Buyer Beware! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

johng99 · #1 02-11-2004, 10:01 AM

Hello all,
I am new to this forum - I have been lurking for a few weeks and just recently joined. I want to share my story with everyone and maybe save someone the headaches that I have had.
Basically, I am an expatriate living in Mexico City for the last five years, and am returning home in a few weeks. I wanted to buy a good used car and began researching Mercedes Diesels as I had heard they were reliable, got good mileage and could go a long way if taken care of. To make a long story a little shorter I bought a 1993 300d over ebay with 96K miles. The ad said " excellent condition, just received 95K service" and the car looked very good. I purchased from a wholesaler that does a lot of volume on ebay and has a good feedback rating. After the auction was complete I called the wholesaler and again they said "it is a great car - let me give you the mechanics number - you can speak to him to answer any questions you have" and he said there is nothing wrong with this car - it is in great shape. So anyway, I arranged for shipment, paid, and next thing I know the car is late arriving to my dad's house in St. Louis. I follow up with the transporter and they say " we are waiting to put your car on another transporter heading to St. Louis and it will be there in a couple of days". It doesn't arrive, and I call and insist. This time he says " it will be there monday" and the car does arrive, but not on a transporter as they claimed, but with someone driving it to my dad's house. Upon arrival there is 500 miles more on the car than is on the bill of sale, but the wholesaler did not document the mileage upon shipment (who put these miles on the car?). I arrive a few days later, and notice that the car is very dirty with "road dirt" up under the wheels, etc. and there are some problems - the exhaust has a bad leak, and the car is smoking a bit and hesitant when first started. I also notice that the coolant level is low. I add some coolant but also see that there is a dark color to the coolant. Anyway, I drive this car for about 90 miles over the next couple of days and the performance is starting to get really bad - it is smoking alot, and really hesitates with no power from a dead stop. I decide to take it to the MB dealer in St. Louis and they check the car. Diagnosis - there is coolant on top of the third cylinder. You may have a bad head gasket or cracked head (due to the large quantity of coolant). They say only way to tell is remove the head. I call the wholesaler and tell them this car has serious problems. After much debate they agree to remove the head at their cost. When head is removed we find the following:

The head has been removed recently, and the car had a new head-gasket. The head gasket is fine, and there are no cracks in the head, although the head had been "recently sanded".

There is pitting on the third cylinder walls. And there is a visible but slight crack in the block at the third cylinder.

Aghh - I am crazy. I call back this wholesaler, and he says " the car was not realy ours - we were selling it on consignment for the mechanic. You need to talk to him". At which point I sternly reminded them that their name is on the bill of sale. They also then admitted that the head had been removed but that there mechanics "swears" there was no problem.

Net-net, they had another similar car (but with less miles - i.e. more expensive) and they agreed to swap - reimburse me for the first car, and ship me the new one.

That is where I am today. Tuesday I leave for St. Louis to pick up my car - my Dad says this one "looks" really good, and runs well too. The wholesaler swears this car is an excellent example, as they say "they want me to be satisfied".

There are alot of learnings here - I wish I had discovered this forum before I purchased. I would have looked for a car with records. Oh well, I hope this one is OK. I will keep you all posted.

Saludos

BIGRED · #2 02-11-2004, 10:21 AM

Welcome and sorry to hear of the stress you went through, however count your blessings. The seller is standing up and doing something to try and make it right. In that way I think your lucky. They could have said it was sold as is and it's your problem. I think buying a car online without checking it out ahead of time or having a mechanic check it out leaves room for these types of issues to happen.

For myself, if I was going to bid on a car that had a claim that there is nothing wrong with it, I would ask if I could have a mechanic check it out if I won the auction. If they said before the close of auction fine, but after all sales are final, I would pass and find another one.

Good luck
Don

Dervman · #3 02-11-2004, 10:34 AM

What a pain in the Butt!
On the up side, at least the Wholesaler did stand behind you and provide you with an acceptable solution. I hope the 'replacement' car is trouble free and will give you the service and longevity you should expect.

Andy

Wasuchi · #4 02-11-2004, 10:45 AM

Like the last two said, you are very lucky that the seller was willing to do that swap.... probably. Good luck with it. Don't forget to change out all the fluids, replace filters etc.

84300DT · #5 02-11-2004, 12:28 PM

you are a lucky guy johng.

rdanz · #6 02-11-2004, 12:42 PM

Let us know who the seller was anyone that stands behind a sale like this guy did is rare in my book should be commended.
Question was there a warranty?

anhydrous7 · #7 02-11-2004, 01:24 PM

Johng99, which dealership did you take it to? Just curious. I live about two minutes from Tri-Star.

Good luck with the next one.

johng99 · #8 02-11-2004, 02:48 PM

Hi,
It was Tri-Star! And although expensive, they treated me very well. What has been your experience?

johng99 · #9 02-11-2004, 03:19 PM

The wholesaler was Hyman autowholesale in Richmond Virginia, and there was no warranty.

junker68 · #10 02-11-2004, 03:56 PM

I agree with one of the posters. You are lucky to have a person stand behind the car, especially on the internet. As I was reading the post, I assumed that the story was going to have an unhappy ending. It could have been worse.

Scott98 · #11 02-11-2004, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by johng99
The wholesaler was Hyman autowholesale in Richmond Virginia, and there was no warranty.

Where are they located in Richmond? I live there but have not heard of them.

Scott

bjcsc · #12 02-11-2004, 04:49 PM

It's nice to hear that they treated you well. I also expected a bad ending when reading your story. They probably had no idea the problems the car had, but still stood behind their obligation to you. It's encouraging to see that there are still people out there like this...Kudos to the seller.

Jim Dandy · #13 02-11-2004, 05:43 PM

How about a link to the auction on eBay or their eBay username? Glad that they're making an effort to put things right.

anhydrous7 · #14 02-12-2004, 01:27 PM

My only experience with them was having them sign the form for my mileage badge. The service manager had never seen the form before. It was kind of funny.

I have bought a few parts from Plaza. They are on my way home from work. Their parts department is ok. Still pay a lot for parts. I only use them (dealership) in an emergency.