Does anyone have any bad experiences with Mercedes Benz cars, particularly the dealers?
Answers:
Apart from their horrendous charges, you mean?
An M-B (A Class) is the only car I've ever bought from new. Becasue it was only a "baby Merc" the dealer hardly wanted to give me the time of day. Didn't want to talk about options because he was determined to sell me one from stock rather than make a special factory order (if you can't choose your options, what's the POINT in spending all that extra money on a new car?). Then the car was 2 months late.
Then we had a problem with a smell of petrol in the cabin. Took it to two dealerships: the first said we weren't putting the petrol cap on properly (do I LOOK stupid?) and the second one charged for 3 hours labour and never found the problem. My brother-in-law (who's a lorry mechanic) had a look and almost immediately diagnosed and fixed the problem (a leaking gasket).
The car wasn't bad, but I'd never buy one again because of the treatment from dealers.
When you see the money they make from you, you will always buy second hand and keep the car in good service
i got run over by one, that was a pretty bad experience, does that count ??
Not so much the cars themselves, but I used to know a total Ar$ewipe who worked there.
My friend had a Mercedes and she always had some problem with it (mechanically) and to fix anything was well over a couple hundred..
Windows wouldn't roll down, rooftop wouldn't close. She also had a busted tail light that would've cost almost 300.00 to replace.I'm sorry but No I couldn't tell you what kind of class it was either.
Yes the swines wouldnt give me one for free!!
I have a 1990 Merc190e and its great.
I have had no problems with it whatsoever, yes its 16 years old but it still looks good and has the 3 pointed star on the bonnet, Though I have heard that some of the newer ones tend to be a bit crap, and the stealer-ships charge a lot for services and parts, It would be best to find a nice second hand one in good condition (plenty out there) and to take it to a reputable Mercedes specialist or even a reputable garage who you trust for any work to be done.
As for £300 for a rear light cluster Ha, they must have see them coming, expect to pay about £30 and to fit yourself is easy, like all things shop around to get the best prices.
Yes , dealers in particular. I bought injectors (new), but on the invoice they had another number beside the part number I bought, like a substitute or replacement sort of. When I was returning those, the deal was that they sold me a reconditioned injectors for price of the new ones. And I have the documents to prove it (or it may be the fraud case).
The UK dealership network has been taken over by MB. I used to find them a a little arrogant and disinterested. they are better now and are trying hard to be seen as number one in customer service. I'm not sure whether the can match BMW or Audi yet - there are real differences between dealerships.
It really depends on where you are located. Many dealers are very good and have an impecable reputation. Some are the pits and will charge you up the waaazoooo for the simplest of service. And yes parts are very expensive. Problems with the cars. Not if you think 868000 miles on one is a problem. Drove a 1967 200D until the engine crankshaft splintered and took out the block. I have had 4 and still own one. All had over 350000 miles and I handed them all down to my grandchildren as they came of age to drive. The one I have now is a 1986 300SDL. 316780 miles on it and purrs like a kitten. 28-35 mpg. and I can not complain.
The advice to look for a good used one is good advice. The 2001 through 2004 1/2 cars have had very bad electrical problems. MB has spent more than $300 million on warranty repairs to them and are still paying. I would be very careful of any of these during that time period. Their resale value has gone to the dogs. The 2005 and 2006 models look like they are going to be OK. But I would wait at least another year if you were looking at any of them.
My favoriate of the one I have owned was a 1972 250C gasoline powered coupe. Nice little car very comfortable and peppy. Got 18-25 mpg.. Only thing I would have improved was the transmission. I would have tried to get the Eruopean version with a 5 speed with the 5th gear as an overdrive .85 finial ratio.
Now that would have been a super little car.
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