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  #1  
Old 01-25-2005, 10:55 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas/Fort-Worth
Posts: 5,711
Angry Sick of dealership techs breaking stuff during routine servicing and not disclosing!

I've only recently gotten familiar with my ML as it has gotten older and I begin to do some of the smaller maintenance issues at home.

Now I discover pieces here and there that are broken, and I KNOW had been broken when the ML was serviced for some other repair! Yet, the part was put back, and maybe one day I glance, or do some detailing and discover a loose flap, a broken windshield defrost vent, or some other piece that was broken when removed or re-installed improperly.

Problem is, I discover this stuff months later since I don't know what was dismantled when they performed the repair (I will be more vigilant from now on)!

As most of you know, it's not cheap to go to the parts bay and have to try to replace the broken pieces!

The dealership will pretty much deny any fault...do I have any recourse, or do I just have to watch for this better in the future?
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  #2  
Old 01-25-2005, 11:15 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: AL
Posts: 1,219
This is the main reason I try to ALWAYS do my own maintenance whenever possible. It's been years since anyone else worked on our cars.

Well, I did have to pay for an alignment on the '91 the other day. Figured I couldn't manage that on my own. Needed the alignment after I replaced all the shocks.

Whatever knowledge I lack, I can make up for Because I Care!
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  #3  
Old 01-25-2005, 11:30 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 508
I try to avoid our local MB dealer exactly for this reason. Years ago, I had my front brakes done by the dealer. They replaced front rotors, pads and sensor. I picked up my car and about 3 miles later, I lost a front wheel, causing some damage to the inner fender. I had the car towed back to the dealer and found out that the wheel studs had been completely stripped, probably by the use of a too-strong air gun. "Not our fault" was their final answer.
I now do business with a very competent independant shop and I always watch what they do on my car.
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  #4  
Old 01-25-2005, 12:28 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,126
Sadly, not just the dealer techs...

About ten years ago, I took my W123 300D in for an oil change just before leaving on vacation. I went to Jiffy Lube and waited the 30-45 minutes to have the car's oil/filter change.

Got the car back and drove down the street to the wash to have it rinsed off before the 7 hour drive. There, I noticed 7 or 8 little "dots" on the front fender....what's this?

Turns out the guy servicing the car tried to add water to the battery and battery acid splashed onto the fender. The acid dissolved the paint where it had splashed and was down to the bare metal! I went back immediately and spoke wth the manager. Filed insurance forms, etc. They fired the employee for not fessing up to his mistake.
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  #5  
Old 01-25-2005, 01:05 PM
220SE
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You know....
You put your life into someone else's hands when they work on your vehicle.
Business knows no ethics. Techs are trying to log as many hours as they can and do not really care about you or your expensive vehicle. Next time you are at a shop watch how the "tech" test drives customers cars(sometimes to lunch and other personal errands). I am sure they don't drive their own vehicles that way because they had to pay for them(and the tires and fuel). Using a hidden gps unit can go a long way. Loose wheels, broken/missing parts, and even sabatoged vehicles are not uncommon.
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  #6  
Old 01-25-2005, 01:49 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Eugene, OR, USA
Posts: 121
Sabotage by tech at dealer

My wife's sister recently had a headlight replaced (reflector and all) in her 300E. The dealer, in the California Bay Area, replaced the light and also charged for properly aiming the headlights. When she first went to drive the car at night, there was no light coming from the new headlight. The dealer tech had not put a bulb in! She took the car back to the dealer and they gave her a bad time about making it right. Talk about cheap!

I recently bought the car. With the rather grumpy help of a motorcycle policeman who I blinded with my lights one night, I found the dealer tech had gotten even by aiming both headlights way high so the low beams blinded oncoming cars. The high beams were up in the trees.

It's a shame that these kind of techs tend to make us suspicious of all techs. There are many honest and competent techs out there. I just wish I could tell which were good before I take the car in. That's why I try to DIY as much as possible.
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  #7  
Old 01-26-2005, 09:47 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 179
Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by 220SE
You know....
You put your life into someone else's hands when they work on your vehicle.
Business knows no ethics. Techs are trying to log as many hours as they can and do not really care about you or your expensive vehicle. Next time you are at a shop watch how the "tech" test drives customers cars(sometimes to lunch and other personal errands). I am sure they don't drive their own vehicles that way because they had to pay for them(and the tires and fuel). Using a hidden gps unit can go a long way. Loose wheels, broken/missing parts, and even sabatoged vehicles are not uncommon.
I also do the majority of the work on my 190 myself but have been lucky enough after being screwed once, to find an indie shop that really does take care of their customers cars like they were their own. I have taken my car there only 3 times over the years and have been very impressed with the work not only on my car, but with the care I observed then taking with the other cars they were working on.
If you are in the Charleston South Carolina area, go see Hans at German Auto Repair on the lower end of Rivers ave. He and his whole crew are top notch, factory trained MB techs and good people to boot.
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  #8  
Old 04-13-2005, 07:20 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 197
I think the a major factor in all of this is how techs are paid. In the US they are more likely to be paid "flat rate" per job while in Australia we are paid per hour (working or not) and given bonuses if the productivity is within the range set down in a contract. If we need to spend more time on a car then we do it knowing time isn't hurting our wallet unlike our US counterparts.

It doesn't matter where you go (Indy or dealer) as long as you find someone you trust to work on your car then stick with them. A bottle of wine/case of beer for the tech who did some especially good work on your car always goes a long way to ensuring they look after you everytime you visit. I certainly remember every customer who has left a gift or thanked me personally and I would go out of my way to help them anytime again.
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