C350e owners club

[Dodgy]

Honestly, I have no real idea. That said, a chap I used to work with that had a Lexus was treated increadibly well, and still is, 11 years down the line.

It’s more a case of fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Or, keep doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is madness.

I get that others feel that they have had and continue to have great service from MB and are more than happy to keep buying them. That’s fine with me, more power to them I say. Sadly, that’s not been my experience.

This is how I feel after the plug on my charging lead disintegrated. It was obviously a manufacturing fault, but they treated me as if I’d run the thing over repeatedly before smashing it with a sledgehammer.

As soon as I asked the leasing company to sort it out MB folded and replaced the charging cable “as a goodwill gesture”. Which just shows that they didn’t care about goodwill or customer service, they cared about who had power over whom. After that experience, my power over them is to not choose another MB.

 

[Deleted member 126969]

This is how I feel after the plug on my charging lead disintegrated. It was obviously a manufacturing fault, but they treated me as if I’d run the thing over repeatedly before smashing it with a sledgehammer.

As soon as I asked the leasing company to sort it out MB folded and replaced the charging cable “as a goodwill gesture”. Which just shows that they didn’t care about goodwill or customer service, they cared about who had power over whom. After that experience, my power over them is to not choose another MB.

Shame really isn't it, as on the whole, the car is OK. I hope I am able to get a good few years out of it before it plays up. I'm banking on the fact I do so few miles to get away with this idea. By the time it is effectively worthless, it'll probably be up to average mileage for a 3 year old car. The cynic in me thinks that 3 years average miles is the effective design life now - warranty + 1 day or 1 mile, whichever comes first.

 

[Dodgy]

Shame really isn't it, as on the whole, the car is OK. I hope I am able to get a good few years out of it before it plays up. I'm banking on the fact I do so few miles to get away with this idea. By the time it is effectively worthless, it'll probably be up to average mileage for a 3 year old car. The cynic in me thinks that 3 years average miles is the effective design life now - warranty + 1 day or 1 mile, whichever comes first.

I love the car, mostly because it’s shown me how good an EV could be. The gateway drug, as it were. Plenty of flaws as well, but I forgive them all because I can cruise around in the comfort of top-class suspension and a luxury cabin in near-silence with only electrons pushing me along.

 

[Deleted member 126969]

I know what you mean. I’ve been what is called a petrolhead a long time, still am in many ways, but I’d be more than happy with a pure EV that was as good as the C350e when it’s in EV mode. OK, it would need 300bhp of electric power, but I think you get what I mean

 

[CaptainChaos]

Thanks, do you have approval from your insurance company for that set up?

I use Aviva who don't need notification of winter tyre use.
Most insurers don't as long as the winter wheels are no bigger than the summer wheels.

I have kept the email from MB in case I need to refer to it, but given it has just gone through it's service and MOT at a main dealer without objection, I can't see why I would have any problems.

 

[wivenhoe]

I use Aviva who don't need notification of winter tyre use.
Most insurers don't as long as the winter wheels are no bigger than the summer wheels.

I have kept the email from MB in case I need to refer to it, but given it has just gone through it's service and MOT at a main dealer without objection, I can't see why I would have any problems.

I still haven’t had mine put on - looking at the forecast here in Essex looks like at least another 2 weeks before the temperatures are below 7

 

[CaptainChaos]

I still haven’t had mine put on - looking at the forecast here in Essex looks like at least another 2 weeks before the temperatures are below 7

I usually put mine on around the clock change. My rear summers were looking a bit low and I didn't want any MOT aggro so put the winters on. One year I put them on in the dark as it was snowing. Not ideal! I'd rather do it in the sunshine.

 

[Nick Harper]

Chris. I was one of the guys providing the document so I will be biased. The TMO obviously didn’t follow the link given by MB as on that site I cannot find any reference to the hybrid warranty. That aside, this is a climb down by MB as originally they took the position the battery cert covered only the battery - now they accept the motor and associated plug in components. I hope I don’t have to test it (got E350e now) as I can see a battle over whether the defects is a result of an inherent manufacturing fault rather than just being a defect. It strikes me (cynic that I am) that MB are trying to get themselves into a position where any defects have to be a manufacturing one so they can claim all the costs back from their (manufacturing) supplier.
Well done for sticking with this and getting a result.

So, in the world of consumer protection, EU and UK law provides the following: -

The consumer has the right to expect that a product purchase, new, from a retailer will be free from defect in design or workmanship and will be fit for purpose. Provided the item is used within the manufacture's instruction and for the purpose for which it was intended then the consumer has a right to expect 6 years service. It makes the assumption that if a product fails within six years and provided that the product has been used within the instructions then any defect that does occur must have been present at the point of manufacture. The consumer does not have to prove that he hasn't abused the product. The retailer is liable for the cost of repair, replacement or a refund less wear and tare at their discretion. This does not apply to products bought from the manufacturer or second hand. So, is a Mercedes-Benz dealer a retailer? Are we consumers if we are not using the vehicle for commercial use? The reason I ask the second question is because, for example, a microwave bought for use in a company canteen is not covered by this protection. I ask the first question because it's important.
None of this applies to wearing parts or parts that are consumed in normal use. The batteries wearing out over time may be classed as consumable but I would expect the electronics and mechanical parts in the power train to be built to last the life of the car.

