ML full disc and pad replacement - AGAIN!

[vinceg]

Having to replace all pads and discs on my 2 year old 28k ML 270 cdi again! Seperate post but told this no unusual. Anyway, it is what it is. I would like to not pay my main dealer the large sums indicated so would like to try a recognized independent. Am Sevenoaks, Kent based but would travel reasonable distance for right service/price. Anyone have an recommendations for London/SE region. All advice welcome. Obviously keen to maintain the overall MB 3 year warantee but believe this should be no issue if correct independent selected.

vg

 

[panason1c]

Having to replace all pads and discs on my 2 year old 28k ML 270 cdi again! Seperate post but told this no unusual. Anyway, it is what it is. I would like to not pay my main dealer the large sums indicated so would like to try a recognized independent. Am Sevenoaks, Kent based but would travel reasonable distance for right service/price. Anyone have an recommendations for London/SE region. All advice welcome. Obviously keen to maintain the overall MB 3 year warantee but believe this should be no issue if correct independent selected.

vg

Hi, Try this supplier for your pads and discs, find an independent to fit them.........you will save mega £'s.
Regards

http://www.speedways.co.uk/shop/en-gb/front.html

 

[glojo]

Having to replace all pads and discs on my 2 year old 28k ML 270 cdi again! Seperate post but told this no unusual. Anyway, it is what it is. I would like to not pay my main dealer the large sums indicated so would like to try a recognized independent. Am Sevenoaks, Kent based but would travel reasonable distance for right service/price. Anyone have an recommendations for London/SE region. All advice welcome. Obviously keen to maintain the overall MB 3 year warantee but believe this should be no issue if correct independent selected.

vg

Wow!!!!! That is absolutely rediculous. I would be spitting bullets (or wheel nuts ) I am no expert, and would appreciate further information from anyone.

Are the disc's being replaced because they have warped, or are they being replaced because of damage by the worn out pads?

If the disc's are warping then surely there must be a design fault. 14,000 miles of ordinary road use is crazy (this is your second set) Likewise if the pads are wearing out, then why is there not an indicator to warn you BEFORE they start damaging the disc's???

I am like a long playing record on this subject but here I go again........

Have you wrote to Mercedes-Benz UK about this issue? It is not in the interest of the dealer to waste time and resources corresponding, but you have absolutely nothing to loose.

Plodd might be able to give some sort of input into this. It would not breach any discpline codes if the transport manager was merely asked how long the pads and disc's are expected to last on a 'hard' driven ML. (I except the transport manager might be difficult to contact)

Good luck,
John

 

[R2D2]

The answer is:
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=14107&highlight=steve+mechanic
and
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12029&highlight=steve+mechanic
and
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=9200&highlight=steve+mechanic
and
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12199&page=1&pp=15&highlight=steve
HTH

 

[vinceg]

Further info

Several asked ... so for thoise interested. First set discs/pads replaced via route service post pad wear light coming up. No metal on metal action. Discs not warped just warn away. Amazing thing was discs were 2mm under tolerance on rear but rear pads at limit. Fronts pads at limit and so were discs. Replaced the lot. Did take this up with MB and after much pushing and threatening on motoring press exposure they agreed to pay for discs, not labour or pads. I accepted that. No warning light up yet but can see it will come very soon. All discs have very visible ridge and a lot of steel has gone below all pads. I know new world pads are harder but these seems crazy to me. Car is NOT driven hard. Driven almost excusively by my wife who drying style is slow and steady. I will admit that the 15k miles she does is mostly school runs, Sainsburys etc so I guess lots of break use. That said had a Range rover prior and did same route and didnt replace discs in 6 years and only 1 pad change??


Any way if anyone can suggest a good indepndent in Kent that will ensure protection of remainder of my 3 year MB warantee I would be grateful.

Steve sounds like a top guy. Does anyone have his contact details. Could he do the work and my gurantee be OK? I thought it had to be official independent?

ANy advice welcome.

 

[glojo]

Steve sounds like a top guy. Does anyone have his contact details. Could he do the work and my gurantee be OK? I thought it had to be official independent?

ANy advice welcome.

Hi Vince,
There you have the problem. To my knowledge there is no such beast as an 'official' independant. Everyone that has used Steve has spoke very highly of both his work and expertise, but he is not an authorised agent.

I would still persue this with Mercedes-Benz UK, the type of driving and style surely should not be causing this amount of wear? Just imagine how regularly the pads\discs would have to be replaced under extreme driving conditions?

