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  #16  
Old 03-04-2008, 04:49 PM
I'm thinkin, I'm thinkin.
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Arlington, Texas
Posts: 440
This is my idea but I think it fits...

Imagine this meeting in the mid to late nineties..
- What do we need to do to get a Benz in every garage ?
- Lower the price boss !!
- How do we do that ?
- Start sourcing our parts from Srilanka and bring a $30,000 model to market..

I think it's trying to maximize profit. Get your parts cheaper and go from there.
EXAMPLE: The 1997-2001 M-Class window switch. EVERY SINGLE ONE FAILED and continue to fail - drivers position in particular as it's the one that gets the most usage. "We changed vendors" was the message about 4 times. Change vendors ? Fine, but giving different vendors the same crap design & specs to produce solved nothing. They were so bad that I used to change them out myself on the service drive in less than 10 minutes because there was rarely a day that at least one person came in with the drivers window stuck down. rather than make them wait, I'd just generate a repair order, get the part and replace it myself...

Basically, YES. Outsourcing parts. Giving a vendor the specs of what they want a particular part to do (function) and what they want to pay for it. Dictate your terms and you're bound to get crap results. There's no reason 210 Chassis door sill plates should be replaced every other month for cracking when you can jump up & down on a 123/126 sill plate for a week straight and not crack them. Let's not mention the "BLUE OVAL" that was on some air bag connectors..

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
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Do I miss being a service advisor ???
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  #17  
Old 03-04-2008, 05:24 PM
compress ignite's Avatar
Drone aspiring to Serfdom
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: 32(degrees) North by 81(degrees) West
Posts: 5,554
Oops!

99.9 percent sub-suppliers. 5 percent bad design.
(I.E.Indian Injector Nozzles) (PVC type hose from valve cover to intake
upstream of the Turbo on OM602,OM603)

Last edited by compress ignite; 03-04-2008 at 06:11 PM.
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  #18  
Old 03-04-2008, 06:41 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ct. 50 mi. e. of N.Y.C.
Posts: 100
M.b Reliability

See my posts under Skydog, you`ll find sometimes anyone questions this product they`re do for an onslat of of red faced steamyeyed dieselverts! I`ve owned two 81 300 td`s, problems, window switches, transmissions climate control push buttons radio digital fadeouts right up to my 99 E300 t$d heater fans 81 +_88 te 99 e300, SAME STYLE CLIMATE CONTROLS FROM 1980 OR EARLIER to 1995 headgasket leaks from 86 300 -95 E320 ,leaking on side backwindows on many te`s wiring harness on most 86-95 e320 or 300e! I`ve heard of people throwing keys back at poor sales people and screaming in showrooms. My BMW sales friend told me a few yrs. back at a comparison drive the S-class had so many problems they stopped trying them out! My Audi service buddy`s told me not to buy any Audi after 2000 , yes I was in sales for 10 yrs. and the differance of talking to service customers in a Acura + Honda stores goes from how great their cars have been to snarling banshees` who keep saying this is my last M.B ! Next is Lexis. Now yes I`m still buying them for the looks and style to the driving pleasure and I`ve sold all the highline cars and very few people buy them for the beat the Jones syndrome ,but they are fed up and looking elsewhere and our V.W. friends aren`nt too far behind. Well friends just a few short lines to brightin up our days and yes I`m looking for a nice E300 /320 black/black or maybe a 92-93 2.5 diesel here I go again! ps watch for the onslaught I just dissed a Benz
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  #19  
Old 03-04-2008, 06:53 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: south of Atlanta
Posts: 116
To all you Benz mechanics and Service Advisers...

