SLK320
New Member
- Joined
- May 18, 2003
- Messages
- 24
- Car
- E430 Avantgarde (W210) / CLK320 Avantgarde (W209)
Hi guys.
Wondering if you have any advice. I am a bit stuck. Apologies for this being a long-winded post.
Bought a 2001 SLK320 from Signature MB (Dartford) last month. 1-owner. 5k miles (!!). And a good price ... !!
The dealer was very clear that it was a one-lady owner car (as evidenced by the V5), who had a few other cars and didn't use it very much. She had upgraded to the new SL350 recently.
Figured that this saved me lead time in ordering a new one and about 7000 pounds too ... as the car is loaded with the options that I wanted.
I figured it was a good buy (!!) with the edge of the depreciation curve taken out by someone else. Dealer was very pushy about selling me this one on the merits of its low low mileage ... despite my intention to go with a new car.
Anyway.
The point is that they insisted there was no crash damage or problems ... as I was suspect initially about the incongruity between the age of the vehicle and the low low mileage.
HPI completely clean. MB database checks completely clean too.
Gorgeous car for the current weather (!!).
Anyway. Since I bought it. I have noted a few problems.
1) Rattle from the underside of the car. Particularly evident over potholes. Like metal on metal. Not a rub, or a squeak. A rattle. Something sounds loose. Persistent. Very very irritating. The car has the optional sump shield so its hard to see any problems under the car directly.
2) Boot handle/lock is very stiff and sometimes can only be opened after cycling the lock/unlock a few times.
3) Internal light and locks cycle when the body flexes. Have isolated this to a dicky lock "sensor" in the boot. The door sensors work fine. I believe the boot one is unclipping when the body flexes (e.g., through 90 degree turns onto downhill side-streets).
4) Rusted (extensive) edges of the sump shield under the engine bay.
5) Dent in LT door (dentmaster repair a week after purchase!). Present at time of purchase !!
6) Paint chips on rear bumper.
7) Crack in front lower skirt / air dam ... unfortunately not noted by myself at time of purchase. Not obvious. But damaged nonetheless (and NOT BY ME!!).
Took the car to local MB workshops (Hampstead) and they put it up on a ramp to investigate (twice). They thought they cured it the first time I went it last week.
They then refused to undertake further work on the second attempt ... citing that there was evidence of overspray front and rear, and that any work would not be covered by warranty as the car had been crash damaged.
Okay. Basically no solutions and they didn't want to know.
Really pissed off at this stage.
Quick call to Dartford. No further info from them but they got Hampstead MB to forward an 'engineering report' to them about the issue. Basically says the same. That there is evidence of overspray and that the faults with the car may be related to repaired crash damage.
So. They asked me to bring the car in for their attention ... THEY HAVE ACCEPTED LIABILITY pending their own review of the car.
However. Before doing that. I have commissioned an RAC vehicle report (at my own cost of 250 pounds) to ensure that the car is safe to drive (worried about 'cut and shut' cars being sold on by MB !!) ... AND to get an independent opinion about the extent of the damage before I let them "fix everything".
They (RAC) think it is basically a sound car with a catalogue of small faults. They commented though that the combination of faults would be expensive to repair togehter.
But they too believe that the car has been resprayed front and rear.
The RAC guy thought that repairs were done to a very high standard as it was difficult to tell at first. He used an ultrasound machine to measure the thickness of the paint to figure the differences (!!!!!). Nil evidence of filler in any of the panels.
I basically am happy with the car as it is mechanically sound and drives beautifully otherwise ... as would be commensurate with mechanicals that had done 5000 miles.
There is no other evidence of replaced components or "newer" body parts on the car.
However. Here are my issues.
1) I still need advice about where to go within the great MB network to get this sorted out definitively. I basically want ALL the problems fixed now. And I don't really trust the department at Dartford ... they had their chance to check out the car properly before I bought it ... and messed up ... or failed to ensure the quality of the vehicle. They also failed to flag up crash repair damage ... despite my specific issue about this with them at time of purchase. SO WHERE TO GO NOW ?? I can get MB Dartford to authorise warranty work at any MB centre in the UK I guess ... is that right ??
2) I am concerned how "good quality repairs" be done to the car without the knowledge of MB on their database. Surely something should have been recorded or they should have detected it on their "Signature" checks ... ??
3) I am concerned about how all of this affects the value of the car. How much compensation should I be seeking in terms of devaluation of the vehicle if I keep it? RAC suggested 10% verbally but refused to include that in his report for fear of liability.
4) Should I pursue a swap under their "lemon" policy as the car is not as advertised (i.e., crash damaged). I would insist on same spec and same low mileage.
5) What if there are future problems with the car that are related to this damage. How do I ensure that MB will be responsible and will cover any further repairs necessary? Although the standard of repair work appears to be good ... how good can it really be if the car rattles and the boot lock fails intermittently ... ?? Especially with issues like evident rusting ... I am worried that the car will rust prematurely even after this is sorted out. It seems the rust-protection coating has been damaged.
