A Tricky Warranty Query

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Alex225

MB Enthusiast
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Aug 23, 2015
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2,368
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CLS63 AMG
This relates to my S320 which I picked up about two and a half months ago. Very pleased with the car and it's in lovely condition but there have been a couple of niggles. To be fair to the dealership in question, they replaced the wheel speed sensors no problem. The EGR valve caused an issue so they paid DDR to replace that and all is well.

Now, during the diagnosis of the EGR valve it came up with error 0705 which indicates an issue with the transmission control module. The car hasn't shown any signs this is an issue but it has registered the code. Now the recommendation from DDR is that the TCM should be replaced and it's about an £800-900 job.

So I have been liaising with the garage and they have offered to look at the issue but due to the lockdown they can't do so for the next 3-4 weeks. I'm also aware that this part needs replacing, it's a specialist job and also the part has to be pre-ordered from Germany as isn't an off the shelf item. I'm skeptical that even if in 3 weeks they look at it, they won't be quick to replace the part and I'll either be left waiting longer or they go for a repair kit instead.

The other discussion they did mention was they could offer to go halves on the cost of DDR repairing the issue which I'm semi-tempted to accept. I know they'll get the right part and it'll be done right. I know this module is a known issue so it's peace of mind knowing's done and half price.

I don't believe I'm within my rights to insist the issue is repaired elsewhere and appreciate the garage have offered to look at it but I'm skeptical and mindful of the time frame as well.

Any thoughts or advise would be most welcome. :)
 
I would look at this two ways.

1. Your well within your rights to ask the selling dealer to action the fault, however how long and how difficult this process may take is a pandoras box.
Or
2. As you mentioned pay 50% to get it actioned now and claim the rest from them.

Do you bite the bullet and get it done to a high standard or leave it with the supplying garage to sort out to what standard you don't know.


I think you've gotta pick your battle here.
 
Hmm... a bit of a dilemma.

I understand your scepticism as the dealership you bought from have already punted out enough that they're probably making a loss on the car and therefore have an imperative to keep further costs down, but that has to be balanced against them having been straightforward and honest with you thus far.

Bearing in mind the specialist nature of the repair, I'd be tempted to take the offer of them paying a proportion of the job and have DDR do it.
 
I'd go with the offer of halves too.

Seems reasonable and the seller seems to have played ball so far.
 
I’d take the 50/50 offer

Do you know how old the error code is?
 
Yeah that's basically the two choices. Although one point they do mention on their site is, 'They (cars) are supplied with a warranty which can be used at any VAT registered garage...'

I suspect that there's some small print which I will aim to look at shortly which either restricts what I can have worked on or is at their discretion.

Phil, you're right I can't fault the dealership overall. They fixed one issue and have actually paid DDR out twice for repairs but on the flip side, they have sold me a car which did less than a thousand miles in it's previous year. It then needed replacement speed sensors, had a leaking valve in the air suspension, a new EGR valve and now this control module. It's not been without it's niggles which I've not given them a hard time over! haha

With regards the last post, I couldn't tell you how old the error is I'm afraid.
 
Is this MB Approved Used?

Most other warranties are more like 'breakdown insurance' and typically won't pay out for something that hasn't yet caused any problem with the car.
 
No this is from an independent garage not MB at all.

Thing is the warranty I have is related to the fact that I bought the car from a trader under 3 months ago rather than some kind of additional warranty I took out. I just understand that they have a warranty they can claim the cost of repairs from but I suspect it wouldn't cover the cost of the gearbox error.
 
Has the gearbox code been reset and, subsequently, reappeared?
 
I believe so. They cleared all the errors and did an extended test drive and their recommendation was that the error was still there and replacing the TCM was the fix.
 
No this is from an independent garage not MB at all.

Thing is the warranty I have is related to the fact that I bought the car from a trader under 3 months ago rather than some kind of additional warranty I took out. I just understand that they have a warranty they can claim the cost of repairs from but I suspect it wouldn't cover the cost of the gearbox error.

It's worth a try but if you have no warning lights or symptoms of any kind the warranty may well not cover it. MB are often a bit more generous - I had an occasional error for one door mirror indicator on my wife's C Class (which was 7 years old when we bought it), and they fitted a new mirror FOC without any quibbling, even though it wasn't showing the problem when I took it in. They also replaced the battery in my SL - those are excluded by almost all standard warranties.
 
Financially, I would go with the 50-50 offer as well, BUT the potential issue is - what happens if replacing the TCM does not resolve the issue, or if a different transmission issue is discovered? You are running the risk of the dealer saying that the 50-50 offer was 'full and final settlement' and they don't want to know. At least leaving the issue with the dealer ensures that they'll see this through until your car is right again. Just a thought.
 
Financially, I would go with the 50-50 offer as well, BUT the potential issue is - what happens if replacing the TCM does not resolve the issue, or if a different transmission issue is discovered? You are running the risk of the dealer saying that the 50-50 offer was 'full and final settlement' and they don't want to know. At least leaving the issue with the dealer ensures that they'll see this through until your car is right again. Just a thought.

It's a good point, I mean potentially I lumber myself with DDR if they misdiagnose something although I'd hope that doing what they do and with experience specifically around these cars, they'd get it right or ensure it was.

My only hesitancy about leaving it with the dealer is they're a generic garage and this is quite a specialised fix. They used their local Mercedes dealership to diagnose the wheel speed sensors so I'm not convinced something like this is within their means.
 
My only hesitancy about leaving it with the dealer is they're a generic garage and this is quite a specialised fix. They used their local Mercedes dealership to diagnose the wheel speed sensors so I'm not convinced something like this is within their means.

They'll probably use their local MB Dealer for the TCU issue as well....?
 
I'd take the 50/50 on the basis of how much has been saved not buying the car through a main dealer (if that was even possible).

Is it worth getting a second opinion before proceeding though to have some confidence it will fix it...
 
Well I opted for the 50/50 option. As much as I don't want to spend out £450 on the car, leaving it to the garage to sort will no only result in me waiting for them to either 'repair' it however they can to get the light off or maybe admit defeat and have it replaced. I'd like the

Interestingly and something new to me, the transmission control module is classed a TRP - Theft Relevant Part so basically a part that can be used to change the identity of a vehicle. So in other words it's really hard for independent garages to get hold of. I had to provide a copy of my V5, drivers licence and they photographed the chassis numbers on the car so they can go ahead and order the part new from Germany. Crazy!

Certainly a new concept to me. Will be nice to know once it's done it's done properly and definitely better than having to pay out the full cost when it's out of the warranty!
 
When the gearbox went West on My W220 it was the TC, cost the warranty Co £2k.
 

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