Driving 200 mile journey (W203 auto 45K C200cdi 2004) notice fuel consumption is around 5mpg lower than normal no other probs, drive around locally for 3 days no probs. Set off home today and after around 40 mles no power and no kick down will change down ok on tiptronic but low power (struggling uphill at 55mph) then masssive cloud of black smoke. Pull in at services, prat around with MAS MAF (ie disconnect and tap a few times) or whatever its called. Restart and continue journey with no probs until about 5 miles from home and then same again. Ive done millions of miles in other cars golfs, vectras, mondeos, escorts etc never had any probs. Buy myself a "reliable" merc because of miles I do and no end of probs sureley for a component failure (reading other threads its not uncommon) to cause this after so few miles then the car is not "fit for purpose". Any comments/help would be greatly appreciated.
Alex Argent
Active Member
csd4t said:
Snap! I'm so
off. Now lost the car for the bank holiday weekend. Too many problems. It's not just 131k miles, I've done twice as many as that in a Cavalier and even more in a Ford Scorpio 
........and that was more than 10 years ago, without any of the MB technology! Yes. it is frightnening reading some of these threads as to the number of identical failures caused by 'known' or design problems. Even more frightening is everytime I walk into an MB dealer (apart from getting a severe dose of walletitis), I seem to be told "oh yes sir, that's a common problem on this model sir" 
. Clearly it's not just 'this model' - it appears a lot of the problems seem to run across most of the model range. A couple of days back I posted a reply to a topic and mentioned that I had been informed by a dealer that the problem with the rusting (and subsequent breakage/noise) of the rear springs, was a "known" and common problem on the W202. I ended the post with the statement saying something like I hoped that MB had changed the design on the W203. I was aghast when one response came back immediately stating they hadn't.......the problem is exactly the same on the W203 .I'm very sorry Mercedes-Benz. You produce really beautiful looking cars with fantastic performance, comfort and bags of state-of-the-art technology. However, in today's competitive market, so does eveyone else, most at a lower price. The reliability issues (and that includes rusting problems) and the way you handle your customers needs addressing drastically. That seems to have come as a result of trying to compete in a marketplace you had never previously ventured into and I regret to say that it was probably my own marque that was the first model built at a price to compete in that market. It seems that quality issues have been on the slide ever since. For me, I've decided to resolve my latest problem and keep this lovely machine and run it into the ground for as long as possible, or until something like the ECU or gearbox goes, just an example of certain parts being more costly than the probable resale value of the car. However, I have also decided to return to Bayern Munchen Werk for my next chariot - my previous 523i knocked up 250k miles in four years without even one glitch. Sorry folks, needed to get all that off my chest. That's my gripe finished
PS - sorry for stealing your thread csd4t
Last edited:
ddentrec
Active Member
Alex Argent said:
The MB brand is so strong that we'll keep buying the cars even if they are poorly built and the 'service' sub-standard. It is all in the branding. It is all about style over substance. In my view MB are heading the same way as Alfa Romeo. Only way MB will wake up is if people stop buying the marque..and sales were up worldwide over 10%. So, no need for anything to improve then.
Update
Took car in to MB Harrogate this morning, within 1 hour kets were handed back to me "Air flow meter" replaced under warranty. Great news thinks I. Drove 4miles and guess what LIMP MODE again. Return to MB "intercooler split" Now have to leave car with them. Am I being taken for a ride (certainly not by my car I'm not)!!!
Took car in to MB Harrogate this morning, within 1 hour kets were handed back to me "Air flow meter" replaced under warranty. Great news thinks I. Drove 4miles and guess what LIMP MODE again. Return to MB "intercooler split" Now have to leave car with them. Am I being taken for a ride (certainly not by my car I'm not)!!!
update 2
Phone call on sat morning, "car would not be ready because after changing intercooler we now find blocked cat". I am very frustrated, no car now till thursday. Wonder what they will find next on my £20K plus car that was purchased for its reliability!!!!
Phone call on sat morning, "car would not be ready because after changing intercooler we now find blocked cat". I am very frustrated, no car now till thursday. Wonder what they will find next on my £20K plus car that was purchased for its reliability!!!!
Parrot of Doom
MB Enthusiast
With respect mate, you could have looked at the JD Power survey. It shows that customer satisfaction with Mercedes has been pretty low of late.
If you wanted 100% reliability, buy a Lexus
If you wanted 100% reliability, buy a Lexus
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
There speaks the voice of reason! This is just a sample of Lexus problems from April this year!!Parrot of Doom said:If you wanted 100% reliability, buy a Lexus
Mercedes-Benz will no doubt have an even longer list. (They produce more vehicles. If you want 100% reliability, then you should buy a very basicpush bike.Good luck getting your problems resolved, but the grass is seldom greener elsewhere??
John the optimist
Edit:
I could not submit the Lexus TSB list as it was toooo long April - August 2006??
Last edited:
"Phone call on sat morning, "car would not be ready because after changing intercooler we now find blocked cat". I am very frustrated, no car now till thursday. Wonder what they will find next on my £20K plus car that was purchased for its reliability!!!!"andyb said:
Told you it would be the cat , its the old way throw enough parts at it until its fixed .i guarantee it was the cat from the begining .
Andy
