It's going back in the morning

[@MARK]

So after it's last visit to the dealer the week before last, tomorrow morning my dealer is under instructions collect my car and not bring it back until it's right.

i am getting sick and tired of returning my car to the dealer to fix yet another set of squeaks and rattles that were not there before the car went into the dealer to be fixed.

At less than 4 months old, the car has been back to the dealer six times and still isn't right.

This time, the rattle from behind the satnav screen is back. There is a rattle from somewhere near the passenger seatbelt and they have still failed to fix the rear centre arm rest. Sure I could slam it shut like the guy in the showroom suggested but my 9 year old son who is the only person who uses it, hasn't yet got the strength to slam anything that hard.

Add to that the way that the the whole car rustles like a french maids petticoat over every bump in the road and I have had enough.

My last car was traded in at 4 years old and with 80,000 miles on the clock. It did not squeak, rattle, rustle of moan EVER!

Am I expecting too much?

Are MB capable of screwing a car together as well as BMW or even as well as Skoda?

Never mind the jokes around rusting, at this rate I suspect most of the body panels will have fallen off before they get chance to rust!

So my dealer gets one more chance then the car gets rejected!

 

[neilz]

That's very disappointing, but people have been saying for a while that Mercedes' quality has shot downhill. You would have thought after the split-up of Daimler-Chryler that things would have improved, though. Rejecting it isn't a bad idea - even Nissan's Infiniti produces better cars! (with some quite nice gadgets, like cameras round the outside to aid parking, and intelligent cruise control etc.)

 

[pjs]

Sorry to hear that Mark. Surprised as well - mine is totally rattle and squeak free. No excuse for a crap dealer though. I keep nipping back to 'the wifes' e92 and its kinda weird.

 

[st4]

This is supposed to be the new era of Mercedes building a decent car. No offence, but it sounds like a pile of junk.

To be honest Mark, at this stage I would be rejecting the car and asking for a replacement.

Failing that, taking a hit and buying a nice reliable BMW.

I do suspect because its one of the first "facelifts" that perhaps MB hasn't quite got the build right.

It sounds a "bad" car. A really Friday PM/Monday AM car.

 

[rob_miller]

I have been in a similar position. With the water that I had in the speaker and the glove compartment that never kept quiet I almost had enough of the car.

With the speaker now fixed, it has been behaving itself for the past six weeks so hopefully it will stay that way.

As for the glove compartment I decided to remove the four screws that hold it in place and greasing things up behind it which seems to have solved the problem.

Yes, I still have a few very small rattles when driving over very rough surfaces and potholes, but the majority of the time it is virtually silent.

Mark, I hope that you dont decide to reject the car. Although it is very annoying and frustrating I am sure that you will be happy with the car once it gets sorted.

Although I must say that I also agree with the fact that the build quality has detoriated. My experience above has put me of a Mercedes so for me my next car will more than likely be a BMW.

 

[st4]

Do all 204's rattle and leak. Water in a speaker, thats just ****e.

Never heard the pre facelifted car having much in the way of issues, and thats two really worrying posts.

 

[@MARK]

To be fair, the dealer has never argued and has done everything I have asked of them

Except fix the problems that should not have been present in a £40k piece of metal.

The problem I have is where to go from here if they do indeed fail to fix the car.

I have no problem sending the thing back but I have no idea what the replacement would be

 

[st4]

I have no problem sending the thing back but I have no idea what the replacement would be

People tend to go with prior experiences. I reckon another 335d.

 

[s88]

Are BMW's that much better?

Am sure they have horror stories as well!

 

[Deleted member 11979]

You must be right p@*@ed off!

Such a disappointment, problem is will all this dismantling of trim etc. create new rattles?

I'm getting cynical in my old age, I'm actually suprised when I buy something that isn't cr@p!

 

[@MARK]

Are BMW's that much better?

Am sure they have horror stories as well!

Well my 335D (as I said) have 80k miles and 4 years on the clock. No squeaks, no rattles.

But I would not buy another.

The new F31 is due out next year (2013) so I would be mad to buy an E91 today as in 12 months time I would be lusting after the new model.

