Why you shouldn't trust the dealers
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2006 C350 Sport 6MT
Why you shouldn't trust the dealers
So I went to fill up some gas just now. I locked my car to go pay and came back and opened my gas tank lid without unlocking the car 
. I found it fairly odd since you can only open it when the car is unlocked. Then I saw the stupidest thing ever.
I had rattles by the gas tank and I mentioned that to the dealer. What they did is bend the tab so there is no movement. Pretty stupid fix IMO. They could have easily put some rubber coating to stop the metal to metal contact (rattle).
I bent it back, you can see the paint chipped where the idiots folded the tab. Then people wonder why dealers have a bad name. I have had my fair share with these incompetent sacks of shyts that they call themselves Benz Technicians
. I found it fairly odd since you can only open it when the car is unlocked. Then I saw the stupidest thing ever. I had rattles by the gas tank and I mentioned that to the dealer. What they did is bend the tab so there is no movement. Pretty stupid fix IMO. They could have easily put some rubber coating to stop the metal to metal contact (rattle).
I bent it back, you can see the paint chipped where the idiots folded the tab. Then people wonder why dealers have a bad name. I have had my fair share with these incompetent sacks of shyts that they call themselves Benz Technicians
Last edited by W203E35; Jul 27, 2010 at 10:52 PM.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Karo, my car was done this way when I bought it. So were TWO other C230s that I test drove. Wonder what the reason for this is? I fixed mine back to lock and unlock with the doors but I've always wondered why all the W203s I've test drove were this way.
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2006 C350 Sport 6MT
hmmmm interesting, A cheap stupid fix my MB Factory or MB Dealers? But mine for sure wasn't like this before..I wonder if more people have this "fix" 
The pin that goes in is pretty small compared to the hole. I'm sure they can spray some rubber paint or some type of rubber compound around the hole so when it does move it doesn't make noise.
The pin that goes in is pretty small compared to the hole. I'm sure they can spray some rubber paint or some type of rubber compound around the hole so when it does move it doesn't make noise.
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
I will admit that to date...and with the one SA I've used, I have so far had good results when I went. But I have a good relationship with the service department there.
I would have a serious fit with bending the tab being the fix. Grrrrr. Listening to what results some of you get from some shops I feel very lucky!
I would have a serious fit with bending the tab being the fix. Grrrrr. Listening to what results some of you get from some shops I feel very lucky!
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From: NYC
08 ML CDI
hmmm, so this is what rattles in my car, lol...2 days thus far im checking and inspecting my brand new sway bars and links , to think that it their fault, lol...noise is coming out from passenger rear side ( filler neck area ) never crossed my mind to look there, thanks Karo !
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2006 C350 Sport 6MT
You are indeed very lucky. I remember when I had oil consumption issues they topped off the oil and said come back in 250 miles. I was burning 1 quart every 2k miles. When I came back at 250 miles the idiot looked at the dipstick and said "you're fine no oil consumption". Are you serious?? That's 1/8 of a quart, is that really going to show?? 
At the end I found that my cam plugs were leaking and that fixed it.
I've had my fair share of these so called Benz Technicians.
Anyone who has a good SA and has had great service consider yourself VERY LUCKY..Like hitting the lotto
At the end I found that my cam plugs were leaking and that fixed it.I've had my fair share of these so called Benz Technicians.
Anyone who has a good SA and has had great service consider yourself VERY LUCKY..Like hitting the lotto
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2006 C350 Sport 6MT
hmmm, so this is what rattles in my car, lol...2 days thus far im checking and inspecting my brand new sway bars and links , to think that it their fault, lol...noise is coming out from passenger rear side ( filler neck area ) never crossed my mind to look there, thanks Karo !
You never got the genius MB gas tank lid fix?? 
Hey I found out why my steering shaft was rubbing only when I turned left...I have a broken motor mount
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
I am lucky. I have often thought that if I lived in an area with a smaller population of MBs, I would either have to do all of it myself or drive something else. My experience has been that a good shop is as important as the vehicle. I can work on my own vehicles, but I prefer to not work on my primary vehicle, as long as I can afford not to.
But I am sure I would still be having a firm discussion with someone over that bent tab. That is just stupid!!!
But I am sure I would still be having a firm discussion with someone over that bent tab. That is just stupid!!!
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From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
^ Karo, I'd be demanding a new tank lid, or at least a lid repaint. Bending the tab and cracking the paint and coating is asking for future corrosion.
