Topic: My FGC ownership - Part 2

[whaddaiknow]

...
And you should contact MB Canada.

Sent an email to MB Canada

[mixmanmash]

...
And you should contact MB Canada.

Sent an email to MB Canada

They are usually really good about responding to these types of things.

On my dad's ML, I complained to them about the blown rear shocks post warranty on vehicle with not even 60 k kms.  They covered about 85% of the cost of the replacement.

[Triple Bob]

I dunno man. That actually sounds fairly standard dealer experience. I think the takeaway from this is that if you want to avoid the situation above you need to a) avoid the dealer and go FGC indi, and b) don't buy a [used] FGC.

Not like all FGCs are bad(IE my parents enjoyed their Cayenne for 5 years and over 100000 miles with not a single issue), but I would fully expect and accept it if I owned one and something went. It's the price you pay for glory.

Not to say your situation isn't unfortunate and frustrating. It certainly is.

I agree with the above, although I would certainly expect a CPO car to be fixed under warranty if it covered that specific issue.

[sailor723]

I just saw this thread late yesterday. Firstly, welcome to the club!   

Secondly, I'm pretty sure the 2/40 CPO warranty from MB has far more exclusions than the 2/80 extended warranty that they offer for sale. The only major exclusions on the 2/80 is the stereo system, paint, trim and wear items. Also, there is no deductible. I seem to remember being told one time that if I was to buy a CPO'd car and wanted to upgrade to the 2/80 (about a $3200 cost on a ML)  they would discount the car by $1200 to account for the cost of not including the 2/40 CPO and then sell me the 2/80.  Did the dealer you bought from offer you the upgrade?

[mmret]

^ interesting pricing, that's saying something for sure.

[whaddaiknow]

I just saw this thread late yesterday. Firstly, welcome to the club!   

Thanks, this is not my 1st FGC. I had a new 3-series that was in the Show 'n Shine thread here about 4 years ago. The 3-er, while a great car, didn't hit the right chord as I always wanted a Merc since I was a little kid.

Secondly, I'm pretty sure the 2/40 CPO warranty from MB has far more exclusions than the 2/80 extended warranty that they offer for sale. The only major exclusions on the 2/80 is the stereo system, paint, trim and wear items. Also, there is no deductible. I seem to remember being told one time that if I was to buy a CPO'd car and wanted to upgrade to the 2/80 (about a $3200 cost on a ML)  they would discount the car by $1200 to account for the cost of not including the 2/40 CPO and then sell me the 2/80.  Did the dealer you bought from offer you the upgrade?

Yes, the CPO has a lot of exclusions. The dealer did offer me the 2/80 extended warranty upgrade at something around $3,000 but did not offer any discounts you mention to account for the cost of 2/40 CPO.

My hope was that since I am purchasing a CPO car from a dealer that it would last a year before sh1t started to happen to it. I don't mind paying extra for dealer service. I don't like dealer taking my money and offering nothing back. That's my beef.
I didn't expect the MB Tex to rip at the seam (no, it cannot be stitched back together) at 4 year mark. I got a quote to fix it for $425+HST at which point it is better to replace the cushion with a brand new one which will cost about the same.

I also expected some goodwill on the part of MB given I've only owned this car for a few months and it's a CPO. But guess what, I emailed them and haven't heard back from them. I called MB customer service, was transferred to someone who wasn't there so I left a detailed message, and they still haven't returned my call. That's what I did not expect.

I will get the car all properly fixed and will enjoy it for as long as I can. But this will be my last MB given the level service I have received so far. I expected a tad more from "The Best Or Nothing".

[wing]

Tweet them.  Tweeting seems to get companies going as it's very public.

[whaddaiknow]

Tweet them.  Tweeting seems to get companies going as it's very public.

That's what my wife told me, too 
My first tweet just sent!!! Not sure I did it right though I don't like social media.