Is there a model (or models) from Mercedes, say from the last 5 to 10 years, that you would buy? Why?
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  #20  
Old 03-04-2008, 08:04 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Reno/Sparks, NV
Posts: 3,063
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdvisorGuy View Post
There's no reason 210 Chassis door sill plates should be replaced every other month for cracking when you can jump up & down on a 123/126 sill plate for a week straight and not crack them.
My W210 doesn't have this problem and I've never heard of it. IMO the worst thing about the W210 chassis is the front spring perches. That's reason enough for me not to ever buy another W210 again. Having said that and now that I've poured lots of blood and money into my W210, I like it a lot and it's a great car when everything works. In fact I haven't had to do anything non-routine to the car in more than a year. As for my Jetta the only non-routine item that needed replacing was the brake light switch and it's been trouble-free otherwise. Newer cars certainly have more electronics and sometimes they go bad, but I have to say these days I spend a lot less time in the garage working on cars than I used to when I had MB's from the 80's.
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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL
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  #21  
Old 03-04-2008, 10:49 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada.
Posts: 6,510
We also had little trouble with our tdi volkswagon. Like yourself though we might have been the exception. I have met too many people with complaints about the amount of trouble they had.
The new one was described on the net today somewhere. I really have questions if we will ever again buy their product. Their strongpoint is the body is really pretty well rustproof since about 2000. No doubt in my mind the most rustproof body in the world right now.
Customer service by volkswagon now is about the worse of any maker I have ever seen in Canada. It was extremely good when I purchased a new 1962 and 65 in comparison to other brands at the time. What happened? They produced some disastors from time to time like the type 3 and perhaps fox and early version of the jetta 82-84 I think. Although again some where happy with them.
The allure of the japanese diesel is probably going to prove irresistable to us. We know the japanese companies internal policies will not flob us off if the troubles are genuine.
Why are the germans not ready to produce the effort that generates repeat sales? Just seems stupid to me. If someone asked me if it was a good ideal to buy a new volkswagon. I might just tell them it was a crapshoot as far as I can tell.
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  #22  
Old 03-04-2008, 11:18 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
Quote:
Originally Posted by DieselAddict View Post
Newer cars certainly have more electronics and sometimes they go bad, but I have to say these days I spend a lot less time in the garage working on cars than I used to when I had MB's from the 80's.
In another 10 years you would be spending just as much time in the garage fixing your current cars as you would be right now fixing ones from the 80's. The difference is that your cars are 10+ years newer and thus the things wearing out on the 80's models haven't worn out yet on your cars. Makes sense.

However, I'd much rather work on the older ones. Stuff was made better, and kept simpler. However, being a computer tech and an electronics junkie....working on newer cars with electronic stuff probably wouldn't (doesn't) bother me as much as it would someone not as familiar with that stuff.

