Another EIS/Steering Lock Victim
09-24-2013, 03:24 AM
#1
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C300 Sport 6MT
Another EIS/Steering Lock Victim
Only one pre-cursor to the failure. Last weekend, I parked on a hill so naturally turned the wheels full-lock towards the curb. When I got back to the car, it wouldn't start, with only the speedo msg lighting up. Could hear the steering lock try to move, but was very strained. I turned the wheel more so towards the curb and finally the lock released. I thought it was becuase I had locked it in an extreme pressure position.
Fast-fwd to Weds. and the car is just parked in the garage with the wheel at dead center. Go to turn the key and... nothing. Tried 20-30 times re-inserting the key, but no go.
Just got the car back to today. Was originally quoted $800 if the lock was not seized and $1K if it was and they had to *drill* it out. Of course, my luck fell on the seized side.
My SA was fantastic, keeping me up to date with progress and, on my request, asked MBUSA for assistance with the bill. They ended up picking up the cost of the part, leaving me with the labor ($625). While I would've loved for it to have been the other way around, I'll gladly take it as this is the only major issue I've had in 4yrs of ownership. The melting tail lamp connector was the other issue, but isn't major IMO and was taken care of by the dealership even though I was well out of warranty.
ps as this was an unplanned service call, the only loaner available the first two days was a Smart ForTwo Passion. Cool little car, but horrendous shifting. Literally a lunge and two second delay between every shift; swapped it out for the weekend with an E350. Talk about buttery smooth. I was pleasantly surprised here. As I'm a lifer manual transmission guy (for a daily driver), I always complained about the jerkiness off the line w/ automatics. While the E wasn't completely devoid of this, it was very easy to control/feather. I did enjoy the paddle shifters, too.
Fast-fwd to Weds. and the car is just parked in the garage with the wheel at dead center. Go to turn the key and... nothing. Tried 20-30 times re-inserting the key, but no go.
Just got the car back to today. Was originally quoted $800 if the lock was not seized and $1K if it was and they had to *drill* it out. Of course, my luck fell on the seized side.
My SA was fantastic, keeping me up to date with progress and, on my request, asked MBUSA for assistance with the bill. They ended up picking up the cost of the part, leaving me with the labor ($625). While I would've loved for it to have been the other way around, I'll gladly take it as this is the only major issue I've had in 4yrs of ownership. The melting tail lamp connector was the other issue, but isn't major IMO and was taken care of by the dealership even though I was well out of warranty.
ps as this was an unplanned service call, the only loaner available the first two days was a Smart ForTwo Passion. Cool little car, but horrendous shifting. Literally a lunge and two second delay between every shift; swapped it out for the weekend with an E350. Talk about buttery smooth. I was pleasantly surprised here. As I'm a lifer manual transmission guy (for a daily driver), I always complained about the jerkiness off the line w/ automatics. While the E wasn't completely devoid of this, it was very easy to control/feather. I did enjoy the paddle shifters, too.
09-25-2013, 04:56 PM
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10-29-2014, 03:19 PM
#7
Sounds a lot like discrimination to me. What does a defective part have to do with whether you bought the car new or not. This does'nt surprise me with MB! That's why I immediately unloaded my '10 c class. I couldn't own anything from a company that thinks like that. Some people don't see it that way.Shame.
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10-29-2014, 03:21 PM
#8
Sounds a lot like discrimination to me. What does a defective part have to do with whether you bought the car new or not. This does'nt surprise me with MB! That's why I immediately unloaded my '10 c class after my EIS/ESL failure. I couldn't own anything from a company that thinks like that. Some people don't see it that way.Shame.
10-29-2014, 08:25 PM
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Discrimination?!? Honestly? It's called GOODWILL. I was out of warranty by 16K miles.
I hope this turns into a recall and I'll get my $625 back since it's an endemic problem, but them providing partial coverage is a direct result of the service history. I am no dealership fan-boy and do as much work as possible on my own, but saying this is discrimination is ludicrous.
I hope this turns into a recall and I'll get my $625 back since it's an endemic problem, but them providing partial coverage is a direct result of the service history. I am no dealership fan-boy and do as much work as possible on my own, but saying this is discrimination is ludicrous.
10-30-2014, 12:33 AM
#10
Discrimination?!? Honestly? It's called GOODWILL. I was out of warranty by 16K miles.
