hdsalinas

Well,

Last week our beloved c220 left us stranded at a Dennys parking lot late at night. It was embarrassing since I had just handed the keys to a friend to show him the Benz and when he tried to start it it would not turn.

I had to leave the car there overnight and was not until next morning that I got it to start. Since then it has been giving us problems so I call the local dealer and they gave me an appointment for next monday.

Anyways, I have read that this is a very costly and a very well known issue with the w204. By this time I am sure MB knows about it, so my question is, have they issued a TSB about this problem? Is there something I could print and take to the dealer so that they will see that is a common issue and hopefully have MB cover it. Should I be concerned that this part, when I it gets replaced, eventually fail again in the future or has MB corrected the problem?

My 2008 C220 has just reached 60,000 Klms. We have had it for about 4 months now... We are very concerned and disappointed.

sirics

I would be interested in a TSB as well for this. I own 2 C300's and although I have not had these issues (thank God), I want to be prepared when/if they arise. Thanks

Go Navy

Give us a break! What's an "EIS" and what's a "TSB"? Knock off the jargon and communicate and it'll help the rest of us.

aussie e55

electronic ignition switch & techinal service bulletin??.

mb techman

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vic viper

If your car is properly serviced goodwill will help you depending on model year year and mileage

Carsy

I would respectfully ask what "properly serviced" means in relation to a EIS failure except that you have already paid the dealer a lot of money . Take that as a statement rather than a question.

Sportstick

I believe what he means, which is true, is that a car continuously properly serviced at an MB dealership over the course of its life will receive additional goodwill consideration for putting on warranty items which MB is not obligated to treat in that manner...past the mileage or date limit, for just one example. They may (and have) picked up the parts cost, while the loyal customer only pays labor. The reality is that not all customers are treated the same, and my SA has also told me specifics of repairs MB has picked up for loyal customers, which would not happen for someone who just shows up for the first time with an older car.

Carsy

Thanks Sportstick. Am I correct in saying that 2008 is a bad manufacture year for EIS failure ?

Is this an Australian car , ie a 220CDI. Pity folks can't fill in their location.

vic viper

Couldn't have said it better myself, but the goodwill system is very consistent and does not treat any customer differently, however the dealer himself could pay for the repair if you're a good customer. The dealer won't get any funds from Daimler if he chooses to do this.

mb techman

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Go Navy

I'm astonished at this wishful fantasy that an MB dealer is going to treat certain customers differently because of loyalty or regular business. I think most American dealers are all business and completely unsentimental, and such a thing would never happen. I also suspect that whatever dealer's employee who is actually looking at your service record has no authority to make such decisions....that is, granting free services.

I hope I'm wrong.

mb techman

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Sportstick

Respectfully, you are quite incorrect. My SA described several individual cases where he and or the SM would contact their regional MBUSA tech rep. They would discuss the case, and they know to prepare the service history, as the tech rep always wants to know if the service history of the vehicle was performed at an MBUSA dealership. The SA has observed that this factor appears key in deciding how much goodwill help to offer.

None of this is sentimental, but just good business sense. They are keeping loyal customers satisfied as much as they consider reasonable, while not expending resources on opportunists who drop in only with an occasional or major problem looking for unwarranted help. Have you never experienced the concept or reality of the "baker's dozen"? You paid for 12, but the good businessperson throws in the 13th......same psychology.

Sportstick

I have no data, but reading anecdotes, it does seem 2008 is most afflicted. Could be because they are older, and the same fate will catch up with later models, or an issue was found and corrected at some point later on.

mb techman

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Sportstick

Go Navy

I understand the business logic and think it's great; my background is business and I'm a pro-business person. I just hope it proves to be real at my local MB dealer. This is my first MB so I have no experience with that company and its dealers. I hope the car proves to be relatively trouble free, since MBs traditionally had a reputation for reliability. The other luxury brands I've owned are BMW and Acura. Never got any such treatment from those dealers despite using their service departments whenever necessary. Staff were always great but nobody was giving anything away, except maybe a free wash job.

mb techman

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Sportstick

Correct again, and there is good data to prove this. There are very few vehicles where the launch year c/100 measure was an improvement over the previous generation exit condition. The second year may be optimal, as the Product Planners typically start de-contenting by the third year of a program as they need to improve margins in the face of increasing incentives for the aging model.