All 124 Wagons- R. Windows ...are these typical leakers? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

haasman · #16 11-14-2002, 03:17 PM

The driver's seat is my #1 complaint.

The seat back rocks. Especially noticeable when the armrest is down. It seems the gears(?) are worn right in the "sweet spot" of where I like it adjusted.

If I move the seatback forward or back, no rocking. Just in the general space where I like it.

I spoke to several dealers and the Zone rep regarding this. "No, the Starmark warranty will not cover seat frame repairs."

So I get to have no rocking, but the seat is not adjusted comfortably or visa versa.

Pisses my off. Very angry about this.

Little pieces of trim, like seat belt anchor covers, seat track covers, C-pillar cover (just popped off one day ....).

Rear hatch, inside, below window: the carpeted piece on right-side popped open. Yes I know its just a little $.50 plastic clip.

Armrest cover is cracked. It seems the selling dealer had it "painted" and now that is looking weird.

When the car was delivered, the interior driver's A-pillar cover had a cut in it. No one knew anything about it. "Mystery" I was told. No, that of course would not be covered. I replaced it myself $90 for the part.

This is my sixth Mercedes ... my family also had them.

My point: the reason I bought a used Mercedes wagon instead of a new mini-van was because it was *inspected*. It had a "Starmarked Warranty". So far this car, although very pretty, other than engine and trans, does not meet my expectations.

Maybe when I have time I'll tell you about the mechanicals .....

miktvk · #17 11-14-2002, 03:32 PM

Oh man, so essentially the 'Starmark' warranty is really not worth the paper its printed on.

Clearly then, no point going to a dealer and paying their premium used-vehicle markup (to get that coveted Starmark coverage), as the anticipated peace of mind from buying through a factory certified program is just not there with Mercedes. That's just pathetic.

haasman · #18 11-14-2002, 03:38 PM

Well .... it does cover some items. Read the coverage *VERY* carefully. The inspection is what bothers me. I must admit I tipped for the Benz because of what the MBZ site said regarding used vehicle inspections.

miktvk · #19 11-14-2002, 03:51 PM

Oh, yeah sure, it most definitely covers a lot where it really counts, but so does my third-party coverage from a company my mechanic swears by but I never heard of. I needed a warranty, paid my $1300 and I signed the papers.

But every item you mention is covered under the BMW Certified Pre-owned program; the comparison is just so glaring, and I feel bad and annoyed on your behalf.

These are MERCEDES-BENZ cars, I thought that meant something more and better, but maybe not anymore, eh? One would thing they would be trying to maintain a standard, but silly me...

My point is that based on what you have revealed, one would do just as well to go to a reputable independent, of which there are now plenty all over the country, who can offer the same used and comprehensively inspected inventory as any dealer, offer legitimate third party coverage, and all for much less than any dealer.

Michael K · #20 11-14-2002, 08:58 PM

Haasman, dude, sorry to hear about that. It’s quite understandable that it would piss you off. If I had to deal with all that, (and my dealer and zone rep treated me that way) I’m afraid to say how I would react. I would not be very polite about it. The only thing I can say is that it sounds like you have a good thing going with some nagging, relatively minor, pain in the ass issues. Even taken together, the concerns you listed are fairly simple to remedy. It’s just that fact that you would have to spend your time, energy, and cash to get them fixed. What a pain!!! I know what you mean about lack of Starmark quality. To me, it seems like the dealers sell OK cars on which they know they can bilk MBUSA on warranty repairs. Hang in there, dude. I hope you wife is not upset about it. Don’t let anyone giving you flack over it! Maybe you could turn your frustration into the necessary energy to get the concerns taken care of. Please let me know how it turns out. Take care and best regards….

haasman · #21 11-15-2002, 12:09 PM

" ... it seems like the dealers sell OK cars on which they know they can bilk MBUSA on warranty repairs."

I think you are right on this. I think the inspection is actually very limited, especially in comparision to the expectations created by MBUSA.

I'll keep you posted.

Haasman

TomO · #22 11-18-2002, 04:56 PM

Since this thread has lots of wagon owner's attention...
1) my rear windows are both oozing black goo. Any idea how to remove it? The windows are tinted. Interior is tan!
2) the right rear seatback won't go forward (left works fine)--the PO had the same problem, I discovered. He apparently hoped to fix it himself but obviously couldn't. Any ideas short of unbolting the whole thing?
We love our wagon: our vanity plate is RSUV.

A. Rosich · #23 11-18-2002, 06:59 PM

I have own M-B wagons for over 20 years now. I just love them, eventhough they tend to be a little delicate in certain issues as all of you have mentioned before.

The rear leak on the side windows is typical and can be easily fix by changing the rear side window rubber seals. The secret though, is in HOW the rubber seal is glued back. The dealer tells me that a special glue is necessary to fix the problem. If you use the regular glue everyone uses, the problem will come back sooner or later.

The non-working speakers at the back can also be traced to a common W124T assembly line design flaw. My 1995 E320T came brand new with the rear left door speaker totally mute. The dealer opened the B-pillar moulding, and as suspected, the wiring was cut by it. They replace the all the wires and finally had to change a fuse in the radio. When the wire gets cut by the moulding, it grounds the wire and the fuse inside the radio blows.

Finally, the stucked rear seatback is also a common W124T design flaw. The auto mechanism which automatically releases the locks on the seatbacks as you open the rear doors tend to fail and the the rear cargo area floor panels have to be dismanteled to access the circuit and fix it. With my W123 300TD wagon I never had that problem, as it lacked the complicated release system.

Other typical issues with "T"s is water filtration through the windshield. This usually floods your interior in minutes when it rains hard. Some hydroneumatic systems in the rear self-levelling suspension tend to be a constant headache to some owners. And last, but not least, the rattle concert you must endure if something is loose or not properly placed in the cargo area side compartments.

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995