[sailor723]

I found front line MB customer service fairly unimpressive when I contacted them regarding the long litany of issues I have had with the ML. It was actually one of the dealer principals at my local dealership that took the issue further up the line at MB Canada head office and got them to kick in ( along with him) on the complimentary 2/80 warranty extension. (Kudos to Tri Star Mercedes Benz in Saint John)

I have the feeling that the more mainstream and higher volume MB has become, the more their (formerly) exceptional customer service has declined to "ordinary levels.

[whaddaiknow]

Tweet them.  Tweeting seems to get companies going as it's very public.

The tweet worked 
At least someone on the other end responded. Curious what, if anything, happens next.

[EV-Light]

chilling! experiences like this is why I always ended up going back to my Ford dealer! Sorry to hear about your troubles....

[Hannibalsmith]

Do people in Germany complain about FGC ownership?

I recall reading somewhere that one of the reasons there are more FGC reliability issues in North America is because cars are driven to far higher milages here than Europe. Not sure if that makes sense though.

[Guy]

Do people in Germany complain about FGC ownership?

I recall reading somewhere that one of the reasons there are more FGC reliability issues in North America is because cars are driven to far higher milages here than Europe. Not sure if that makes sense though.

The weather and road conditions are much worse here for sure.

[Northernridge]

Do people in Germany complain about FGC ownership?

I recall reading somewhere that one of the reasons there are more FGC reliability issues in North America is because cars are driven to far higher milages here than Europe. Not sure if that makes sense though.

I doubt it's the higher mileage...at least based on what we see on this forum. Lots of low mileage issues. Maybe they export the crappy vehicles for sh!ts and giggles...

[aquadorhj]

Do people in Germany complain about FGC ownership?

I recall reading somewhere that one of the reasons there are more FGC reliability issues in North America is because cars are driven to far higher milages here than Europe. Not sure if that makes sense though.

I doubt it's the higher mileage...at least based on what we see on this forum. Lots of low mileage issues. Maybe they export the crappy vehicles for sh!ts and giggles...

didn't we hear from some of the european members of the forum that europeans don't have as high expectations of rocksolid reliability from their cars as we do here?

[Northernridge]

We have european members?

[Hannibalsmith]

Do people in Germany complain about FGC ownership?

I recall reading somewhere that one of the reasons there are more FGC reliability issues in North America is because cars are driven to far higher milages here than Europe. Not sure if that makes sense though.

I doubt it's the higher mileage...at least based on what we see on this forum. Lots of low mileage issues. Maybe they export the crappy vehicles for sh!ts and giggles...

didn't we hear from some of the european members of the forum that europeans don't have as high expectations of rocksolid reliability from their cars as we do here?

Expectations probably has a lot to do with it.

[johngenx]

Toyota and Honda attacked the North American market and ended up setting the reliability bar very high - creating consumer expectations of long, trouble free motoring.  They don't have the same level of success in Yurp - many more brands are available there.

[whaddaiknow]

Tweet them.  Tweeting seems to get companies going as it's very public.

The tweet worked 
At least someone on the other end responded. Curious what, if anything, happens next.

So I tweeted them and the next day got a call from a lady I had left a message for 5 days prior to that.
We chat for a few minutes, she said she had opened a case, and both the regional manager and service manager at the dealer would be directly overseeing this and that someone would contact me today (that was on the 24th). Well, 3 days later - silence, nothing, nada, zilch.

[Triple Bob]

Do people in Germany complain about FGC ownership?

I recall reading somewhere that one of the reasons there are more FGC reliability issues in North America is because cars are driven to far higher milages here than Europe. Not sure if that makes sense though.

I doubt it's the higher mileage...at least based on what we see on this forum. Lots of low mileage issues. Maybe they export the crappy vehicles for sh!ts and giggles...

didn't we hear from some of the european members of the forum that europeans don't have as high expectations of rocksolid reliability from their cars as we do here?

I have exactly the same expectations, I don't think that is any different across the pond than it is here...