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DESPERATE FOR A FUEL PUMP FOR CLS55 AMG EXTENDED WARRANTY FIX
Unbelievable I am just sick to my stomach over how
Mercedes Benz of Gainesville has treated my CLS55 AMG.
The part that makes me sickest is that I only found out
today what they’ve done with my car. I will not be going
to Gainesville to pick it up, it is not drivable.
Just got a call from Michael Potteiger saying that
the pump had a cracked fitting and split hose and
that the car is not drivable. So, they put the Goddamned
car outside to sit in the rain and cold and heat and
condensation to rot. I cannot believe they did that to
my perfect clean CLS55 AMG. Guaranteed it will never
be the same again. Especially with an open fuel tank
to the interior of the car. Michael said he didn’t think
the wrenches would be that stupid. I said do you know
that. Michael said he would have to check…AAARRRGGGHHH!
My $80,000 Mercedes Benz is a paper weight, sitting at
a MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP not drivable. I repeat, at a
Mercedes Benz Dealerehip. Anything wrong with that picture?
I thought mechanics knew how to fix stuff, that’s why they
called them mechanics. I am going to throw up...
So I am trying to locate a pump that they say doesn’t
exist anywhere in the USA according to Michael. He is getting
the part number now. Boy do I ever regret taking this
wonderful car to Mercedes Benz of Gainesville. Apparently
when they can’t get the parts they just shove these cars
out of the shop to sit in the weather and deteriorate. I
am genuinely outraged. This car will never be the same after
that kind of treatment. Guaranteed it will do nothing but
give me electrical trouble from now on...
You know and I know and the people at Mercedes Benz of
Gainesville should certainly know that the CLS55 AMG is
an electronic apparatus, with some mechanical pieces. Electronics
and water do not mix, electronics and humidity do not mix,
electronics and condensation from temperature changes do not
mix. I am about to cry when I think of the damage that has
already been done to my car just letting it sit outside in
the Goddamned weather for the last seven weeks. Damn!
Man I was so happy I was getting my baby back … And now this.
ps Just got off a chat with MBUSA and Eileen has elevated my
case to a case manager who is supposed to call me within the
next business day. I have no clue what that will do for me or
this problem. Apparently these MB dealerships are independent.
My main goal is to get the car out of the weather.
That is just an absolute must. I know you have smelled
the inside of a car that sits outside in the heat and cold
for extended periods. They stink, and it never ever goes away.
You can detail them till the cows come home and they stink.
It stinks because moisture and mold grow inside of everything,
INCUDING ALL OF THOSE ELECTRONIC DEVICES MODULES AND RELAYS …
Again AAARRRGGGHHH!
My only friggin car not drivable. First time in my life that
has ever happened to me. And where does it happen?, AT A
MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP… Talk about luck…What the hell did
I do to deserve this…
How long has it been outside? Is it disassembled, (i.e. interior open to the elements)?
Seven going on eight weeks. It is really unknown whether the wrenches
had the common sense to make sure the windows are up. I assume so.
It is also unknown still by my service advisor whether the inspections plates into the gas tank were screwed back in place before leaving it outside
to the elements...
You're upset because your 9 year old car sat outside at a dealer's parking lot?
What am I missing here?
Are you saying they left your car "open to the elements" or just "outside in the elements"?
Your not missing anything. It's sitting outside in the weather. Yes it is nine years old, even more reason to keep it inside. It has from birth been garaged that's the reason I bought it. Do you have a problem with my frustration that a dealer would not at least tell me what he was going to do?
I would have gone up and driven it back here, to wait for the repair parts.
But, not only did they dump it outside, they took the fuel pump apart or did something to them without having the part they were taking out on hand, leaving me with a "nine year old super clean" car that is not drivable sitting out in the Goddamned weather. Do you know how much the temperature changes in Gainesville? Like 50 degrees in the winter. Its a mold growers paradise. All the houses here have black mold on them that they have to blast off once a year. Now that crap is growing inside my "nine year old Mercedes CLS55 AMG" '
Damn right I'm upset ... That is the absolute worst customer service ever. And I am not a hard *** customer, I don't give service people a hard time ever. But this time I did go off on this guy. No excuse to not give me a heads up so I could protect my investment. I don't think that is out of line.
