Merc C180 Sport - Please Help re Camshaft Sprocket

[meanie]

I wont thanks. I will go down tom and ask them for a proper invoice in letterhead etc and the diagnosis first and let you's know how I get on

If you must do this in person, get a lift down with a friend, Don't go down in your Merc.
Seriously, the original problem must be resolved first.
As the law stands, if you want to sell it on, you cannot legally withold any info on a problem that you are aware of.
Although it may be difficult to prove that you knew of a fault, it could concievably cost you more to sell it on than to fix any outstanding issues.

 

[jennifer1424]

To be honest I really do not want to sell the car I love it but I am struggling to find anywhere that can fit a lap belt for me in the back of the car. I have called mercedes in glasgow and they said cos of EU regulations I wont be able to get one fitted as it is illegal!! I dont see the problem of jst getting a lap belt from a similar car with a clip and a mechanic bolting it on.

Is there anyone near Glasgow that knows of a mechanic that would fit this for me?

 

[busby20]

To be honest I really do not want to sell the car I love it but I am struggling to find anywhere that can fit a lap belt for me in the back of the car. I have called mercedes in glasgow and they said cos of EU regulations I wont be able to get one fitted as it is illegal!! I dont see the problem of jst getting a lap belt from a similar car with a clip and a mechanic bolting it on.

Is there anyone near Glasgow that knows of a mechanic that would fit this for me?

Don't think your insurance company would cover such an "ad-hoc" modification - particularly in the event of any accident/

 

[grober]

Lap belts are largely discredited now as a safety device. They don't spread the impact forces across the torso enough and as a result often cause major internal organ damage.
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/lapbelts.aspx If however the intention is to secure a child seat with an integral full restraint harness http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm then this might best be achieved using a specific fitting kit for the seat for your vehicle.

 

[drmw]

If you must do this in person, get a lift down with a friend, Don't go down in your Merc.

seconded - preferably male, big with an obvious attitude problem before he opens his mouth

But there's two issues here - the nature (and resolution) of the fault in the first place then the bill you have.

Going right back the start of this saga you said the car had been running rough then wouldn't start. The "fault" these guys came up with - cam chain slipped, bent valves is just plain wrong - the car would not run - at all - with bent valves so if it did have bent valves, then that probably happened after you left it with them.

Like others have said - you have to get an opinion from a proper set-up and I think that should be done before you go anywhere near L&A

 

[jennifer1424]

Next update is.... I got my husband to hand in a letter to the garage sayin:

I wanted a proper invoice with list of items and breakdown of labour, VAT & parts with company VAT number on invoice (as this bill previously was a piece of paper with prices on it as said in previous posts)

I wanted as print out of receipt for the £100 I paid on 17 Nov 09.

I wanted a list of all the error codes when car was initially checked over.

And finally I wanted a diagnosis of car and breakdown of what has been done to repair these faults in detail.


Do you think this sounds ok? Does anyone also know of any garage near Greenock PA16 that specialises in mercedes or has had dealings with these sort of problems as I want to take it to a mechanic who knows so he I have back up when I call this garage back. The man in the garage is raged apparently and wants his £1200 so he can pay wages but I am inclined to hand over any money until I find out what has really happened plus to top it off my engine light has came back on again as if there is still a fault

 

[drmw]

someone already suggested Merparts http://merparts.com/default.htm Tel: (01475) 741236, Ashgrove Lane, Port Glasgow, PA14 5NQ - pretty close to Greenock

and yes, I think what you have done is right

 

[jennifer1424]

Merparts are fully booked until 22 Dec and cant look at my car until then. I was hoping to go sooner cos these guys from garage will be calling me constantly.

Do you think I should call them and ask them if they have what I have asked for in my letter? and then tell them that I am waiting on my car gettin independently inspected from another mechanic who deals specifically with Mercedes before I hand over anymore money?

 

[drmw]

Merparts are fully booked until 22 Dec and cant look at my car until then. I was hoping to go sooner cos these guys from garage will be calling me constantly.

Do you think I should call them and ask them if they have what I have asked for in my letter? and then tell them that I am waiting on my car gettin independently inspected from another mechanic who deals specifically with Mercedes before I hand over anymore money?

What you've asked for is only what you are entitled to and what they should have given you in the first place. His ranting & raging isn't achieving anything

If the engine light has come on again then there is still something wrong with it (I assume it was not on when you collected the car?)

It's a long time since I lived in Glasgow so I can't offer any suggestions about where to take it but a quick Google showed these guys in Ibrox http://www.mercedescarspecialists.com/

What you don't want though is to have the original guys constantly calling you or calling on you.

I'm not a lawyer so can't really offer any advice other than to say what I would do. It might even be worth a call to the citizens advice bureau but I do believe you must get independent advice about the car problems and to do that you do really need their itemised bill, so yes you should push them for the paperwork

 

[jennifer1424]

Thanks for your advice I will check out the ones in Ibrox as you said and call the garage back and ask them for my itemised invoice as well.

