npa201

Hi All,

I want to love my C300. In fact, on most days I love it. But at this point I may be done with MB. A brief time line:

• Jan 2015 - Buy C300 - With 127 miles I find that the seats are bleeding plasticizer chemicals. In addition the rear bumper looks misaligned.

• Feb 2015 - After about 7 weeks with a loaner, MB finally caves and arranges to do an exchange for a brand new C300. It was hours of talking on the phone and being denied once, but MB does right by me on service.
• Summer 2015 - two more trips to MB for flat tires. Fine, whatever, that's on me. Not happy about it though.
• November 2015 - As I'm about to merge onto a highway I get a power steering malfunction. I'm amazed I somehow didn't get hit or hit someone. Its one thing for power steering to cut out upon start up. Its another thing while you are driving. 3 days in the shop. Steering shaft is replaced I believe.
• December 20 2015 (Today) - Once again while driving the power steering cuts out again. Come on man.

In November, the company apologized for these problems to happen with 4000 miles on the car. For compensation they decide to give me free pre-paid maintenance for three years. Now at 5400 miles it happens again. What do you think I should do? I'm sort of over the car. While I have my health, these last two incidents could have been a bigger issue if my wife (who does not have my upper body strength) was driving. Both times I was relatively close to home. What if I was on a business trip and this happened?

• Do you guys think I should just take my losses and move on?
• Is this car a dud?
• What sort of assistance should I ask for from MB USA?
• Do they buyback cars? If so, will it only be to assist with the purchase of another MB or can I just get some money back? How much in assistance can I ask for?

All in, I think the car was about $47K (w/ delivery fee and taxes). I've paid about $17K so far. I think KBB trade-in value is about $35K. Help?

PeterUbers

You should do a trade assist and basically ask to pay nothing for your new car, option it out exactly as you want it but you'll pay the difference if you add more options than your current car

They do buyback cars and it takes patience and you need to stress the safety and that you'll take this to an attorney

I would friggen be done with that car and since steering is unmistakably linked to safety and your life and well being this should be a slam dunk if you play it right

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w212/515501-first-service-visit-rough-downshifting-2k14-e550-4matic.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w212/536898-new-e550-replacement-has-rough-downshifts-too-lovely.html

They bought back two 2014 e550's from me and I got back every red cent I paid

npa201

Thanks for the tips.
1) Basically, there is nothing I can do I decide to leave the MB family, correct? Very little options there?
2) My prior car was a purchase, but now I wonder given reliability issues if I should only be leasing these things with the option to buy? Do you think that will somehow disadvantage me if I want to make that transaction?
3) While I really like the C300 - I wouldn't mind having more power, a C450 or higher (c63) would be fun but at the same time I won't want to give the impression that I'm trying to make money off of this and this was somehow car buying remorse. If there were never any issues, I'd be perfectly content, but these were major safety issues...

Mike5215

It's closing in on lemon law territory. That's usually three repair attempts for the same defect or 30 total shop days for any combination of defects.

I doubt they'd want to wait for the 3rd steering failure.

Settlement options are a cash refund for your car less a mileage offset, or a replacement car. They're usually more amenable to the new car, and you can take that credit toward an up spec car and pay the difference. That's reasonable. You deserve something more fun for the hassle. Buying a new MB is supposed to be a rewarding experience.

Google [your state] lemon law and you'll find several lawyers who offer free online case evaluations. They get their fee paid by the manufacturer so their services are free to you.

Lease v buy, I lease often because the payment is low and I'll want something new in three years anyway. If you plan on keeping the car, I'd just buy it rather than paying on it for three years on the lease and then financing another three years to pay off the residual.

PeterUbers

If leaving the Benz family you should get your money back withOUT any cost to you to compensate for the mileage

It's negligible mileage and I didn't pay a dime for the 5500 miles I accrued on the first car or 1000 on the second

npa201

Thanks. If I recall, NJ Lemon law was 3 attempts or 30 days in the shop. I actually spoke with NJ Consumer Affairs earlier this year on this with my plasticizer bleeding issue to figure out if I had a case or if I should wait for MB to make things right. Luckily MB did the right thing before it got to that point. We will see this time.

The way I look at it is I'm 36 and there is a lifetime value to a customer. I was never interested in MB before the new C300 (was always a BMW fan). At some point our X5 will need to be replaced and now MB gets to throw their name into the hat given how the C300 had changed my mind on the brand. Given my earnings trajectory I was also thinking perhaps in ten years time I will splurge and either get a true grand touring car and the AMG GT has quickly moved up into the short list for me. And further down the road there will be likely many more purchase including eventually cars for my kids. But this can all go away if this isn't handled well by MB. Not to mention there will be a lot of negative opinions from me to my (also well earning) co-workers when they are looking for cars.

arnold0523

LOL. That's normal. I have 12 times (with record) in the shop in less than 8 months.

