Mercedes Dealer Has Ruined My Car

[Alex M Grieve]

Plus ca change

It was ever thus. A group of students once built a Morris Minor from the parts department - it cost around £4,000 when a factory built car was around £650.

I asked our dealership for a set of MB rubber floor mats recently. They quote £118 for a set of 4. Other Forum members were quoted around £70.

I bought a set from Halfrauds and from £18 got 4 mats and 5p change.

We are in the wrong business!

BUT - I was able to buy two parts from my MB dealership for my 1994 SL - under bonnet insulation (custom built) and a set of scraper moulding clips. They were delivered to the dealership within 48 hours and cost altogether less than £100. (fitting the insulation was tricky though).

My daughter has a Gucci watch of similar age - parts no longer available - and they describe that as "An iconic product"!

 

[Dave Brooker]

indicator lens.
mirror casing.
motorised arm.
and
headed dimming mirror

All those parts costs around a £1000 !

+ fitting. !!!!!!!!!

Oh and Painting !!

It's happened to me twice !

They come in colour so they don't need painting, plus being able to buy all the parts seperatly is a bonus, with most cars you have to buy the whole thing.

It's the dimming mirror glass that's the main cost...

 

[Dave Brooker]

In the days of the W124 Mercedes parts had a small 5-10% profit now the parts business is a great profit centre for Mercedes and margins are between 200% and on smaller items as much as 1000% yes 1000%.

Now we pay for every little item I paid £2.75 for a tiny seatbelt button on a car, which is 6 years old and has done 45,000miles in the old days the dealer would have given me and fitted it for FREE!

They don't make 1000% margins, and expecting them to give parts away is a bit optimistic.

How it works.

Your mirror made by Magna in the USA

Who make a profit on it

Gets shipped to logistics hub in Germany.

Who pay for the shipping and then sell it at a profit.

Gets shipped to Milton Keynes.

Who pay for the shipping and then sell it at a profit.

Gets shipped to your dealer.

Who pay for the shipping and then sell it at a profit.

 

[Pontoneer]

parts prices at MB have shot up in the last year, a lot of stuff has doubled in price in only a couple of years.

The factory fit exhaust didn't last well on my car, the rear section rusted right through at the lead into the silencer after only a few years. It was welded up but eventuallyy the whole thing was U/s so was replaced with a Bosal, which appears to be lasting much better.

I have wondered about having a SS exhaust or section welded on, which is why I'm deliberating at present.

I had the same deliberations - the exhaust on the 126 statrted 'blowing' a couple of months ago - at first only slightly , but it has gradually worsened .

When I had a look under the car , most of the system was genuine MB ( all except the two middle boxes which were put on by the previous owner just before I bought the car - it was part of our deal as they were needed for the MOT which the seller had agreed to put the car through for me ) , I doubt very much whether the back box could have been the original one , but the rest of the system just could have been ....... anyway it all looked pretty rusty so I decided a full system was in order .

Pricing it up at the dealership , it came to £1200 odds , an 'OEM' system from Eurocarparts ( their systems tend to be 'Ernst' or 'Eberspacher' ) was only slightly cheaper . I have fitted these parts in the past and found them to be on a par with the MB replacements in terms of ease of fitting and lifespan .

Since I plan to hang onto this car ( two years plus and 20,000 miles of trouble free ownership has convinced me that this is a good 'un ) I would prefer not to have this expense again so contemplated a SS system .

I was rather wary of this , having had a bad experience of SS exhaust fitting companies once before : I decided to have a system fitted to my 300TE after the same deliberations and went to a local company who claimed to have 40 years experience and quoted a very good price . When I turned up , I could see that their main line of business seemed to be fitting 'big bore' exhausts to boy racer Corsas etc and the warning bells should have rung when the other customer in the waiting room was a gent who had had a system fitted to his Rover the week before and found the car 'undriveable' afterwards due to resonance at mid range revs . Another bad sign was , when the head fitter asked what I wanted and I replied a system as close as possible to the original and absolutely no noisier , his response was a sigh and 'you'll need TWO silencers , then' ..........

I also asked about taking photographs during the job for the MBOC Gazette , which would have been some good free publicity for them as the magazine has a circulation of over 10,000 but this was refused on health and safety grounds .

To cut a long story short , I waited around for the best part of the day , the finished product looked superbly crafted , BUT , on the 300 there are two downpipes at the front of ( for argument's sake ) 50mm diameter , these went into a centre box then came out as a single pipe of a much larger diameter ( of equivalent cross sectional area to the two smaller pipes I would imagine ) then into the back box and finally out as a single large pipe . The system they made up started off with the two 50mm pipes , but then came out of the middle box as another 50mm pipe ( so , to my mind a reduction in cross sectional area by half , thus restricting flow and back pressure too ) and maintaining this diameter the rest of the way back .

