2007 CLS63 Torque Converter Failed!!!

[bellers]

To give everyone an idea of how Mercedes will go,they flew a tech guy in from Germany to look at 2 separate issues on a c63 before they just about reassembled the car. I sometimes think you mainly hear the bad news and not the good. In addition if it was me waiting for news I would hope for the best but prepare for the worst as it's only human. I sympathise with the guy in question and hope it's resolved in his favour. It certainly wouldn't hurt Mercedes for good news to be posted on a Merc forum. With it being a 63 they should be all over it.

 

[Gav78]

So i heard back from MB Macclesfield and they are saying that Mercedes are not prepared to offer ANY contribution! He has said that the dealership would lower the price from £7k to £5k.

I did give Mercedes permission to take the gearbox out but that was when I thought I was covered by the tier 1 warranty and wouldn't have to pay for it anyway.

MSL in Birmingham have said they will do the work for £3k (1yr warranty) and I have another quote from another place for £2.8k (2yr warranty). Using either of those will involve additional cost of getting the vehicle to them and paying Mercedes for the work carried out so far. Either way that cost won't be £2k.

MB Macclesfield says they have one more way to approach Mercedes for a contribution and will get back to me on Tuesday.

Has anyone here had experience of dealing with Mercedes directly regarding a contribution and perhaps even have any names of who I could contact directly. My car has full service history and has only done 59k miles so based on the comments of another member they should look after me, I hope that proves to be the case but as we stand they don't seem to want to know.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Mercedes may be treading cautiously in case you have bought a broken car cheaply, with the expectation that that Mercedes will stump up some or all of the cost of repair.

That's not what appears to have happened here, but you could imagine Mercedes being reluctant to help for this reason.

Have you spoken to the vendor since you experienced the problem?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

PS the car will soon be ten years old. I've not heard of goodwill contributions from MBUK at that age before.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

PPS Home - VMTP Midlands Ltd have a good reputation

 

[Gav78]

Mercedes may be treading cautiously in case you have bought a broken car cheaply, with the expectation that that Mercedes will stump up some or all of the cost of repair.

That's not what appears to have happened here, but you could imagine Mercedes being reluctant to help for this reason.

Have you spoken to the vendor since you experienced the problem?

I appreciate what you're saying but I'd be happy to show them my bank statement showing what I paid for it.

I haven't spoken to the vendor, I bought the car privately so there is no legal recourse.

The car is approaching 10 years old but has only covered 59k miles and in that time has been serviced by Mercedes 9 times. On top of that Mercedes have taken the gearbox out within the last year with my dealer speculating that this may have some bearing on the failure (although they have now changed their minds.) Surely it's not unreasonable to expect a car to be able to do more than 60k miles before comletely lunching its gearbox. I'm not expecting them to pay for the whole thing but I don't think asking a contribution is out of order.

The dealer has said they will do the work for £5k, if Mb contributed £2k i would be ok with paying the final £3k.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I appreciate what you're saying but I'd be happy to show them my bank statement showing what I paid for it.

I haven't spoken to the vendor, I bought the car privately so there is no legal recourse.

The car is approaching 10 years old but has only covered 59k miles and in that time has been serviced by Mercedes 9 times. On top of that Mercedes have taken the gearbox out within the last year with my dealer speculating that this may have some bearing on the failure (although they have now changed their minds.) Surely it's not unreasonable to expect a car to be able to do more than 60k miles before comletely lunching its gearbox. I'm not expecting them to pay for the whole thing but I don't think asking a contribution is out of order.

The dealer has said they will do the work for £5k, if Mb contributed £2k i would be ok with paying the final £3k.

The previous owner could perhaps have pursued MB Taunton(?) if they can be proven as being at fault, but I'm not sure whether you would be able to following change in ownership. Maybe worth a chat with Citizens Advice Beaureau or a solicitor before committing.

The reason I asked whether you had spoken to the previous vendor is to see whether (a) there were any warning signs in the last 1000 miles (although it may be difficult to get an honest answer); and (b) see whether they offer to help on cost.

Some sellers would tell you to do one, but some may offer to help either financially or by providing useful information which could help in future conversations with MBUK or MB Taunton. Every little helps.

