OK, gotta vent - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jason Beal · #1 07-09-2004, 10:07 PM

So I am changing my transmission fluid and filter today. I must admit this is one of my least favorite jobs. Just because I don't have a lift and it's a tight (and messy) fit under there. I drain the pan, then the converter, drop the pan and switch the filter out. Then I clean and inspect the pan for shavings. Everything looks good. I go to put the new gasket on and it is the wrong one!!!

Man!!! Of course my wife is gone at work again, so here I sit. My car is up on ramps and I can't go anywhere. This is the 3rd night in a row I have been stuck without a car (see the broken bolt thread). I have so much to do, and now I have to wait until tomorrow to finish this damn job.

I know people are human and they make mistakes, but this really ticks me off. So Ken Garff Mercedes you can kiss my A** for giving me the wrong gasket!

Thanks for letting me share.

sfloriII · #2 07-09-2004, 10:41 PM

Call them up and make a stink about it. Talk to the manager.

The same thing happened to me at a local Mercedes dealer a few months ago. They sold me the wrong headlight bulb.

I called them up, after trying to replace it, and got pretty heated with the parts manager. This was the fourth time they'd gotten a simple part wrong.

They refunded my money and gave me two new bulbs for free!

wbain5280 · #3 07-10-2004, 12:53 AM

If it was the dealer at Tysons Corner, they are getting a new parts dept manger, who I know.

Jason Beal · #4 07-10-2004, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sfloriII
Call them up and make a stink about it. Talk to the manager.

The same thing happened to me at a local Mercedes dealer a few months ago. They sold me the wrong headlight bulb.

I called them up, after trying to replace it, and got pretty heated with the parts manager. This was the fourth time they'd gotten a simple part wrong.

They refunded my money and gave me two new bulbs for free!

I agree about making a stink. I already went down once and waited in line. Then I came home to start a job that only should have taken an hour or so. Now I have to drive back AGAIN, which wastes another hour of my time, and come home to finish the job up. Plus I was stranded at my home tonight because of it. The cost isn't a big deal (I think it's maybe 8 bucks or something) but I think they should refund me the money, AT LEAST, for the hassle.

I usually order off of here, but I decided to do the job at the last minute, as I am moving Wednesday. So I went down to the dealer this time.

BenzOnline · #5 07-10-2004, 11:47 AM

Ya I think the dealers are famous for giving the wrong parts because they screwed up mine several times.

The last one was giving me the wrong brake pads for the car!

Pete Geither · #6 07-10-2004, 04:56 PM

So now you know how were feel on a regular basis. I can't count the number of times while putting a car together we open a box and it's the wrong part. Usually it means an extra day before the customer gets their car back, if we get lucky and can get the proper part the next day. In our experience, Volvo and Audi are the worst for getting proper parts in a timely manner.

kramlavud · #7 07-10-2004, 09:31 PM

3 years ago I took my wife's Nissan Maxima to the Nissan Dealer in Fairfax, Virginia to diagnose and fix a squealing in the engine compartment. Service Manager calls me at work saying they fixed the squeal, but now they can hear the water pump making noise. So I approve the water pump replacement (water pump goes after 100,000 miles, sounds believable). Dealer says he doesn't have a water pump, but can get one tomorrow. Next day, the seervice despartment calls and says the water pump came in, but it is the wrong one. I told him I was coming to get the car. That was 3 years ago and the water pump the dealer said was failing is still in the car and not leaking or making any noise. I have not brought the car back to that - dosen't have a water pump, can't get the order right - Nissan dealer again.

I learned long ago to remove the old part and bring it along when I go the dealer or any parts store. Put the old and the new side by side. But this is not always possible.

regards,

Mark

Jason Beal · #8 07-10-2004, 09:53 PM

I drove the wife's car down to the dealer today around 1. Parts is closed on the weekends. Wouldn't ya know? So I leave, admitting that this has now become a 3 day ordeal. I drive up the main drag in SLC and think I could go to my Indy. So I stop in and tell him what's up. He goes upstairs and sure enough, comes down with the correct gasket! So I was totally excited at this point. I thanked him and was on my way home.

Got home, buttoned it all up, and she is on the road again!

Big shout out to: MAX'S MERCEDES in Salt Lake City 801-484-2388. Always there for me when I can't figure stuff out! And in this case, when I got the wrong part.

Thank you Max!!!!!

Wrong gasket goes back to the dealer Monday. My third trip back to them. A total of 3 hours wasted.

THUMBS DOWN to Ken Garff Mercedes on State Street. This is the second time they have given me the incorrect part.

sfloriII · #9 07-11-2004, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wbain5280
If it was the dealer at Tysons Corner, they are getting a new parts dept manger, who I know.

Hi Warren,

Yeah, it was HBL in Tysons. Glad they're getting a new guy. I don't like having to drive up to Bethesda for dealership parts!

Hatterasguy · #10 07-12-2004, 08:44 PM

Having hunted down marine engine parts I can understand if their is a wrong part once in awhile. This is not your case but I love when a customer says I need a water pump for a Yanmar. I really need to come up with a good comeback for that one.