ServicePlus - Wheel alignment?

[Rory]

Has anyone had wheel alignment "free" under ServicePlus?

I've heard horror stories about the whole car being messed up by badly done alignment but I'm fed up with my C Class drifting left and squirming and would like them to have a go at it.

I don't see why it should be excluded but I know past maint schemes I've had have always excluded it and it's no doubt horribly expensive at an MB dealer.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I would be surprised if it's covered, but I like surprises, so have a go!!

 

[television]

I thought earlier that this must come under wear and tear

 

[Rory]

I thought earlier that this must come under wear and tear

That's certainly what I was hoping - that's always the reason manufacturers won't do alignment under warranty.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I've been thinking about it, and is it wear and tear? If it is, could it be proved as such. Potholes, kerbs and other mishaps often create the need for re-alignment and that would probably considered to be accidental damage which is excluded.

I'd give it a go though - it's blooming expensive at the dealer otherwise.

 

[Rory]

I've been thinking about it, and is it wear and tear? If it is, could it be proved as such. Potholes, kerbs and other mishaps often create the need for re-alignment and that would probably considered to be accidental damage which is excluded.

I would say adjustments caused by potholes, kerbs, road humps etc *are* wear and tear - they're part of the everyday use of the car.

I'd give it a go though - it's blooming expensive at the dealer otherwise.

That's what I'm concerned about - I'll make it quite clear that I'm not paying, but I'm fearful they'll do an half-****d job, as I'm sure Service Plus labour rates are a fraction of the dealers normal rate.

 

[glojo]

I would guess........ If I went to the dealer and requested a free wheel alignment under the terms of ServicePlus, then I would be shown the door. If on the other hand I compalined about problems with the tracking, steering etc then I would expect this to possibly be done as one of the ways of correcting this issue.

Regards
John

 

[Corrado]

Has anyone had wheel alignment "free" under ServicePlus?

I've heard horror stories about the whole car being messed up by badly done alignment but I'm fed up with my C Class drifting left and squirming and would like them to have a go at it.

I don't see why it should be excluded but I know past maint schemes I've had have always excluded it and it's no doubt horribly expensive at an MB dealer.

Rory,

A possible halfway house.... Short of going for the wheel alignment (geometry check) the MB dealer has offered to swap all wheels over to let me try the car with tyres of a different make to see if that helps with a ride problem. They've been helpful so far but made it very clear that a geometry check would not be covered. Mine, however, would be a warranty claim.

Cost of check on C-coupe ~£100. Adjustment might double that.

regards,
Rich

 

[television]

I would guess........ If I went to the dealer and requested a free wheel alignment under the terms of ServicePlus, then I would be shown the door. If on the other hand I compalined about problems with the tracking, steering etc then I would expect this to possibly be done as one of the ways of correcting this issue.

Regards
John

I think that johns answer sums it up very well

 

[Rory]

I would guess........ If I went to the dealer and requested a free wheel alignment under the terms of ServicePlus, then I would be shown the door. If on the other hand I compalined about problems with the tracking, steering etc then I would expect this to possibly be done as one of the ways of correcting this issue.

In fact they noted on the car's MOT a couple of months ago the the NSF tyre outer edge was worn - I asked why, and they said it's normal. It still has the same tyres on - not sure whether to get them replaced first or not. Maybe I'll ask the dealer.

 

[Rory]

Just an update on this.
I took the car in today for its B service and asked them to look at what is now more a "drive left" than "drift left". Also the car feels as though it's squirming at steady motorway speeds. They also reported the NSF front tyre outer edge worn as an advisory on the MOT 4 mths ago.

We did have a discussion when I took it in about whether ServicePlus would cover any work necessary to correct these issues and they said probably not as it doesn't cover wheel and tyre related issues!

Anyway, they avoided an argument by telling me that the car is fine - the technician reports that the car is one of the least affected C Class's he's driven. They do recognise the issue, but insist it's a characteristic of the car.
Amazingly my front tyres now measure that they're *less* worn than they were at the MOT!

I would say mine is bad, and if others really are a lot worse, then they must be horrendous to drive.

 

[Rory]

Duplicated

 

[jaymanek]

well to be honest if id get a £ for everytime a customer comments on the car drifting left when test driving a C class...

 

[glojo]

well to be honest if id get a £ for everytime a customer comments on the car drifting left when test driving a C class...

I must confess that if I was interested in buying a cr and during the test drive it pulled to the left, or even continually drifted left then unless the road was cambered... I would walk away. Just a personal thing and I'd like my cars to travel straight and true.

I am CERTAINLY NOT DISAGREEING with this issue, I just would not want it.

Has it anything to do with the roads camber and will it pull left if you trvel on the wrong side of the road?

Regards
John

 

[portzy]

I must confess that if I was interested in buying a cr and during the test drive it pulled to the left, or even continually drifted left then unless the road was cambered... I would walk away. Just a personal thing and I'd like my cars to travel straight and true.

I am CERTAINLY NOT DISAGREEING with this issue, I just would not want it.

Has it anything to do with the roads camber and will it pull left if you trvel on the wrong side of the road?

Regards
John

Hi John.

With my previous C Class coupe if I drove the "wrong side", I tended to get, depending on the camber, either:

A straight ahead true drive or,

The opposite, ie drift right.

On the flat like in Tesco's car park is was pretty much ok. On the correct side of the road though, and with a normalish camber, it was awfull. Until the fix that is .

Portzy.

 

[Rory]

Until the fix that is .

Tell me more, please.

I'd say mine is awful - I have to hold the car to the right on the motorway and it's always fighting to go left. Long left bends are quite enjoyable - pehaps I should just drive anti-clockwise around the M25 all day.

 

[portzy]

Tell me more, please.

It was this thread, post number 8. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=45891

The TSB tells it all but, in a nutshell, mine drifted like the Marie Celeste.

After several trips to the dealers they "offered" me the "fix" on the proviso I signed a disclaimer about tyre wear etc. The car, a CL203, was miles better and bordered on the delightfull to drive and tyre wear was never an issue.

Regards.

Portzy.

 

[Rory]

It was this thread, post number 8. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=45891

The TSB tells it all but, in a nutshell, mine drifted like the Marie Celeste.

After several trips to the dealers they "offered" me the "fix" on the proviso I signed a disclaimer about tyre wear etc. The car, a CL203, was miles better and bordered on the delightfull to drive and tyre wear was never an issue.

Regards.

Portzy.

Sorry - I had seen that. My problem is that they just insist that it's normal - in fact they say it's actually quite good.

 

[portzy]

Sorry - I had seen that. My problem is that they just insist that it's normal - in fact they say it's actually quite good.

They said that to me as well, in the beginning though .

They even said you think the C Class is bad?, you ought to try the SL!. It wasnt until I'd made, and kept, an appointment to discuss the issue with their MD that, after he had driven it and agreed with my concerns, they offered to sort it out. Which they did.

Portzy

 

[Rory]

They said that to me as well, in the beginning though .

They even said you think the C Class is bad?, you ought to try the SL!. It wasnt until I'd made, and kept, an appointment to discuss the issue with their MD that, after he had driven it and agreed with my concerns, they offered to sort it out. Which they did.

Portzy

The only other C Class I've driven was a brand new C220 Estate demo that I had for 3 days 3 years ago. I don't recall that drifting but it wasn't something that I was looking for at the time. So I've got nothing to compare it to.

Of course the dealer is telling me they don't have any W203's to try now!

I am a bit concerned that if I make a huge fuss then they'll just try to adjust the drift away, and I've heard horror stories about cars being completely messed up (I guess that's why they made you sign the disclaimer about the tyres).