imbane

I've posted several questions about my new 2012 C300, but this one is not a question.

That's Tuesday night, I felt something wrong with the driver's side mirror while I was driving. I pulled over and checked it, I was shocked that the side mirror (the whole housing) almost fell off. I was sure I didn't hit anything.

The next day I sent it to the dealership, after investigation, they said that side mirror should be secured to the door with several bolts, but strangely there was zero bolt installed. They stated it as the Quality Control issue.

I don't know if I should say it's funny or sad, I just wish they've not forgotten to install something else...

Kaewen

hmm strange.. don't your dealers do a Pre Delivery Inspection of the car before you pick them up?

acr2001

If my dealer remembers to take all of the stickers off it's highly impressive.

imbane

Yes, they did the PDI, but obviously they didn't find this problem. The mirror housing was in place and function properly, but not secured to the door with bolts. It might not fall off if nobody drove it.

Choy

It is a QA problem from the plant up to the dealer. The main fault is on the production QA and it is not acceptable. Remember that it passed by VPC in Baltimore before shipping it to the dealer. Usually the dealer will just prep and clean the car. Is yours made in S Africa or Germany?

Glyn M Ruck

I would also like to know. If it got out of East London that way someone needs their butt kicked.

Helms

Very strange to hear this.. the vehicle wasn't inspected properly.

C300CA

Check the 11th digit in your VIN. Been a while so I am not sure if 'R' is from SA, or 'A' is from SA. You can easily seach and find the answer. Or, look at the driver side door frame where there is the sticker. Mine says Made In Germany. I saw "Made in South Africa" in the showroom.

I avoided SA production, although I don't think quality should be different. Both is under MB QA.

imbane

It's made in Germany.
I just checked the photos that I took on the 2nd day after I got the car, the mirror housing became loose already at that time, see the red circle in the photo. But I didn't notice it at that time...

bnam

So much for those who believe Made in Germany is "better". Not saying it is worse -- just that good quality (or bad quality) can come from anywhere these days.

RLE

The mirror is held in place by three torx bolts and if they REALLY were missing there is absolutely nothing to hold it in place except the wiring.

Something is missing here.

C300CA

Made in Germany is not necessarily better. My C's rear left door was not flush with body. When door was closed, its handle side edge was like 2 mm out compared to the body. Dealer adjusted it so now perfect. However, it needs more force to shut it close. All other three doors need less force.

A/C assembly was loose. I could grab two temp dials, push and pull it in and out. Dealer ordered a new clip and re-assembled it. Now much better but still a little move. I am not sure if it's a missing clip, or the original clip was loose.

Passenger side footwell plastic cover was wraped so I couls see light through the gap. Dealer replaced with a new cover, much better but still a tiny gap. Cover was too thin and the plastic was too soft.

Otherwise it's a great car.

victort

^yea my passenger side doors are a little off too. Mines made in SA, but whatever, no biggie.

imbane

Actually the mirror was held fairly tight in that triangle area even without the bolts, maybe because it's a new car? But it was getting loose after 100 kilometers, you can see that in those two photos.
when I checked it I took it off the door easily, but after that it wouldn't hold in place any more, I had to put some clear tape to hold the mirror on my way back to the dealer.

newyorktoLA

my bumper is 2 mm off ob my new e350 from the factory; it sticks out... i think every benz has something wrong one place or another, even from the factory!

Glyn M Ruck

Thank god it was built in Germany. I was going to pass it up the MBSA tree here & say WTF!

C300CA

I understand that the body integrity is difficult to be perfect. I always run my palm across door edge to body on most cars, and find the imperfect.

Do they manually adjust it on production line? If not, then there is +/- specs.

My brand new QX4 driver door was a bit out and I adjusted it in myself.
My RX300 rear left door was and still is a bit inward but it didn't bother me much.

I am picky on new cars but after a few years I care less and less about those minor issues.