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  #16  
Old 09-05-2003, 08:05 AM
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Dr.D. Some people just don't have a clue. Thanks for all the great advice and knowledge you give for FREE on this forum. It's greatly appreciated.

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Last edited by grapes11; 09-05-2003 at 09:31 AM.
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  #17  
Old 09-05-2003, 09:09 AM
I told you so!
 
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Location: Motor City, MI
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Dr. D, your experience underlines why I wouldn't want to go into the auto repair business.... too many customers who are morons and want something for nothing.
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  #18  
Old 09-05-2003, 09:16 AM
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Angry Yes, lets ignore the extreme cases...

I would dare to say most people in this forum and elsewehere agree to this.

There are extremes in both cases. I am sure, everybody pays for things that a toyota carolla doesn't need for 150K miles but all mercedes cars need. That's not the point. A 150 dollar retail part (probably 30 to 35 dollars on the OEM cost) would cause 2200 to 2800 dollars damage and the Manufcaturer is chosing to stick their head in sand. Most Service Managers like perpetuate this because whether its manufacturer or the client, either way they get paid to fix things . And they get good at it, since the problem , the fix and the price is all too tempting to be a cash cow.

Would you consider not putting ear drops in your kids ear to prevent ear infection, if you knowe, untreated, would cause hearing loss? Obviously, Dr. Diesel's experience is the customer's pent up frustration, for the fact that most 1998 and 199 MLs have multiple problems. I would consider one of the poorest build quality MB that was ever built.

Here is the scenario.. Would everyone of us like to pay 500 to 2500 for the things that we know should have been made better? Even If they reimbruse me, I would still have problem with MB for the fact that, I paid for 100 dollar towing, 3 days of rental car, and a bunch of other intangible time and costs... and the painful feeling of.... Mercedes or not, all Maufacturers have enough money to fix bugs on their cars. Lets make an effort to drive towards that Goal.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let every other MB owner with these circumstances know and help them lodge their complaint on NHTSA.

Thanks

Logikman
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I am an enthusiast but you can't pry money outta my hands... Help me to get to full throttle on the Harmonic Balancer Crank Shaft Pulley RECALL!
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  #19  
Old 09-08-2003, 11:59 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Puget Sound, Washington St.
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Ok you have a valid point. I didn't like having to buy my balancer either.
I owned a 1995 ford which came with Firestone ATX tires. 3 failed on me over 2 years.
It took Ford 5 more years and a whole bunch of deaths to finally
fix this problem with the tires.
I am not saying MB is waiting for someone to die, but I would say they are hesitant to issue a worldwide panic scare on the saftey
of their product until they know what they are up against.
Keep up the good work with the NHTSA. You can help speed up this process.

Dr.D

P.s. We really don't like doing these jobs and they are not a cash cow. The warranty times suck and doing the timing cover is a real
pain that most my techs would rather avoid.
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  #20  
Old 09-08-2003, 02:10 PM
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Dr D.

Point well taken. I didnt mean to come off as cynical about Mechs and Techs. but ultimately, all manufacturers look at the impact of the recall than the actual cost. I am sure, if there is no PR and quality related backlash in public sentiment issue, most OEMs would own up more of their problems. I am sure MErcedes didn't make it. Some supplier did. However, from what I know, recalls associated with non-lethal issues are faster to come by than associated with admission of bad product in cases otherwise. I am sure Ford pushed it under the rug as long as it did. Also, if you look at Ford today, they are suffering the consequences of it. You didnt buy another Ford.. Did you? So was everyone else who had an issue. They are customers gone for god for ever.

Look back and what does ford have to speak highly of? No popular car except the semi-succesful Focus. All product lines suffering from lack of better sales and or lack of margin.. Any money they made is from their 'non-ford image linked divisoons like Jags and Volvo. Can't believe inspite being in sweet spot of the market, Explorer didn't fare all that great over the past few months.. For what it should have been a great model redo, they are doing so-so. Anyway, Ford, will easily come through this, I am buying their stock right now (for the past 3 months) as I believe they hit their bottom already and learned from it. Also, they will have ton of people who are scooted out and or retired/moved away since then. Lets hope for a good looking , well behaving 500 car. I hear that's what they are calling the next Taurus..
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I am an enthusiast but you can't pry money outta my hands... Help me to get to full throttle on the Harmonic Balancer Crank Shaft Pulley RECALL!
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  #21  
Old 09-09-2003, 10:37 PM
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Why let this thread die. Think of the people who have no idea, don't read this forum,but spend thousands of dollars when a $60 part could have prevented all this. Common MBUSA, lets be a little proactive for once.
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  #22  
Old 09-10-2003, 01:35 AM
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I have a '97 E320 with 85000 miles on it. I have never had a major problem with this car and I was wondering if this model year is affected by the balancer problem?
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  #23  
Old 09-10-2003, 07:27 AM
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BigLU2-- 1998 and newer v6 engines and the occasional v8. New balancer in late 2000.
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  #24  
Old 09-10-2003, 10:14 AM
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Thanks Grapes11. I feel lucky to have bought this car. You ususally hear about the problems people have with their cars but my experience with this vehicle and Herb Gordon Mercedes, where it's been serviced, has been outstanding. I bought this car for my wife as a daily driver (I get to clean it, take it for servicing and drive it on long trips) and reliability was very important to me. I would definitely buy another E-class but if a cheap part had gone bad and destroyed more expensive ones, and Mercedes knew it was a common problem and ignored it, my next car would be a Lexus.

Good luck with your campaign, it's always the squeeky wheel that gets the oil.
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  #25  
Old 09-11-2003, 12:49 PM
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Has anyone filed a complaint besides logikman and myself. This is too important to just fade away.
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  #26  
Old 09-11-2003, 02:16 PM
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a few did..

I had 4 or 5 people write emails to me updating me that they have launched their complaints
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I am an enthusiast but you can't pry money outta my hands... Help me to get to full throttle on the Harmonic Balancer Crank Shaft Pulley RECALL!
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  #27  
Old 09-30-2003, 10:23 AM
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bumping up... FREE REPAIR

Sorry, just wanted to grab some attention to the issue. I still ocassionally get emails from people about their own sad story of the Harmonic balancer. Anyway, I am thinking, I should write a letter to a few Automotive magazines and may be a TV station in Mihcigan.. Nothing gets attention like PR on an issue from the Corporations..
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I am an enthusiast but you can't pry money outta my hands... Help me to get to full throttle on the Harmonic Balancer Crank Shaft Pulley RECALL!
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  #28  
Old 11-08-2003, 10:23 PM
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Why is this post dying. I don't get it. Just read about someone in the harmonic balancer/crankshaft damper post who paid 4 grand in repairs. Commom lets band together and get this part recalled.

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