It isn't as simple as that, unfortunately.
If it's an MB Approved Used car, then the supplying dealer is supposed to carry out a 'comprehensive multi-point vehicle check', and rectify any issues prior to delivery. However, if the supplying dealer fails to spot or rectify any issues that were supposed to be dealt-with prior to delivery, then such issues will not be covered by the Approved Used warranty, and the customer will have to make a claim directly to the supplying dealer under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. In fact, you will find that other MB dealers won't touch it with a barge pole, if presented with a car that has an issue that was supposed to be picked-up and sorted prior to delivery. In these circumstances, the customer will not be able to take the car to just any MB dealer and get the issue sorted under the MB Approved Used warranty.
When it comes to a new car, the risk is lower, because the range of issues that may arise and can only be dealt-with by the supplying dealer are obviously much smaller. This is typically limited to issues such as minor paint corrections or damage to wheels, etc.
Having said that, some dealers will allow you to take the car to your local MB dealer, and they will then pay the local dealer to rectify the issues that should have been rectified by them prior to delivery, but weren't. This is entirely at the supplying dealer's discretion, though. And, obviously, there's a better chance that this will happen if the local dealership and the supplying dealer are part of the same chain.
However, the fact remains that from the legal perspective, any issues that were supposed to be picked up and sorted prior to delivery, can only be raised with the supplying dealer, and not with just any MB dealer.
The Approved Used warranty will only cover unexpected eventualities that either did not exist at the time of delivery, or otherwise could not have been picked up by the PDI.
That is absolutely shocking and MB should be ashamed to permit and even support such a situation .
This is full of 'what ifs'
Quite apart from this situation where the vehicle is being bought in a different country from his place of residence , and it is clear he won't be going back to the supplying dealer for servicing or repairs there are so many similar scenarios ...
Cars , by their very nature , are used over a wide geographical area , potentially even worldwide . Suppose a customer buys his car from his local dealer , where he normally gets it serviced , let's just for arguments sake say it is this gentleman in Inverness , and he buys a car from MB Inverness , with an approved used warranty , and he decides to drive down to London , or somewhere far away , and the car breaks down . Now this is an approved used mercedes-benz , with a warranty , why shouldn't he be able to take the car to the nearest dealer for repair ; if this needs to be arranged via the supplying dealer , he shouldn't be expected to have the car recovered 600 miles home to be fixed , it should be able to go to the nearest dealer and put back on the road with minimum fuss . Since the warranty is presumably covered by Mercedes-Benz and not the individual dealer who sold it , ANY dealer ought to be able to carry out the repairs , and if covered by warranty , submit a claim to Mercedes-Benz for work and parts that they used - the customer should not be caught up in this nor made to suffer ; otherwise why should they remain loyal to mercedes-benz instead of going to another brand who WILL honour a warranty .
Every Mercedes-Benz I've had , , some bought used from main dealers , but before the 'approved used' scheme existed , always came with the UK and Europa dealer directories in the glovebox pack , and in there somewhere it said something along the lines of 'Thank you for buying a Mercedes-Benz ... wherever you travel in the world , you can always rely on our network of dealers and service stations to keep you and your car on the road .
This is what customers expect from the world's leading premium car brand , and they have every right to expect it .
If Mercedes-Benz are going to hide behind small print , and use legalese to weasel their way out of honouring warranties , and make the customers wish they'd bought another brand , they will lose whatever reputation they would like to think they have , and they will lose their customers also , who next time round will go to BMW , Jaguar , Volvo or whatever takes their fancy .
If this policy comes all the way down from the supervisory board of Daimler-Benz , then the members should all hang their heads in shame .
yes you are, no I'm not,
