Did the dealer joy ride in my car? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 05-12-2007, 11:23 PM

I took my SDL in to have its tires balanced on Friday, they did a great job I can't complain about the work. But when I got my car back I swear it had an extra 15 miles on it, maybe 20! WTF?

I know the quality assurance guys drove it, but 15 miles? I'm not sure next time I will make a note of the mileage, but I swear the trip meter was in the 380 range when I gave it to them, and it just rolled 400 when I got it back. I know their are a couple of W126 guys that work their, one has an SDL, they must have took it for a cruise. Would have been nice if they included me since I was in the waiting room.

Next time I take it to the dealer I'm noting the mileage, I'll take a picture of the ODO with my cell when I drop it off. I'm not paying them to joy ride around in my car.

I'm not going to say anything this time because I could be mistaken, but I don't think I am. Am I off base here? Why would they need to drive a 15 miles to test the wheel balance?

AustinsCE · #2 05-12-2007, 11:26 PM

Well, it could excessive, but you need to get it to around 60 to properly tell if its balanced, so, that means freeway, to and from and all along, so who knows? Might just ask what the test procedure was.

iwrock · #3 05-12-2007, 11:32 PM

Hattie, how close is another dealer or service center? The dealer had my dads SL600, and didnt have any time availible on the race, so they took it to another dealer 12 miles away to have it aligned. They disclosed this though... Might wanna check to see if they had to do this.

Hatterasguy · #4 05-12-2007, 11:56 PM

No I saw the car on the lift and I saw them remove the wheels.

Well its a lot, I drove it from Milford and thats like 15 miles one way. So its like they drove it half way back to Milford and back. The could have just taken a left down Washington Ave, jumped on I91 a couple miles down at 12, zipped back up, and exit 13 is like right next to the dealer. This route would be a big circle and maybe 5 miles max. Also with plenty of room to acheive all the speed you want.

I'm probably over reacting, but it would annoy me if they took a joy ride on my time, with my car, burning my fuel. I'm not saying they did, I could be mistaken.

BENZ-LGB · #5 05-13-2007, 12:17 AM

I think that 15 miles is excessive.

Why do they even need to drive the car to test balance. I thought that the new machines made it unnecessary to test drive after a tire balance.

This reminds me of the scene in Ferris bueeler, when the car attendants "test" drive the Ferrari all over Chicago.

300SD81 · #6 05-13-2007, 12:20 AM

Such a nice car, can you blame them?

ILUVMILS · #7 05-13-2007, 12:42 AM

The service advisor should have noted the odometer reading when the repair order was written. This is standard operating procedure. If a quality control road test was needed, the QC tech should have noted the mileage afterward. Again, SOP. Check your receipt. All the relevant information should there.

danwatt · #8 05-13-2007, 12:50 AM

Hey, I would be pretty happy if an MB tech thought my car was nice enough to take a short cruise in. Maybe he wanted to get back some feeling of yesteryear when he worked on the good models.

davestlouis · #9 05-13-2007, 12:59 AM

A tech on flat rate time isn't going to joy ride in a customer car when he can be in his bay flagging time, unless he has a good reason, like he suspected a problem. At my shop, we routinely drive a loop that is roughly 12 miles, we get up to 60-65 MPH on I-270 then onto surface streets. Part of why we go that far is to get everything up to operating temp to be sure all is well.

450slcguy · #10 05-13-2007, 10:54 AM

15 miles? Definitely overreacting, especially when your not sure of where you started. Get over it.

DslBnz · #11 05-13-2007, 11:51 AM

I would take no issue with it. But only if they'd tell me FIRST before taking it out for a spin.

If they did drive it that far, good for them. They would be able to note other potential problems and ensure that the work was properly performed. Test driving could ensure quality work.

I'd rather that then have a wheel fall off due to loosened lugs, or some suspension bit carelessly torqued.

OMEGAMAN · #12 05-13-2007, 12:05 PM

I dont think 15 miles is execessive. It's a good idea to have a mechanic drive your car. Never know what they will find. When I had my shop I would take a customer car home at night after a repair. All my customers knew it. It's amazing what you can find going through the drive through.

Matt SD300 · #13 05-13-2007, 12:19 PM

How many drinks did you have before you made this post?.....

OMEGAMAN · #14 05-13-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt SD300

How many drinks did you have before you made this post?.....

Who?

Hatterasguy · #15 05-13-2007, 01:28 PM

Checked the receipt, it was 12 miles. I guess thats fine then, I know I complained that the last place I took it to did not do a good job balancing the tires. Thats why I took it to them, so they were probably just making sure they were balanced.

They did do a great job balancing the tires, and what they charge for that service was down right cheap. Also I guess my car is in good shape because they gave it the green light and said everything is fine. Since I have replaced just about everything under the car, I would hope thats the case!

Whatever I thought I was probably overreacting anyway.