After 3 weeks I went to pick up my ML55 today at the MB dealership. This cars been taken to the dealer numerous times, for leaking oil, trim falling apart, rattling, loose seals, and steering problems,ect. I was deeply dissapointed, The car was sent in 3 weeks ago to get the front seated releathered due to sratches that came on them. What came back was a sloppy non porfessional job of stuffing the new covers to the pads, not only was the job horrible but they told me all of them are like that, luckily there was another ML55 in the showroom. After comparing the brand new cars smooth seats to my wrinked rippled and loose ones, they still gave me a load of BS. The car was also testdriven through cemant, the inside had dust and mud on the carpet and there was moister in the HID lights, So I left the car there.The cars been falling apart eversince day 1, and all the dealer does is sometimes fix a problem and create a ton more. I would have rather have scratch seats from the factory than have the dealer touched my car! This car has Spent more time being fixed than Driven. Any suggestions, expirance or feedback on what I should do next!

Thanks

[Edited by FA22 on 12-22-2000 at 02:27 AM]

If you take it back more than 3 times for the same problem and jump up and down and up and down again, it wouldn't be unheard of for them to give you a new vehicle. I have seen this a few times.

Also, you need to go to the top on this one. Don't trust who you're dealing with IF they are giving you this load of sh--.

Lemon...
 

Not sure where you are from... Most states have lemon laws, and dealers HATE to hear about threats to invoke lemon laws. I've also successfully parked a vehicle in front of a business with a large sign or two on it... Just make sure it has a disclaimer on it! Something like "I feel like I bought a lemon" (notice the "feel" - "think" works, as does "ask me why" or "before you buy" ) with an arrow pointing towards the offending dealership. I think they owe you a new vehicle.

Sorry to hear that!

This is exactly the stuff that Mercedes should be running to Resolve, instead it sounds as if the dealer is Hiding! Obviously saying that "all of them do that" is not good enough! Fix it right or replace the damn thing. This is poor Customer Service and poor Standards!

I am sure that ML55's are not exactly a dime a dozen, the very least you deserve is exactly what you paid for, a NEW (defect free) Vehicle.

Go to the top and let them have an hear full. Get in touch with the highest person involved with resolving this and then tell them how you feel, consider this your legitimate chance to give someone a real Ass Chewing! This is your right as a Customer! Maybe it will light a fire under someone's behind to resolve this.

Good Luck!

Call Mercedes on this. I had to have the factory rep come out and deal with several issue with me. He was great. The dealer didn't like it but I didn't give a ***** after the service I got from them. The dealer was given fair warning. I didn't see it happen, but I think some poeple got an ass chewin' when I left.
I have also had my car come back with dirt marks, dust and road grime, dirty footprints etc. I didn't take the car in that way. I just think most of them don't care.
Sorry to hear about all the grief. Really, just start calling Mercedes direct. It took mr a few phone calls to get the right person, but it was worth it.

I have only had experience with 3 dealers in 3 different cities. 2 of them were slow in doing the service and did not always fix what I wanted fixed. The best was in Halifax. Great service, always washed and vacuumed the car before they gave it back, and always fixed what I wanted fixed the first time, with no problems afterwards. Not all dealers are bad, but I guess not all are good either. I would make them give you a new car. You certainly deserve it. If I were shelling out money for a new Benz, especially a top of the line model like yours, I would not expect to have to take it in until the first oil change, and I would expect to be treated like royalty by the dealer for life.

Well if one dealer is bad, then all of us are? Don't see logic to this as this rule would apply to all different phases of life. Don't start condemming all for the acts of ONE. This is one of the reasons for checks & balances all thru business. Suggest you pick up phone & call MB home office instead of saying ALL ARE BAD.

I understand your frustration. I went through something similar with my '96 E Class. But MBDoc is right, not all dealers are bad.

You have an opportunity here to help not only yourself, but all MB owners and future buyers in your area. You can take advantage of this opportunity by calling 1 800 FOR MERCEDES, ask for your area representative and DEMANDING satisfaction. If they have to give you a new car so be it. But you MUST let MBUSA know what kind of BS you're getting from these people. I raised enough you know what in '96 that I ultimately got things taken care of.

Keep us posted about whether or not MBUSA takes care of this. If they don't let us know, we have enough people here who don't want to see this kind of thing, we can absolutely tie up their switchboard with complaints until they do something about this.

Good luck and Merry Christmas,

Sorry to hear that
I don't even trust the delear with my used mercedes every time I took it to Jim Harp in Omaha Nebraska i Had a 900 dollar bill. Thier are some good delars but there are few. I would defenly look in to lemon laws in your state. We got a brand new Suburban when our gm broke a axle the 4th time.

As John said, don't overlook the necessity to file your complaint in writing in addition to the phone calls.

I discovered years ago that dealers really hate it when a customer writes to MBUSA. It causes the dealer to have to respond in writing to the complaint and to have to provide a lot of paperwork.

The combined telephone/writing campaign to MBUSA, always being courteous but firm, should yield the results you are seeking.

You are entitled to more than what you have gotten. Hang in there. Good luck.

Hello Everyone, Thank you for all your suggestions and ideas regarding my ML55. A real boast in confidence. I have currently been on hold for 15min trying to contact MBUSA. I will get to the top of this and let you guys know what happens. Again thanks for the replies and Happy Holidays!

Certified Return Receipt
 

When you send in your complaint to MBUSA, you should remember to use the Certified Return Receipt to send it in. This way MB knows that they can't deny the mail got lost during the Holiday season.

In a similar incident, I sent my 2 pages well written descriptive complaint to Honda USA with the Certified Return Receipt, Honda regional customer service contacted me within 4 days. The first thing she asked me was where would you like to have your driver's side power window fix, of course Honda would pick up the tab.

So don't go cheap on the postage, the extra $1.50 or so for the extra service is well worth it. Also there is nothing beats a well written "essay" to describe your problem, but you should always stay at professional manner, no slang or non-standard English.

Good Luck
Car Nut
99 E430 sport

The certified letter is a good idea. Another idea to try if you don't have any luck is the following: when I didn't get any response after 2 weeks to a certified letter to my homeowners association, I re-sent the letter, marked in bold at the top "Second Request", and in bold print at the bottom "cc Law offices of (our family lawyer's name)". Two days later the apologies and resolutions came pouring in from 3 different officers of the Association. Unfortunately, many people won't play fair until it looks like you are ready to go for the throat with an attorney.

JCE,

It's very unfortunate that what you say is sadly true in many cases.

Merry Christmas,

What's MB's policy on older, past warrantee cars? Our 1994 C280's passenger seat belt braket has a crack in it..the seatbelt does lock, but i'm not sure if it's going to be safe in an accident. The car does have 102,000 miles...I wrote to MBUSA on Friday and got a call on Tuesday...the rep was very nice, but said that it was way past warrantee for them to replace it. There are other problems as well, though not as serious (hazard switch broke..how often do you use it?!), fuel guage stuck sometimes, cracks in the wood trim, 3 check engine lights in 3 months...basically they said there's nothing they car do...sigh..guess i have to fix these things on my own.