Despite my protestations , I was assured this would be fine but , of course , it wasn't and while the car started fine and idles quietly , it had lost a lot of power at the top end . I did phone to complain and was asked to bring it back in , but unfortunately the ASD diff packed in days later and I ended up selling the car on for spares .

That experience put me off SS systems for a long time as I formed the opinion that a lot of these companies are just 'cowboys' who may be very good at welding but just stick parts together with no sound engineering knowledge of exhaust system design , gas flow etc .

On subsequent cars , therefore I went back to using genuine replacement parts .

With the S Class , and considering the high cost of a replacement system , I decided once again to look at stainless systems , and over on the MBOC site a number of members had spoken highly of PD Gough in Nottingham , who seem to specialise in making systems to original pattern for a wide range of cars , including classics back to the 1950's . Their website mentions their pattern room which covers most cars over that period .

Nevertheless , I did a Google search and enquired with a number of companies , excluding the one I had used before , this on a Sunday evening . On the Monday morning , I received a phone call from John at PD Gough , who asked a few questions about my car then quoted a very good price ( £800 ) when I asked if there was postage on top of this , or if I could have it fitted by them , I was told that this price included postage , but that if I was willing to drive down to them they would fit it for the same price ! I also asked about being allowed to photograph the job being done and again was told this would be no problem .

I an still , many weeks later waiting to hear anything from the other four or five companies I enquired with , two of which have branches close to my home .

I have , however arranged to have the work carried out by PD Gough and am just waiting for a fitting date , which I hope will be within the next week since I am on holiday .

Once the job is done I'll post some pics back on here .

 

[Pontoneer]

With acknowledgements to the MBOC forum , there was a discussion on this very topic not so long ago when a member was taken aback at the cost of the little wiper arms for the headlamps on a W126 SEC

One member posted

"HI

Part no is MA 126 820 11 45 and in May 2003 I paid £4.03 Ea from a dealer Be interesting to see what they are now. What you could do is buy some cheap wipers from a motor factor for say a mini or escort and useing pliers a small screw driver and some cutters Re rubber your existing blades The arms are MA 126 82049 44 and MA 126 82050 44 they were £15.44 and £15.66 (why) each."

Not so long afterwards , came the reply

"Hi Here are the latest prices

Note the SEC prices are MUUUUCCCCCCHHHHHHHH higher:

126 Series Coupe
MA 126 820 11 45 headlamp wiper blades (coupe ) £ 44.30 each x 2
MA 126 820 49 44 L H headlamp wiper arm “ £ 139.00
MA 126 820 50 44 R H headlamp wiper arm “ £ 137.00

126 Series Saloon (my 500 SE)
MA 201 820 02 45 headlamp wiper blades £ 10.90 each x 2
MA 126 820 45 44 L H headlamp wiper arm £ 29.20
MA 126 820 46 44 R H headlamp wiper arm £ 29.20"

As you will see , some prices have increased by a factor of 10 !

 

[dieselman]

I also asked about being allowed to photograph the job being done and again was told this would be no problem .


I have , however arranged to have the work carried out by PD Gough and am just waiting for a fitting date , which I hope will be within the next week since I am on holiday .

Should be interesting.

If it happens to be a weekend let me know, I'd be interested to see this.

Mine is making use of the finest quality Heinz baked bean tin and exhaust paste at present..
Total cost £3.30...:lol:

I could really do with a stainless 63mm pipe being welded to the original cat as it's only the mild steel pipe that has corroded.

Noting your post about your previous system. Bore sizes can become smaller further along the system as the gas speed reduces due to cooling, but I wouldn't go below the standard area.
If the front pipes were 1.5" and the link pipe 2" then that is a reasonable match, but the best system reduces back pressure so it's worth knowing what that is before and after.
Timed runs using a stopwatch are a clear indicator of overall performance. The time will either go up, down or stay the same.

I have some paint protection strips on order at the moment and they are a little more than twice the price they were 4 years ago.

 

[Firststar]

Is that not a good attitude?

As in don't worry we'll sort it out?



Late model cars are complex beasts...



I thought the problems only started 500miles after the service?

It Started jolting down first and second gears within 10 miles of it being serviced and i made contact with the dealer straight away who told me it was the new software adapting to my driving style and it would stop!!!!!
Did reply to this question from you on page four post number 34.
Seems this thread has now been taken over by costs of parts ie wing mirrors

 

[Pontoneer]

Noting your post about your previous system. Bore sizes can become smaller further along the system as the gas speed reduces due to cooling, but I wouldn't go below the standard area.

Thanks for that , I can appreciate your comment having done a little bit of fluid dynamics way back in high school physics , although I hadn't considered it in this context .

