Unfortunately, it was bought as a USED car, and California has no meaningful lemon law for those that he could use.

That's simply HORRIBLE what happened. But frankly I'm not surprised. Some of the Mercedes dealers in Northern California are terrible, I have experienced some of it myself.

Add to this that many people believe Mercedes quality from 2000-2005 was at the lowest level ever, it looks like this car was one of the bad ones.

This sort of thing is what kills repeat buyers. When word gets out it wonj't do any good for conquest sales either.

I'm really sorry about this. I'd bail on the car, it soujnhds like it has been cursed by every diety from Allah to Zeus. (not you Zeus/ Chris the mod)

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)