S212 Subframe Woes!

[2cleverguys]

Hi

Looking to get experiences of s212 subframe repairs as I think i've been stung by the main dealer for unnecessary repairs.

In essence car is a 2010 S212, failed MOT on subframe corrosion and front spring, booked car in with MB main dealer for subframe (covered under goodwill payment), front coil spring replacement, and MOT. Then started to receive phone calls about additional parts needed; First call was about the rear level sensors which they said would snap if they removed the subframe, cost £380 inc VAT. Then a couple of days later another call saying the rear Air Springs have been disturbed and won't repressurise after the new subframe is fitted so have to be replaced, cost £1,132 excl VAT.

After a few conversions they brought the bill down to £1,000 all in, but i get a feeling i was taken for a ride and have not heard of anyone having to have these parts replaced due to the new subframe. Any experiences would be most welcome.

 

[markjay]

Welcome.

Dealer prices are indeed very high, but what they describe is unfortunately not unreasonable.

While the rear subframe will be replaced under warranty, nothing else around it is covered.

Damage can occur when removing the subframe on a 14 years old car.

I only hope that they took the opportunity and checked the condition of the bushes and of the brake lines as well.

Regarding the spring replacement - springs should ideally be replaced in matching pairs. FYI. Going forward, this is more of a reason to have such repairs done by an independent specialist rather than by a dealer.

 

[91dm]

Did you buy the car from them or purchase it recently?

I would be quite happy with that deal on a 2010 car. £1k doesn't go that far especially using genuine parts.

 

[oldguy57]

Hi

Looking to get experiences of s212 subframe repairs as I think i've been stung by the main dealer for unnecessary repairs.

In essence car is a 2010 S212, failed MOT on subframe corrosion and front spring, booked car in with MB main dealer for subframe (covered under goodwill payment), front coil spring replacement, and MOT. Then started to receive phone calls about additional parts needed; First call was about the rear level sensors which they said would snap if they removed the subframe, cost £380 inc VAT. Then a couple of days later another call saying the rear Air Springs have been disturbed and won't repressurise after the new subframe is fitted so have to be replaced, cost £1,132 excl VAT.

After a few conversions they brought the bill down to £1,000 all in, but i get a feeling i was taken for a ride and have not heard of anyone having to have these parts replaced due to the new subframe. Any experiences would be most welcome.

I can see why you think you have been taken for a ride, and I don't recall other posts where sensors and springs have been mentioned with this issue, it's usually brake pipes. Presumably these additional items would still have had life in them if the defective subframe did not need replacement which is being done free. On a 14 year old car I'd be biting the bullet as others have mentioned and then taking the car to an indie for work in the future. Frustrating but it's an MB!

 

[AMGeed]

Damage can occur when removing the subframe on a 14 years old car.

I'm probably in the minority, but I believe Mercedes should be replacing everything that gets damaged whilst changing out a substandard subframe.
Bolts , sensors etc should all be free although I'd agree corroded brake lines are part and parcel of wear and tear.
The way I look at it, if the subframe didn't need to be removed in the first place , the bolts and sensors wouldn't need to be disturbed and/or possibly damaged..

 

[ChrisHGTV]

I'm probably in the minority, but I believe Mercedes should be replacing everything that gets damaged whilst changing out a substandard subframe.
Bolts , sensors etc should all be free although I'd agree corroded brake lines are part and parcel of wear and tear.
The way I look at it, if the subframe didn't need to be removed in the first place , the bolts and sensors wouldn't need to be disturbed and/or possibly damaged..

I agree. The cynic in me suspects these other costs (much, much higher than from an independent) are to partially offset the cost of the “free” subframe replacement.

 

[markjay]

I'm probably in the minority, but I believe Mercedes should be replacing everything that gets damaged whilst changing out a substandard subframe.
Bolts , sensors etc should all be free although I'd agree corroded brake lines are part and parcel of wear and tear.
The way I look at it, if the subframe didn't need to be removed in the first place , the bolts and sensors wouldn't need to be disturbed and/or possibly damaged..

I think that part of the issue here is that MB never issued an official recall in the UK for the corrodes subframe issue, instead they classify the free repair as 'goodwill warranty'. This allows them to dictate the limit of what they are willing to pay for. Things would have been different if the repair was done under the new car warranty, or if someone took them to court and they lost meaning they were now obliged to carry out the repair for free. It's no different to when the manufacturer offers a contribution under 'goodwill warranty' instead of meeting the full cost - it's a 'take it or leave it' offer.

 

[oldguy57]

I agree. The cynic in me suspects these other costs (much, much higher than from an independent) are to partially offset the cost of the “free” subframe replacement.

That was my first thought as well, that and whether a cak handed mechanic was not too careful about removing parts. But at least the op has had some significant work done at a "discounted" price. (Why the discount one wonders?) Time to move on methinks.

 

[TrueSpirit]

Hi

Looking to get experiences of s212 subframe repairs as I think i've been stung by the main dealer for unnecessary repairs.

In essence car is a 2010 S212, failed MOT on subframe corrosion and front spring, booked car in with MB main dealer for subframe (covered under goodwill payment), front coil spring replacement, and MOT. Then started to receive phone calls about additional parts needed; First call was about the rear level sensors which they said would snap if they removed the subframe, cost £380 inc VAT. Then a couple of days later another call saying the rear Air Springs have been disturbed and won't repressurise after the new subframe is fitted so have to be replaced, cost £1,132 excl VAT.

After a few conversions they brought the bill down to £1,000 all in, but i get a feeling i was taken for a ride and have not heard of anyone having to have these parts replaced due to the new subframe. Any experiences would be most welcome.

I had the subframe replaced on my 212 prefacelift with air suspension andcar there was no mention of a risk to rear level sensors and given they only informed you of this while doing the work , this reeks of shoddy workmanship to me and then to have a second issue on top with the rear air springs has me very suspicious. Even the indy I had quote for replacing the brake lines never once indicated that there would be any risk to these parts from removing the subframe on my car. We've had a few other folks on here report on their subframe replacement and as far as I can remember you're the first person that has had to have other things replaced as part of the rear subframe. I think people should steer clear of this stealership that you went to , they seem like a bunch of cowboys to me and should have footed the bill for the sensor at least.

 

[toteimerced]

I was lucky enough to get a clean bill of health, from Mercedes Taunton a few weeks ago, but if I hadn’t, I think I’d probably rather change it myself, that way I could change all the bushes and suspension links, it would still cheaper than the supposed free replacement from Mercedes.

 

[2cleverguys]

Thanks everyone for all your responses. Good to know that breaking the sensors and air springs isn't a standard thing to happen with the subframe replacement. I also had some other issues after the work was done, one of them relates to a guard at the back hanging off with no fixing (see photo), anyone know what type of fixing goes here and where I can get them from? The photo is of the offside rear just behind the rear wheel. Thanks