1999 C220CDI 2 Injectors gone & new head

[SamR]

Hi Glojo, I'm hoping that the two services does count as a full history as the car decides when it wants them. So they were about 15k apart and the next one's due in 6kmiles.... Still I'll know for sure tomorrow... cheers Sam

 

[glojo]

Hi Glojo, I'm hoping that the two services does count as a full history as the car decides when it wants them. So they were about 15k apart and the next one's due in 6kmiles.... Still I'll know for sure tomorrow... cheers Sam

Hi Sam,
My apologies for being presumptuous, it is way past my bed time and my brain has already retired.

I will keep my fingers crossed. If you do not have the latest copy of the MobiloLife warranty, my extract is absolutely word for word correct, (check for typing errors though) and it states what page to find it on.

Good luck, and goodnight
John

 

[SamR]

Apology not required, thanks for helping me out, night night

 

[glojo]

Morning everyone,
Now my brain is not so 'fuzzy' I have been thinking about SamR and the glowplugs.

When does the replacement of consumables become a warranty issue?

I suppose Dieselman would be considered the expert, but the people that have to be convinced are firstly the Service Department at the dealer and then Mercedes-Benz. Surely if the glow-plugs are seized and the cylinder head has to come off, this then becomes a repair?? Unfortunately I am on the 'home' team and my opinion will definitely be considered bias.

Hopefully 'SamRs' car has been serviced and supplied by the dealer that is looking at his engine and the case looked at in a sympathetic manner!

I have my fingers
Regards to everyone,
John

 

[SamR]

Good morning John, when I asked the dealer, they advised that the glow plugs would be covered under warranty for the first year. Thereafter any work done by the dealer is warranted for 2 years... So, on a new car you get 1 year warranty, but my 3 year old is about to have a 2 year warranty!!! Just aswell we like a bit of Irony

 

[glojo]

Good morning John, when I asked the dealer, they advised that the glow plugs would be covered under warranty for the first year. Thereafter any work done by the dealer is warranted for 2 years... So, on a new car you get 1 year warranty, but my 3 year old is about to have a 2 year warranty!!! Just aswell we like a bit of Irony

Hi Sam,
Thank you very much indeed for the update, I think I understand what you are saying. I think the dealer is offering you a 12 month warranty which clearly must not be sneezed at.

The glow plugs are consumable items and I can understand them not being replaced if there are no other problems with them.

Did you ask about your MobiloLife cover? (it is transerable)

Is your car still covered by MobiloLife?

It does have pretty strict terms but is worth keeping (in my very personal opinion)

Thanks again,
John

Just remembered your comment about one year warranty on a 'new' car. Do you mean a brand new car, purchased from a Mercedes-Benz Main Dealer in the UK?? If so then you have very politely been told a complete load of whoopsies.

On the other hand if it is a 'new' vehicle for the customer, but perhaps a 2 -3 year old vehicle out of warranty, then I completely understand your post.

Thanks again,
John

 

[SamR]

Hi John

This is getting to be quite an interesting topic, and with large financial implications!

The one year bit (for glow plugs) was what I recall the service agent telling me about a brand new(ly registered) car. If however, like me, you need them after this, then they are (I believe) offering me 2 years warranty on the replacements (hence the irony). I am due to collect my car later today, so I will engage them in a detailed conversation to establish exactly where I stand. I will also to try and distinguish between goodwill gestures and what is actually warranted. So, please watch this space...

Sam

 

[Dieselman]

Hi John

This is getting to be quite an interesting topic, and with large financial implications!

The one year bit (for glow plugs) was what I recall the service agent telling me about a brand new(ly registered) car. If however, like me, you need them after this, then they are (I believe) offering me 2 years warranty on the replacements (hence the irony). I am due to collect my car later today, so I will engage them in a detailed conversation to establish exactly where I stand. I will also to try and distinguish between goodwill gestures and what is actually warranted. So, please watch this space...

Sam

Strange as it sounds this does make sense.

The glowplugs, although being a consumable, are covered for one year under the basic MB new car warranty, and that any genuine parts supplied and fitted by a MB dealer, are covered for two years by MB, hence the two years once fitted.

The interesting bit is that even though the glow plugs are classed as a consumable they are covered for one year under the new car warranty, but not under Mobilolife.
Testing a Mobilolife claim is going to be very interesting for someone as I think there will be a number of exclusions.

Has the dealer changed the plugs without incident?

 

[SamR]

Ok, I just spoke with the dealer who has completed replacing of all 4 glow plugs and one injector. I have been charged for the glow plugs only (£195).

Warrantywise, this is the situation, the car is covered by Mobilolife, which the dealer tells me give me free recovery. No other benefit advised over the phone.

The injector fitted under warranty (and anything else fitted under warranty) is only covered for a further 3 weeks (when the existing 3yr warranty expires)! The glow plugs are covered for 1 year from today (when fitted).

I can get an extended warranty £600 for a year, but also need to pay an additional £223 pre-warranty inspection (so that's 823 for 1 year then...). I could reduce the pre-inspection cost by 50% by combining it with a 'B' service. However, the next service due on my car in 6kmiles is an 'A' one. So I think I'll continue without the warranty.

Thanks for all your help

Sam

 

[Shude]

All this warranty talk drives me crazy!

Please bear in mind that your statutory rights as a consumer might extend beyond the first year for some parts, dispite any warranties having expired.

If you bought a TV for £30k and the power supply blew up on it after a couple of years, you'd probably expect the retailer/manufacturer to fix it for nothing, regardless of warranties or guarantees.

I think the difficult part is distinguishing between items which are supposed to last the lifetime of the product and those which are expected to be replaced from time to time.

 

[glojo]

Strange as it sounds this does make sense.

