Mercedes Approved Used Issues

[danny7747]

Hey!

I was hoping for some advice on an Approved Used Mercedes I purchased. The car was purchased in Dec 2021 (AMG GT63s) and was delivered from a Mercedes dealership to my home.

I instantly noticed one of the body panels near the front headlight didn't line up so I called the dealership and they told me to take it into my local Mercedes workshop for an inspection. They did a health check and stated that the bonnet didn't align and needed some attention, but also informed me the brakes are 95% worn and the disks are heavily lipped.

After a bit of back and forth, the original dealer agreed to cover the bonnet repair but is only offering £600 towards to £2800 repair bill for the brakes, do you think it is unreasonable to expect them to cover the full amount. Has anyone else had a similar experience with an approved used?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[190]

Recent posts suggest Mercedes approved used is not what it once was or even up to the standard of other retailers. You get the impression that they don't even inspect the cars these days. Selling a car with 95% worn brakes is a disgrace. When I bought my lowly C class from Arnold Clarke, an outfit that many would mock, they replaced two tyres and the front pads because they were worn and that was without having to ask.

If £600 is all you can get I'd take the money and have the brakes done at a specialist.

 

[DSM10000]

Hey!

I was hoping for some advice on an Approved Used Mercedes I purchased. The car was purchased in Dec 2021 (AMG GT63s) and was delivered from a Mercedes dealership to my home.

I instantly noticed one of the body panels near the front headlight didn't line up so I called the dealership and they told me to take it into my local Mercedes workshop for an inspection. They did a health check and stated that the bonnet didn't align and needed some attention, but also informed me the brakes are 95% worn and the disks are heavily lipped.

After a bit of back and forth, the original dealer agreed to cover the bonnet repair but is only offering £600 towards to £2800 repair bill for the brakes, do you think it is unreasonable to expect them to cover the full amount. Has anyone else had a similar experience with an approved used?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

What did the "Approved Used" terms and conditions state about pre inspection etc?

 

[danny7747]

Annoyingly the only terms I can find are just the generic ones on the website their website does say all servicing needed within 3 months is covered, but I am not sure if brakes come under that.

 

[danny7747]

If £600 is all you can get I'd take the money and have the brakes done at a specialist.

Yes good idea, I would much prefer to have a dealership do it though.

 

[DSM10000]

Yes good idea, I would much prefer to have a dealership do it though.

Why?

A good independent will probably take more care over it.

 

[danny7747]

A good independent will probably take more care over it.

Yeah I agree, but as the car is under warranty etc I would prefer to keep it all under one roof, even if that roof is not the best.

 

[DSM10000]

Yeah I agree, but as the car is under warranty etc I would prefer to keep it all under one roof, even if that roof is not the best.

It will not affect the warranty if approved parts are used and fitted by a VAT registered garage.

 

[markjay]

Unfortunately, it's a common complaint on this forum... it seems that (some) MB dealers do not actually bother checking and preparing the Approved Used cars prior to delivery, on the premise that this way they'll only need to fix what the customer complains about, and even then they'll give the customer an argument over it - apparently it works-out cheaper for them, and they don't seem to mind the aggravation (personal opinion, of course).

Keep in mind, though, that the issues you describe are all related to the sale of the car, which is covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. So (a) this is between you and the supplying dealer only, i.e. your local MB dealership are not involved and not at fault here, though obviously it's great that the supplying dealer is willing to pick up the tab for (some of) the repair work, they could have legally insisted that you bring the car back to them, and (b) the Approved Used T&C are your protection in addition to the Consumer Rights Act, i.e. if the supplying dealer says that something is not covered by the Approved Used T&C then don't be fobbed-off by this because you still have your statutory rights under the Act.

On a related note.... the bad news is that the car seems to have been involved in a front-end shunt. I would want to know more details about the damage and the repair carried-out. And it would be a worry for me that the repair seems to not have been done properly in the first instance. Realigning the bonnet might fix the visual side of things, but I would want an expert opinion about the condition of the front end.

If, however, you wish to keep the car, and you can't get more than £600 from the supplying dealer, then I would certainly get the brakes done by a specialist who will be using genuine MB parts - see post #8 above.

 

[markjay]

According to Trading Standards:

"When you buy a used motor vehicle from a trader, you are making a legally binding contract, which is covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Traders must not mislead you, perhaps by using phrases such as 'sold as seen' or 'no refunds', or by failing to disclose that the vehicle was previously damaged in an accident."

Oops.... I think the supplying dealer messed-up badly on this one. Do you want to reject the car? I certainly think you have a case, if this is what you want to do.

 

[BigJase88]

Yeah take it to an independant for discs and pads

Its a very simple job

Even i can do it on my drive with limited skills and a small selection of tools.

 

[tonysmb]

If the second dealer's report is accurate then I don't think that's acceptable.

What's the actual thickness of the discs, ie are they within specified limits as they can be lipped but still within spec.. Unfortunately, I don't think that the Approved Used Scheme is as comprehensive as it used to be, although much will depend on the supplying garage/technician. Some are better than others but of course your recourse is with the supplying dealer: it would be interesting to know whether that second dealer would have replaced the discs before retailing.

The wording, from MB Retail's site says: "All certified technicians check all Approved Used vehicles inside and out to ensure your vehicle is in a working condition before you drive away."

It's not particularly inspiring is it, 'working condition'. 'Well, it's working, Sir."

 

[KennyN]

At £2800 are they carbon ceramics , which i doubt if they are 90% worn and "lipped"

If they are not then £685 will get you a set of front Brembo discs from EPC , £144 for the rears.

What is the mileage on the vehicle ?

K

 

[AMGeed]

I would hold out for the full cost of the replacement discs and pads. Selling you a car that have 95% worn brakes is not acceptable in my book.

 

[markjay]

I wonder if we'll ever know....:

 

[jpwilliams]

According to Trading Standards:

"When you buy a used motor vehicle from a trader, you are making a legally binding contract, which is covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Traders must not mislead you, perhaps by using phrases such as 'sold as seen' or 'no refunds', or by failing to disclose that the vehicle was previously damaged in an accident."

Oops.... I think the supplying dealer messed-up badly on this one. Do you want to reject the car? I certainly think you have a case, if this is what you want to do.

Just do what markjay has said.Under the Consumer Rights Act, the Dealer is responsible for all of your problems. Do not involve any third party.

 

[mioba]

Hold on hold on.

OP whats the mileage of the car, disks last a long time cf to pads.

MB are notorious for Sir you disks and pads need changing, moreso when Mr AMG comes walking in!

 

[vijilants]

I bought mine approved used.

When I inspected the car I noted that the disks were heavily lipped and requested that they were changed. The salesman played hardball and said that they would only replace them if they were below the specified amount and only if the workshop said they required replacing.

They then said that they were not going to replace.

I took it up with the branch manager and he agreed to replace all disks and pads on the car.

It makes no sense to spend megabucks on a car, and take it from the fourcourt and drive it straight in to another garage to have the brakes replaced due to wear.

If I were you I'd take it a bit further than the salesman.

After all, work carried out by Mercedes includes a 12 month warranty.

 

[Railwayman]

£2800 for pads and discs!!!!!!, was he wearing a three pointy hat and mask, dear god worlds gone crazy.

 

[DSM10000]

£2800 for pads and discs!!!!!!, was he wearing a three pointy hat and mask, dear god worlds gone crazy.

That is the cost of two part ceramic discs and the pads.

This is one of the reasons such cars are often sold in because the owner knows a large maintenance bill is about to land.