 

[grober]

Don't phone them. Briefly write to them again by registered post[ to be signed for] this time explaining you note their concern that you havn't paid them but that you cannot pay until they issue a proper itemised VAT invoice. In my experience people who get angry in situations like this have something to hide. I would not tell them you intend to take further advice on the car since that is actually not their business.

 

[jennifer1424]

Ha that was a laugh......the man that owns the car garage called me there and asked about my letter I handed in, I stated that as a customer I am entitled to a proper invoice with a breakdown of labour etc! He said that he would give me one of those after the bill has been paid etc as he has already paid for the parts and has to calculate the VAT etc on them!! I said no I would like him to prepare an invoice firstly so I can see what I am paying for and also a diagnosis of the car etc. He said thats fine he will do that, he also said that I have to bring the car down to him and he will have a look and see why the engine light is back on. I am not taking it back down there no way!! I advised him that I will be taking it to a mercedes specialist for a diagnosis and he said I was not to do that cos if it was a problem with one of the parts he has fitted etc then there is a warranty on them so he can fix them for nothing!!! I smell a rat big time!! To top it off he slagged off this forums when he was the one who initially told me to go on this for some info on my engine for him!!! He stated that this site is messing my head up and confusing me and that all the guys on this forum are just enthusiasts not specialists. I corrected him and said that I have had dealings with people and advice from people on this site who actually own their own garages etc!!! what a cheek!!

 

[rich.g.williams]

beginning to feel a morsel of sympathy for this garage owner (he is probably reading this forum) working on cars like modern Mercedes must sometimes be a major headache especially with all the CAN connected electronics to fathom out

I think he owes you an explanation of how events came about

to his credit, if he has successfully removed the cylinder head, fitted new valves and re-assembled everything correctly, then he knows his onions it seems

maybe a good idea to come to an understanding with him, especially this close to Christmas, season of goodwill and all that

just an idea

good luck jennifer

 

[47p2]

Season of goodwill my a*se, Jen stick to your guns and have the car checked by an independent Mercedes garage at the very least. Don't give the garage any more money until you have a full and detailed invoice stating exactly what you are being charged for, and make sure the car is working as it should be before parting with your money

There are far too many companies out there trying to rip honest folk off and take money they are not entitled to.

I am myself at this moment in time refusing bully boy tactics from one of Scotland's biggest motoring organisations. They think because they are a large company they can rip me of to the tune of almost £350.00 on an invoice of less than £1200.00. When I enquired as to what I was being charged all of a sudden the invoice was reduced by the disputed £350.00. Since it took them 12.5 weeks to complete the job I have now decided that it will take me 12.5 weeks before I am going to pay up......They are not happy, do I care.....Not a jot and I am prepared to fight this one out to the end

 

[jennifer1424]

Thanks 47p2 for your email with the Johntone garage number, I called them today and spoke to one of the girls who was helpful and wants me to pop up and see them probs Thurs or Fri to see about the seatbelt issue.

Also good for you ha about the length of time it took them I was deciding to use that tactic as well and as it took them over 14 days to even look at mine I was doing the same back to them. you are defo right though, I smell a rat cos if he was 100% legit then he would not be nicey nicey to me on the phone, he is panicking now cos obviously he knows he has messed up with my car big time and to be honest he should have told me the truth at the beginning and said outright he cant fix my car as he didnt have a clue what to do and I could have taken it to someone who knew mercedes and could fix it but it was sheer greed that took over and he thought I was zipped up the back and he could attempt to rip me off!!! He was so wrong!

 

[47p2]

When you go to Johnstone speak with Sandy about the car and if he is not there Chris is the MOT man, he will keep you right as far as the law goes concerning the seatbelt. There a good bunch of guys

 

[jennifer1424]

Brill will do, I'll keep you posted thanks for that. Will probs go on Friday and see them and let you know how we get on.

 

[47p2]

I am myself at this moment in time refusing bully boy tactics from one of Scotland's biggest motoring organisations. They think because they are a large company they can rip me of to the tune of almost £350.00 on an invoice of less than £1200.00. When I enquired as to what I was being charged all of a sudden the invoice was reduced by the disputed £350.00. Since it took them 12.5 weeks to complete the job I have now decided that it will take me 12.5 weeks before I am going to pay up......They are not happy, do I care.....Not a jot and I am prepared to fight this one out to the end

Well it seems that was worth my writing a letter to the manager of this company explaining why I never paid his invoice when it arrived on my desk.

Today I received a call from the manager of the company I was having problems with and he couldn't apologise enough. He admitted that the service his company provided was a complete shambles and he would be speaking with his staff to rectify the problems to ensure it never happens again. He also thanked me for bringing everything to his attention and as a way of apologising he has halved my bill.
Now I need to send him a cheque quickly before he changes his mind.

A result yes, but I would rather not have had the hassle in the first place.