 

[Deleted member 126969]

I’ve often wondered how a car would be treated under this ruling. Come to that, any item one purchases. Probably down to how much one is willing to spend on a legal battle.

 

[Nick Harper]

I’ve often wondered how a car would be treated under this ruling. Come to that, any item one purchases. Probably down to how much one is willing to spend on a legal battle.

I successfully got my Plasma TV repared at three years old just by stating the 2015 consumer rights act. It’s still going 5 years later. I have a feeling there’s an upper limit of £30 though.

 

[Jeddy]

Well I'm afraid (hmm, maybe not) that I'm out of here.
Each to their own, but the C350e did just not suit my driving style. Possibly the final straw was that at the first sign of cooler weather (not even cold yet) my electric only range dropped to around 7miles, at least 7 months ago when it was properly cold I was getting 10miles.
However, that certainly wasn't the main reason. My driving tends to be pretty much ahem, at the speed limit, if I come up behind someone dawdling, then I want to pass asap. Most of the time I'm therefore happy in Comfort and hope to improve the economy doing so, however to safely pass someone I want to be in Sport/Sport+ so am left fumbling by my passengers knee, oh and when I do so the car nicely advertises the fact on the display. Overtake complete, back to more fumbling. Sure, I could just leave it in Sport all the time which mostly makes a mockery of having a battery aside the overtakes, it just becomes a very heavy thirsty petrol car. I found the car was making me drive in a way to suit it, that's not what I wanted - albeit a bit of fun at first.
Again, maybe it doesn't suit my driving style, but the ride while nice and smooth, even in sport mode the suspension is very soft if you try and push the car around some corners with a bit of speed, more encouraging it than telling it where to go.
Anyway, I'm now off to the BMW forum driving a 330d GT. That p/ex was a novelty which I suspect not many can say. I p/ex'd an 19month old C350e with 13k miles which cost around £40k new for a 13 month old 330d GT with 11k miles costing £42k new and they GAVE ME over £1k! (Yep the depreciation on the GTs is that bad for the first year - a very marmite car - I love the looks, but I know not all do). I drove home having collected the car over 100 miles (mixture of motorway and A roads), that thing is a real hoot! Put your foot down and it shifts, goes around corners like it's on rails, the stupid run flats make it a bit harsh on some road surfaces (they'll doubtless get changed in due course), but even with M-Sport the ride is surprisngly compliant, not all crashes and bangs.
Good luck with the batteries, you can have a laugh at me as I have park my car outside of town as you smugly drive in (although I am EU6 without AdBlue so ok for now).
Not everyone is the same, and thank heavens for that, but it wasn't for me.
Jeddy

 

[Nick Harper]

Sorry, that should have read £30,000

I successfully got my Plasma TV repared at three years old just by stating the 2015 consumer rights act. It’s still going 5 years later. I have a feeling there’s an upper limit of £30 though.

 

[CaptainChaos]

Good luck Jeddy. I quite like the 3 and 5 GTs. They are a bit odd but very roomy.
Don’t let the Adblue run out!

 

[Jeddy]

Good luck Jeddy. I quite like the 3 and 5 GTs. They are a bit odd but very roomy.
Don’t let the Adblue run out!

Thanks. They sort of look like a coupe, but as you say, with loads of room in the back (more than a touring). Bigger than a normal 3er but mostly in length so street parking may be a tad more restrictive, but driving down country lanes no worse.
No Adblue in this one - they somehow manage EU6 without, although I understand their next gen diesels will be getting AdBlue to make them even cleaner.

Have to laugh at this news from yesterday Subsidised plug-in cars driven on fuel and totally agree with

"We unfortunately have got a situation where a poorly designed tax regime is driving some poor behaviours," said Toby Poston, the BVRLA's communications director.
"We have got some situations where company drivers are choosing the vehicle based on their tax liability, rather than having the right vehicle for the right job."​

Usual scenario of politicians setting targets without thinking through how people are going to take advantage of them.

I also had a laugh at this New car CO2 emissions reach five-year high and they are surprised are they? What did they expect? I reckon that if the politicians actually spoke to us we'd be able to predict likely consequences of their actions far better than they apparently can. They appear to be a bunch of idiots with no foresight.


Jeddy

 

[TheCorm]

My move to a Nissan Leaf has commenced, got about 5-6 months left with the Merc.