I'd have thought the simplest way , though , would have been for the fitters just to stick to the same dimensions as on the original system - surely they can't go too far wrong if they do that ?

 

[dieselman]

I'd have thought the simplest way , though , would have been for the fitters just to stick to the same dimensions as on the original system - surely they can't go too far wrong if they do that ?

There are a couple of reasons for reducing bore size, although the area of a 2" pipe is similar to 2*1.5" anyway, but one is cost and ease of fitting under the car, the other is noise reduction.
You wanted a quiet system and using smaller bore pipe assists with that.

I'm surprised they fitted a large tailpipe as that also has a noticeable effect on emission volume, hence all the kiddies in their 1.2 litre Corsa's fit a back-box with large tailpipe....sounds good..innit..!!

You need a system with high flow and low back pressure. Careful design can achieve this without going too large.
Mandrel bends to start with and oversize press bent later on, all the minimum radius possible to achieve the required shape, nice joints and free-flow silencers.
Don't forget a resonator box, otherwise it will boom at certain speeds and fit the largest silencer boxes you can fit into the space as this reduces gas flow and noise, without restriction.
I designed a silencer for a boat which made it go from pretty noisy to nearly silent, with no loss of performance. it was a Blue peter special...an old fire extinguisher, a perforated tube, some wire wool and rockwool packing...

To flow test an exhaust all you need is a vacuum cleaner and a water manometer.

 

[robertjrt]

It Started jolting down first and second gears within 10 miles of it being serviced and i made contact with the dealer straight away who told me it was the new software adapting to my driving style and it would stop!!!!!
Did reply to this question from you on page four post number 34.
Seems this thread has now been taken over by costs of parts ie wing mirrors

Mercedes-Benz speak

"Don't worry sir, the computer will re-boot ( sort itself out) itself by the time you are home"=

The main thing is you accepted the car and as it is in you possession its your problem.

 

[441]

Just my two euros worth, Mercedes Taunton are part of the Mercedes South West group, as are Mercedes Benz of Exeter, who when i took my ML in for some warranty work (which they themselves had rung me to confirm the booking) said they knew nothing about it, so after a fifty mile journey and half a days lost wages, re-booked it in for the following week, and after three days of waiting (for a job which i was told would take around 45 minutes, but allow half a day to be safe) i returned to pick my car up to find money had been stolen from my car, and the main problem had'nt been cured, (and the other problem returned within two days) and not one person at the dealership even cared, needless to say i shall never be using any of there dealerships again, and my next car purchase will DEFINITELY NOT be a Mercedes, and even on the slightest chance, i relented and purchased another it would never ever in a million years be purchased from a Mercedes Benz main dealer,

 

[thebeard]

Just my two euros worth, Mercedes Taunton are part of the Mercedes South West group, as are Mercedes Benz of Exeter, who when i took my ML in for some warranty work (which they themselves had rung me to confirm the booking) said they knew nothing about it, so after a fifty mile journey and half a days lost wages, re-booked it in for the following week, and after three days of waiting (for a job which i was told would take around 45 minutes, but allow half a day to be safe) i returned to pick my car up to find money had been stolen from my car, and the main problem had'nt been cured, (and the other problem returned within two days) and not one person at the dealership even cared, needless to say i shall never be using any of there dealerships again, and my next car purchase will DEFINITELY NOT be a Mercedes, and even on the slightest chance, i relented and purchased another it would never ever in a million years be purchased from a Mercedes Benz main dealer,

100% Agree

I'll run my current Mercedes into the ground or until I get a major uneconomical component failure and then buy a BMW, Audi or something Japanese "Lexus"?

With the help of this forum I'll avoid the MB dealer network.

Mercedes RIP.

 

[Firststar]

Just my two euros worth, Mercedes Taunton are part of the Mercedes South West group, as are Mercedes Benz of Exeter, who when i took my ML in for some warranty work (which they themselves had rung me to confirm the booking) said they knew nothing about it, so after a fifty mile journey and half a days lost wages, re-booked it in for the following week, and after three days of waiting (for a job which i was told would take around 45 minutes, but allow half a day to be safe) i returned to pick my car up to find money had been stolen from my car, and the main problem had'nt been cured, (and the other problem returned within two days) and not one person at the dealership even cared, needless to say i shall never be using any of there dealerships again, and my next car purchase will DEFINITELY NOT be a Mercedes, and even on the slightest chance, i relented and purchased another it would never ever in a million years be purchased from a Mercedes Benz main dealer,

Its Not Just Me Then !

 

[Rob_N]

Just a thought here... I happen to live in Barry, South Wales and wonder just which dealership here is so good... In fact there isn't a MB dealer.... The only main dealer in the town is a Ford dealer. Perhaps he means an independent.. if so I would like to know which one as I could use them myself!!

