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'03 C320: Problems after one week...

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Old Dec 25, 2002 | 11:56 PM
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'03 C320: Problems after one week...

Today marks 8 days since taking delivery of my new 2003 C320. So far, I'm really happy with the car and all the extra features I ordered with it.

I do have a few issues and have already scheduled a service appointment for 1/6/03...

First, I've got at least two, maybe three interior rattles. The loudest/most frequent rattle is coming from the glove box. It doesn't rattle when open, only when closed. I think it's something with either the latch or the hinge mechanism. A second rattle is coming from the driver's side, near where the top, left side of the dash meets the windsheild. A third rattle is coming from somewhere near the center console or steering column--maybe somewhere close the Climatronic. (That one is hard to locate.)

Another issue is a scratching/scraping noise that comes from the steering column when I turn the wheel around one point in it's turning circle. It's as if one of the plastic pieces around the column is misshaped or deformed, and it's scraping against a piece that moves beneath it when you turn the wheel. ?? Hard to explain...

Besides those minor things, I'm overall quite happy with the car. Has anyone else had issues with rattles, etc.? I'm hoping the dealer can diagnose and resolve these issues in one visit. My past experience with rattles has been bad--the service guys claim to not hear the rattles, etc. I feel rattles in a brand new MB are unacceptable.
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Old Dec 26, 2002 | 12:09 AM
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Re: '03 C320: Problems after one week...

Originally posted by jhillman
Another issue is a scratching/scraping noise that comes from the steering column when I turn the wheel around one point in it's turning circle. It's as if one of the plastic pieces around the column is misshaped or deformed, and it's scraping against a piece that moves beneath it when you turn the wheel. ?? Hard to explain...
My steering also made a noise, actually a audible "thump" and vibration through the wheel, at the same point in the turning arc. After the second visit the dealer personnel traced it to the steering column catching on a loose part under the dash. It's gone, for several months, now.

I also found a console squeek that turned out to be the seatbelt buckle rubbing on the center console. I installed a piece of black velcro (loop side) on the buckle where it rubbed and no more sound. I think the buckle is mounted too low, but it probably does a better job of positioning the belt over the hips in this position.
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Old Dec 26, 2002 | 10:49 AM
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i'm curious, were your cars assembled in Germany or Brazil?
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Old Dec 26, 2002 | 11:05 AM
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Germany...
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Old Dec 26, 2002 | 01:21 PM
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Originally posted by nyca
i'm curious, were your cars assembled in Germany or Brazil?
Not this again....

This always becomes a big issue here becomes everyone wants their German car to be assembled in Germany. I understand that. But I don't think there has been any reason to doubt the quality coming from Brazil. These cars do not seem to have problems that cars built in Germany do not have. I have not noticed any difference at all between these cars. Has anyone else?
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Old Dec 26, 2002 | 02:36 PM
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Originally posted by Matt230K
Not this again....

This always becomes a big issue here becomes everyone wants their German car to be assembled in Germany. I understand that. But I don't think there has been any reason to doubt the quality coming from Brazil. These cars do not seem to have problems that cars built in Germany do not have. I have not noticed any difference at all between these cars. Has anyone else?
its true as quality control should be no less but come on if u were presented with two same cars, same options, same price, and said one is built in brazil and one is built in germany which one would u chose.....ppl perception is another thing.
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Old Dec 26, 2002 | 07:38 PM
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Originally posted by tberry
its true as quality control should be no less but come on if u were presented with two same cars, same options, same price, and said one is built in brazil and one is built in germany which one would u chose.....ppl perception is another thing.
I know I would definitely pick the one from Germany. But I think it's irrelevant where the car was built when you are discussing problems, at least in this case. If there was documented proof that Brazil cars have problems that German cars don't, it would be a different story. But since this is not the case, there's no reason to consider the assembly location when trying to find a reason for a car's failure.
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Old Dec 27, 2002 | 12:42 AM
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For what it's worth, mine was built in Germany. I'm sure my problems are just anomolies, but I was wondering if anyone else had rattles, etc. I'm hoping the dealer will be able to fix these! They're getting worse by the day!
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Old Dec 27, 2002 | 09:52 AM
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Originally posted by jhillman
For what it's worth, mine was built in Germany. I'm sure my problems are just anomolies, but I was wondering if anyone else had rattles, etc. I'm hoping the dealer will be able to fix these! They're getting worse by the day!
Mine is absolutely rattle and squeek free. The only issue I have with mine so far concerns the auto headlamp feature.
When I turn on my rain sensing wipers the lights come on as they should. But they won't turn off when I turn off the wipers. I have to turn off the car in order for them to reset. The same thing happens when I drive thru shadows. Lights come on and won't turn off when the sensor sees daylight. Dealer is at a loss for both issues. Regional rep told him that the lights/wiper issue works that way because of software but the rep has no idea regarding the shadow issue.
Maybe DSMIT has some answers here since he is a service manager for mercedes. Maybe if we are real nice to him he will also provide us with the secret handshake/dyno mode feature to allow us 03 owners to get an oil quantity readout since we no longer have a dipstick tube.

P.S.
I understand from my dealer that the handshake/dyno mode works on other 03s except for the C-Class.

Last edited by amdeutsch; Dec 27, 2002 at 09:55 AM.
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Old Dec 28, 2002 | 03:06 PM
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I personally bought a Mercedes because it was built in Germany. I did not want anything to do with other autos from another country. It is a preference, and I wouldn't want a nut from Brazil to build my automobile.


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Old Dec 29, 2002 | 02:26 AM
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Originally posted by Lockbuster
I personally bought a Mercedes because it was built in Germany. I did not want anything to do with other autos from another country. It is a preference, and I wouldn't want a nut from Brazil to build my automobile.


How do u know your car wasn't built by a "nut" in Germany?
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Old Dec 29, 2002 | 02:59 AM
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Old Dec 29, 2002 | 10:09 AM
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Originally posted by AlBoston
How do u know your car wasn't built by a "nut" in Germany?

Well, I would prefer to have a German nut over a Brazilian nut. I am selective on what nut I like to have.

Besides my father, his parents are all German so I am impartial to my heritage also.
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Old Dec 29, 2002 | 12:03 PM
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When I turn on my rain sensing wipers the lights come on as they should. But they won't turn off when I turn off the wipers.
How much time have you given them to shut off? I have never used mine. Perhaps it is some safety related issue. Does the manual say they are supposed to turn off? It wouldn't be the first thing the manual got wrong. I don't like many "automatic" things other than a transmission I like to control things. I have gone so far as to disconnect the rain-sensing sensor. I never thought they worked great in the first place. Either too much or too little wiping action for the given moisture on the window (and since the sensor is under an area the wiper sweeps, the senor's view was clean). I now get 1 wipe every 5-6 seconds
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