I found something new to worry about today. - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Bio300TDTdriver · #46 08-08-2007, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

I'd call back and talk to the service manager, and politely inform them that their factory-trained technician can't tell the difference between the body frame rail and the subframe. That kind of incompetence infuriates me!

Yes, we were not too happy either. He said he didn't want to waste our money so they didn't pull it in. They just looked at the pictures. I was happy to pay them for an hour to give me a written opinion of what they found. They have a poster up in the service area and they are number 1 on it in the Northwest region.

Bio300TDTdriver · #47 08-08-2007, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBadJohn

If I were you, unbolt anything in that area. Weld gaps in and grind smooth. Them possibly make a plate with a hole for the bolt to pass through and weld that over top as well.
Its amazing the stuff Ive seen done with metal. No use in declaring the car a loss without serious effort to patch her up

My Indy said the same thing about the bolt and welding after seeing the pictures. He's going to look at the car on Monday. We are not giving up on it yet. Not without a good try to save it.

Bio300TDTdriver · #48 12-25-2007, 05:34 PM

Well to make a long story short, the car is back together. The rear crossmember had to be replaced. The rear suspension, exhaust, and fuel tank had to dropped. The old piece was cut out and the new one welded in. The guy at the body shop said the new piece was much stronger than the original. Funny MB stiffened this part even though they denied having any problems with it. The piece did hold the rear springs and the suspension bolted to it. See pictures.

Bio300TDTdriver · #49 12-25-2007, 05:36 PM

One more picture.

Hatterasguy · #50 12-25-2007, 06:23 PM

Were you able to get a new rear cross member?

If so look at the part numbers, MB "never updates anything", but if you see a string of superseded part numbers you know they did.

I think its because they are German, German engineers never make mistakes, well at least they won't admit to them.

chopprs · #51 12-25-2007, 06:30 PM

.......trust Me, I am an Engineer! If the factory had intended for the crack to be there, it would have been. Cracks are from overstressing. Clean it really good, weld the crack and then weld a patch over the top of it that is at least an inch in every direction bigger than the damaged area. Weld all the way around the patch. This will prevent it from cracking next to the weld which will be a weak spot and sometimes can crack next to the weld. Don't be stoopid, fix it! It is an easy and relatively inexpensive job! I promise you that the crack will not get any smaller. It will only get bigger and bigger until it is a problem!

Bio300TDTdriver · #52 12-25-2007, 06:32 PM

Yes it was new and came from the fatherland. I didn't get to see it before they put it in and covered it with rust proofing. In the EPC I have, they do update parts or rather it says, part replaced with and there is a new part number.

Bio300TDTdriver · #53 12-25-2007, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopprs

.......trust Me, I am an Engineer! If the factory had intended for the crack to be there, it would have been. Cracks are from overstressing. Clean it really good, weld the crack and then weld a patch over the top of it that is at least an inch in every direction bigger than the damaged area. Weld all the way around the patch. This will prevent it from cracking next to the weld which will be a weak spot and sometimes can crack next to the weld. Don't be stoopid, fix it! It is an easy and relatively inexpensive job! I promise you that the crack will not get any smaller. It will only get bigger and bigger until it is a problem!

That was my original course of action, but if you look at the piece and how far it was cracked it was nearly impossible to get to while it was on the car, so we opted for a new piece.

Hatterasguy · #54 12-25-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bio300TDTdriver

Yes it was new and came from the fatherland. I didn't get to see it before they put it in and covered it with rust proofing. In the EPC I have, they do update parts or rather it says, part replaced with and there is a new part number.

As I suspected, thats because German engineers don't make mistakes. Just random changes.

I have lost count at the number of parts that I have gotten from MB that have been "updated". The vacuum pump on my 603 stands out.

Bio300TDTdriver · #55 12-25-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

As I suspected, thats because German engineers don't make mistakes. Just random changes.

I have lost count at the number of parts that I have gotten from MB that have been "updated". The vacuum pump on my 603 stands out.

Well if you needed a new head like we did, that would stand out. Think vacuum pump to the power of 10.

pastmaster · #56 12-25-2007, 07:35 PM

My Goodness! I have never heard of a thing like this without the manufacturer being brought up in front of Congress, and being publicly castrated. If it was GM or Ford, producing such a clusterf*ck piece of engineering in one of their cars, it would be on the frontpage, Oprah and Larry King. The exploding fuel tanks on the Ford Crown Vic Police Cruisers, when hit at 70mph, are a lesser threat than this thing. Makes me real confident to have my family's safety, in the hands of people who ignore this type of defect, mainly the dealer, who is aware of it, by the service bulletins. They extended the warranty to 10 years? Big deal, if you don't know about it.

This changes my mind about Mercedes-Benz and their commitment to me and my family's safety. Gee, I never thought these guys would pull something like that. Glad Chrysler, is free from corporate leadership, like that.

Glad you had sharpeyes and saw it, hate to think what would have happened if it failed at the worst time.

JimmyL · #57 12-25-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastmaster

This changes my mind about Mercedes-Benz and their commitment to me and my family's safety.

There are a lot of folks whose lives have been saved in an accident in a Mercedes that might disagree with your over-reaction......

Hatterasguy · #58 12-25-2007, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastmaster

My Goodness! I have never heard of a thing like this without the manufacturer being brought up in front of Congress, and being publicly castrated. If it was GM or Ford, producing such a clusterf*ck piece of engineering in one of their cars, it would be on the frontpage, Oprah and Larry King. The exploding fuel tanks on the Ford Crown Vic Police Cruisers, when hit at 70mph, are a lesser threat than this thing. Makes me real confident to have my family's safety, in the hands of people who ignore this type of defect, mainly the dealer, who is aware of it, by the service bulletins. They extended the warranty to 10 years? Big deal, if you don't know about it.

This changes my mind about Mercedes-Benz and their commitment to me and my family's safety. Gee, I never thought these guys would pull something like that. Glad Chrysler, is free from corporate leadership, like that.

Glad you had sharpeyes and saw it, hate to think what would have happened if it failed at the worst time.

Its a 20 year old car, things break. IMHO after 10 years all bets are off, anything can break.

lietuviai · #59 12-25-2007, 11:27 PM

I wonder how many people are oblivious to this potential disaster waiting under a false sense of security?

pastmaster · #60 12-26-2007, 01:37 AM

Yes, I understand M-B's other great engineering and safety achievements and they a great automaker, and have saved many lives. That's what makes them M-B.

But, it is always the owners responsibility to keep his cars safe and properly maintained. In this case he saw the cracks and didn't ignore them, and fixed them properly. He was flying high and happy, without any idea about the cracks. Was underneath his car and he discovered them. How many people get under their cars and do their own maintenance? I would check my car out tomorrow, if I had one of these years and series of cars, for this failure. I will check all my older cars, too, my curiosity has been awakened.

I just expected better from M-B and am disappointed even though it's an old car. Over reacting? Sure. I Guess the world has changed, or I have.