ML 320 CDi 4MATIC

[jaimet]

Hi all, I`m new and firstly would like to say hello.

Hello....

I have a 2006 ML 320 CDi Sport which I have had problems with from the day of delivery.
Basically it clunks when I pull away or load up at any speed upto approx
30 mph.
It appears to sound like a UJ taking up slack or similar.
I took it back on the afternoon of delivery and they assured me they could sort it, this was September 2006. It has now been back more than 8 times to apparently have new software loaded as they say its not mechanical its software related.
All I feel is that they have slowed the gearbox down to the point now it doesnt respond properly when you accelerate.
In June I rejected the vehicle as I was fed up with it and basically dont trust it. Mercedes came back and said they would exchange it like for like but wanted £4000 towards it. I told them to go jump and they promised they would have a fix in September 2007. Suprise suprise no fix and no release date for the new software.
I have now rejected it again and the dealer came back to me today and said they are saying its a charateristic of this model and I should just live with it!
Well you can imagine my responce. They have also said that even though my car has dropped value since the last rejection they will still honour the £4000 swap.
Now has anyone got any suggestions on this??
My thoughts are to pay the £4000 and go back to BMW for a new X5 and chop in the brand new ML they give me as I`d still be better off than p/exing my current one.
Trouble is I like the merc but believe me, its not nice to drive, even passengers ask what the noise is.
Just in case it matters, it has the offroad pro pack, air matic suspension, locking diffs etc.

I really would appreciate any help.

Jaime

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Hi all, I`m new and firstly would like to say hello.

Hello....

I have a 2006 ML 320 CDi Sport which I have had problems with from the day of delivery.
Basically it clunks when I pull away or load up at any speed upto approx
30 mph.
It appears to sound like a UJ taking up slack or similar.
I took it back on the afternoon of delivery and they assured me they could sort it, this was September 2006. It has now been back more than 8 times to apparently have new software loaded as they say its not mechanical its software related.
All I feel is that they have slowed the gearbox down to the point now it doesnt respond properly when you accelerate.
In June I rejected the vehicle as I was fed up with it and basically dont trust it. Mercedes came back and said they would exchange it like for like but wanted £4000 towards it. I told them to go jump and they promised they would have a fix in September 2007. Suprise suprise no fix and no release date for the new software.
I have now rejected it again and the dealer came back to me today and said they are saying its a charateristic of this model and I should just live with it!
Well you can imagine my responce. They have also said that even though my car has dropped value since the last rejection they will still honour the £4000 swap.
Now has anyone got any suggestions on this??
My thoughts are to pay the £4000 and go back to BMW for a new X5 and chop in the brand new ML they give me as I`d still be better off than p/exing my current one.
Trouble is I like the merc but believe me, its not nice to drive, even passengers ask what the noise is.
Just in case it matters, it has the offroad pro pack, air matic suspension, locking diffs etc.

I really would appreciate any help.

Jaime

First of all - welcome to the Forum.

I am sure that some of the more experienced contributers - and there a quite a few - will be able to help/advise you. Maybe not tonight - but sure will tomorrow.

 

[240D 3.0VNTi]

I took it back on the afternoon of delivery and they assured me they could sort it, this was September 2006. It has now been back more than 8 times to apparently have new software loaded as they say its not mechanical its software related.
All I feel is that they have slowed the gearbox down to the point now it doesnt respond properly when you accelerate.

You need to see if the UK has the equivalent of a Lemon Law. You have a defective vehicle and Mercedes is unable to fix it. Demand they exchange for a non-defective vehicle or offer a refund to buy back the vehicle from you.

 

[NewMB]

You need to see if the UK has the equivalent of a Lemon Law. You have a defective vehicle and Mercedes is unable to fix it. Demand they exchange for a non-defective vehicle or offer a refund to buy back the vehicle from you.

No we don't. But we do have a Law "Sales of Goods Act" that states that if a fault is there from the start, it has to be fixed (you must allow the garage to try to fix it) or swap the vehicle for a new one.

The £4000 they are asking for is only acceptable if you would have done excessive mileage, ie more than 1000 miles per month (Based on average of 12000 per year in UK).

I would do it! Take the £4000 offer and get a new one. If it does not work trade it in for whatever car you like.

If you need legal help, contact Whatcar who are masters when it come to these things.

Or try another garage....

Good Luck.

 

[jaimet]

Thanks guys, i think i`m going to push a bit more before I give in. I don`t see I should contribute at all as my point is this, I notified the fault on day 1 and only due to the ongoing promises and letters from Mercedes Netherlands and dealership that the problem would be fixed did I not reject sooner.
It has only done 9000 miles since new in september 2006.

I get much better service from Nissan when dealing wih my Navara

Anyway thanks again.

Jaime

 

[television]

I am so sorry to hear of your problems, have you had a ride or drive in another one to see if they are all like it.

I am not the best person to help on this, but what I do in these situations may be frowned upon, but I drive into the showroom and block the entrance, go up to anyone buying a car and telling them of your bad deal.In general make an absolute nuisance of myself, not everyone can do this.

J berks is very good in these situation maybe he will join in here

 

[jaimet]

Yes I have tried others and no problems, i think we would all agree a clunk in a car of this quality is aload of rubbish!

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Yes I have tried others and no problems, i think we would all agree a clunk in a car of this quality is aload of rubbish!

Totally agree - no 'clunks', or anything else with mine - smooth as silk (or am I lucky?)

 

[NewMB]

Totally agree - no 'clunks', or anything else with mine - smooth as silk (or am I lucky?)

Not luck. Just the way the car should be. Quality of MB's have improved dramatically since the late -90's when it was down the drain.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Not luck. Just the way the car should be. Quality of MB's have improved dramatically since the late -90's when it was down the drain.

I wonder where mine was built? No rust anywhere! And from the service book/receipts - only routine services carried out, with no major mechanicals, *Touch wood*

 

[NewMB]

I wonder where mine was built? No rust anywhere! And from the service book/receipts - only routine services carried out, with no major mechanicals, *Touch wood*

I think the one you have were also built in the US, just like the "new" one.

According to my dealer (Colchester) they now ship all ML's to Germany first before dist. across Europe, only to check in quality first. Anything wrong or not up to scratch, gets changed in Bremen.

For someone like me, who works in shipping, it seems like a total waste of money.

I can also add, that when I collected my C in Bremen, there where no ML's anywhere.... BS perhaps from dealer?!

 

[RFdesigner]

According to my dealer (Colchester) they now ship all ML's to Germany first before dist. across Europe, only to check in quality first. Anything wrong or not up to scratch, gets changed in Bremen.

For someone like me, who works in shipping, it seems like a total waste of money.

I can also add, that when I collected my C in Bremen, there where no ML's anywhere.... BS perhaps from dealer?!

hmm... I can't see the German QA department underwriting the US. It would be a nightmare to QA after the event.. how on earth would they be able to inspect welds or anything else that's well and truly hidden?

Having worked with German engineering companies I can see why German built stuff works, it's all down the the average attitude of the mechanics and engineers, which in Germany is a case of dot every single i and cross every single t, one not done? don't ship, can be infuriating to work with, slight problem with a product, then spend for ever getting to the bottom of it and then add another i or t to the QA list, the list we get with our German partner is hundreds if not thousands of points long and that's for a single silicon chip not an entire car. German design seems to be like any other countries, but their production engineering is so much more thorough.

We also own a Miele washing machine and dishwasher, and I'd prefer not to buy a non German merc.... aren't the new E class supposed to be getting made in China :-0

Derek