 

[Alex]

There's a second hand gearbox currently on eBay @ £425 that should fit your car. Comes with TC as well.

 

[bellers]

I may be mistaken,but I always thought that any work completed by the dealer network was covered by 12 months warranty on the parts fitted. If one was fitted incorrectly and caused a second to fail surely that would give you some legal leverage. Realistically one dealer will not want conflict with a second so maybe checking with Taunton would be a good move if the lunched seal may be the cause of the issue.

 

[whitenemesis]

I thought it was a 2yr warranty?

 

[RJ C63]

I would speak to the previous owner and mb taunton especially as regards the warranty on parts and work previously carried out.

 

[french]

I had a similar thing with a Ford about 2 yrs ago.
The car was for my wife & it had good history & in the advert(private seller) there was an invoice for a full service & a new, front brake disc's & pads, new battery,new Cambelt kit & water pump . Along with the good service history etc I bought the car because most things had been done.

5 months later wife was left stranded as the water pump had worked loose & cambelt came off & lunched the engine.
I went to the garage with the invoice & showed him the AA report, he said he was not interested at all as I was NOT the owner of the car when the work was carried out, the owner I bought the car from did not want to be involved so had to sell it at £500...lost £1850 on that...Hope your previous owner will be more sympathetic gav.

 

[Gav78]

So, I have decided to have MB Macclesfield carry out the work for £5k. I could have it done cheaper at between £3k -£3.5k but it would have entailed transporting the car in its disassembled state and still having to pay MB Macclesfield for the work the have carried out thus far. I would have had to return the courtesy car they have given me for the last 2.5 weeks and then rented a car while mine was being repaired. This way the car gets a brand new gearbox and torque converter too, over rebuilt units.

For the record, Mercedes wouldn't offer any contribution and the discount from £7k to £5k was all negotiated with the dealership. It's still a lot of money to pay considering I have just bought the car but that's just the luck of the draw!

 

[Grovsie31]

Robbing *******s. Basically they ****ed it up at another dealer and you've gotta pay for it.

 

[John Jones Jr]

So, I have decided to have MB Macclesfield carry out the work for £5k. I could have it done cheaper at between £3k -£3.5k but it would have entailed transporting the car in its disassembled state and still having to pay MB Macclesfield for the work the have carried out thus far. I would have had to return the courtesy car they have given me for the last 2.5 weeks and then rented a car while mine was being repaired. This way the car gets a brand new gearbox and torque converter too, over rebuilt units.

For the record, Mercedes wouldn't offer any contribution and the discount from £7k to £5k was all negotiated with the dealership. It's still a lot of money to pay considering I have just bought the car but that's just the luck of the draw!

Well, may I wish you many miles of happy motoring. Time to find a good M-B independent garage now.

 

[bob6600]

Well I hope you have many miles of trouble free motoring. You are really left with two options:

1. Swallow the £5k
2. Write to the Ombudsman

Option 2 you have nothing to lose and may get at least a partial contribution. You do need to give as much information as possible. You should get your old gearbox back too, I'd like to get it confirmed as to what exactly was the cause.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Good for you Gav. I think the mindset you have will mean that you always enjoy the car, rather than have negative feelings towards it. It will drive beautifully. Enjoy!

 

[Gav78]

I feel better having made the decision. Looking forward to getting it back!!

 

[5439]

I would reconsider your need for the Tier 1 warranty. If your current problems are causing some pain then imagine the pain of a Head Bolt snap, add another £5k + to the budget.

The cover is like a new car warranty.

I have never had to pay for diagnostics.

I have never had a claim questioned or refused.

Vehicles are covered up 100,000 miles.

Without the warranty on my 63 I would have spent several thousand £s on repairs.

 

[c_200k]

Ask them for your old gearbox back and have it looked at by a specialist then you could even sell it on if it's a quick fix. Don't leave it with them and if they refuse they there's something they are hiding.

Otherwise enjoy the car and I would still get the tier 1 warranty as it covers a decent amount of things and I'm my experience there's always a diagnostic fee but if the failure is covered under warranty then you don't pay the fee.

All the best.