Alignment Warranty - experiences needed
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
Alignment Warranty - experiences needed
Hi,
I have a question regarding the alignment warranty. It's weird because my car is starting to pull right after 8.5k miles (2002 230K). I called the dealer to ask if this was under warranty, and he told me it is for 1 year and under 12k miles. But won't be under warranty if you hit a curb. So I told him I didn't hit a curb, but who the heck don't hit curbs after driving the car for 9 months.
2 questions.
1. Why is the alignment warranty much shorter than the original warranty 4 yrs 48k miles?
2. How can they correlate if the pulling is due to hitting a curb?
Any experiences or knowledge with Alignment Warranty appreciated!
I have a question regarding the alignment warranty. It's weird because my car is starting to pull right after 8.5k miles (2002 230K). I called the dealer to ask if this was under warranty, and he told me it is for 1 year and under 12k miles. But won't be under warranty if you hit a curb. So I told him I didn't hit a curb, but who the heck don't hit curbs after driving the car for 9 months.
2 questions.
1. Why is the alignment warranty much shorter than the original warranty 4 yrs 48k miles?
2. How can they correlate if the pulling is due to hitting a curb?
Any experiences or knowledge with Alignment Warranty appreciated!
Admin Alumni
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,143
Likes: 19
See Garage
I don't know of too many car manufacturers that warranty an alignment beyond your first 100 feet off the lot after delivery, let alone a full 12 months.
Unless it's obvious that you've hit a curb (body damage, bent rim, bent control arms, etc.), just tell them that you've been driving it normally, but that it pulls to the right. They diagnosed and fixed my misalignment without playing the "20 questions" game with me.
Unless it's obvious that you've hit a curb (body damage, bent rim, bent control arms, etc.), just tell them that you've been driving it normally, but that it pulls to the right. They diagnosed and fixed my misalignment without playing the "20 questions" game with me.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,329
Likes: 0
From: Sri Lanka
I had that problem and I had to take the car in 4 times before it was fixed properly. Did theproblem just start happening.... They gave me crap at first because I had a chipped rim.. so what the first dealer did was just balance the tire... he also aligned it but didn't tell me. then the probelm was still tehre.. so I took it to another dealer and they aligned it again and tried to make me pay for it since MB only covers 1 alinment a year.
to make a long story short, i ended up writing to MB and their rep had to look at my car and have it fixed... now it's fine...
so take it in to the dealer.. if you don't have any visible chips or dents.. then they should say anythign.. i had the problem with my car from day 1 but it finally got fixed 8 months and 11.5K miles later....
to make a long story short, i ended up writing to MB and their rep had to look at my car and have it fixed... now it's fine...
so take it in to the dealer.. if you don't have any visible chips or dents.. then they should say anythign.. i had the problem with my car from day 1 but it finally got fixed 8 months and 11.5K miles later....
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
M3
Re: Alignment Warranty - experiences needed
Originally posted by leepolun
Hi,
I have a question regarding the alignment warranty. It's weird because my car is starting to pull right after 8.5k miles (2002 230K). I called the dealer to ask if this was under warranty, and he told me it is for 1 year and under 12k miles. But won't be under warranty if you hit a curb. So I told him I didn't hit a curb, but who the heck don't hit curbs after driving the car for 9 months.
Hi,
I have a question regarding the alignment warranty. It's weird because my car is starting to pull right after 8.5k miles (2002 230K). I called the dealer to ask if this was under warranty, and he told me it is for 1 year and under 12k miles. But won't be under warranty if you hit a curb. So I told him I didn't hit a curb, but who the heck don't hit curbs after driving the car for 9 months.
The dealer was quite nice with my GF when she took her car in to get the alignment fixed. They acknowledged that the car was pulling to the right and adjusted the alignment.
On another note, they could NOT find out why the car would "stall" once in a while while MOVING. They replaced the fuel pump sensor to be safe, but the problem happens so infrequently, it's hard for them to get it to happen again.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
Thank you for your inputs.
Yes, I just noticed the problem after driving it from SF to LA and back. I will try my luck this Thurs. with the dealer. Hopefully I have it fixed. It's pretty little thing, but I just want to make sure.
By the way, do they charge you to fill the winshield fluid?
