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#1
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Unsatisfying Roadside Assistance Encounter
Today, while driving across a bridge over the Missisippi river (Poplar street bridge in St. Louis, for those in the know), I ran out of fuel. Now, there were a few contributing factors to my running out of fuel, not all of which were my fault, but regardless, it happened. Of course, being on a bridge was pretty freaky, with cars passing as fast as they could, whipping around me and such, but a friendly truck gave me a push so I could take the next exit and get to a safer pull out.
I decided to test out the Mercedes Roadside Assistance program. I called the number on my glovebox, and after navigating some menus and waiting on hold for a few minutes I was helped. The woman asked me quite a few questions about the car, and had to enter me as the new owner of the car, since I hadn't used Roadside Assist before, and wasn't the original owner. Had to give the VIN, etc. Finally, I let her know the problem, and she says she'll contact someone, and get back to me. I get a call a few minutes later from a tow company, who has been put in charge of the Mercedes roadside program in the area. I let them know that I'm out of fuel, and that I just need a gallon or three of diesel to get back on the road. He says, well, we can't transport fuel, or really anything else. All we can do is tow you somewhere for 85$. Seriously, I said, you can't bring me a few gallons of diesel? Nope.. So I said thanks but no thanks, and went to plan B, which was to pour a quart of Powerservice and a half gallon of motor oil into the tank, prime it up, and drive to another gas station. Fortunately, plan B worked fine, and the engine ran beautifully on DieselKleen and 15W40, and took me the several miles to the nearest diesel station. Has anyone else tried the roadside assistance recently and found it to be a little... unsatisfying? peace, sam
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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry." 1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ) 2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG) |
#2
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My sister has used it twice. Once when she was at the store to purchase a new battery. She couldn't figure out how to get the old battery out. They told her to stay put and roadside assistance arrived and sold her a battery, installed for almost nothing more than what the battery would have cost at the store that she was sitting outside of. The second time it was raining VERY hard. She left work and in rushhour traffic on the DC beltway one of the wipers came off. She called roadside assistance again and the man who arrived ziptied the wiper back onto the arm so that she could continue on her way. This is in a 20 year old car that hasn't been to the dealer in many many years.
Maybe they contracted with a pathetic tow company, or there is a regulation in your state about carrying fuel. Either way I wouldn't be impressed with that service, but MB roadside assitance has server our family well. -Tad
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1995 G320 2003 C230 Kompressor Coupe 2005 ML500 2007 ML350 |
#3
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what rubbish.
every i mean every tow truck i see around these parts has a portable 5 gal red fuel tank strapped onto the outside of it somewhere... unless there's some weird law out your way, that guy shud be reported to MB as being a rip off artist...
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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP |
#4
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Yeah, it seems to me that the service station was trying to get an extra buck out of you, thinking that you were a priss-priss, leather-driving-gloves-and-Classical-music-in-the-CD-player-I-don't-know-a-damn-thing-about-cars kind of Mercedes driver.
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1982 240D. My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16. |
#5
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Never used it or ever expect to. Just goes against my deep self-reliant grain. I'd rather be stuck, miserable and stressed out. But that's just me.
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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue" "Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." listen, look, .........and duck. |
#6
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As long as it's in an approved container anyone can transport fuel anywhere. The guy was obviously lying.
Danny
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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles OBK member #23 (\__/) (='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your (")_(") signature to help him gain world domination |
#7
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You ran into a con artist. Good for you that you had a plan B, the means to carry out plan B, and plan B worked. Now, do the right thing and let MBZ know they need to patronize someone else cause this guy is a bozo.
I have used roadside assist only once. Needed gasoline for a 230SL prior to repairing the fuel gauge. They fixed me up and showed friendliness and interest in the car, asking questions. It was a decent experience.
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PagodaLOVER 1967 230SL, manual 1959 180D, manual |
#8
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I have an entire 1 gallon jug of shell rotella 15w40 in the trunk, so I have an extra 20ish miles of driving if needed I don't even know why I have it, my engine burns no oil....even at 3000ish mile intervals....I guess I can just call it "spare fuel" then.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#9
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I think MBUSA owes you a formal apology...
Here is the cut and paste directly from MBUSA's own website on the page entitled "Roadside Assistance":
"What should I do if I run out of gas? If I get a flat tire? If my battery dies?" When you own a Mercedes-Benz, the answer is simple: don't worry. Our Roadside Assistance Program includes a free service called Sign and Drive, providing prompt relief for the three biggest headaches of the highways. We'll jump-start your run-down battery, bring you a few gallons of fuel to get you back on your way or change a flat tire using your spare, all free of charge. Call back and speak to a manager at roadside assistance. Tell them your next call is to the attorney general's office at your state's consumer affairs department to discuss false advertising charges.
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Marty D. 2013 C300 4Matic 1984 BMW 733i 2013 Lincoln MKz |
#10
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Thanks for the response, everyone... I just wanted to see if this was 'standard practice' or not, and it doesn't seem like it is. I'll call up the local MB dealership, who are the ones who contracted out their service, and see what they have to say about it. The 'we can't carry fuel' line sounded weird to me too. I even had him check with his manager, and it was confirmed, no, they can't transport fuel. Which seems odd, since those little 5 gallon cans were created for a reason, presumably that reason being 'transporting fuel'. Its not like I was asking them to bring me a tanker-load or something.
Yes, the plan B was a good one, and I'm glad it worked! Now that gallon of oil I keep in the back serves a dual purpose, topping up oil, and topping up the tank. The powerservice was a nice additive too, though a bit expensive per gallon. Car ran great on the combo though, very smooth. Again, thanks for the confirmation, we'll see what MB has to say about it next... peace, sam
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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry." 1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ) 2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG) |
#11
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Perhaps you need to reimburse the price of fuel, but that is one of the few things they provide with the roadside service free of charge. Please contact MB with this info about Mr. Slimeball Guy. It would help us all out.
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#12
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I thought every car on the road transfers fuel, in their fuel tanks...
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B - 1983 300SD |
#13
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Quote:
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Marty D. 2013 C300 4Matic 1984 BMW 733i 2013 Lincoln MKz |
#14
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Wait, is this a service that MB offers for all owners of their cars, or is it something you have to sign up for?
I don't remember seeing any numbers to call in the back of my 1971 owners manual...
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1971 220D/4-speed ~250K mi. Family owned (dads side) through three generations since <5K miles. 1992 Chrysler LeBaron, 3.0V6 125K. Family owned (moms side) through three generations since new. 1977 Chevy Camaro Continual hotrod project 1970 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 472ci and nearly 19' long 1974 Fiat Spider Still needs work |
#15
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I ran out of fuel once a few years ago.. a service car from the local benz dealership was there in about a half hour.. gave me a few gallons of diesel and I was on my way.
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