Just got my new (4/02) issue of Consumer Reports and did they ever bash MB on reliability. The S class, the CLK and the M class all were reported to have MUCH worse than average reliability.
Anyone reading this and thinking of buying a MB on this account would shy away from going to a MB dealer.

The S-class shows a -38%
The M-class shows a -43%
And the winner is the CLK with a -94%

Funny that all the winners in each category were Japanese, and second place also Japanese except for two of the fourteen.

Report on the CLK: "These rear wheel drive cars handle well but feel less exuberant than BMW's 330i coupe. They're also less agile than MB's C class sedan mainly because of their different steering system"

The M-class "swilled premium fuel"

Wonder what consumer/owners feel after reading about their own vehicle...get out the aspirin!!

TobiasMB
4 MBs (none in the report)

tobias mb

i'm not trying to start anything with you, consumer reports as you know accepts no advertising in an attempt i believe to maintain their"call them as we see them" reputation.

i can't speak for the s or clk cars. i know for a fact there have been VERY serious quality concerns and reliability concerns on the ml's.

my personal opinion is that ALL the auto manufacturers have cut as many corners as [they feel] possible to still have a product that the public will buy.

the bottom line RULES!

consumers report usually hits the nail on the head, it sure is possible they have missed it this time.

peter

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*92 400e 124.034, SOLD

*92 300e 124.030, SOLD

The scarcest thing about this is that Consumer Reports is right about MB's declining reliability.

The even more scary thing is that MBNA does not think so, at least when owners take their cars back to the dealer for warranty repairs.

Understand about Consumer Reports and the declining reliability
of the MB product and hope just by chance that someone in corporate MBUSA may see this and have an effect in the future.
They don't listen to the dealers or respond to warranty claims so who has to beat them upside the head for them to work on the current issues?

A friend of mine has a ML55 and when backing up takes forever to go forward again. Found this out by almost being hit. He complained and was told 'this is normal'!! He took the local zone rep for a ride on a busy six lane highway and pulled into a driveway. Then he waited for a break in traffic until he saw an eighteen wheeler coming at speed and started to back out. The zone rep turned white and pleaded with him to pull back in...NOW.
He knew the hesitation of the tranny would kill him!! Rep said this doesn't happen in Europe as they are built differently than what comes to the USA. Be warned if you own a ML55 but you probably already know this by now.

TobiasMB
4 MBs

I disagree with the CU perceptions regarding the ML. I’ve been reading ML sites since about ’98. While there were a lot of problems with the ‘98 and less with ‘99, problems are nominal after that. I think that perhaps CU writers may still be factoring in the earlier model years. However, this is not to say that the ML is trouble free. There are still far too many problems for a vehicle of the “Mercedes” linage. I think that on the broader issue, lowered expectations are the status quo of at least the beginning of the 21st century. Shoot, as we all know, even Mercedes bought a Chrysler for their garage recently.

Also about the fuel consumption, I will never understand why CU will so readily snivel about the 22-25 MPG you can get from a ML 320, but won’t say a thing about the 12 MPG you get from about any 4 liter or bigger V8. They as, so many others simply are using a target of opportunity.

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...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

My take on Consumer Reports as an ex-subscriber is that they tend to be a bit on the geriatric side of the marketplace. I suggest that the subscriber base (i. e. the people filling out the surveys) are more likely to be driving Buick Roadmasters than CLKs. That being said, I would wager that the number of surveys returned on Oldsmobile Park Avenues is 20-fold or more than that of the ML. Contrast this with the methods used by J.D. Power and Associates http://www.jdpower.com/global/faq/index.asp#question04 .

I would agree that ML has some problems, but I would glady take my vehicle to a MB dealership and have the problem resolved. I have owned 3 Fords in my lifetime with problems and bad service.

My problem with some manufactors is there "Sorry Ass Safety Ratings". The product might look good, but it doesn't taste good!

As far as the CLK being less agile than the BMW because of its different steering system, I would have to say that I prefer the feel of a well engineered recirculating ball system versus the Rack and Pinion used on BMW and some of the newer Mercedes such as the W210.

I have a W202 and consider myself lucky to have a recirculating ball setup. Loss of roadfeel is minimal, and there is not an overboost of power assist as on the W210. I like to know I have a well-engineered system that will last almost indefinitely, not a system that came out of some cost-cutting measures.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

compare the cars at 100,000 miles, then again at 200,000 miles.

In fairness to CU, they reported in 1986 that the 300E was the best car they ever tested by a wide margin. Still a great car at 100K and 200K miles.