Yes, I just noticed the problem after driving it from SF to LA and back. I will try my luck this Thurs. with the dealer. Hopefully I have it fixed. It's pretty little thing, but I just want to make sure.
By the way, do they charge you to fill the winshield fluid?
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 901
From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
On my E55 I was able to get two free warranty alignments all within the first year. I didnt have 12k miles at the time of the second alignment. It basically boils down to how cool your service writer is IMO. I know mine personally so she just submits the warranty claim and MBZ pays it out. I still dont have 12k miles but have had the car for more than one year and will try to still get it aligned again under the warranty.
Oh by the way both alignments were done with 19 inch wheels and H&R springs and the Tech said nothing to the writer about the mods at all.
Oh by the way both alignments were done with 19 inch wheels and H&R springs and the Tech said nothing to the writer about the mods at all.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,924
Likes: 1
From: Sitting behind thing freakin desk of mine. Dreaming I was playing my Taylors, and driving my Benz. Long Live The VRAA!!!!!!
C230 Sports Coupe
i buy my tires at discount tire, and they offer free rotation and alignment for the life of the tires.
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 844
Likes: 1
From: SF South Bay
2002 C230 Coupe
i had the alignment done on my c230 2 times and both were covered under warranty, although the problem still hasn't been fixed. i'll take my car to another dealer, hopefully a better one, tomorrow and see if the warranty still covers it.
i think it should, because it is an inherent problem from day one.
so i think the one alignment per year thing only applies to one properly done alignment, not counting intermediate screw ups.
i think it should, because it is an inherent problem from day one.
so i think the one alignment per year thing only applies to one properly done alignment, not counting intermediate screw ups.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
Wow, sounds like a common problem to everyone. I keep my fingers crossed since I am not buddied up with the service rep. I know that really helps. My cousin is like buddies with everyone at her MB dealer, and she gets the best services...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,268
Likes: 172
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Do not delay. My car spent 9 days at 3 different shops, I had to drive over 700 miles back and forth, easily consumed 40 hours of my life. They spent many many hours on the rack, and in the end, I wrote a letter to MBUSA, threatening the lemon law, and the regional rep replaced all 4 tires, after suggesting only replacing 2, which I knew would be a problem on rotation.
The car (with c7 wheels) is still very suseptible to pulling whichever way the road pulls, and many hours were needed just to install the bolts and pieces that even ALLOW the techs to adjust the suspension.
If you had to pay the 4-8 hours it took just to install the mods to do the adjustments, well you do the math. Seems they left out most of the adjustments that more expensive models have as a cost saving measure.
But alls well that ends well. Thats the only problem so far with the car, but I'm pissed that the dealer sold me the car like that.
Mine also pulled to the right. Now it just pulls whichever way the road does!
The car (with c7 wheels) is still very suseptible to pulling whichever way the road pulls, and many hours were needed just to install the bolts and pieces that even ALLOW the techs to adjust the suspension.
If you had to pay the 4-8 hours it took just to install the mods to do the adjustments, well you do the math. Seems they left out most of the adjustments that more expensive models have as a cost saving measure.
But alls well that ends well. Thats the only problem so far with the car, but I'm pissed that the dealer sold me the car like that.
Mine also pulled to the right. Now it just pulls whichever way the road does!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 1
From: Nashua, NH
2008 VW GTI
Now it just pulls whichever way the road does!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Dexter, Michigan, USA
2002 C230k
Originally posted by C230 Sport Coup
SNIP...
Mine also pulled to the right. Now it just pulls whichever way the road does!
SNIP...
Mine also pulled to the right. Now it just pulls whichever way the road does!
I brought it in and they claim it's all in spec. On nice roads it's no problem but I'm in Michigan, where most of the roads suck, so it can get to be a pain.
I guess that's my number one disappointment with the car; the way it drives with the C7 package. I don't remember the (non-C7) demo driving like that...
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
M3
Originally posted by leepolun
By the way, do they charge you to fill the winshield fluid?
By the way, do they charge you to fill the winshield fluid?
Will you request that they fill up the gas tank for you as well?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,329
Likes: 0
From: Sri Lanka
For those people who are having the problem of the car pulling to the right and it's still not fixed.. write a letter to MB.. the address to write in is int he service manual under the lemon law section.. then they get off their *** and send the rep to fix the car.. that's what happened to me.. they finally got it right on the 4th try..