Looking forward to going fully electric and getting a proper charge point at home but the Leaf just isn't going to bring the same smile to my face like the Merc but in company car tax from April 2020 it's going to cost me £23 a month with no petrol fill-ups compared to £220 a month for the Merc with having to add petrol so it's a big difference there.

I was shocked at how limited the electric choices still are, lot's of companies talking the talk but very poor supply.

Hyundai Kona - Some people say 42 weeks, some say they can't take the order
BMW i3 - Only old models being supplied, suspect facelift that is coming will have a long lead time
Tesla Model 3 - Still behind schedule
VW GTE Hybrids - Orders suspended
Mercedes Hybrids - Orders seem to be suspended here and the price has gone up now well beyond what our company would pay per month.

I would love to see Mercedes have an A class pure electric, or a similar one that is electric from the ground up.

 

[Deleted member 126969]

Still not a lot of choice is there. The only EV offerings I’d buy in terms of that intangible, appeal, are a Tesla S or an iPace. A Tesla you can get now, long lead times on the Jaguar still though.

No doubt the Leaf is a decent vehicle, but I just couldn’t bring myself to own one. Same goes for a lot of the current crop, including the Kona. Decent cars all, just not for me.

The desirable ones are still very much aimed at the wealthy. Just an observation though, not a complaint. I get why they are doing it that way.

 

[Dodgy]

My move to a Nissan Leaf has commenced, got about 5-6 months left with the Merc.

Looking forward to going fully electric and getting a proper charge point at home but the Leaf just isn't going to bring the same smile to my face like the Merc but in company car tax from April 2020 it's going to cost me £23 a month with no petrol fill-ups compared to £220 a month for the Merc with having to add petrol so it's a big difference there.

I was shocked at how limited the electric choices still are, lot's of companies talking the talk but very poor supply.

Hyundai Kona - Some people say 42 weeks, some say they can't take the order
BMW i3 - Only old models being supplied, suspect facelift that is coming will have a long lead time
Tesla Model 3 - Still behind schedule
VW GTE Hybrids - Orders suspended
Mercedes Hybrids - Orders seem to be suspended here and the price has gone up now well beyond what our company would pay per month.

I would love to see Mercedes have an A class pure electric, or a similar one that is electric from the ground up.

I have 19 months to go on my C350e lease. My employer doesn’t usually open the system until 6 months before the current lease is due to complete. Last time I convinced the to do it 9 months before, but the Merc still didn’t turn up until 3 months after the last lease completed. I wonder whether I should push for a year instead??

 

[Dodgy]

Still not a lot of choice is there. The only EV offerings I’d buy in terms of that intangible, appeal, are a Tesla S or an iPace. A Tesla you can get now, long lead times on the Jaguar still though.

No doubt the Leaf is a decent vehicle, but I just couldn’t bring myself to own one. Same goes for a lot of the current crop, including the Kona. Decent cars all, just not for me.

The desirable ones are still very much aimed at the wealthy. Just an observation though, not a complaint. I get why they are doing it that way.

Not long until the VW offering hits the showrooms, with Audi and MB not far behind. I hope the BIK incentive is serious so one of these is in my budget. At the moment, I believe the BIK is planned to be 2% for financial year 20/21, but I’m not sure it’s been published for 21/22 onwards.

 

[Deleted member 126969]

It'll be interesting to see what materialises from the other big players. Not only in terms of the actual vehicles and prices, but availability and lead-times too. Not seeing all that much evidence of large battery production facilities as yet?

The Tesla 3 would do me I think....if you could get one over here. By the time we get them, my eyesight will have gotten bad enough to live with the poor fit & finish. I'd never buy another MB of any flavour though. You could probably extend that to any German manufacturer actually - they all seem to share the same arrogance and distain for their customers.

As a retired private buyer, BIK etc is irrelevant to me. Always has been as I've never had a company car anyway, but I certainly see why it's a big factor to those that do.

 

[Dodgy]

It'll be interesting to see what materialises from the other big players. Not only in terms of the actual vehicles and prices, but availability and lead-times too. Not seeing all that much evidence of large battery production facilities as yet?

The Tesla 3 would do me I think....if you could get one over here. By the time we get them, my eyesight will have gotten bad enough to live with the poor fit & finish. I'd never buy another MB of any flavour though. You could probably extend that to any German manufacturer actually - they all seem to share the same arrogance and distain for their customers.

As a retired private buyer, BIK etc is irrelevant to me. Always has been as I've never had a company car anyway, but I certainly see why it's a big factor to those that do.

I can’t get my head around buying a new private car. I once bought a nearly new BMW, but since then have gone for 3+ year old choices for our second car. Eye-watering prices even for these, so I’d have a heart attack buying new. And this is from someone who thinks it’s worth leasing a car to do 6000 miles a year...