I hope this turns into a recall and I'll get my $625 back since it's an endemic problem, but them providing partial coverage is a direct result of the service history. I am no dealership fan-boy and do as much work as possible on my own, but saying this is discrimination is ludicrous.
I hope this turns into a recall and I'll get my $625 back since it's an endemic problem, but them providing partial coverage is a direct result of the service history. I am no dealership fan-boy and do as much work as possible on my own, but saying this is discrimination is ludicrous.
As far as your refund--good for you but I hope that you see my point that because one does more business with MB doesn't mean that a failed part should be treated any differently. We are all in the same boat.
10-30-2014, 12:44 AM
#11
Discrimination?!? Honestly? It's called GOODWILL. I was out of warranty by 16K miles.
I hope this turns into a recall and I'll get my $625 back since it's an endemic problem, but them providing partial coverage is a direct result of the service history. I am no dealership fan-boy and do as much work as possible on my own, but saying this is discrimination is ludicrous.
I hope this turns into a recall and I'll get my $625 back since it's an endemic problem, but them providing partial coverage is a direct result of the service history. I am no dealership fan-boy and do as much work as possible on my own, but saying this is discrimination is ludicrous.
It sounds right to me. Restricting members that didn't spend money with MB from the opportunity of being covered all equal.
10-30-2014, 03:23 AM
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The difference here is that no TSB or recall has been issued. We are all hoping that happens so that whatever we spent out of pocket will be refunded. Until that happens, we were both out of warranty, so MB didn't have to do a darn thing. In my case, they chose to help based on the history and undoubtedly wanting to have me return for service or purchase another car down the road. It's just good business sense. Does it suck that they didn't cover you at only 35K miles? Absolutely. Would I dump the car/brand because of it? Nope. Remember the fuel pump issues on the e90 cars? I'm sure there were identical stories of one person getting help while another didn't. Eventually there was a TSB/recall if I'm not mistaken.
Think of it this way... if a frequent patron of a bar gets comp'd a drink at the end of the night and you don't because you're new in town, do you feel discriminated against?
Think of it this way... if a frequent patron of a bar gets comp'd a drink at the end of the night and you don't because you're new in town, do you feel discriminated against?
10-30-2014, 10:41 AM
#13
The difference here is that no TSB or recall has been issued. We are all hoping that happens so that whatever we spent out of pocket will be refunded. Until that happens, we were both out of warranty, so MB didn't have to do a darn thing. In my case, they chose to help based on the history and undoubtedly wanting to have me return for service or purchase another car down the road. It's just good business sense. Does it suck that they didn't cover you at only 35K miles? Absolutely. Would I dump the car/brand because of it? Nope. Remember the fuel pump issues on the e90 cars? I'm sure there were identical stories of one person getting help while another didn't. Eventually there was a TSB/recall if I'm not mistaken.
Think of it this way... if a frequent patron of a bar gets comp'd a drink at the end of the night and you don't because you're new in town, do you feel discriminated against?
Think of it this way... if a frequent patron of a bar gets comp'd a drink at the end of the night and you don't because you're new in town, do you feel discriminated against?
10-31-2014, 07:58 PM
#14
The difference here is that no TSB or recall has been issued. We are all hoping that happens so that whatever we spent out of pocket will be refunded. Until that happens, we were both out of warranty, so MB didn't have to do a darn thing. In my case, they chose to help based on the history and undoubtedly wanting to have me return for service or purchase another car down the road. It's just good business sense. Does it suck that they didn't cover you at only 35K miles? Absolutely. Would I dump the car/brand because of it? Nope. Remember the fuel pump issues on the e90 cars? I'm sure there were identical stories of one person getting help while another didn't. Eventually there was a TSB/recall if I'm not mistaken.
Think of it this way... if a frequent patron of a bar gets comp'd a drink at the end of the night and you don't because you're new in town, do you feel discriminated against?
Think of it this way... if a frequent patron of a bar gets comp'd a drink at the end of the night and you don't because you're new in town, do you feel discriminated against?
It's not just me. Everyone should get 100% is all that I'm saying. I have never been about myself (imagine that in this country!). I'm not begrudging you because you got paid as I think that I already said that. I just think that MB should stand tall and honor a common problem. If you want to keep on buying those "drinks" that's up to you. You are entitled to your opinion as I am. I wouldn't hold my breath for a recall. I think that you already know that.
Well--I really don't belong here anymore after not being able to trust my c class and trading it in.
I sincerely wish the best to all of you on this forum and wish you luck with the rest of your ownership. Bluehardtail--over and out!