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
2008 C300 Sport
Originally posted by avlis
I took delivery of my car in the winter and immediatly put 16" snow tires on. A few months later I put the C7 wheels back on and noticed a LOT of tramline(ing) as soon as I got on the road with the 17's. I figured it was just a characterisitic of wide, low profile tires. No?
I took delivery of my car in the winter and immediatly put 16" snow tires on. A few months later I put the C7 wheels back on and noticed a LOT of tramline(ing) as soon as I got on the road with the 17's. I figured it was just a characterisitic of wide, low profile tires. No?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,268
Likes: 172
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Yes,
do what Fuzzo says. Don't delay!
Mine pulled to the right very badly, and I think what happened was that I drove the car from San Diego to Santa Cruz with the alignment out.
That was 1000 miles of cruising, all entirely on Highway 1. So once I got home and made an appt. the first thing they did was rotate the tires, and send me back down the road. So now I wore the other 2 tires funny, and it was another couple thousand miles more before it got completely resolved, hence they had to buy me 4 tires. Or at least thats my theory, and no the 16" wheels don't pull at all, I found. And yes, the low prof wider wheel tire combo is supposedly to blame according to the rep. Also, I was quite pissed to find you can't even drive the car with the c7 in the snow, since chains are strictly prohibited. So much for buying a new car to take the snow; and so much for a car to take bicycles to go mountain biking...no rack available, except the one that goes on the roof, and frankly I aint
putting a bike on top of a glass roof. I wonder how much that would cost to replace? No no no!!
Still I love the car, and one can assume that more stuff will become available as time goes on.
What about a "steering stabilizer" ala like the ones in the JC Whitney catalogs, which are simply a hydralic cyliner that adds some to resistance to the steering system, and keeps the road crowns from affecting things at the steering wheel. Yeh I can hear you scoffing at JC Whitney, but I bet they have at least some useful stuff.
do what Fuzzo says. Don't delay!
Mine pulled to the right very badly, and I think what happened was that I drove the car from San Diego to Santa Cruz with the alignment out.
That was 1000 miles of cruising, all entirely on Highway 1. So once I got home and made an appt. the first thing they did was rotate the tires, and send me back down the road. So now I wore the other 2 tires funny, and it was another couple thousand miles more before it got completely resolved, hence they had to buy me 4 tires. Or at least thats my theory, and no the 16" wheels don't pull at all, I found. And yes, the low prof wider wheel tire combo is supposedly to blame according to the rep. Also, I was quite pissed to find you can't even drive the car with the c7 in the snow, since chains are strictly prohibited. So much for buying a new car to take the snow; and so much for a car to take bicycles to go mountain biking...no rack available, except the one that goes on the roof, and frankly I aint
putting a bike on top of a glass roof. I wonder how much that would cost to replace? No no no!!
Still I love the car, and one can assume that more stuff will become available as time goes on.
What about a "steering stabilizer" ala like the ones in the JC Whitney catalogs, which are simply a hydralic cyliner that adds some to resistance to the steering system, and keeps the road crowns from affecting things at the steering wheel. Yeh I can hear you scoffing at JC Whitney, but I bet they have at least some useful stuff.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Dexter, Michigan, USA
2002 C230k
Originally posted by C230 Sport Coup
What about a "steering stabilizer" ala like the ones in the JC Whitney catalogs, which are simply a hydralic cyliner that adds some to resistance to the steering system, and keeps the road crowns from affecting things at the steering wheel. Yeh I can hear you scoffing at JC Whitney, but I bet they have at least some useful stuff.
What about a "steering stabilizer" ala like the ones in the JC Whitney catalogs, which are simply a hydralic cyliner that adds some to resistance to the steering system, and keeps the road crowns from affecting things at the steering wheel. Yeh I can hear you scoffing at JC Whitney, but I bet they have at least some useful stuff.
Super Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 844
Likes: 1
From: SF South Bay
2002 C230 Coupe
my car has 16" stock wheels and it still pulled to the right after 2 attempts at Smythe European in San Jose...
brought it to MB of San Francisco today and my car finally goes straight now (they don't provide free car wash though)!!
thanks SFC320 for the recommendation
brought it to MB of San Francisco today and my car finally goes straight now (they don't provide free car wash though)!!
thanks SFC320 for the recommendation
