My 99 E300 is on probation and not doing well - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dmorrison · #1 12-18-2002, 12:31 AM

I have a 99 E300 with 59,000 miles on it. I have not been happy with the amount it has been in the shop. A week ago last Wed I brought the car into the shop for an A service. They also replaced the serpentine belt but forgot to torque the fan clutch bolt. The damage was 5 broken blades and a damaged shroud. They towed the car to the dealer and repaired everything. When I picked it up I noticed a growling sound when I made a turn but thought it was road noise. Last Fri I backed the car up and got the same growl. I brought it into the dealer and drove it with the tranny guy who was able to hear the noise. They called today to say the car was ready. They found the left motor mount was completely collapsed. They have replaced it, under the extended warrantee.
My concern is, a colapsed motor mount at 59,000 miles???
What is going on with Mercedes. 22 years a Mercedes owner and on my 7th Mercedes. This is the first NEW Mercedes I have ever bought and its a shop queen.
My wife and I are giving it 1 year. If it still goes to the shop a lot I'm afraid I'm going to sell it and buy a Honda/Acura product. In that year I'm going to rebuilt the 82 300TD and that may be our daily driver.

Sorry, I just had to vent.

How many other 98-99 E300 owners are finding this kind of shop visits with your car????

As I said in a previous post I have just changed Dealers and hope that will fix the amount of visits.

Dave

Rick Miley · #2 12-18-2002, 11:06 AM

I think the biggest problem we have with the newer cars is dealer incompetence. My car hasn't had an extraordinary failure rate, but every time I take it do the dealership, they do something wrong. There are three dealers in my area, and I have a list of horror stories with all of them.

The most annoying thing to me is the creaks that I get going over harsh bumps. It used to be that I could drive this car over anything and it wouldn't make a sound. But since they've worked on the passenger's seat, both rear doors, and replaced the dashboard, the thing is not as tight as it used to be. It still beats an American or Japanese car hands down, but I can tell a difference.

I'm also suspecting a collapsed engine mount at 80K miles, because the car has recently developed a growling noise on low speed right turns. I'm think I'm also feeling more vibration on startup and shutdown.

When I get the time to put it in the shop again, which will be in January, I'll post the results. Hang in there Dave, I hope your new dealer is able to get everything sorted out.

jcyuhn · #3 12-18-2002, 11:09 AM

Hi Dave - My 98 goes into the shop about once per year. It's pretty predicatable- always breaks around Christmas time. To celebrate the season, it burned out a glow plug this morning.

Motor mounts seem to be one of the chronic problem areas for these cars. I had them replaced on my '98 two years ago. I think that Christmas it needed motor mounts and a new CD changer.

It's in the shop more than I like, but once per year isn't enough to take the financial hit of selling it and purchasing a new car.

In terms of reliability, it's never failed to start, never stranded me, and never needed a tow to make it to the shop. My problems have been more on the annoyance level than anything else.

#4 12-18-2002, 12:08 PM

I agree with rick about dealer incompetence being the main problem. When I had My 95E300, I stopped going to the dealer before the warranty expired because my behaviour bordered on masochism. Items were either not fixed until the second or third try, or my car would be returned with shop damage. When I couldn't take it anymore, I found an independent shop ONE MILE from my house, instead of twenty or thirty miles. He is thorough and fair and doesn't break my car! He also appreciates my business.
Ended up keeping the car for 140,000 miles. When I got my 99E300, I dreaded the thought of more warranty service . Six years later and the same infuriatingly sloppy, arrogant, incomplete
service. Only six months to go with my factory warranty and I'll be a free man again (four hand heel dents in the trunk was the last event).
As far as the car itself, it is by far the best car I've owned and I plan to keep it for years. Sorry to go off subject, but my blood boils when I read about people not being treated fairly at the dealerships.
Oh, did I tell you that when I had my 99 in for an oil service after the cat was out of the bag about synthetic vs. dino oil, I found out nine months later that they put dino oil in my car! Did they even slightly care about their mistake? Sorry...I'm rambling...
Still, mercedes makes the best cars by far, so much so that there is no apparrent need on their part to change anything when it comes to customer service. Please read my next post on batteries in the diesel forum.
Sincerely
Steve Hutson

Rick Miley · #5 12-18-2002, 12:30 PM

I raced a friend's Honda Accord on Saturday night and beat the snot out of it. I think he yelled something like "Holy f---ing s--t!" as the TurboDiesel ran away from him. By 30 mph, I was already so far ahead of him that I thought he had let off the gas. I love to surprise people like that. And then tell them that it gets over 30 mpg.

I just couldn't let this thread go completely negative.