That is seriously a new one. :rofl:
That is seriously a new one. :rofl:
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Hmm, I wonder if they fixed that issue on the 07's? No rattle from mine, and the dealer never touched the filler door. I agree with Slammer, the dealer owes you a repaint on that filler door.
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
I'm with Johnand, I've never had any problems. When shut, my gas flap is completely still... the spring is pretty firm. 
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From: So Cal.
2019 GT3 RS, 2017 M3 30 Jahre
damn, Karo, that is whack.
mine has never rattled, so I haven't had the problem. however, I've driven many a loaner C230 with the tabs bent. i thought it was because the person who drove it couldn't figure out how to shut the damn lid when the car was locked and forced it...
Karo, try going to Serge at Hyevon instead of the dealer. I trust him a lot more.
mine has never rattled, so I haven't had the problem. however, I've driven many a loaner C230 with the tabs bent. i thought it was because the person who drove it couldn't figure out how to shut the damn lid when the car was locked and forced it...
Karo, try going to Serge at Hyevon instead of the dealer. I trust him a lot more.
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2006 C350 Sport 6MT
Thanks guys, this topic is becoming pretty interesting. Some factory w203s with the bent tab and some not. Mine definitely wasn't bent before because I remember it locked. Phil your comment makes sense about the factory ones. I guess it's more for the noobs than the rattle.
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From: Arizona
1999 Civic Hatchback, 2002 c240, 2003 CLK 500
haha i did that to mine because the relay was going out and i did not want the cap to get locked permanently .. but ya they should have told u what they were doing
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From: San Francisco
2009 SLK 55 AMG
So our gas lids (square) actually do lock when our cars are locked?
I have always noticed that I could open my gas lid (square) when the car was locked
I currently can't confirm 100%, as my car is back in the US, and I'm in China for vacation... but this is very intriguing.
What I remember is that the little tab on the lid was always a little bent, but whether there is any paint chipping or not I can't say.
I shall check on this when I am back... in another ~2 months
I have always noticed that I could open my gas lid (square) when the car was locked
I currently can't confirm 100%, as my car is back in the US, and I'm in China for vacation... but this is very intriguing.
What I remember is that the little tab on the lid was always a little bent, but whether there is any paint chipping or not I can't say.
I shall check on this when I am back... in another ~2 months
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2006 C350 Sport 6MT
Plasti Dip works great, I used it to paint my grill once. Color faded and I peeled it off.
Maybe they do this as the car get's older so people wont be SOL when it's time to fill up gas.
Still interesting how some cars have it and some don't (bent tab).
Maybe they do this as the car get's older so people wont be SOL when it's time to fill up gas.
Still interesting how some cars have it and some don't (bent tab).
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From: Aventura, Fl
2006 C230, 2006 BMW M3, bye bye C55:(
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From: San Francisco
2009 SLK 55 AMG
I'm guessing by your location, SF stands for South Florida and not San Francisco?
Oh yeah, so any definitive answer on the gas flap locking?
It actually DOES (supposed to) lock, right?
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2006 C350 Sport 6MT
Yup it locks but it's still a mystery to why some come bent and some do not and even a bigger mystery to why they do this
Is it because of noise (supposedly that's why it was done for my car) or is it so if it malfunctions people wont be out of luck when it's time to fill up?
This was done at Keyes European (Van Nuys) which are literally IDIOTS or are good ACTORS.
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Mercedes C230K 05
Hate the dealer, they should know better what they are doing.
One time, I went to a dealer to check my car. After it was done, they gave me the car and the hood was not properly close, it was lifted up one side. It looks like the hood is bent so I asked an immediate help. The SA came and opened up my hood and said don't worry and he slammed the hood hard. it didn't close, .
So I told him stop but he didn't listen and slammed it again harder. So I guarded him from the car then we later figured that it just that the hood lock was down one side.
that's it, can't believe he kept slamming my hood,
One time, I went to a dealer to check my car. After it was done, they gave me the car and the hood was not properly close, it was lifted up one side. It looks like the hood is bent so I asked an immediate help. The SA came and opened up my hood and said don't worry and he slammed the hood hard. it didn't close, .
So I told him stop but he didn't listen and slammed it again harder. So I guarded him from the car then we later figured that it just that the hood lock was down one side.
that's it, can't believe he kept slamming my hood,
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
There is a way to get the thing unlocked in the event that it is stuck in the locked position. It requires pulling something behind the liner on that side in the trunk.. details in the manual.
