A Class Rear Washer - Is this too much?

[danr]

My other half took her 06 A150 for it's MOT at the local dealer. The rear washer had stopped spraying and she asked them to look at it.

They initially came back and said it would be a touch under a grand to fix! They say the washer pipe has become disconnected and leaked over the brake light assembly, turned the wiring green and the door lock would need replacing as in these situations it soon fails.

Of course we said you got to be joking. They say we can get 50% discount as Merc goodwill. She asked what's the minimum fix and that's nearly £500 to replace the brake light, fix the washer and clean the wiring.

The funny thing is that the only apparent fault is the washer not spraying. Is this all just b*****ks? Is there a need to replace the other components? I'd have thought the minimum fix would be just the pipe!

Anyone got any advice? Is it very likely that the leak has done enough damage to warrant the repairs or they just pushing a very expensive precautionary measure?

 

[Matt's Dad]

It sounds like they just thought they’d try their luck, then when you questioned it they ‘offered’ a 50% discount

It’s hard to tell without actually seeing it, but I’d opt for covering any affected areas with WD40 (or similar), and re-connecting or replacing the pipe. If the lock and light fails and you have to replace it a later date, you haven’t lost anything, just delayed forking out your hard earned!

 

[A210AMG]

I fixed my wifes rear wash wipe which stopped working just before an MOT...


Tricky was a piece if wire was needed to locate the pipe that had come apart, but took about 45 mins off phaffing and I had it reconnected and working,

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I fixed my wifes rear wash wipe which stopped working just before an MOT...


Tricky was a piece if wire was needed to locate the pipe that had come apart, but took about 45 mins off phaffing and I had it reconnected and working,[/QUOTE

At a cost of £500?

 

[A210AMG]

^ true...not even sure it was needed for the MOT but didn't want to risk it and it only stopped working a few days before.

 

[corned]

I take it the rear washer didn't impact on the MOT test result?

Therefore, for £500+ it's worth taking a look yourself to see what the extent of the problem is. If you can get at the pipe and fix it, and dry out the affected areas, then wait and see what else happens. As has been suggested, WD40 is good at chasing out moisture from connectors, and the lamp unit and lock can be dried out too.

All of what they said could be true - but it could always be utter tosh as well.

 

[Noodle-Pulp]

Can't help but think there's a euphemism in here somewhere

 

[neilrr]

That's too much!

Find a good independent MB service place & get a second opinion. If you need bits get them from a breaker.

 

[npuk]

I have read about this problem a few times now. Also one of the a-class's we looked at when purchasing ours had been rejected by a MB dealer and sent to auction and had ended up with an independant dealer. I managed to find out why the car was rejected and it was due to the cost of putting right the problems with it and one of the problems was the rear wash pipe had been leaking into the lights / wiring.

 

[neilrr]

danr,

Any chance you could post some piccies of the inside of your tailgate showing the damage?

 

[Tiff]

Funny, had the exact same scenario with a B Class a few days back. Owner wasn't too bothered about the washer not working,but it had also damaged the boot release mechanism, which caused an MOT failure. Everything under the trim panel on the tailgate was green and corroded. One to look out for if buying used!.

P.S. First time I'd driven a B Class. liked the size,and the style before I got in it. HATED driving the thing.Horrible.

 

[neilrr]

danr,

Did you get this fixed?