If I Never Deal With A Main Dealer Again, It'll Be Too Soon, The Shysters!

[Deleted member 37751]

Booked in to replace the SBC pump on my W211 at the main dealers yesterday morning.

Last weeks phone call to Mercedes D****ter;

Me: "Are Mercedes still replacing the SBC pumps FOC"

Them: 'Well, we've never had a claim refused sir, worse case scenario would be a software upgrade at a cost of £96 to you'

Fast forward to yesterday morning;

Them: 'Mercedes will only offer you a 50% contribution sir, so the bill is £800'

Me: "No thanks, I'll come and collect my car"

Arrives at dealers to be told that I owe them £96.
"What's that for then?" I ask.

'It's for diagnosing your fault sir' they say.

"But I told you the fault, why are you charging me to tell me something that I told you?"

'Well we had to plug it into Star'

"Yes, but I told you the fault because I had it scanned on Star myself, but somewhere else"

Now this bit is very important, so let these pearls of wisdom sink in...

'Only Mercedes dealers are allowed Star diagnostics, which costs ( said to me in a slow voice for emphasis) thousands upon thousands of pounds'

'Mercedes would have replaced the pump FOC if the service history had been full Mercedes, why haven't you serviced here before?'

"Err, because the last and only time I had my car serviced here, you overfilled the oil and didn't fill up the windscreen wash and when I phoned up the next day, you accused ME of topping the oil up and letting out the screenwash!"


This saga carried on in many forms until I, against my usual nature, relented and just paid the charge, I had to be somewhere.

While ever I've got a hole in my deaf & dumb, I'll never set foot in that place again, or any other dealers!

 

[davidjpowell]

Somehow I'm not surprised. Never come away from that dealership with a glowy feeling.

 

[mejermy]

If this is the JCT lot at Tinsley, or any of their associated sites I'm not surprised. Last time but one that I had an SBC fluid change (only went there because they misquoted for a non SBC change, which was cheaper, but honoured their quotation) they tried to tell me I had all sorts of things wrong. I knew I hadn't because I do pretty much everything myself except SBC fluid changes, in order to have a shout a an FOC pump if ever.... One of the things wrong which I was aware of was a leaking HP pump; over £1000 for them to fix. Sorted for coppers........!
I now only use Europa in Sheffield if I have to go to a Star equiped garage. I know the guys from way back, and some of the more mature ones even remember working without Star, when you had to diagnose faults yourself. Suggest you give them a try. They're looking for business and are amenable to discussion on price within reason.

 

[mejermy]

Must say, though, the JCT parts guys are very good, and accept arguments for MB Club discount. Europa are also good and very helpful, but don't hold stocks in the same way.

 

[John]

Thank god that new MB customer service top man has improved the service eh.

It seems their customer service is unrecognisable in comparison to what it was...

 

[DSM10000]

Sorry to hear about your experience Lee although not exactly surprised. Fiinding a garage one can trust is very difficult.

 

[C240Sport97]

I can understand MB refusing the SBC goodwill claim if the car does not have full MB service history.

 

[jaymanek]

What are you going to do? Not like you can there is a lot of point using a second hand one.

 

[jonnyMercUK]

Only time I ever got a decent result from them was when I actually bought the car. Since driving away i've had it there twice and never again....

Find Chesterfield quite decent.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I can understand MB refusing the SBC goodwill claim if the car does not have full MB service history.

To an extent, I agree.

But when I know people that haven't been to a dealer in four years having theirs replaced FOC, it does feel just a tad inconsistent on their part.

 

[davidjpowell]

I've seen threads where Europa have managed to get these through. I'd be tempted to try them and see what happens.

Nasty suspicion that if they have car notes they might spot it though.

Unless (and this is a cynical thought) MB had said yes to FOC, and JCT were bilking 50% on top

 

[shorty]

This appears to be how MB are now dealing with the SBC pumps , only giving 50 % goodwill towards changing them . This policy only just started in the UK but it has been the norm now for over a year in Ieland , ahd the ost is 900 euro

 

[C240Sport97]

even at 50% contribution, it's pretty good.

how many other manufacturers offer such a scheme?

parts don't last forever .. granted, SBC pump is unusual, but it's still a part.

 

[shorty]

Im wating for mine to go any day now , and ive decided to get one of these Mercedes SBC Tool ABS/SBC System Repair Tool 4 Mercedes High quality! | eBay

its gonna cost less then the new pump

 

[shorty]

im wating for mine to go any day now . Ive decided to got one of these ,
Mercedes SBC Tool ABS/SBC System Repair Tool 4 Mercedes High quality! | eBay
this will cost less than a new pump

 

[Deleted member 37751]

even at 50% contribution, it's pretty good.

how many other manufacturers offer such a scheme?

parts don't last forever .. granted, SBC pump is unusual, but it's still a part.

The issue with the SBC, amongst other things, is that it had a finite number of presses.

The fact that they've offered 50% without negotiation shows that it's a common problem.

I would have thought with Mercedes supposed reputation for safety, the SBC would be changed without the blink of an eye FOC.

 

[jaymanek]

They have changed the rules very very recently... i believe the general guide is cars over 8 years with no history will get no contribution, newer cars with some mb history get 50%, full history gets full conribution.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

One of the reasons why I decided agaist a W211!

 

[flango]

Lee, give Europa a ring and progress through them, they will sort it all. Tell them I recommended you. MB are great for parts but as regards their technicians my 19 year old daughter has more of a clue. Next time I see you remind me to tell you the story of how they deal with complicated repairs

 

[Deleted member 37751]

To be fair, I do like the brake hold function on the W211.

In fact, it's probably the biggest thing that I miss since buying a Discovery 3.