W211 E Class SBC Pump

[Will]

All cars have their foibles.

An SBC replacement on a 211 is hardly the end of the world.

W210s are mostly in the scrap heap as a result of corrosion.

Likewise some W124s rusted badly and had bio-degrading wiring looms that cost a similar amount to replace.

These are not new cars any more, in fact there’s been 2 generations of E-class since.

Have never really understood all the fuss.

 

[Monkeylegend]

Why did they replace SBC free of charge in USA and not UK?
"In a letter - only to US customers - dated August 2018 a warranty addendum was sent extending coverage for 25 years and unlimited miles on the following SBC components.

• Hydraulic control unit
• Hydraulic Pump
• Pressure Reservoir
• Brake Operating Unit
• Front and Rear wheel speed sensors
• Brake lamp switch
• Yaw Rate Sensor

Out of warranty repairs of these items can be reimbursed by MB if proper documentation is provided"
From Wikipedia

Mercedes did replace them free of charge in the UK for several years. I had mine replaced when the car had done well over 200k miles and a year or so out of warranty.

 

[Will]

I think the expectation is that UK motorists with 15 year old cars, typically with over 100k miles, several owners from new and worth under £10k should be entitled to free brake pumps from MB’s pocket

The logic being that that in the USA they have done so, why should we miss out?

 

[simoncollinge1]

Mercedes did replace them free of charge in the UK for several years. I had mine replaced when the car had done well over 200k miles and a year or so out of warranty.

Appreciate coming somewhat late into this debate but determined to try and find out what has been happening in the UK.
I have a beautiful 2003 E320 and faced with a bill for nearly £2000.00 I want more information, please.

Monkey legend can you let me have full details of your replacement?

Many thanks. After all, why should you still be able to have it carried out FOC in the USA and not here?

 

[Monkeylegend]

Appreciate coming somewhat late into this debate but determined to try and find out what has been happening in the UK.
I have a beautiful 2003 E320 and faced with a bill for nearly £2000.00 I want more information, please.

Monkey legend can you let me have full details of your replacement?

Many thanks. After all, why should you still be able to have it carried out FOC in the USA and not here?

Mine was replaced by Mercedes as a goodwill gesture in 2007 on a 2003 car. I used it for business so the mileage was high, can't remember exactly but is was in the region of 260k. The pump itself cost about £750 from Mercedes in those days, although Bosch supply them more recently at less than this, or they did when I last looked for prices.

Mercedes stopped replacing them foc a couple of years after that I think.

I am a bit surprised by your £2000 bill, I presume that was via a Mercedes dealer. I have a very good indie near me who has indicated a cost of £700/800 to replace. I still have a 2004 car with it so have a vested interest.

They can sometimes be reset by any garage with STAR to extend their life.

 

[simoncollinge1]

My MB Dealer has quoted £1256.37 + vat for the pump and I have an excellent independent who will fit. He has used a STAR to reset but not confident it will last.

Have looked at the 600 Euro Bosch reconditioned but why should we settle for second best?

At the end of the day, we're asking Mercedes to compensate us as they still do in America.

I was very disappointed that my MB dealer was not prepared to give me a UK MB contact to pursue a claim.
He just referred me to Google!

Can MBClub UK take this up on behalf of their members? Could they recommend MB UK contacts?

 

[simoncollinge1]

I think the expectation is that UK motorists with 15 year old cars, typically with over 100k miles, several owners from new and worth under £10k should be entitled to free brake pumps from MB’s pocket

The logic being that that in the USA they have done so, why should we miss out?

Is this something MBClub can pursue on behalf of members?

 

[AMGeed]

My MB Dealer has quoted £1256.37 + vat for the pump and I have an excellent independent who will fit. He has used a STAR to reset but not confident it will last.

Have looked at the 600 Euro Bosch reconditioned but why should we settle for second best?

At the end of the day, we're asking Mercedes to compensate us as they still do in America.

I was very disappointed that my MB dealer was not prepared to give me a UK MB contact to pursue a claim.
He just referred me to Google!

Can MBClub UK take this up on behalf of their members? Could they recommend MB UK contacts?

Bookmark this guy for future SBC pump rebuild.
https://www.ecu-repair.co.uk/

The dealer is still pulling your pants down asking for £1256 + vat.
What is wrong with a Bosch recon unit for 600 Euros? The chances are its exact same unit the dealer is selling you.

As for asking MB UK to compensate the same as the USA, not a hope in hell.
It's been tried and rejected in the past for items covered in the US.

 

[AMGeed]

Is this something MBClub can pursue on behalf of members?

MBClub won't pursue a lost cause.

 

[grober]

UK Legal (Practical Law UK, Westlaw UK, UK Online Books) Signon

In case people are unaware what a class action means in the US legal system, it means that once a case is recognised as a class action ---- its only necessary for one of the plaintives to prove their case against a company and be awarded compensation for a defective product --- for the said verdict and compensation to apply to all plaintifs with the same complaint against the company!! Without class action each plaintif would have to prove their case individually against the company to obtain compensation. This tends then to favour the party with the most monetary resource to contest such a case- i.e. the manufacturer. Faced with numerous complaints/failures of a component said threat of a class action usually results in some form of voluntary/agreed ---- recall/compensation by said manufacturer as the lesser of two monetary evils.

 

[simoncollinge1]

MBClub won't pursue a lost cause.

Have they pursued “causes” in the past?

 

[simoncollinge1]

UK Legal (Practical Law UK, Westlaw UK, UK Online Books) Signon

In case people are unaware what a class action means in the US legal system, it means that once a case is recognised as a class action ---- its only necessary for one of the plaintives to prove their case against a company and be awarded compensation for a defective product --- for the said verdict and compensation to apply to all plaintifs with the same complaint against the company!! Without class action each plaintif would have to prove their case individually against the company to obtain compensation. This tends then to favour the party with the most monetary resource to contest such a case- i.e. the manufacturer. Faced with numerous complaints/failures of a component said threat of a class action usually results in some form of voluntary/agreed ---- recall/compensation by said manufacturer as the lesser of two monetary evils.

So what are you suggesting? There is an obvious “unfairness” and discrimination if an owner in the US can have their car repaired free of charge but not in the UK?

 

[Ted]

Different laws, different rules, different expectations, different warranties, different price structures.
Disappointing though it is, you can’t just cherry pick on these.

 

[AMGeed]

Have they pursued “causes” in the past?

No idea Simon. I very much doubt it though.