Well isn't this nice. I just got a call from MBUSA and they are going to try and expedite this fuel pump repair. They are going to call Mercedes Benz Gainesville and speak to their service director and the regional director and see if they cannot expedite the parts that are missing...
Putting some smoke under the service advisor's heels is why your CLS has been moved up to get the fuel lines repaired.
Don't apologize for getting upset. Good for you!
We work unbelievably hard for our cars, who gives a f how old it is, as long as they closed all windows/doors and sunroof and closed up the gas tank so it doesn't stink up the interior is good. If they didn't close up shi.te and left it to rot, then compensation is in order.
Post some pics of the car, i've always loved the 219s!
My baby and it's extraordinary shape at 9 years old
Notice the ODB door has never been opened. The sills have zero marks on
them and under the hood even the paper tags are without deterioration. Never seen a car of this age in such pristine condition. Owner before me was fastidious, even inside there is literally no wear marks. Only thing I found was some residue from the hands of those who used the gear shift.
Smelled like rich people inside ... perfect
If I felt that strongly about the weather issue (which judging by the pristine condition of the vehicle you should) I'd have rented a rollback and driver as soon as I found out and removed the vehicle to a different dealer. Screw that dealer and his bill let him sue. You are correct they are all independent and many are a--holes. I'm surprised that the dealer got his knickers in a twist over a call from mbusa most don't. If that had been my car.......
If I felt that strongly about the weather issue (which judging by the pristine condition of the vehicle you should) I'd have rented a rollback and driver as soon as I found out and removed the vehicle to a different dealer. Screw that dealer and his bill let him sue. You are correct they are all independent and many are a--holes. I'm surprised that the dealer got his knickers in a twist over a call from mbusa most don't. If that had been my car.......
Thanks Mate,
This is by far the worst thing I've ever experienced from a business. I cannot really blame the service rep as he thought that the parts were available (apparently). So, I turned my baby over to him and they gave me a 2015 C250 loaner. The problem comes from his concept of customer care. Garages are built for a reason to protect expensive cars from the weather animals and vandalism potential when leaving a car in the open unprotected. Who doesn't keep a customer informed about parts delays which he did, but never told me he kicked it to the curb. Who doesn't follow up and ask the customer if he would prefer to take it home as it might be months before the parts will arrive. That never happened because Michael must have known it wasn't drivable. That's what pissed me off. Nearly 8 weeks into this waiting for something, I hear my car has been parked outside like any common impound lot car and it is not drivable. The mental picture I got really put me in another dimension. Going postal doesn't even come close. I'm sure Michael was not anxious to chat anymore about that subject with me. And I don't blame him. I apologized after I cooled off, but he's probably still wounded.
It may be that my savior is MBUSA as I got on a chat room with them and explained my concern for my car and I explained it in detail. The next day a lady called as I have indicated and said she would try to move things along. After that much time goes by it seems like just manners or good business to try and let the owner know what's taking so long. I kept getting dates and they would fall through. Finally when I did decide to ask Michael to button it up and I will take it home to wait for the parts, it was only then that I got the bad news that they had to push it outside because there was no room in the shop. AND IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. That's when I had the aneurism....
The error apparently occurred right off the bat when the technicians inspected it for the fuel system leak that the extended warrant was all about. Apparently instead of doing a VISUAL inspection and stopping, they must have taken the fuel pump level sensor assembly either out completely or apart. I don't know. But that's the reason it is not drivable because that fuel pump was disabled in that process. It was fine when I drove it up there, leaky but working. So, I am just screwed. I don't think anyone is to be blamed here, at that point Michael was trying to do the right thing. But I would hope that the next time he has this kind of a situation he will wait until parts are available before disabling completely parts that work, at least enough I could have driven it home...And keep his clientele informed...
