Hello
This is my first post, and I feel I must point out that I am not mechanically minded.
The MOTs on my SLK230 have reported corrosion on the exhaust manifold for several years (I have had the car since 2001) but nothing that required action. A couple of months ago my car had an episode of what can best be described as tractor-esque chugging. He felt like he was about to stall, sort of like missing a cylinder, had very poor acceleration, but no warning indicators lit up and he was fine on his next outing, which happened to be to his MOT at my local MB dealer. I asked MB to investigate, at which point they replaced a missing retention nut on the manifold, but they couldn't categorically state what the problem was although they did have a suggestion. A valve in the exhaust located behind, or perhaps upstream of, the manifold might be causing the problem, but to check would involve removing, and possibly replacing the manifold, so they can look at this valve, but even then they may not be able to solve the problem.
This all sounds plausible to me but the price they quoted for this investigation was getting on for £2,000, with no gaurantee of solving the problem. I know main dealers are expensive but that is ridiculously expensive.
Has anybody out there experienced a similar problem? Does the course of action by MB sound plausible? Are they having serious laugh with the price they quoted, or trying it on?
Any comments gratefully received.
Elaine
This is my first post, and I feel I must point out that I am not mechanically minded.
The MOTs on my SLK230 have reported corrosion on the exhaust manifold for several years (I have had the car since 2001) but nothing that required action. A couple of months ago my car had an episode of what can best be described as tractor-esque chugging. He felt like he was about to stall, sort of like missing a cylinder, had very poor acceleration, but no warning indicators lit up and he was fine on his next outing, which happened to be to his MOT at my local MB dealer. I asked MB to investigate, at which point they replaced a missing retention nut on the manifold, but they couldn't categorically state what the problem was although they did have a suggestion. A valve in the exhaust located behind, or perhaps upstream of, the manifold might be causing the problem, but to check would involve removing, and possibly replacing the manifold, so they can look at this valve, but even then they may not be able to solve the problem.
This all sounds plausible to me but the price they quoted for this investigation was getting on for £2,000, with no gaurantee of solving the problem. I know main dealers are expensive but that is ridiculously expensive.
Has anybody out there experienced a similar problem? Does the course of action by MB sound plausible? Are they having serious laugh with the price they quoted, or trying it on?
Any comments gratefully received.
Elaine