#6 12-18-2002, 02:12 PM

Bravo Rick! these cars are incredibly fast, aren't they? Hey, I didn't mean to be so negative, but it beats the crud out of me wondering why someone would want to run a business like that.
Steve

jcyuhn · #7 12-18-2002, 02:39 PM

Hmmm.... My dealer actually hasn't been too bad. That said, I've definately limited my exposure - I do all the basic A & B services myself. In terms of warranty work, they have always fixed the car right, on the first attempt, and with no collateral damage. They usually even get it washed and vacuumed. Is this story too good to be true? Definately. The downside is they are slow. They generally blame delays on lack of parts availability from MBNA.

For example, my early car had the transmission controller go belly up - a moderately common problem with very early E300s. The car was in the shop for about two weeks - virtually all of it waiting for a shipment of controllers from Europe. To the dealers credit they performed all the service information upgrades to the transmission while they had the car.

Another time it spent about a week in the shop having glow plugs replaced. The parts department had only four in stock, and acquiring the other two took four business days. This one I find a bit tough to believe, given that MB has a parts distribution center in Dallas. On the other hand, these cars have been going through glow plugs at a good clip, so maybe there was a shortage for a while.

BTW, all these experiences were with ******** in Plano, TX.

- Jim

dmorrison · #8 12-18-2002, 10:40 PM

Rick
Yes, that is exactly what my car did. A growl sound that seemed to come from the transmission hump just below the center consol. It was the left mount. The replaced both under the extended warrantee.
The motor mounts in the W210 are hydraulic not rubber like the 80's diesels.

I have returned to ******** in Plano. I use Robert as my service advisor. I started going to ******** in 1980. They are on their 3rd building since I have been going to them. I live in Colleyville so when Beck Imports opened I started using them due to its closeness. When Park Place purchased it I was hoping for an improvement in service. But I did not see it. My service advisor their was great but I didn't see the support in the work done.

I agree with the dealer incompetance. Is this just Mercedes or is this happening throughout the US. The quality of work and service has changed everywhere. It really amazes me.

Glow plugs;

samiam4
Member

Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 52
There seems to be a big range on these glow plug lifes...

I've been keeping up with this issue in VW's and MB. All mercedes post 91+ have a post glow feature. It keeps the plugs on for lower emissions and better cold running(up to 180 seconds).

From indirect experience, there seems to be a common thread that Bosch glowplugs are the ones that seem to have a short life. The Beru are more expensive(except from MB??) and seem to give a longer life. On OM606 engines, both manufactures would have supplied plugs to Mercedes.

I would suggest talking with Mercedes Technical department and try and get Beru replacements, especially at $600.

Michael

__________________

You might want to consider the Beru units

but what interesting is the recomendation from Beru

http://www.beru.com/english/produkte/gluehkerzen/dreiphasen.php

Check them every 40-60,000 miles. They don't expect them to last the 100,000mi that the 123, 126 diesels glow plugs lasted.

Dave

speedy300Dturbo · #9 12-18-2002, 10:49 PM

With stories of such horrific service, it's no wonder to me why so many Mercedes customers would rather buy a new Lexus.

Lexus dealerships have by far, superior customer service (and satisfaction ratings) when compared to Mercedes Benz. The cars are a different story, but the service just does not compare.

dcfoote · #10 12-20-2002, 06:54 PM

I've had problems too.

'98 E300 bought new from World Wide Motors in Indianapolis.

-Head lamp wiring harness
-4 sun roof repairs,
-Alternator, repaired under extended warranty
-Glow plugs-same day repair unlike some other folks experience.
-Window switches failed, and replaced.

Now the tranny is acting funky, and the check engine light has come on a couple of times. I belive it's a modulator/controller.

The car has had regular A & B checks, and I've recently replaced front brakes and rotors, changed brake fluid, struts and shocks, 3rd set of tires, (switched to Continental's) and battery. This stuff is expected for a car with 100,000 miles.

searaypaul · #11 12-20-2002, 09:58 PM

I have enjoyed my 1999 E300 D but only after I the warrenty ran out and I found this website. EVERYONE on this site has helped me pin point my problems. Thanks a bunch. When the warrenty ran out I took the car to an independent and he fixed several problems immeaditly that the dealer was unable to fix after several tries.

After reading your posts I think I also have an engine mount going bad as when I make a right turn the car has a growl. Also the motor is not as smooth as it used to be.

Your mass air sensor is probably bad if your check engine light is on. I replaced mine awhile ago along with the evaporator, condensor, an expensive relay, a turbo, and glow plugs and glow plug relay.

The relay virtually cleared up all of my electrical problems and the Great mechanic at our local independent fixed on the first try. In addition he gave me a loaner while he worked on my car.

Still love my car. It has all the options except the telephone. Now that it is cold the best feature is the HEATED seats, oh yes.

Have a great day

Paul
1999 E300D
86000

barkford · #12 12-23-2002, 08:07 PM

Dave: Hang in there. Sorry to hear about your troubles. There are many us out here that are really happy with the w210 turbodiesels. I too have had motor mounts and other stuff replaced - but have lucked out and all been warranty work. Hope your machine behaves and your dealer gets rid of the incompetent ones.