Mercedes Approved Used Issues

[KennyN]

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

Were they CC discs ? the OP has not confirmed and i doubt they ever will.

You would need to be going some to wear our a set of CC discs on the road under "normal" usage on a reasonably newish car , different story on a track though .

K

 

[DSM10000]

Were they CC discs ? the OP has not confirmed and i doubt they ever will.

You would need to be going some to wear our a set of CC discs on the road under "normal" usage on a reasonably newish car , different story on a track though .

K

Hard to think what other parts would be that price?

 

[KennyN]

Hard to think what other parts would be that price?

A full set of normal Brembos with pads from EPC will be just over £1k and i would imagine that non discounted main dealer parts would be considerably more , factor in sensors / pins etc and labour at main dealer (AMG) rates and £2800 is almost believable.

K

 

[markjay]

Were they CC discs ? the OP has not confirmed and i doubt they ever will.

I refer you to post #15....

 

[tonysmb]

Those prices won't be ceramic brakes, I'd guess that they would be more in the region of £12,000 for a set.

Whilst they last well, provided they're treated properly, not sprayed with acidic wheel cleaners etc., they are a touch more expensive than 'normal' brakes when replacement is due. The problem with buying used is knowing how they've been treated, bedded-in etc.. There were a number of Aston DB9 owners bemoaning the price of ceramic disc [std from 2012] replacements (c£8000 for the fronts only) and enquiring whether it was possible to have their cars converted to steel rotors.

I don't drive my cars in such a way that I'd really benefit from ceramics, so it would be a significant consideration if a car I was looking at had them fitted - they make MB dealers' normal prices seem cheap.

 

[Fady]

If it was my car, I would very politely be kicking up a fuss. How can brakes worn to that level be considered 'approved used'? I would have expected this to be picked up in the checks and for them to have been changed before the car was put up for sale. Even if they then have to factor this into the price, bearing in mind they only have to do so at cost. £600 obviously doesn't cover it and as car is only going to be 2/3 years old at most, I wouldn't be taking it to an indie.

My own experience, and no doubt that of others here, is once they have made the sale, they try and fob you off. I would be writing to the salesman with the manager cc'd seeking clarification. At the same time, I would let them know that I am also writing to MBUK customer services. They should be able to specify exactly what you might expect as an acceptable level of brake wear. This should have been picked up as part of the checks and seems unreasonable for you to have to change the brakes having then driven virtually no miles.

I bought my own car last March, and as it was lockdown, I didn't actually see it until the day I collected it. Couldn't really inspect it on the forecourt but got home and noticed a small ding on the passenger front door. Salesman said get a quote and they'd pay. £400. They then proceeded to drag their feet and not settle. I then wrote to MB UK customer services and money was credited to my account the very next day. I get the impression they just see what they can get away with.

Back in the day they would give you a copy of the checklist so that you could actually see what is what. I don't know if they have actively stopped doing so, but there is no way they could then get away with selling a car with worn brakes as you'd immediately object.

 

[Rubyred]

Going back to the original post, why do people buy cars without viewing them first. It seems to be a growing trend. Surely when spending a considerable amount on a car youd want to see it in the flesh first.
It would certainly save all the hassle this chap is having now.
Also why don’t Mercedes dealers bring cars to the customers local dealer for their inspection prior to purchase, if they’ve got nothing to hide what’s the problem.
My local Ford dealer did this for me with two cars I bought from them.
Seems remote buying is more hassle than the time it saves doing it.
Dont trust anyones desciption of a car until you see it yourself!

 

[markjay]

Going back to the original post, why do people buy cars without viewing them first. It seems to be a growing trend. Surely when spending a considerable amount on a car youd want to see it in the flesh first.
It would certainly save all the hassle this chap is having now.
Also why don’t Mercedes dealers bring cars to the customers local dealer for their inspection prior to purchase, if they’ve got nothing to hide what’s the problem.
My local Ford dealer did this for me with two cars I bought from them.
Seems remote buying is more hassle than the time it saves doing it.
Dont trust anyones desciption of a car until you see it yourself!

It started long ago, but became mainstream during COVID, when showrooms were closed, and dealers were looking to continue trading. Most also provided 7-day period to simply hand the car back for full refund, which seems fair. That said, personally, I wouldn't buy a car unseen.

 

[V6GBJ]

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.

For what it's worth, I also had a positive experience with Arnold Clarke but in a limited way! I bought a LR Freelander a few years ago which had supposedly gone through a multi point (30?) check. I soon discovered scored rear discs, took it back and they replaced all four sets of discs and pads without question. It appears that there was no multi point check other than by the new owner!

 

[whitenemesis]

Going back to the original post, why do people buy cars without viewing them first. It seems to be a growing trend. Surely when spending a considerable amount on a car youd want to see it in the flesh first.

People now treat cars as just another example of "white goods", bought on spec and more and more on lease, so no long term commitment. Seems more important that their phone can pair with the multimedia system than any driver involvement (ride, handling, service) aspects.
Wont be long before all cars are just extensions of social media devices, with little or nothing to differentiate them.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Also why don’t Mercedes dealers bring cars to the customers local dealer for their inspection prior to purchase, if they’ve got nothing to hide what’s the problem.

It’s not because they have something to hide, afterall the car is for sale and available to view.

The first reason is because it costs a blooming fortune to safely transport vehicles between locations, especially when there isn’t an existing movement of vehicles between those two locations. It also costs a fortune to move it back again if the potential buyer doesn’t buy.

