Expat

I have a 2002 C32 with ~ 31K miles, the warranty is about to expire, what should I get the dealer to check?
My list so far:
Front LHS Indicator doesn't work - ground fault
LHS Suspension creaks

Intermittant
Ticking from transmission tunnel when hot - heat shield
Occasional hard 2nd Gear Shift
Passenger A/C Auto control randomly switches off
cup holder jams
Poor radio reception

Check oil for contamination in case of oil cooler/radiator leak

I've tried to find an extended warranty but the only option I've come up with is >$4K as most 3rd party companies don't cover California and/or AMG.
Thanks

CynCarvin32

Tell them the car cuts power under load and they will replace the intercooler pump. this part fails regularly. Gone through 3-4 in 2 cars.

Tell them the car shakes at speed and get new front control arm bushings because those to have a limited life. Also say the car has a lose feel nad clunks over bumps (which most 30k mile old cars do). They cost about 2k so getting them done under warranty is always a plus!

Tell them the sway bar links are squeaking and they should replace the swaybar bushings as well.

Other than these things the W203 is a pretty solid car!

psk145

wont the dealer do the "could not replicate problem" and blow it off unless its really doing it though?

f4iman78

Most likely they will blow it off. "Some pple I know" work at a dealership and when a car is about to go out of warranty, we (I mean they) would look the car over for known problem and fix them so the customer didn't need to come out of pocket/come back at a later date. MBUSA doesn't like this at all and are starting to change things so customer complaints are just fixed and/or safety items found during repairs.

f4iman78

Most likely they will blow it off. "Some pple I know" work at a dealership and when a car is about to go out of warranty, we (I mean they) would look the car over for known problem and fix them so the customer didn't need to come out of pocket/come back at a later date. MBUSA doesn't like this at all and are starting to change things so customer complaints are just fixed and/or safety items found during repairs.

mercedestech2

Quick laundry list for W203's going out of warranty. These complaints must all be seperate issues.

Clicking in front end going over bumps (sway bar links)
Squeeking noise from front end on uneven surfaces (sway bar bushings)
Thumping noise in front end over bumps (thrust arm bushings)
Clicking noise coming from all windows during actuation (window clips)
Whiring noise from front windows during middle of travel (window regulators)
Right or left (your choice) front turn signal inop at times (wire harness)

Add those to everything else you've read and you'll have a brand new car. Next time you get in your car, turn it on, and depress the front defrost and recirc buttons at the same time for about 5 seconds until the lights start flashing, if they stop fine, if they never stop flashing complain of no air to footwell, or constant air to footwell

raywong@hkstar.

what does this do?

Expat

Seems to put it into some sort of self test mode, the lights did stop flashing so I guess it's ok.
One more for the list however is that occasionaly the gearbox switches into W mode when I start the engine.

AMG_55

get em to check everythig.
im in the same position and my car has been at the dealership for a week already and doesnt look like comin back anytime soon.
mercedes reliability sucks, im buyin a porsche next

Expat

So they've had the car for 3 days so far:
Front LHS Indicator doesn't work - ground fault will be replacing harness
Ticking from transmission tunnel when hot - still trying to replicate
Passenger A/C Auto control randomly switches off - caused by broken air flap(?) waiting for parts
Poor radio reception (not worth raising as I'm sure they'll blame my EURO COMAND despite the fact that the reception really does suck).
Have asked them to check front suspension
Check oil for contamination in case of oil cooler/radiator leak - car fitted with updated radiator at production (December 2002)

rrf

Poor Radio Reception may be your rear antenna amplifier.

Easy to test using your remote key: if the key works for lock/unlock from 30+ feet when pointed in ANY direction your amp is probably AOK.

If not, have them fix the rear antenna amp. Voila, a key that finally works correctly and better radio reception.

Expat

Thanks, I'll add it to the list as they still have my car........

Expat

Front LHS Indicator doesn't work - burnt out holder contacts, replaced
Ticking from transmission tunnel when hot - couldn't replicate
Passenger A/C Auto control randomly switches off - caused by broken heater box, replaced
Poor radio reception (not worth raising as I'm sure they'll blame my EURO COMAND despite the fact that the reception really does suck).
Have asked them to check front suspension - No fault
Check oil for contamination in case of oil cooler/radiator leak - car fitted with updated radiator at production (December 2002)
Poor key range - adjusted key

New list:
Ticking from transmission tunnel when hot - couldn't replicate, I could in 10 minutes, so after a ride with the engineer to confirm the car's going back to service
Poor radio reception (I'm going to try raising, I'm sure they'll blame my EURO COMAND despite the fact that the reception really does suck but the old unit's in the trunk so they can verify with that).
Sunroom make odd noise when tilt/opening
Cup holder tend to jam
Cigarette lighter/aux power really intermittent.
Slow kickdown from gearbox (typically when accellerating onto freeway).