I really could do without all the drama frankly. I thought I had dodged a bullet with this extended warrant on the fuel tank. But it didn't really turn out that way. Let's hope after all this that there is a happy ending and I get my baby back as perfect as it was when I gave it to MB Gainesville...Thanks for the comments mate....
Note to self: never leave your baby with a stranger, ever!....Popeye
Got my baby back all fixed and it no longer smells like gas when I fill up. Quite an experience, but well worth the annoying wait. Have new gas tank, harness, two fuel pumps, sending unit, various seals and other miscellaneous parts. Wow, even though it took a while, it was well worth the wait. Apparently there are 300 people waiting for that field system warranty extension. Two right there in Gainesville both E class. Anyway that was a 50 cal bullet dodged and I am still a proud and happy CLS55 AMG owner. Gets prettier every day...Oh they put in a new motor for the drivers side headrest too so it goes up and down like it should now...
I just stumbled onto the solution for carbon nastiness in the exhaust tips as well. Really easy to get it off, and am going to see if I can get the shine inside just as bright as the outside...Will advise in another post later as soon as my tools arrive...
Wow, is all I've got to say about that. Don't be surprised if they put you on a "don't pick up the phone when this ******* calls" list.
I realize that it's clean and you like it a lot, most here share the same sentiment. But it really is just a 9 year old used car, it's not a ****in rare artifact. Drive it, enjoy it, but lighten up unless you're trying to compress coal up your **** into diamonds
Wow, is all I've got to say about that. Don't be surprised if they put you on a "don't pick up the phone when this ******* calls" list.
I realize that it's clean and you like it a lot, most here share the same sentiment. But it really is just a 9 year old used car, it's not a ****in rare artifact. Drive it, enjoy it, but lighten up unless you're trying to compress coal up your **** into diamonds
It's all over mate. All that whining and venting was after 8 weeks of waiting. Now it seems a little over the top, but not when it was happening. Generally I'm a patient customer, knowing that dealing with the public is a shi**y way to make a living. But I kept getting dates that never came true. When I get the sense that service mgrs can't be bothered and are content to find excuses, I take that as my cue to get involved. Once I did, in a week or so it was finished and ready to put back in my garage. The service guy was inhibited by his rank in the system, so he couldn't help or fix the part delivery delays. But once I had a tet-a-tet with NJ explaining I am 75 years old and times a wastin here, every minute counts. They were gracious and understanding and the part was found.
In retrospect no one is was fault for the delay. Once they put out that warranty extension I'm sure they got swamped. It was just more important to me than anyone else. The venting I could have toned down, but I'd rather vent than have an aneurism. This is my first Mercedes Benz if we don't count the platform for the Crossfire. And the final car tick off on my bucket list. It came to me by luck. My daily searches finally paid off with a CLS55 AMG in Ocala not in Tampa or Orlando like all the others. I rushed down to BMW of Ocala to have a look and it was truly pristine. So, we made a deal and I gave them my 07 Crossfire Ltd Roadster and I took the CLS home. So, it's not just a 9 year old used car to me. It's an absolute wonder of engineering. The result of several years of searching for that final bucket list entry. Waaaay beyond anything I've ever experienced in my long list of US automobiles. No mate, it's much more to this car guy than just a 9 year old used car, much more...When you get to 75 plus years, you will appreciate something like this CLS55 AMG that makes life a little sweeter and a new day something to look forward to again...
Oh I agree wholeheartedly. Both myself and most others here hold the cars in much higher regards than what the fact of the matter is.(used car)
I have the same exact car as you , and I've built most of the power train myself with my own hands so I have the utmost pride in it. I'm half your age but have had over a hundred cars and the CLS is my favorite ever.
But to a repair shop(yes the dealer is still an independent repair shop) it's another job. They make jack **** on warranty work, and as you certainly understand have no choice but to wait on parts when they are backordered. In the event of a long wait, They'll keep the car inside if there is room, but interior space is for making $$, not for storage. Every sq. foot costs a certain amount every month so the cars on a wait list for parts unfortunately get to wait outside. Unless the car is a convertible with the top down, or they left the windows down in the rain for days upon days, rest assured your baby will suffer no I'll effects!
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