Ok, mine was not safety issues though. Yours were more serious. It's time to ask them buy it back and move on...

Mike5215

I was seriously considering a 205. My loaner is fun to drive, interior is nice, can't beat the price. But doing a little research tonight and this car, at least the 2015s have been a bit of a nightmare. There are at least six fairly serious TSBs on the car, I believe 3 recalls, lots of complaints on other boards, and not nit picky stuff. Steering failures, engine rebuilds, turbo oil seal failures, sagging trim, bleeding MBTEX, a distinct buzz in the Burmester door speakers. Lots of owners with multiple repair attempts, lots of owners being brushed off by MBUSA.

The guys with the problem cars all say how much they love the car but the ownership experience has been ruined.

The car being built not in Stuttgart but in Alabama? That's like going to class your first day at Harvard and realizing your professor got his degree on the Internet from University Of Phoenix.

rbrylaw

Mike, I have no less than 6 friends with the C Class. None have had any issues at all. I've now had mine over a month. No issues. None.

You know coming to internet forums is like visiting a hospital and making the assumption that the entire population must be sick.

Mike5215

I dunno. When I go into a hospital I don't presume the entire town is sick, but I do feel sorry for the poor a-holes who are in there.

If it turned out they were all there for food poisoning and they all ate the Chicken Chimichanga at Ruby Tuesdays, I'd steer clear of Ruby Tuesday's Chicken Chimichanga.

PeterUbers

Great advice! I like how you think

DBOC205

Try telling that to Homer J Simpson!

rbrylaw

OK.......but you have to admit that there are likely thousands upon thousands of C Class cars on the road, with literally thousands upon thousands of C Class owners who aren't having issues and aren't posting on an internet forum.

rbrylaw

OK.......but you have to admit that there are likely thousands upon thousands of C Class cars on the road, with literally thousands upon thousands of C Class owners who aren't having issues and aren't posting on an internet forum. My point goes to your concern about the troubles with the C Class, which is likely a small percentage of the cars on the roads out there.

PeterUbers

The 335i, the q50...
Both also had many teething issues

Mike5215

I agree, but I think the percentage isn't nearly as small as it should be. I do think the 15 had an abnormally high incidence rate, particularly for a brand like MB.

But of course there will be a majority of owners who have no issues, and MB will clean it up quickly if past behavior is an indication.

PeterUbers

I agree

npa201

While I'm waiting to hear back from mbusa I got a call from my dealership that my car should be ready today. They said it was something about a ground wire issue but they wanted to keep it overnight to test it today (drive it 30 miles). Anyway do you think in terms negotiating with mbusa that I should refuse to take the car back or can I do so?

What are the major issues with the 3 series? Have they been worked out since it was release in 2012? I'm thinking of a 340i or m3 if mbusa doesn't rectify the situation.

Mike5215

You're under no obligation to take the car back, but you do need to return the service loaner if you have one. Before any tactical moves you need to minimally have your case evaluated by a lemon law attorney in your state.

As I mentioned earlier, they'll do the eval for free, usually by an online submission. Your submission does not create a representation agreement. There is no obligation on either side, and there is no fee.

If the attorney takes the case, you'll sign a contingency fee agreement stating that if you lose, you owe nothing and if you win, the attorney will be paid his fee by MB, independent of any settlement.

If you're going the buy back route, it's possible to make some tactical errors early on that might screw up the case for the lawyer. For example, if you claim you want the buy back because the car is unsafe to drive, and then put another couple thousand miles on it, it hurts your case.

If you plan on trying to get a buy back yourself, I'd let the car sit at the dealership if I could manage without it for several months, since that supports your claim and is a constant reminder to the dealership of the unresolved issue.

BlackjackM

Mine is a later build '15 and the only real problem I've had is that an LED light handle went out. I'll have it replaced in the spring.

LOVE my C300, 4th MB I've owned and my favorite to date.

Mike5215

Im going back and forth on AirMatic. Coming from an S Class I know how smooth and silky the ride is. The C300 loaner (steel suspension) has the perfect amount of "give" in the suspension for me, but there's no way I could live with 17" wheels. I drove another C300 (steel) on 18's and it felt too firm.

What size wheels are you on and what Airmatic setting do you prefer?