I don't think I'd have the patience to keep a newer MB that long if it means continuous visits to a shop.

Sixto
91 300SE ... almost 146K
81 300SD ... almost 292K
... the only things that break are things I can fix

Sixto, I have to agree. On an older MB at 100k+ is when you start to run into some of the problems the new MBs have at 30k-

I wonder if someone has done a study on the drop off of MB loyalty? I think if this was a bold faced lie by consumer reports this thread would be a lot longer and lot more heated than it is

Well we have a 2001 CLK cabrio 320... and have not had one thing done to it, besides an A service. The car now has 12k miles on it, and hasn't been back to the dealership!!
The ONLY complaint is the way the windows meet the top (with top up). You can't EXPRESS them up because the window doesn't fit in the rubber lining properly, thus partially opening back up, they must be in the -before resistance point- UP position.
As for the S-class, we had a W140, 1999 (don't know if this counts) and the only warranty work we had done was a failed vacuum pump (for pneumatic doors and trunk) and a loosened center rear-view mirror, both fixed under warranty, with no hassles.

Things I do notice about newer MB decreasing quality:

1. Not a matching spare anymore! (still full-size though..)
2. MUCH less leather on door paneling (IE: 94-97 C-class had full leather doors; 98-00 C-class had very little leather on the doors, and some flat ugly paneling instead!)


And BTW, I have never relied on CONSUMER REPORTS or JD Power Associates. My personal experiences have proved them SO wrong it's sickening... I wouldn't trust that BS with a Ford!

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

My dad has a CLK 55 and after the 6 months he has had it so far, it has never been back to the dealer, not once, not a single problem has surfaced so far. I think that they are great cars, especially the AMG.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

You know, I looked through this issue of CR and noticed the ratings of the mercedes. I noticed a number of them on the used car - do not buy list. I also checked on the current vehicles that my wife and I drive.

We have been receiving consumers for about 5 years now, it is a perpetual Christmas present from my in-laws. The point I would like to make, is this: you have to take the ratings with a grain of salt, along with my opinions. I saw that the 98 K1500 chevy I previously owned had some categories marked down that could be explained by my experience. My truck went to the dealer twice for warranty work. The first time was after just a few days, because the alignment was off. First new vehicle I have ever seen needing an alignment from the factory. The second time was for a popping noise in the steering when the outside temperature was cold. The noise was not reproduced by the dealer, I deducted that the noise was probably caused by contraction of the plastic around the steering column.

Where is all this going? Though these were warranty issues, neither issue was a big deal. In the consumer report poll I sent in though, they became a big deal. The issues show up as blemishes against the model and lower the ratings. From my experience with the 98, which I had for 2 years, and my 2000 Silverado that I have now had for two years, I could not be more pleased. These are simply the best vehicles I have owned. Though the 98 did not go out of warranty and the 2000 has another year on the warranty, the problems I experieced have been negligible and acceptable.

On the other hand, my wife and I accepted a 97 Saturn on December 24, 1996. We had ordered it. Of all the vehicles I have owned, it ranks up there as one of my least favorites. Yet it has some of the best ratings. It had at least one recall. It came with a scratched rearview mirror. The engine was too loud. The engine had no balls, though it was the higher output engine. The little clothes hanger that is attached to the rear grab bar, broke without being used. I just noticed it was broken one day. I disliked that car.

Off my point, but somewhat relevant to the subject. If you are looking for a minivan, check out the Mazda MPV. Three things make it stand out above the others: A rear seat that folds into the rear floor board (extremely convenient, Honda has it too); Mid windows that row down (No other vans like it); The price compared to Chrysler, Chevy, etc. The downside, mediocre gas mileage and it is under-powered. One is probably the affected by the other though. The good news is the release of the 200 hp engine. I believe it will do better in comparisons now. It has been a great van so far. My wife likes driving it because the overall dimensions are smaller than say a grand voyageur, but the roominess inside is very similar due to the deep well of the cargo area.

So why didn't mercedes ever make a minivan. They missed the boat there...

Steve

No ofense to anyone but I really believe that Mercedes is cashing in on its name right now. Granted they have some very beautiful designs on the market and their build quality is better than everyone else, it doesn't compare to their predecessors.

I've heard vinyl on the dashboard, less leather throughout the cabin and something I have noticed is cheaper leathers and more plastic. They're putting lower quality materials into the cars to keep pricing consistent with ten years ago.

I truly hope they don't continue this trend, but unfortunately like everyone else has stated......its all about the bottom line$

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Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd