Mercedes dealers need advice

[missyparrot]

Hi everyone ,
I have just brought a 54 plate C class 220 cdi (28k on the clock ) from a MB dealer in london , i had a little problem with the armrest so booked it in to my local MB dealer (not the same one i brought from ) .
Had a engine light come on just before it went in and called out MB 24hr and was told DPF sensor faulty .
So went to my local MB and was told the sensor was ok but the (pressure impaulseable) particular filter was blocked , also the front and back brake pads need to be changed and the front discs are lipped total £2700 .
I went straight back to the dealer who sold me the car with 12 months warranty to be told the pads are only 50% worn and the front disc are slightly lipped and no need for changed until next service in 10-12 months .
They said the sensor was faulty and have changed it .
so who do i believe ???

Going to another MB dealer on friday to see what they say

What do you all think ??

thankyou
MP

 

[kwakdonut]

If you can't get a straight answer - give the car back, get your money back and go elsewhere!!!

 

[W210 Fan]

What do you all think ??

Without delving into your personal life do you have a boyfriend you can take with you? I assume your a girl by your user name and I would say the garage are just trying it on because your female, its sad, but thats what the automotive industry do,

As Qwakdonut says you can always threaten to have them take the car back as you dont trust them, and relationships are built on that, if you tell us the area maybe one of the guys here may be able to pop in and have a quick look at the brakes/argue your case with the dealer with you,

welcome by the way,

 

[kwakdonut]

Agree with that too - maybe one of the more experienced forum members can help out here if they are near(ish). Although we don't know your location of course!!

Am sure you must have a friend/family member/work colleague who could help?

I would be very unhappy buying a 4 year old low mileage car from a main dealer with these kinds of problems.

 

[missyparrot]

Hi
yes i am female and the car is at temple fortune .
i am waiting for the service manager to call me back now .
Not happy the discs are lipped.
he is saying they are lipped but don't need to be changed ??
i understand they wont changed the pads at 50% but the disc seem wrong to me .
thanks

 

[W210 Fan]

Hi
yes i am female and the car is at temple fortune .
i am waiting for the service manager to call me back now .
Not happy the discs are lipped.
he is saying they are lipped but don't need to be changed ??
i understand they wont changed the pads at 50% but the disc seem wrong to me .
thanks

Andbody in the NW11 area who can help a damsel in distress???

garage is - Temple Fortune, 1089 Finchley Road, Golders Green
London, NW11 0PU

discs will become lipped during use, if the lip is small, less than 1mm than all is ok, pads at 50% wear wouldnt bother me I would leave them, sounds like garage #2 is trying it on, can you get a lip measurement from the garage #1 so we can make sure?

did they change the faulty sensor free of charge?

 

[Dieselman]

The disks being lipped doesn't mean they require changing, they have a definative minimum thickness, so if above this then they are ok.

Just ask the dealer for the actual wear values against spec and the % worn.

For the DPF it probably is the sensor, but if not the fault will come back and you can have a new DPF then.

 

[carnut]

What does it cost to get it AA inspected nowerdays? The threat of doing so might motivate the garage ?

 

[Dieselman]

What does it cost to get it AA inspected nowerdays? The threat of doing so might motivate the garage ?

Into doing what.?

 

[missyparrot]

Still waiting for the service manager to call me back , will ask for a lip measurement and let you know .
Sensor should be warranty i hope !!
Was told if anything goes wrong in 30 days its down to MB dealer to fix then its normal warranty .

 

[jaymanek]

what did they do about the particulate filter. I have heard about a lot of these being replaced at the moment and it isnt a cheap job.
Mainly arises by not using a low ash oil.

 

[RodgerDodger]

Remember - dont take any of his lip! - he may be only giving you lipservice! .. now where's my jacket - best of luck

 

[missyparrot]

They told me the sensor was faulty ...
The other Mb dealer said £500 just for the sensor and another £500 to fit it .
needs the oil to be changed etc

 

[kth286]

There is only one answer.

Say you do not know anything about cars - you just use it as a tool and drive the thing.

So, please Mr garage man, put what needs to be done in writing (and the appropriate costs) for my file, and I will consider matters and see when I can fit the car in to get the work done, and get back to you.

You are perfectly entitled to have this quote for work, and that is what trading standards and SMMT want to see garages doing - it is called best practise.

I get a full quoation whenever I order parts. They usually have to be ordered and usually arrive from Milton Keynes in a couple of days.

The quote takes seconds and is produced automatically (including appropriate discount) as the guy types in my order and it is printed off the computer after he presses the send key.

By putting things in writing he will be very cautious about inflating the work and prices.

 

[ddentrec]

You are being taken for a ride.

My car had £2500 of work at an official MB dealer...2 weeks worth...for what turned out to be a £65 rear wheel bearing. Seriously. Good thing I had a warranty.

My work colleage had an Audi TT with an engine management light problem: Audi main dealer - £900 + VAT for a new ecu.

VW independant: £94 +VAT for a faulty sensor and fitting. I have not made this up.

You get the picture. Ignore the fancy Mercedes branding - some dealers are cowboys and will milk you for every penny.

 

[Smiley]

My experience is that MB main dealers will advise brake pad and disc replacement way before it is required - like pads at 50% worn were described to me as "on the limit 90% worn" - discs with a minor lip needed replacement. I gave up on them - it is not economic to run a car like this and pay their huge hourly rates.
My advice if you dont know a lot about cars is that you need to find a good local independent MB specialist that you can trust and build up a relationship with and use them for all the work that you need doing.

 

[missyparrot]

Just spoke to MB and was told the discs are 28mm , he told me disc new are 30mm so only 2mm used .

they will not changed the disc with only 2mm used .....
will a letter to head office help ???

 

[Smiley]

it is not so much how thick they were when new as how thin they are allowed to get to before they are changed. If 28mm is still within that limit then no need to change them - so not sure what good a letter will do.

 

[missyparrot]

He told me at 26mm they need to be changed legally .....

just not happy about them selling me a car with the discs like this .
i will be hit with a repair bill for new disc and pads soon .

 

[pammy]

He told me at 26mm they need to be changed legally .....

just not happy about them selling me a car with the discs like this .
i will be hit with a repair bill for new disc and pads soon .

I'm sorry but I'm losing the plot with this a little - if in four years and 28k miles the car has used 2mm - with another 2mm to go before the legal limit is reached - then surely you've potentially another four years or 28k miles before they need replacing - hardly imminent replacement. I think the original garage was trying it on tbh and that MB are being fair.

I don't see that there's anything to go back with.

My 03 SLK has had pads replaced and I expect the disks to need replacing in the next couple of years or so.