"They're constantly repairing new Mercedes" - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

compress ignite · #31 03-05-2008, 11:12 AM

[I know I'm like a broken record...Over+Over+Over again]

'Last year (2007) I'm listening to the BBC interviewing "Professional" drivers
(taxi's) in Munich,Stuttgart and Berlin.The drivers are saying that they'd
love to buy and operate Mercedes Diesels as in days of old;BUT the new
Mercedes are not reliable enough to put into service as Taxicabs.

Then the driver's start telling the BBC about Mercedes Representatives
offering compensations(bribes,mordida,baksheesh) to try and induce
the purchase of Mercedes products by the professional drivers.

Now you know,that the MB reps learned that kind of action from their
forced interface with the Amerikaners at Chrysler.(Yeah,those slick homies
in Detroit taught the German cousins all about corruption...They just
did not explain that less than one hundred dollars is not a bribe,it's an
Insult!

Here's the big question...What other nasty habits did MB absorb from Detroit.

Mercedes, Love them. (But,the Company makes you crazy!)

rrgrassi · #32 03-05-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

Simple solution: never/ever buy a car new enough to have a check engine light, problem solved.

YEAH! I second that one! I work as the IT dept for a manufacturing company. Buliding and repairing PC's is one thing. Having the crap like that buried in an engine compartment is another.

All I can say is, I prefer to work on a non electronically dependent car. I can't tell how many electronic things have failed on the the cars I have had w/the CEL. First things to break are the connectors, then the components due to heat, cold, water, dirt, vibration, etc. Plus, when the mechanical things do need replacing, you first have to remove the electronics--here we go again, breaking connectors, etc.

pawoSD · #33 03-05-2008, 12:04 PM

I must say....the electrical connectors on our caravan are better designed than the ones on our older MB's. They're big, easy to grab and have a locking mechanism. Yesterday I had to unplug the temp sender plug on our van to replace the t-stat.....I pushed the release and pulled and it came right off, the inside where the terminals are was Spotless. No corrosion at all. It has a double rubber seal and little tabbed connectors inside. It could be submerged and not get wet in there. Very good design. And the van is coming up on 10 years old. However, the rest of it is built junky. So that ruins it.

rrgrassi · #34 03-05-2008, 12:14 PM

I can't say that for the GM, FORD, or ricer terminals. Seems the locking tabs are the first to break.

pawoSD · #35 03-05-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrgrassi

I can't say that for the GM, FORD, or ricer terminals. Seems the locking tabs are the first to break.

I agree. I tried to unplug something on my uncle's cavalier once and the connector tab broke right off. Looks like only Chrysler got their plugs right.

AdvisorGuy · #36 03-05-2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

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....

Engineers didn't decide on this. Accounting and marketing departments did the damage.
"Hey, if we introduce a low priced, entry level model and pushed the services out to a year, and put "lifetime" fluid in the transmission, who cares if the transmission grenades at 85,000 miles ?"
I feel sorry for the people that buy these cars off lease/warranty thinking they got a "great deal".
$27,500 is a great price for a 4 year old S430 with 65,000 miles on it, but when I gave him a price of $6000 to repair the AirMatic suspension, I think he cried when he hung up the phone.... Great deal that was...

DieselAddict · #37 03-05-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

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.

From the TDI forum I get the impression that people mostly have problems with VW's customer service and dealer labor quality. I have yet to bring my Jetta in for service because I do all my work including recalled items, so I don't have to deal with their crappy service. The new A5 Jettas did have some defects with the flywheel though. I think that's inexcusable. I may buy another VW in the future, but it won't be the first year. I think that's just too risky. The same probably goes for MB's and other cars in general. I know MB initially had problems with the new 7-speed automatics, like the one in the Bluetec.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cervan

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..

In practice "lifetime" when it comes to fluids usually means the duration of the warranty. I don't like that term either because it's inaccurate and misleading, but it seems to be a trend so I've got used to it.

Hatterasguy · #38 03-05-2008, 01:43 PM

I know a lot of people with late model MB's and they are all very happy with them. If you don't want problems walk.

#39 03-05-2008, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I know a lot of people with late model MB's and they are all very happy with them. If you don't want problems walk.

Most folks I know with late model benz don't keep them for the long term either. They seem to be fine cars, just not very interesting. I spent half of last week in VA carpooling from a hotel in a friends W140, it's fine but I just can't get very excited about it and I wouldn't put any effort into preserving an older one. It could have been a high end honda, lexus, or chevy.

Hatterasguy · #40 03-05-2008, 03:03 PM

They are smart, new cars are nice you don't have to fix them.

#41 03-05-2008, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

They are smart, new cars are nice you don't have to fix them.

Yup, if I could stand driving the new ones I would just trade them in every 100-150K miles.

DieselAddict · #42 03-05-2008, 05:04 PM

I used to be like you, thinking the W123's were the best cars in the world and everything else was boring. My opinion has since evolved, but I still understand your perspective perfectly.

#43 03-05-2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

I used to be like you, thinking the W123's were the best cars in the world and everything else was boring. My opinion has since evolved, but I still understand your perspective perfectly.

I have nothing against the new ones, they just don't interest me very much. If anything, I would probably buy an even older car than a W123.

skydog · #44 03-05-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by habraken

? 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!

habraken my spelling is years ahead of your capitalization and punctuation ,remember only take a half a tab of that Munich LSD!