pawe

My car's extended warranty expired a few days ago but 2 weeks before it expired, I brought in my car for repairs (alignment and complained about a knocking noise in the front area when going over a speed bump or dip).

They said they weren't able to find the source of the knocking noise (its pretty noticeable and really annoying) and they even said it might be from my reiger bumper (impossible because I asked my friend to stand beside the speed bump and listen if the sound really comes from my bumper and he didnt hear a thing). My alignment which I paid $140 was also unsatisfactory since my car is still pulling strong to the right.

Now, 15 days after my extended warranty expired, the knocking noise got worse and now it sounds like its metal to metal grinding when you go over a bump.

Can I still ask them to do a warranty repair since I complained about this problem even before my extended warranty expired and they claim they didnt hear the noise at all? Thanks!

phister

you probably can since they document it and if you can show your paper work I think they'll cover it. Have you taken your wheel off and looked around to see if you can notice any problems. I had a knocking noise when I put my springs on and found out I didnt tighten down my strut hat good enough, once I did that my knocking went away.

LILBENZ230

Yes it should be documented and thus, covered. My car had a collapsed rear engine mount the dealer couldn't find for like three months after my warranty. It was covered.

pawe

Thanks for the replies! I will contact my SA tomorrow and report back what the procedures are and what the problem is for future member reference.

Glyn M Ruck

As others have said - If recorded you can go back. Your pulling to the right with the camber of the road is a common problem with W203 & W204. It is easily fixed by dialing in 1 more degree of positive castor on RHS vs LHS - Typically 9.6 degrees & 10.6 degrees. You need the fluted, 3 way, castor bush bolts to do this easily. (The reverse applies for right hand drive cars)

pawe

Just talked to my SA and he said MB doesnt do "goodwills" anymore so basically what he is telling me was my extended warranty is expired and Im screwed.

mleskovar

Tell him (nicely, no threat) if he doesn't honor the extended warranty then you'll take your business elsewhere and they'll get the payment from the insurance company. Independents love that kind of work.

pawe

That's one of the things he told me. He said try the other dealerships.
I also talked to my previous SA in a different dealership and that's what he said too. They even said that the mothership wont even recognize extended warranties that were transferred to second hand owners anymore. - that is really dumb!

this experience really turned me off about how they take care of their customers. I am even planning on trading my car in for an E class for the longest time now but after this experience, it may sway my decision to Lexus instead of MB.

timmynabenz

all the MB warranties have a "good faith" period. even though your warranty expires, sometimes dealers will still cover problems, in good faith. add to that the fact, that you did complain before hand and you should be golden

pawe

Just got my car back from the dealership.
SA said they didnt find anything wrong with the suspension, steering or axle. Apparently, they did not hear the "dry squeal" I am hearing and kept on complaining to them whenever I go over a speed bump. I dont know if they just sweep the issue away or if they are just incompetent but the noise is really really noticeable.
I guess there's nothing more I can do about that since this is the 5th time I complained.

The alignment issue was from my tires. They replaced my wheels with the wheels from a different car for a test and alignment came out ok. SA told me to take my car to the tire shop where I got my tires from and ask for a Road Force Balance test and see if they can replace the tires on the front. I scheduled my car for the RFB on friday.

Glyn M Ruck

Set that castor correctly or as soon as the new tyres bed in you will be back to pulling with the camber of the road. Benz has knocked this into the dumb heads of every alignment shop in SA - they even carry the bolts here. Seems they have not even trained the dealers in the US.

MW_ATL

Did you go for a ride with them, so you could go over a speed bump and say *that* noise? I know if you are looking for a particular noise, my dealer often wants you to ride with them, if they can't find it. Especially if it is something you can reliably reproduce.

pawe

@Glyn - yeah i'll probably go back to the dealership and have a camber correction, Im pretty sure the tire shop will recommend a camber after the Road Force balance.

@MW - I rode with him every time I bring in my car for repairs but the SA said it might be my reiger bumper kit making the noise and said they will inspect it but techs weren't able to find anything wrong.....and I was so disappointed yesterday that I just lost my will to reason and just gave up on the freaking dry squeak.

- Last resort probably is to pay an independent mechanic $50 to diagnose it but if the zombie corpses of techs at the dealership weren't able to find it then what chance will a lonely indy have? And I dont even know if they will honor a diagnosis from an indy.