 

[Ant-toe-knee]

I know how you feel, I purchased a approved used MB and twice its been back to the dealer in seven weeks , well three really as one was a fantasy recall.

I am paying out already even though you are led to believe a years piece of mind motoring via the used car scheme. I am beginning to miss my BMW ownership.

 

[Dr-Nab]

Doesn't really surprise me as my E350 went back 14 times in 8 months, all is well now and... touch wood and really enjoying driving it again, even dipping in to my pockets to do some more bits to it now its sorted

Dealership were brilliant about it all, had a couple of squeeks and rattles around the dash but all sorted then again with a convertible you'll always get a little bit of roof rattle over a harsh bump my SLK was awful for that but a bit of silicone on the joints of the roof sorted that.

Disappointing to know that you're having so many issues considering it's a new model with x-amount of improvements, I had a facelift 204 250cdi for a week or so whilst my E-Class went in on the premise of fix it then give it back to me otherwise I'll be rejecting it and I thought it was a great car had covered about 5k miles as it was a demo and I put a few hundred on it but had no problems whatsoever in the time I drove it... I may have given it some stick to see what it was capable of...

 

[Red C220]

My C220 doesn't squeak or rattle inside at all. The suspension groans a little when I get in and out (fatty!).

The thing is, you'll struggle to reject a car that's almost 4 months old in which you've covered 6,500 miles.

It can't be rejected as "Not fit for purpose", because it is, despite rattles.

The only route you have is "not of merchantable quality" which isn't going to end up with a full refund.

If they don't fix it, chances are they will offer to buy it back at the top end of market value and get you in another one discounted.

This will of course cost.

What I'm not sure of is how this type of issue is resolved if it's a lease vehicle. I have a feeling it changes nothing but I'm interested where this goes of you decide keeping it is not reasonable.

 

[@MARK]

My C220 doesn't squeak or rattle inside at all. The suspension groans a little when I get in and out (fatty!).

The thing is, you'll struggle to reject a car that's almost 4 months old in which you've covered 6,500 miles.

The issue I have is that it keeps going in and they keep trying to fix it and they keep failing.

Just when I thought we had cracked it, the instrument binnacle had to be replaced (meaning a full dashboard removal) and sure enough we were back to square one.

Had it not been in time after time, you are right, rejecting would not be an option but I have given MB and my local dealer plenty of opportunity to solve the problems and they have been unable to do so.

I am really hoping it won't come to this but the threat is there and real and I will take that route.

I buy new and expensive cars so I don't have to think about them. I pay my monthly payment and drive. End of thinking.

Having to arrange my diary around visits to my dealer (which is a 50 mile round trip) every few weeks doesn't work for me.

 

[akhan48]

Sounds like you've been unlucky and got one of the cars which will have constant issues. I've been lucky and not had any squeaks or rattles with my 2010 C-Class.

I think you're within your rights to expect a well-built car for $40,000, I mean it is a Mercedes-Benz, not a Peugeot!

 

[Red C220]

Definately interested in seeing how this plays out.

 

[st4]

Definately interested in seeing how this plays out.

They may well offer to buy it back for top money and sell a discounted one. It might be the easiest solution for Mark.

 

[st13phil]

The thing is, you'll struggle to reject a car that's almost 4 months old in which you've covered 6,500 miles.

It can't be rejected as "Not fit for purpose", because it is, despite rattles.

The only route you have is "not of merchantable quality" which isn't going to end up with a full refund.

I successfully rejected a MINI Cooper S that was 6 months old and had around 4k miles on the odo due to a paint problem, so it is possible but the success (or otherwise) of the process is partially down to whether the dealer / manufacturer wants to play ball or not.

People berate the manufacturer over build quality issues with justification, but I can't help thinking that in many cases where one problem is "fixed" by dealer intervention and another appears, that the subsequent problem is often more down to ineptitude on the part of the dealer than the original manufacturer.

 

[ShinyF1]

Well my 335D (as I said) have 80k miles and 4 years on the clock. No squeaks, no rattles.

But I would not buy another.

The new F31 is due out next year (2013) so I would be mad to buy an E91 today as in 12 months time I would be lusting after the new model.

That would be my suggestion - the 'new' 3 series. Or what about a 5 series touring?