Once I have enough $$, I'd like to have an 2001-2002 era E430 in my collection as a daily driver, and if I had to fix electronics stuff, it'd not bother me. Often replacing an electronic component is easier/cleaner than replacing some oily mechanical part. Just depends on your preferences.
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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)
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  #23  
Old 03-05-2008, 12:05 AM
Cervan's Avatar
Crazy mechanic.
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: olympia washington
Posts: 1,809
part of the reason newer mercedes and BMW's are coming back so soon for repairs, are because in about 2000 they started putting in "lifetime" fluid into the engines and trannys. the new mercedes Do not have a dipstick. i repeat DO NOT HAVE A DIPSTICK. you must BUY a SPECIAL dipstick just to see how much OIL you have. Same goes for the tranny... My mother has a 2002 toyota highlander. with "lifetime" fluid inside of it, IT MUST STILL BE CHANGED EVERY 6K! What this does is confuses the normal, run of the mill driver who knows nothing more than "Oh, lifetime? Yay never need to change the oil again.." And this caused billions of problems..
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.
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  #24  
Old 03-05-2008, 12:09 AM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
No kidding, you'd think the manufacturers would have been more intelligent about that. They kinda deserved what they got with the no dipstick and claiming lifetime fluid stuff....
__________________
-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)
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  #25  
Old 03-05-2008, 12:12 AM
Ara T.'s Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Posts: 2,075
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cervan View Post
part of the reason newer mercedes and BMW's are coming back so soon for repairs, are because in about 2000 they started putting in "lifetime" fluid into the engines and trannys. the new mercedes Do not have a dipstick. i repeat DO NOT HAVE A DIPSTICK. you must BUY a SPECIAL dipstick just to see how much OIL you have. Same goes for the tranny... My mother has a 2002 toyota highlander. with "lifetime" fluid inside of it, IT MUST STILL BE CHANGED EVERY 6K! What this does is confuses the normal, run of the mill driver who knows nothing more than "Oh, lifetime? Yay never need to change the oil again.." And this caused billions of problems..
What lifetime fluid in your Highlander has to be changed every 6k?
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  #26  
Old 03-05-2008, 12:18 AM
Cervan's Avatar
Crazy mechanic.
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: olympia washington
Posts: 1,809
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ara T. View Post
What lifetime fluid in your Highlander has to be changed every 6k?
Tranny. thank god they didnt put that crap into the engine. I wouldve had a fit. (Im sorry the tranny fluid is supposed to be changed every year. but i change it every 6k to 10k or so. just because it is fluid and needs to be changed)
__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.
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  #27  
Old 03-05-2008, 12:41 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Munich
Posts: 107
Quote:
Originally Posted by skydog View Post
See my posts under Skydog, you`ll find sometimes anyone questions this product they`re do for an onslat of of red faced steamyeyed dieselverts! I`ve owned two 81 300 td`s, problems, window switches, transmissions climate control push buttons radio digital fadeouts right up to my 99 E300 t$d heater fans 81 +_88 te 99 e300, SAME STYLE CLIMATE CONTROLS FROM 1980 OR EARLIER to 1995 headgasket leaks from 86 300 -95 E320 ,leaking on side backwindows on many te`s wiring harness on most 86-95 e320 or 300e! I`ve heard of people throwing keys back at poor sales people and screaming in showrooms. My BMW sales friend told me a few yrs. back at a comparison drive the S-class had so many problems they stopped trying them out! My Audi service buddy`s told me not to buy any Audi after 2000 , yes I was in sales for 10 yrs. and the differance of talking to service customers in a Acura + Honda stores goes from how great their cars have been to snarling banshees` who keep saying this is my last M.B ! Next is Lexis. Now yes I`m still buying them for the looks and style to the driving pleasure and I`ve sold all the highline cars and very few people buy them for the beat the Jones syndrome ,but they are fed up and looking elsewhere and our V.W. friends aren`nt too far behind. Well friends just a few short lines to brightin up our days and yes I`m looking for a nice E300 /320 black/black or maybe a 92-93 2.5 diesel here I go again! ps watch for the onslaught I just dissed a Benz
? you got a spelling checker?
anyway, we all have a reason to buy mb. most people like the star on the hood. incredible marketing, you keep looking at it... and others do too. have a star on your hood, and you have 'the best car in the world' according to people that have other kinds of cars.
To me MB is kinda crap, but I can fix the crap they make. that's why I like it.
My BMW has never given me any problems though. and it's salvage, with 200k miles on it, 30+ owners etc etc. if only they'd bring their 1.9 diesel to the states!
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Last edited by habraken; 03-05-2008 at 12:51 AM.
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  #28  
Old 03-05-2008, 01:00 AM
Cervan's Avatar
Crazy mechanic.
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: olympia washington
Posts: 1,809
Quote:
Originally Posted by habraken View Post
? you got a spelling checker?
anyway, we all have a reason to buy mb. most people like the star on the hood. incredible marketing, you keep looking at it... and others do too. have a star on your hood, and you have 'the best car in the world' according to people that have other kinds of cars.
To me MB is kinda crap, but I can fix the crap they make. that's why I like it.
My BMW has never given me any problems though. and it's salvage, with 200k miles on it, 30+ owners etc etc. if only they'd bring their 1.9 diesel to the states!
I would have to agree with you.. i repaired a 1989 bmw 325i. (general tune up) 300k miles on it, still purred and pulled strong! My father is against BMW's totally because of the "electrial nightmares" involved with them. I personally dont care if the electrical system explodes. the car feels so perfect when you sit inside of them. no other car can mimic that feeling.
__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.
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  #29  
Old 03-05-2008, 01:23 AM
Unofficial wormcan opener
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ashland, MA
Posts: 2,602
Quote:
Originally Posted by SD Blue View Post
On the S-series, many would think about bringing it in for "softer" air in the tires. Think about the fact that Consumer Reports makes its money by subscriptions. They also base their reviews on manipulative questions in surveys. Anyone who has honestly looked at surveys, knows that you can get them to say just about anything you want.
Everyone gets the same survey! What do you think, they send different ones to the MB owners and another set to the Japanese owners?
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  #30  
Old 03-05-2008, 08:36 AM
Craig
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Simple solution: never/ever buy a car new enough to have a check engine light, problem solved.

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