It’s also because Mercedes-Benz dealers are franchises owned by independent groups in geographical clusters. So dealer groups like Inchcape, Lookers, or Sytner each operate the franchise in an area. To transfer the car to another dealer would require it to be transferred between those respective business, and then transferred back in the event that the buyer didn’t want it.

It’s therefore more convenient for the customer, less hassle for the dealers, and no more expensive to deliver it straight to the customer and give the option to return it. I suspect the customer is also less likely to change their mind when it’s in their driveway than if transferred to another dealer.

I can see why they do it. Makes sense for all involved for those customers who value convenience over reduced risk. Personally I view used cars in person so I can assess them and will drive hundreds of miles, and I buy new cars by email without ever even visiting the dealer, and ideally without speaking to them.

 

[tonysmb]

Going back to the original post, why do people buy cars without viewing them first. It seems to be a growing trend. Surely when spending a considerable amount on a car youd want to see it in the flesh first.
It would certainly save all the hassle this chap is having now.
Also why don’t Mercedes dealers bring cars to the customers local dealer for their inspection prior to purchase, if they’ve got nothing to hide what’s the problem.

Different dealer groups are competing businesses, the only common denominator being that they represent Mercedes Benz; even within the same group, individual garages are sometimes treated as separate business entities, effectively in competition with each other, if only through sales targets. Some groups will transfer between branches, but it may not be cost-free.

I would buy new sight-unseen, not a used vehicle though. I wouldn't buy a house straight from the internet or auction sight unseen but people do. If somebody is prepared to make that level of financial commitment without even looking at the general area or even the property, perhaps a car is of limited financial consideration, although if that's the case, why moan about something like a set of discs, the cost of which is negligible.

 

[esscee]

Very unfortunate position nowadays trying to purchase 2nd hand car. However in this case, why doesn't MB insist on a high standard from a dealer if that dealer wishes to supply MB vehicles? It appears that there is too much variation between MB dealers in their Customer Service.
What MB UK customer service need to be more aware of is any low/bad/lacking of decent customer service at their "approved dealers", it should not matter which franchise at all.
The more times that us, as in the customers, complain to MB UK then hopefully something might get done to raise then maintain a decent customer service.
If OP has not got a reasonable settlement to this then get on to MB UK, I would have rejected the vehicle as soon as any dealer starts querying any request.

 

[190]

Consider all these direct selling operations that advertise on the TV to deliver a car to your home - and we might as well because they seem to be the future. Given the sales model includes a no quibble return of the the car if you are not happy, isn't it likely that these car will be better inspected and rectified than MB approved used or most other main dealer retail outlets come to that.

My son has bought 3 cars now sight unseen and they have been well prepared and so he has for the most part been happy with every one of them. The only gripe was a Polo for his partner had odd tyres but we have had that debate before and know that that dealers just do not get this issue with matching tyres. Certainly there have been no excessively worn discs or anything of that sort. I imagine these outfits must be big operations with an economical and almost assembly line approach to car preparation with set standards that are not left to the whim or idleness that we seem to be seeing with MB main dealers.

The constant adds on the TV annoy the hell out of me but if it's a model that works and delivers good cars perhaps they are worth consideration.

Has any here bought a car from such an outfit ?

 

[Dryce]

The constant adds on the TV annoy the hell out of me but if it's a model that works and delivers good cars perhaps they are worth consideration.

Has any here bought a car from such an outfit ?

The model isn't a bad one. The problem is whether they can actually make money. At then moment with a very high stock markaet valutaion a player in ths market has an incentive to spend money on each sale rather than make money. So that's good for the customer at the moment but it means their margins are not proven and real at the moment. The ris would be that this is pufeed up at the mement trying ti buy market sare - but is not sustainable.

(I would add that I would like to see the model work - because it will mean other competitors including Mercedes AU having to up their game).

 

[Fady]

Going back to the original post, why do people buy cars without viewing them first. It seems to be a growing trend. Surely when spending a considerable amount on a car youd want to see it in the flesh first.
It would certainly save all the hassle this chap is having now.
Also why don’t Mercedes dealers bring cars to the customers local dealer for their inspection prior to purchase, if they’ve got nothing to hide what’s the problem.
My local Ford dealer did this for me with two cars I bought from them.
Seems remote buying is more hassle than the time it saves doing it.
Dont trust anyones desciption of a car until you see it yourself!

Even if OP had viewed the car, he may have spotted the bonnet issue but would still have been none the wiser about the brakes. So in this case this may have worked out in his favour in terms of elapsed time.

 

[markjay]

The OP? He hasn't been back since posting last Thursday.

 

[Fastcar155]

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.

Hi , if no luck with Mercedes get in touch with Trading Standards

 

[HB]

A

The OP? He hasn't been back since posting last Thursday.

Are you surprised Mark ?
Most likely one of the usual wind ups

 

[BigJase88]

I bought my Mercedes on Cinch unseen.

Its a brilliant way to purchase a car. All cars are prepped and any issues are photographed. So you know what you are getting.

I traded in my old car. More than we buy any car and they drove my new car to me and took away my trade in. No knockdowns or questions asked.

No dealing with a car salesman (bloody hate it)

Pain free pleasant experience and I will probs always buy online now.

I detest a dealership and being given the hard sell by some little ar5ehole