Who do I take my grievances to within MB to get it sorted quickly ... in one go ??
Any advice/similar related experiences and help would be gratefully received.
Wondering if you have any advice. I am a bit stuck. Apologies for this being a long-winded post.
Bought a 2001 SLK320 from Signature MB (Dartford) last month. 1-owner. 5k miles (!!). And a good price ... !!
The dealer was very clear that it was a one-lady owner car (as evidenced by the V5), who had a few other cars and didn't use it very much. She had upgraded to the new SL350 recently.
Figured that this saved me lead time in ordering a new one and about 7000 pounds too ... as the car is loaded with the options that I wanted.
I figured it was a good buy (!!) with the edge of the depreciation curve taken out by someone else. Dealer was very pushy about selling me this one on the merits of its low low mileage ... despite my intention to go with a new car.
Anyway.
The point is that they insisted there was no crash damage or problems ... as I was suspect initially about the incongruity between the age of the vehicle and the low low mileage.
HPI completely clean. MB database checks completely clean too.
Gorgeous car for the current weather (!!).
Anyway. Since I bought it. I have noted a few problems.
1) Rattle from the underside of the car. Particularly evident over potholes. Like metal on metal. Not a rub, or a squeak. A rattle. Something sounds loose. Persistent. Very very irritating. The car has the optional sump shield so its hard to see any problems under the car directly.
2) Boot handle/lock is very stiff and sometimes can only be opened after cycling the lock/unlock a few times.
3) Internal light and locks cycle when the body flexes. Have isolated this to a dicky lock "sensor" in the boot. The door sensors work fine. I believe the boot one is unclipping when the body flexes (e.g., through 90 degree turns onto downhill side-streets).
4) Rusted (extensive) edges of the sump shield under the engine bay.
5) Dent in LT door (dentmaster repair a week after purchase!). Present at time of purchase !!
6) Paint chips on rear bumper.
7) Crack in front lower skirt / air dam ... unfortunately not noted by myself at time of purchase. Not obvious. But damaged nonetheless (and NOT BY ME!!).
Took the car to local MB workshops (Hampstead) and they put it up on a ramp to investigate (twice). They thought they cured it the first time I went it last week.
They then refused to undertake further work on the second attempt ... citing that there was evidence of overspray front and rear, and that any work would not be covered by warranty as the car had been crash damaged.
Okay. Basically no solutions and they didn't want to know.
Really pissed off at this stage.
Quick call to Dartford. No further info from them but they got Hampstead MB to forward an 'engineering report' to them about the issue. Basically says the same. That there is evidence of overspray and that the faults with the car may be related to repaired crash damage.
So. They asked me to bring the car in for their attention ... THEY HAVE ACCEPTED LIABILITY pending their own review of the car.
However. Before doing that. I have commissioned an RAC vehicle report (at my own cost of 250 pounds) to ensure that the car is safe to drive (worried about 'cut and shut' cars being sold on by MB !!) ... AND to get an independent opinion about the extent of the damage before I let them "fix everything".
They (RAC) think it is basically a sound car with a catalogue of small faults. They commented though that the combination of faults would be expensive to repair togehter.
But they too believe that the car has been resprayed front and rear.
The RAC guy thought that repairs were done to a very high standard as it was difficult to tell at first. He used an ultrasound machine to measure the thickness of the paint to figure the differences (!!!!!). Nil evidence of filler in any of the panels.
I basically am happy with the car as it is mechanically sound and drives beautifully otherwise ... as would be commensurate with mechanicals that had done 5000 miles.
There is no other evidence of replaced components or "newer" body parts on the car.
However. Here are my issues.
1) I still need advice about where to go within the great MB network to get this sorted out definitively. I basically want ALL the problems fixed now. And I don't really trust the department at Dartford ... they had their chance to check out the car properly before I bought it ... and messed up ... or failed to ensure the quality of the vehicle. They also failed to flag up crash repair damage ... despite my specific issue about this with them at time of purchase. SO WHERE TO GO NOW ?? I can get MB Dartford to authorise warranty work at any MB centre in the UK I guess ... is that right ??
2) I am concerned how "good quality repairs" be done to the car without the knowledge of MB on their database. Surely something should have been recorded or they should have detected it on their "Signature" checks ... ??
3) I am concerned about how all of this affects the value of the car. How much compensation should I be seeking in terms of devaluation of the vehicle if I keep it? RAC suggested 10% verbally but refused to include that in his report for fear of liability.
4) Should I pursue a swap under their "lemon" policy as the car is not as advertised (i.e., crash damaged). I would insist on same spec and same low mileage.
5) What if there are future problems with the car that are related to this damage. How do I ensure that MB will be responsible and will cover any further repairs necessary? Although the standard of repair work appears to be good ... how good can it really be if the car rattles and the boot lock fails intermittently ... ?? Especially with issues like evident rusting ... I am worried that the car will rust prematurely even after this is sorted out. It seems the rust-protection coating has been damaged.
Who do I take my grievances to within MB to get it sorted quickly ... in one go ??
Any advice/similar related experiences and help would be gratefully received.