The glowplugs, although being a consumable, are covered for one year under the basic MB new car warranty, and that any genuine parts supplied and fitted by a MB dealer, are covered for two years by MB, hence the two years once fitted.

The interesting bit is that even though the glow plugs are classed as a consumable they are covered for one year under the new car warranty, but not under Mobilolife.
Testing a Mobilolife claim is going to be very interesting for someone as I think there will be a number of exclusions.

Has the dealer changed the plugs without incident?

Hi Dieselman,
To a degree this does all make sense, I have been sailing along with everyone about glow-plugs being 'consumables' but now my brain is a little more clear than last night.

The way I read the literature (and please, please let someone disagree) is that for the first two years of the vehicles life, pretty well everything is covered.

It clearly states:

During the first two years , MobiloLife will rectify even minor mishaps which prevent the operation of your vehicle (key loss, battery failure, tyre damage, and low oil or coolant levels). You will find details of the individual services in the table provided.

The bold highlighting is also in the warranty. Now I wonder where we stand on glow plugs. Once a warning light comes on, then as far as I am concerned my vehicle has a problem.

In my own experience the dealers have always been extremely polite curteous and very helpful. If there has been any chance of making a claim against the warranty they do all within their power to make the claim. However when they cannot claim they always supply a very valid reason of why not.

Key loss is a major item. I believe a 211 key is in the hundred's of pounds bracket. (duff gen. £37.53p plus £10.13p for the metal insert) Information obtained from dealer as a result of Shude's very helpful post

I think I have just lost a key??

Thank you very much indeed for your updates SamR

Regards,
John

I have just read SamR's excellent informative reply which came in whilst I was typing.

The dealers response via the telephone call does not correspond with the latest terms and conditions of MobiloLife.

My own experience of dealers having 'up to date knowledge' is woeful. Trust me when I say that when I type something referring to important issues, I copy them word for word verbatim. Sometimes my spelling lets me down, and sometimes my brain works quicker than my fingers, but otherwise it is factually correct. Four years not three (providing the work takes more than two working hours) page 10 refers.

 

[Shude]

Key loss is a major item. I believe a 211 key is in the hundred's of pounds bracket. I do not have personal knowledge and this might not be the case. Does anyone know the retail price of a 211 E-class ignition key?

I think I have just lost a key??

if the key looks anything like this then they're about £35 for the key and £9 for the blade:

 

[glojo]

if the key looks anything like this then they're about £35 for the key and £9 for the blade:

Hi Shude,
I ALWAYS listen to you and as a result of your message I got onto my local dealer.

The key will cost £37.53p and the metal insert £10.13p with a maximum of a 5 day order time.

I hate being given 'duff' gen and will amend my earlier post.

Thanks for the boot up the backside. My key does not have the pretty lights that yours has

Regards,
John

 

[Shude]

The key will cost £37.53p and the metal insert £10.13p with a maximum of a 5 day order time.

They can get the electronic part of the key to your stealership literally next day (probably for mobilo purposes!), but the blade part can take up to a week.

My key does not have the pretty lights that yours has

They're not lights, they're just coloured plastic bits, please read:

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1456



Sometimes the best mods are the smallest

 

[Dieselman]

I think we may have all been a bit confused by the Mobilolife warranty.

This is a breakdown assistance warranty that will recover the car and occupants to the dealer or other location, Europewide.
Roadside assistance will be provided to get the car going if possible etc.etc.
A hire car will be provided if the vehicle is to be off the road for more than two hours.

The body warranty is also included.

The duration of this "warranty" is for thirty years given that the services are carried out.

This is a breakdown assistance package that you are paying for each time the vehicle is serviced.

Cars registered before November 2000 came with the same breakdown "warranty" but it was an unconditional 4 Years and was called Mobilo.

This "warranty" does not cover the work required to fix a car once it reaches the dealer. The cost of that is borne by MB if the car is within it's warranty period (three years), or the customer (or other warranty provider), if outside the MB warranty period.

In essence it's a 5 star recovery plan but with the corrosion warranty added on so you need to keep having the car serviced at a MB dealer.

 

[DrNick]

Hi Shude,
I ALWAYS listen to you and as a result of your message I got onto my local dealer.

The key will cost £37.53p and the metal insert £10.13p with a maximum of a 5 day order time.

I hate being given 'duff' gen and will amend my earlier post.

Thanks for the boot up the backside. My key does not have the pretty lights that yours has

Regards,
John

Took them 4 months to get a replacement key for my 210, despite the 5 day promise.Kept loosing it, wrong type delivered etc. When they did get the right one, it started teh car without any set up or programming needed.

 

[Shude]

When they did get the right one, it started teh car without any set up or programming needed.

It is pre-coded for your car, they simply ask for the next key in sequence. You can only have up to 7-8 keys in total and they are all issued from the same place so they know where they're up to!

I'm told that if you have the right cover package from Volvo they can unlock your car from the helpline callcentre via remote control! Now that's a bit scary isn't it?

 

[Dieselman]

Took them 4 months to get a replacement key for my 210, despite the 5 day promise.Kept loosing it, wrong type delivered etc. When they did get the right one, it started teh car without any set up or programming needed.

It will as it should be already programmed for your car.

 

[Dieselman]

There are some new and some reconed injectors on Ebay at present.

Also there is a MAF for CDi engines and a five speed auto for a 240, untested but cheap and comes with a torque converter.

 

[SamR]

Perhaps my last post on this topic. Just got my car back from the dealer and been on a 25 mile round trip. It's awesome (a 220CDI) but so much smoother than before now it's had just one injector replaced. I'm shocked, I drove the car 1500 miles all lumpy and now it's lovely and smooth.

Cheers y'all.