Mercedes Quality or why I dumped my 2015 S 550 Coupe

[Mr. Grumpy]

When you allow the dealership to "cat" foot through minor service to fix a complex problem you become their mark. I don't even believe their camber explanation. Good that you dumped it early, it would have Benjamin Franklined you to death.

[PixlPutterman]

 

 

Res ipsa loquitour.....

 

 

[dan360]

Maybe I'm just a service advisor for Mercedes, And I take exception to being accused of being a moron and a liar. Epecially

considering the service was just fine for the last 26 years and 11 cars wasn't it?

 

Res ipsa loquitor.....

 

Thanks! I was more interested in what you had on the Mercs. We have been seeing an order of magnitude worse wear on 20" equipped cars than the 19" equipped. S/CL class speaking...

 

MB has different alignment specs for NA than other areas. Most specifically the camber and caster on the rear are not notated on the official spec sheet. The only real adjustment that can be made is toe. That's the official spew. Factually with shims and some "modifications" to the suspension the adjustments are there, but MB won't allow dealers to say that to owners. I'm not a dealer guy--just a Merc enthusiast who turns his own wrenches.

 

The Mercs with the suspension that drops over 30mph are especially worse at this issue.

 

It's a very prevalent thing that we will never convince Stuttgart is relevant. Their minds are made up. For better or worse.

 

Like you said, a heavy pig car pretending to be a sport sedan. Something has to give. Some tires do better than others but in the 20" world they all will have suck a** life.

 

I agree that MB customer service is not what it used to be. It's really too bad, but in all reality to them, 11 cars in 26 years is nothing to corporate. There are thousands of clients in Merclandia who buys multiples yearly. If you're on the list for a fleet of G-Wagens and a SLR AMG GT or three then they might start to notice, but don't expect them to the first year you do it. lol

 

 

 

As dan360 said you just can't take the "Deutschland über alles in der Welt" out of the Cherman enchineeer. I thought they finally softened up and we finally got over the cold middle dash vents of yesteryear..........

 

No I was lied to Plain and simple- I was told "it was road damage," on the inside of all 4 tires for the third time by my guy after that third flat. BS! The car was brought to the Goodyear shop first to fix "nail holes" or so I thought. The second service rep from a different dealer blamed it entirely on the tires as that is inherent with all unidirectional tires......

 

The third rep I called, is actually an out of state distant relative. (I had forgotten about him) Prolly why he was the only honest one to tell it like it is.

 

Frankly I should have been told of the issue, that I drive too hard/too much or whatever and that perhaps going to 19" non run-flats would be a better choice. Hell, I would have even spent the $ on the tires and wheels myself (though most would prolly agree that after the third visit the dealer should have tossed me a bone).

 

If that were to have happened I'd have been the one 'splainin to my wife why I still have the car rather than her tell everyone "it is just a poorly engineered car...."

 

I agree with you wholeheartedly and as a craftsman, you should take exception to this both mechanically and how it was handled..................again, in today's world every mfg can produce a lemon, it happens. It's how you handle it that speaks volumes for your reputation.

 

Yes, you should be mad, but not at me........

 

I won't use the term lemon but I will say customer service is not what it used to be. Salespeople aren't in tune with the product anymore either. MB sales n service staff used to be a lifelong career. Now they cycle through on a turnstile just like they do at Best Buy.

 

When Stuttgart went from "The Best or Nothing" to "The Best or Nothing with proper cost controls and competitive market share based on what accountants and actuaries tell us for the stock price and PE ratios" the dealer network as affected too. Warranty labor operations were cut, while claiming "our increase in pre delivery quality will reduce warranty repairs by 20%" in all actuality MB just removed 20% of the ways dealer service can claim warranty repair time, forcing them to use "manual time" that can be axed off the net reimbursable from OEM to dealer at will. Easy way to show your warranty repairs are less when you force the hand of the dealer to accept less payment. lol

 

But at any rate 20" wheels on a S class that is driven like it should be is gonna eat tires. Leave the 20's for parking spot prestige and run the 19's on the Texas concrete n chip seal at Mach 90. :)

 

In regards to the bubble butt VW cars not eating tires, it's like that 'Days of Thunder' quote goes:

 

"Your tires were twice as wide and your car weighed half as much.

 

Now, your car weighs twice as much, and your tires are half as wide, and you're burnin' 'em up."

 

Not 100% correct but you get it.

 

Don't lose hope on the brand, but maybe find a better sales person who can guide you through the idiosyncrasies and a service dept who doesn't speak corporate. They exist out there, lots of private shops too.

 

Many people I know who wheel the hell outta their Mercs just say F it to the warranty and find a good private mechanic. Something to ponder.

 

Cheers!