Fuel filter summary - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#16 07-05-2004, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Gilly:
MB will pick-up the expense IF & only IF a dealer is performing a 60K maint service at the same time.

Gilly,

I owned a 1999 ML 320 and just had a B service done at 64K with a MB dealer and the dealer charged me $300 extra to upgrade the fuel filter. How can I show the dealer that MB supposed to have picked up the cost. I'd like to request a reimbursement for that. BTW, I also have MB extended warranty so my ML320 should be covered for another 3 years.

16ue

Ron in SC · #17 07-08-2004, 06:54 PM

Quote:

dealer charged me $300 extra to upgrade the fuel filter

I thought when they update the filter it involves putting in a new fuel pump too. Am I mistaken? Could they have maybe just charged you for the pump or labor or something like that. I thought if they did the pump, filter and new lines on a vehicle not under warranty it would cost more like $1K or more.

When they put in a new fuel pump in my ML 320 under warranty they put in that updated filter too. My pump was replaced because the gas gauge was not accurate when the tank was full.

#18 07-10-2004, 11:08 PM

Apparently this dealer does not require the replacement of the fuel pump. My fuel pump was replaced at least once back in 2000 for the fuel gauge problem. I did ask another dealer about a year ago to provide me with a quote of changing the fuel filter and they did come back with an estimate of $900, which included the fuel pump.

16ue

Gilly · #19 07-10-2004, 11:52 PM

I should have also mentioned earlier, there is an "effective serial number range" for this modification:

163.154 (ML320) up to A266446
163.172 (ML430) up to A265965
163.174 (ML55) up to A266484

16ue, are you the original owner?

Quote:

I was told that the fuel filter update will be done under warranty if the job is being done on-schedule (as Doc said) AND if the truck is owned by the original owner.

Furthermore the job more than likely was NOT being done on schedule, as it is due every 60,000 miles OR 4 years (truck is a 99 so in the very least should have been done last year at some point, unless it is a 98 build date, in which case it was due in late 2002. So you were at least a year overdue, probably more.

The pump replacement isn't a requirement for the filter upgrade. MB lists different warranty times based on if the pump and filter is being replaced/upgraded, or if it's just a filter upgrade.

Gilly

#20 08-03-2004, 06:47 PM

Gilly,

I am the original owner. The last 7 digit of my VIN is A122483 and I guess that is the serial number you provided in your post. I even purchased the Mercedes extended warranty for 3 more years.

This ML is my first Mercedes and I found that, in general, Mercedes service centers are not customer originated; there is no set rules as to what are covered by the dealers because that varies from dealer to dealer. Furthermore, because there is no set rules from MBUSA, I cannot go back to the service center that performed the fuel filter change and asked for my money back. Do you have any MBUSA tech bulletin that I can cite as a reference for the filter upgrade under warranty?

16ue

Gilly · #21 08-03-2004, 07:46 PM

Well, got a few supporting documents, and also a passage to quote from a bulletin. On service information bulletin T-SI-47.10/13, the first few sentences read as follows:
"As part of Mercedes-Benz's (sic?) on going (sic again?) commitment to quality, the fuel filter with pressure regulator will receive a product enhancement. Please perform this retrofit procedure on all vehicles within the Effective Serial Number Range table on page 2, at the vehicle's next service visit. .
So in my mind, what I had been told before wasn't exactly true, although certainly more time and cost efficient, and you'd get the maximum use out of the original filter using the procedure I was told (replace filter at 60,000 miles). But it seems evident to me by this bulletin that there is no excuse to not get the filter update done under warranty.
Oh, I also have some vague reference to Star Bulletin T-B-47. 20/19

Gilly

ML320 · #22 08-03-2004, 10:14 PM

Thanks Dan. Here's a copy of that TSB.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/TSBScans/sb621564.pdf

Gilly · #23 08-04-2004, 08:58 AM

Yep, dat's the one!
Anything on that other bulletin, or isn't that the same type of TSB?

Gilly

slowdriver · #24 08-04-2004, 10:03 AM

I tried to get this upgrade done a while ago and the dealer told me it was part of the 60K service so, no go. I only have 38K on the truck but it is nearing 4 years old so armed with the service bulletin (thanks for the link) I will give it another try. I have been in for service under warranty about 4 times now to take care of problems I read about in this forum but the dealer has of late become rather reluctant to perform the fixes I bring to their attention.

kenyee · #25 08-04-2004, 10:37 AM

having the actual TSB numbers helps a lot! :-)

I wish there were some way to get a list of all TSBs for the ML instead of only the ones the nhtsa puts on that site...

ken

Gilly · #26 08-04-2004, 11:22 AM

I think that there is, I think the manufacturers are required to do this, hopefully someone with more experience in this area can chime in, what does an ex-dealer tech know about it?? Very likely there is info in the owners manual about it, I think they're required to put this info in there somewhere, maybe I can check out an owners manual for you.........

Gilly

ML320 · #27 08-04-2004, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gilly
Anything on that other bulletin, or isn't that the same type of TSB?

Can't find it. But looking at the numbers, it's related (Truck W163, star Bulletin, fuel system group 47). Could be an advisory about the outdated ML fuel filters and pointer to the Service Information you already found. Thanks again!

#28 08-05-2004, 03:32 PM

Thanks for the copy of the TSI.

Do they go by 60000 miles or 4 years? In my case, my 4 year original warranty ended in 2003. When I asked the fuel filter to be replaced then, I was given a quote of $900, after I talked to the Mercedes service manager in Pleasanton, CA. That included the fuel pump replacement as well. I elected not to do it then.

In July this year, I sent my ML to Palo Alto, CA dealership for the 60000 mile B service (it had 63000 miles then) and the advisor told me to replace the fuel filter and he charged me $300. So I thought I had a break already.

The Pleasanton dealership insisted the pump to be replaced, whereas the Palo Alto dealership replaced the filter without touching the pump. Both dealerships did not disclose the Tech Bulletin and that the fix could have been done under warranty.
In fact, what warranty will that be covered under? The original warranty is for 48 months or 50000 miles. It probably would take some ML, mine included, more than 48 months to get 60000 miles.

I will talk to the Palo Alto dealership to see if I can get a refund, considering I have extended warranty for 3 more years and up to 100000 miles.

Gilly · #29 08-05-2004, 05:01 PM

Just read through the whole thread. I was being told, where I used to work, that MB would honor the warranty on the filter job if the filter was being replaced at the appropriate time, and the original owner still owned it. That being said, it looks like MB's intent was to have the filter replaced basically the next time they saw the truck in for service. I can see what my manager was getting at, how do you schedule for something that'll take a few hours when the customer didn't even know it needed to be done? Logistical nightmare if you think about it. However, armed with a copy of the TSB, it seems that the dealer who charged you for doing the filter job doesn't really have a leg to stand on, you deserve a refund and I'd fight for it. The dealer who did the work I feel did the right thing by just doing the filter and not the pump. MB had the times all written up for doing both the pump and filter (assuming the pump crapped out, so you'd want to do both the new filter update and a new pump at the same time) or for just doing the filter update. No one says you automatically replace the pump like it seemed the first dealer did.

Gilly

slowdriver · #30 08-06-2004, 04:22 PM

I received a return call from the service manager at my MB dealer today. He said he checked with the warranty manager. The verdict being a TSB is not a recall notice and as such MB is not required to perform the upgrade unless the problem surfaces during the warranty period. In other words unless it breaks before the factory warranty period your on your own for the upgrade cost at the 60K mark. I like my ML but I find my old Dodge Caravan both more reliable and the dealers more respectable. To say the whole experiance to date has soured me on buying another MB is an understatement.