How many ML owners are there on this forum and is 14000 miles about right for a complete set of disc's and pads.

I really feel for you here because this is crazy, you are rightly looking at saving money, and you have correctly realised that technically you will be in breach of the Mobilio warranty. I am not criticising you, I am not passing a comment on the rights and wrongs of this action. I merely think that it is disgraceful how quickly these items are being replaced

John

 

[angus falconer]

Hi Vince,
How many ML owners are there on this forum and is 14000 miles about right for a complete set of disc's and pads.

John

It's normal; the ML is tall, heavy and like most 4x4's it is fundamentally unstable. As you drive it around the electricis go mad trying to stop it crashing - they do this with all the stability control stuff which is forever dabbing the brakes on one wheel or other to try to stop impending accidents. Hence brakes wearing out in no time. It's just happened to my mate's at around 14k miles.

 

[BarryS]

Well my old X5 didn't need new discs in 60k miles and I think only 1 or possibly 2 pad changes. So I don't buy the heavy 4x4 argument at this small mileage.

Regarding "official" independents, the merc web site lists franchised and approved non-franchised independents: You can't use the so-many miles from home post code find option but they are in the drop-down list of all dealers.

 

[996jimbo]

Well my old X5 didn't need new discs in 60k miles and I think only 1 or possibly 2 pad changes. So I don't buy the heavy 4x4 argument at this small mileage.

Presumably the X5 has limited slip diff or other diff control - I believe the ML doesn't and so (as posted above) the traction control uses the ABS system. Something like that anyway.

 

[angus falconer]

Well my old X5 didn't need new discs in 60k miles and I think only 1 or possibly 2 pad changes. So I don't buy the heavy 4x4 argument at this small mileage.
.

Yes. but the X5 is really a 5 series on stilts - so it started out as a proper car and it (like the Cayenne) is generally regarded as (almost) handling like a real car.

The ML is much more agricultural and hence the problems.

 

[spitzkop]

1 set of disks, 3 sets of pads, 60,000 miles, very high speed and high load driving. 14,000 miles doesnt sound right. Is there something a miss with the ESP perhaps?

The ML is a little less agricultural than you think, how many vehicles can turn there rear wheels in reverse whilst maintaining there front wheels in forward mode?

 

[fuzzer]

Yes. but the X5 is really a 5 series on stilts - so it started out as a proper car and it (like the Cayenne) is generally regarded as (almost) handling like a real car.

The ML is much more agricultural and hence the problems.

Not really , brakes are brakes . Weight is weight.

The force needed to stop 2.3 tonnes of bmw is just as difficult to hault as 2.3 tonnes of mercedes !!

The old ml is just fundimentally flawed and is unstable. The ESP chews the brakes in order to stop it ending up on its roof.

 

[grober]

wolfgangs explanation

Technical explanation here. http://www.whnet.com/4x4/ets.html I,m afraid Angus Falconer has got it spot on. One of things they dont put in the sales brochure. Go to an indy and use MB or OEM parts- ATE ,TEXTAR, BREMBO or PAGID Lots of posts on this if you search the forums.

 

[spitzkop]

Technical explanation here. http://www.whnet.com/4x4/ets.html I,m afraid Angus Falconer has got it spot on. One of things they dont put in the sales brochure. Go to an indy and use MB or OEM parts- ATE ,TEXTAR OR BREMBO Lots of posts on this if you search the forums.

Solution..... dont let the wife use the car Basically, explains why I get good mileage as most of my use is high speed and heavy braking at said speeds, just like your generic box car. Those school runs must be torture for these poor MLs!

 

[IanA2]

I've just had the first service done on the ML at 18,500 miles. I was surprised that the REAR pads needed replacing. In all my other cars the fronts pads have always gone before the rear. Is this a 4x4 thing?

 

[spitzkop]

I've just had the first service done on the ML at 18,500 miles. I was surprised that the REAR pads needed replacing. In all my other cars the fronts pads have always gone before the rear. Is this a 4x4 thing?

Do you tow with the ML? If so, then this is your reason, as the ESP is trying to stabilise your rear-end.

 

[IanA2]

Nope....never towed.

 

[Seamster15]

Mine were gone after 18k. Disks were well worn down, as said before its all down to weight as my little Citroen ZX brakes still has loads of wear left after 30k.

Still you would have thought or even hoped that a premium car like an ML would have had premium brakes! (or even somthing that lasted much longer!)

ML now gone........ cheers

Simon