Rob

 

[Joeybagger]

Rob

Try these people, they are not that far from you

Stuttgart Garage
Unit 1,
Factory Lane,
Graig,
Pontypridd
CF37 1LH

Telephone

01443 401838
+44 1443 401838 (International)
01443 403830 (Fax)
+44 1443 403830 (International Fax)

 

[jberks]

100% Agree

I'll run my current Mercedes into the ground or until I get a major uneconomical component failure and then buy a BMW, Audi or something Japanese "Lexus"?

With the help of this forum I'll avoid the MB dealer network.

Mercedes RIP.

I don't get it.
Ok - your local dealership is useless - but I don't see the connection between the car you enjoy driving and the dealership. Nobody says you have to use a garage that provides poor service, indeed, you shouldn't. But the country is full of dealerships, indies and competent garages that can maintain your car perfectly well. Just switch to a decent one. I have 2 indies and 4 dealerships within an hour of here. One dealership is excellent, another perfectly adequate. The indies are good. I swap and change as the mood takes me.
So, are you really saying that you'd spend thousands of hours in a characterless lump of plastic like a lexus, just for the couple of hours a year that you have to attend a dealer? Sounds like a tail wagging the dog to me.
Buy the car you like first - then worry about where to get it fixed.

 

[Some guy on the internet]

I said the same in post 97.

I think you needed a new service place, not a new car.

 

[thebeard]

I don't get it.
Ok - your local dealership is useless - but I don't see the connection between the car you enjoy driving and the dealership. Nobody says you have to use a garage that provides poor service, indeed, you shouldn't. But the country is full of dealerships, indies and competent garages that can maintain your car perfectly well. Just switch to a decent one. I have 2 indies and 4 dealerships within an hour of here. One dealership is excellent, another perfectly adequate. The indies are good. I swap and change as the mood takes me.
So, are you really saying that you'd spend thousands of hours in a characterless lump of plastic like a lexus, just for the couple of hours a year that you have to attend a dealer? Sounds like a tail wagging the dog to me.
Buy the car you like first - then worry about where to get it fixed.

I agree I also like BMW's and Audi's not sure about Lexus I've got SG Smith Audi in Dulwich Village near me when they were the Mercedes dealership I used them it's only since MB London have done away with the dealer network that the perfect storm happened "bad cars and bad service electrical gremlins etc etc " it's when Mercedes started to try and compete with Ford and the brand did such damage to itself.

Thing is in the old day Mercedes was an Icon of design form and function and engineering.

Now its just Ford only with a slightly prettier blouse on and some good family history.


Everyone else has caught up and some have surpassed them.

No longer the european taxi of choice and that says it all…

 

[Rory]

The Only way I would buy another new Mercedes is with a 5 year full service warranty

In other words I only want to be responsible for the tyres.

Otherwise forget MB

I'm looking at BMW at the moment I think they do a deal like that.

If a manufacturer doesn't have the confidence to give a 5 year full parts and labour warranty and have a service deal one off payment etc then they are not worth buying from.

In 2010 the technology should be there for every manufacturer to do this not just manufacturers from the far east !!!!!

BMW's Service Inclusive is a very good deal indeed.

Although it was a lot more expensive, I wish Mercedes had continued with ServicePlus. People have asserted that it cost MB a fortune due to the cost of maintaining the cars, but I'm way out of pocket on it. I don't mind though, as it was worthwhile peace of mind.

I think Mercedes attitude is driven by wanting people to buy a new car every 3 years - they seem to not want to do anything to encourage older cars even though anything that would keep used prices up would make it easier for people to swap their car for a new one.

 

[thebeard]

BMW's Service Inclusive is a very good deal indeed.

Although it was a lot more expensive, I wish Mercedes had continued with ServicePlus. People have asserted that it cost MB a fortune due to the cost of maintaining the cars, but I'm way out of pocket on it. I don't mind though, as it was worthwhile peace of mind.

I think Mercedes attitude is driven by wanting people to buy a new car every 3 years - they seem to not want to do anything to encourage older cars even though anything that would keep used prices up would make it easier for people to swap their car for a new one.

I'm not surprised Mercedes stopped service plus the cars were so poor it would have cost them a fortune!
Kinda says it all.
All the models they have these days just makes my head spin it feel like they are trying to make lots rather than just a few good ones. Like Nokia only for apple to come along with the iphone and corner the market. Mercedes lost the plot.

BMW looks have never worked for me but I'm so hacked off with Mercedes I'd be prepared to live with that and the medallion man image.

Audi’s I like
Until I get inside one they sort of inverse tardis properties! Big on the outside small on the inside.

So few cars have classy looks the new Jag’s not bad I just wish Lexus were good looking cars because they are so well made.