J__

To save on production costs of just 200 rmb ($25) excessive traces of carcinogenic materials were found to be used in the production of Mercedes C-class, BMW, and audi A6L assembled in China. Customers complained of strong odors and health issues such as coughing, headache, swelling after driving these cars. Pretty ****ty because I own one ...


for those that understand mandarin:

http://video.sina.com.cn/p/news/s/v/...762184713.html




If this is true, I hope MB does something about this, it's stupid that they would allow such a thing to slip through quality control and business practices.

RavenMDX

why oh why in the name of Benz would they be made in China?

I would never buy a benz made in China. China does make some good products but for me a Benz is made in Germany. I checked my option codes and mine was made in Bremen. Does the Chinese Govt only accept chinese-made benz?

C300CA

That will hurt those brands' reputation. Does MB or other brands really control their product quality? Each engineering change should go through very strict qualifications.

I enjoy my US version C300 also make in Bremen. Been two years now it still smells new but less strong. No issue at all...

BTW Shanghai is my home town. I never imagine I would live there again.

TexFinn

Because it is easier to get them sold there that way.

snowmuch

No it's because of the high tax for import cars. A c250 import from Germany would cost more than $60k USD.

Captfx

I was bummed when I saw mine was made in East London... South Africa.
For some reason I thought all MBs were made in Germany.
Oh well, 7 weeks and 1800 miles and no problems. lol.

MDMercedesGuy

History has shown that the cars coming out of East London have better fit and finish.

There's nothing wrong with a SA built C class. If you have a German built C in the US, you are a minority.

mitviet

somehow I am not surprised... the cars may have been assembled out of Germany but I bet lots of these Benz parts are made in China where labor is obviously cheaper than most elsewhere.

TexFinn

Hence, easier to sell.

Carsy

Any chemical that expires from vinyl will be carcinogenic . Every vinyl expires chemicals as you see on the inside of your windscreen. This could be a beat up or over stating normality. Alcohol & cigarette smoke are too.

Don't believe everything you read on facebook or the press.

glj12

搞什么飞机～！This is terrible. Always cutting corners...

J__

foreign car makers joint venture with local enterprises in order to get their cars in china, for cost (my china made C200 cost almost as much as a C63 in the US) and also political reasons. Most of the joint ventures are government owned. MB, BMW, audi, honda, toyota, buick, etc etc are all joint ventures.

In the past for MB, all parts were imported and only assembled in china, including the painted body panels. But nowadays, aside from the main drivetrain and chasis, all plastic parts are sourced and locally made, hence the slack in quality. I can tell the difference in quality in my chinese made C-class vs my dad's imported E350. After just 8 months of owning the car, dash and trim noise is very noticeable in my '12 C, whereas in my dad's 06 E and my old 1996 C220 was flawless.

Unfortunately with all things made in china, slack in material and labor is inevitable as company executives make decisions on cost cutting to put the money in their own pockets..

This was reported numerous times and already a well spread issue. MB china obviously won't do anything about it but hopefully MB international will pick up on this and really regulate and formulate a resolution. Regardless of how the rest of the world think of china, it's undoubtedly still a HUGE market to any manufacturer.

J__

here's another article on the dampers this time U_____U"

http://www.newsking.us/news-4128072-...-10-years.html

snowmuch

okay you win

felixcat

According to China Central Television's latest followup, they also send some german made BMW/MB/Audi models for testing, including a 2010 MB E300, 2012 BMW 520i and 2010 Audi Q5, test results are the same, they all contain the same excessive carcinogenic materials.

So basically speaking, similar models sold in US will probably have the same issue. I checked both European/US laws, cannot find any regulations about this (I am not an expert about this area so I may overlook something), hence in my opinion, yes, technically speaking those manufactures are *legal* to use such materials in their product even in US market.

Currently I cannot find any proof that these carcinogenic materials are not used in US bound product. On the other hand which make me quite worry: MB China officially replied that the C/E class produced in China are using that same material in cars build in other MB factories globally - I assume that also includes Germany.

victor.steven

it's a really disappointing result.

Cillys

I do not buying ANYTHING made in china !!!!!!!!!!!

when will the American consumers WAKE UP !!!!!!!!!!!

J__

I highly doubt this is possible nowadays. Unless you don't buy any major brand name products, clothes, electronics, day to day items such as toothbrush, towels, computer, mouse pad, office chairs, etc etc, you're using a chinese made product. It's literally IMPOSSIBLE to not buy anything made in china without making a huge sacrifice in the way you live.

victor.steven

yes you are right because everything that made in china is really cheap. even sometimes the price itself doesn't make any sense. i even buy my WALD bodykit in china and it only cost me about 2000*USD it's really cheap and the quality it self is not bad at all

Cillys

I meant i TRY not to buy anything in china ..... i work in afghanistan and not lived in US for 10 years ... i live in bangkok .... they make most of their stuffs there ... and no i do not own a celfon ... lol

C300CA

I highly doubt it. If that is true, I should have already smelt it, and my lung should have already gone wrong...

Things made in China is very questionable, including their news.

victor.steven

yes, i also agree with you. i've use mercedes benz since 3 years ago and now i change to new model but it seems don't have any problem especially like what happen in china (excuse my language my english is poor).

Samaral

Sportstick

Not poor at all! Your English is actually quite good and better than some Americans who post here! Work a bit more on punctuation and capitalization, but keep it up....you're doing very well!

victor.steven

Thanks bro