll post an update as soon as they let me know what they're prepared to do.

 

[television]

So, I spoke with the Rip off merchant, sorry Merc dealer this PM and made my disaappointment very clear on this whole subject. They have confirmed that they will contact Mercedes and ask for a "goodwill contribution". I'll post an update as soon as they let me know what they're prepared to do.

Good work.

I notice that on all of the technical info on these subjects seem to suggest that the customer be tested out for their reaction before offering any goodwill.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Threadjacking here, but is my car susceptible to this flaw?

Its a W210 E300TD, 1997 vintage.

 

[BlackC55]

Nope. Safe as houses

 

[jberks]

Anyone know how many hours work this is?
It strikes me that most of the £3k bill is labour.
Ok if MB is paying the lions share as they should then fine, but if not, I suspect a call to a reputable indie could turn that £3k into £1500 or less.
I'd also demand a discount on your portion of the bill as the dealer hardly fought your corner in not admitting it was a known issue and suggesting putting in a goodwill claim in the first place. Not the service you should expect from the dealer, though sadly what we've have come to expect.

 

[television]

Anyone know how many hours work this is?
It strikes me that most of the £3k bill is labour.
Ok if MB is paying the lions share as they should then fine, but if not, I suspect a call to a reputable indie could turn that £3k into £1500 or less.
I'd also demand a discount on your portion of the bill as the dealer hardly fought your corner in not admitting it was a known issue and suggesting putting in a goodwill claim in the first place. Not the service you should expect from the dealer, though sadly what we've have come to expect.

Well its gear box off and fit a new torque converter and a new Rad with oil cooler

I know that re calls are expensive, but there are many cars out there where this is going to happen, by changing the Radiator this could have been prevented.

Modified cars have a white spot on the oil cooler

 

[JPM993]

Hi Guys,

OK, so we have some success!!

The dealer called the Merc Factory and after acknowledging that it is a know issue, they have agreed to pay 50% of the bill, i.e. £1500. The dealer then called Mercedes Customer Care and argued my case, they proposed that with the remianing £1500, we do a 3 way split, i.e. they pay £500, the dealer pays £500 and I pay the remainder (£500).

All in all, I'm happy with the end result, I'm just not happy with what needed to be done at my end to get there. I must admit that when I had a major problem with a previous (Ahem!) BMW issue, they replaced an engine for me FOC without me having to do or say anything.

This is not the first time and I'm sure it's not the last time that the Mercedes Dealer network will irratate me, but for the premium price that we pay to have them "look after" our cars, the service and customer loyalty is shocking.

Rant over!

Thanks for all your advice and help on this guys, you saved my wallet £2500!

Cheers

James

 

[television]

Hi Guys,

OK, so we have some success!!

The dealer called the Merc Factory and after acknowledging that it is a know issue, they have agreed to pay 50% of the bill, i.e. £1500. The dealer then called Mercedes Customer Care and argued my case, they proposed that with the remianing £1500, we do a 3 way split, i.e. they pay £500, the dealer pays £500 and I pay the remainder (£500).

All in all, I'm happy with the end result, I'm just not happy with what needed to be done at my end to get there. I must admit that when I had a major problem with a previous (Ahem!) BMW issue, they replaced an engine for me FOC without me having to do or say anything.

This is not the first time and I'm sure it's not the last time that the Mercedes Dealer network will irratate me, but for the premium price that we pay to have them "look after" our cars, the service and customer loyalty is shocking.

Rant over!

Thanks for all your advice and help on this guys, you saved my wallet £2500!

Cheers

James

Its a pleasure James, anytime

 

[television]

Just thinking, I got through this one and I am still here :

 

[JPM993]

Hi Guys,

So just an update on the issue.

Collected the car, and it is now running superbly. However, I was a tad peeved when I got into my car to find that some pigeon(s) had decided to use it for dropping target practice and the driver who had brought it round to the front of the show-room had failed to notice. Couldn't be arsed to wash it again!!! I've lost so much faith in MB dealers, that I couldn't be bothered to even go inside and complain.

To add to my frustration with the greedy rip-off merchants, I dropped my wife's ML in for a routine service and low and behold, they informed me when I was collecting it that the "pads were over 70% worn and should be replaced soon". Funny that, I had them replaced by a Merc Specialist only a few weeks ago and they're fine. :roll:

Sad to say it, but I've had enough with Mercedes and the E500 will be traded in as soon as I get back from my current business trip. I feel that the ML won't be too far behind.

The cars are great, but I've had it to my eyeballs with the shocking aftercare service from their dealer network.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

If you like the cars why not just bypass the shoddy stealers and search out a good independent specialist that gives you satisfaction you deserve?

These stealers will carry on like this for as long as we continue to hand over OUR money. Vote with your feet and maybe, just maybe, they will start to get the message.

 

[JPM993]

Hi Steve,

I do agree, but I've always be one of those that gets the services undertaken by Mercedes and the rest of the work by an Independent (Mercs Only - who have been great). Like with the recent problem, and thanks to the advice of Television, because the car had a full Merc Service history, they paid for most of the work to be undertaken, I only had to contribute a small percentage, even though the car was outside of the warranty. If it had been serviced elsewhere, would they have paid or would I have been left witha £3K bill??? An interesting debate.

Rightly or wrongly, I've also been led to believe that those cars with a MBFSH will be worth more on resell.

A tricky debate, but I think it's back to Porsche for me, at least I know I'm being ripped off!