CEL keeps coming on...lemon it?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 46
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
2011 C63 AMG, 2011 Z4, 2013 BMW 335
CEL keeps coming on...lemon it?
I took delivery of my new 2011 C63 12 days ago. I got a good deal (11% of MSRP) so I didn't wait for the 2012.
However, I took the car back to the dealership for the 3rd time yesterday (it's now been at the dealership for 5 of the 12 days) because the CEL keeps coming on and staying on. As far as I can tell, there seems to be nothing wrong with the car nor does the performance or fuel consumption seem to be affected.
In IL, I can file for "Lemon Law buy back" after the 4th visit if the issue is not repaired.
Anybody have a similar experience?
Thanks
However, I took the car back to the dealership for the 3rd time yesterday (it's now been at the dealership for 5 of the 12 days) because the CEL keeps coming on and staying on. As far as I can tell, there seems to be nothing wrong with the car nor does the performance or fuel consumption seem to be affected.
In IL, I can file for "Lemon Law buy back" after the 4th visit if the issue is not repaired.
Anybody have a similar experience?
Thanks
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From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
SLS Irridium silver,2014 GL350 BT Irridium, 2015 White Dodge RAM Hemi Quad
if you do a search you will see that there are several small issues that trigger this CEL, all very easy to repair, but the dealer obviously must know what the heck they are doing, or this will be an issue until resolved.
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Joined: Aug 2011
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c300
I'd sure be unhappy if my brand-new car was at the dealership three times already. Maybe you could "lemon it" and then grab another 2011 from them or someone else. I'm sure you could get close to 11 percent elsewhere.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2010
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From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2010 C63 AMG, 2009 ISF , 2002 L-Tuned IS300, 2011 ML350
Dang, sorry to hear.. I had 1 CEL the first day I got my new 2010, it was a bad 02 sensor.. Nonetheless, it sure takes away the hype of owning the car for the first time. Once fixed, you will enjoy the car though. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Alexandria, VA
07 E63 AMG, 10 C63 AMG, 07 E63 Designo, 07 E350, 09 C300, 07 C230
The issue that I had with my 2010 c63, was a CEL for the purge valve. They had the car for a week, because they updated the software on their Star diagnostic computers. And the new software wouldn't read the codes, until they managed to find another computer that still had the old software to diagnose my issue. Bingo, problem fixed.
So please do not give up, it's probably something simple, just give them give to figure it out.
So please do not give up, it's probably something simple, just give them give to figure it out.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Washington DC
axe muderer with headlights
If you are serious about lemoning your car, contact a lawyer ASAP. They will advise you if you qualify and it should be at no cost to you should you end up lemoning the car.
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Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Long Island, NY
In New York it is more than three times and more than 30 days in the dealership. You will be offered a refund including tax or a new car. You have to file in less than 2 years and 24K miles. Maybe if you wait and deal with the lemon law later you can ask for the new car option and it will be a 2012.
New York lemon law is done through arbitration and is a very basic process, no lawyer is really needed.
New York lemon law is done through arbitration and is a very basic process, no lawyer is really needed.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 46
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
2011 C63 AMG, 2011 Z4, 2013 BMW 335
Thanks a lot to everybody for your responses. The 1st time I took it in, the dealer replaced the purge valve. The 2nd time, they did some software diagnostics and a smoke test on the fuel system but no leaks detected. After reading through the posts, I believe it must be something to do with the manifold...perhaps a vacuum line leak. Will keep you all posted.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
C63, SL55, E55, CLS55, ML63, C55
Sadly there are some shop techs at the dealer that lack the skills to do anything outside of what the mercedes Xentry DAS or Star system tells them to do.
Funny thing is, there are a bunch of good performance shops that have seen boat loads of CELs and know how to fix them. Simply because they use their heads and don't just follow the computers recommended steps.
Eventually the dealer will put a seasoned tech on your car. Someone who can think and work outside the box. It will be then that they get your car figured out.
Best of luck
-Mike
Funny thing is, there are a bunch of good performance shops that have seen boat loads of CELs and know how to fix them. Simply because they use their heads and don't just follow the computers recommended steps.
Eventually the dealer will put a seasoned tech on your car. Someone who can think and work outside the box. It will be then that they get your car figured out.
Best of luck
-Mike
MBWorld Fanatic!
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A V8
Sadly there are some shop techs at the dealer that lack the skills to do anything outside of what the mercedes Xentry DAS or Star system tells them to do.
Funny thing is, there are a bunch of good performance shops that have seen boat loads of CELs and know how to fix them. Simply because they use their heads and don't just follow the computers recommended steps.
Eventually the dealer will put a seasoned tech on your car. Someone who can think and work outside the box. It will be then that they get your car figured out.
Best of luck
-Mike
Funny thing is, there are a bunch of good performance shops that have seen boat loads of CELs and know how to fix them. Simply because they use their heads and don't just follow the computers recommended steps.
Eventually the dealer will put a seasoned tech on your car. Someone who can think and work outside the box. It will be then that they get your car figured out.
Best of luck
-Mike
that's the problem these days, it's just plug in the computer and scan..
The computer is doing all of the work.. My mom's CEL light in her 335 has been to 3 different mechanics, and none can figure out why yet. That includes BMW.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
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From: South Florida
Fast Cars!
Yeah, gotta love it when dealers think they fixed it and its not fixed... what's even better is if you have a problem with mode code found, they seem to know even less! These days there is not much diagnostic work done besides looking at a laptop....
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From: Basel, Switzerland
Audi A5 Sportback + Cannondale Prophet
If you lemmoned it, it would be an opportunity for a savvy forum member to pick it up at a deep discount (lemon title and all), and fix the apparently/possibly simple issue. My guess is that if you raise the possibility with them, they might actually do some digging around to get the issue fixed once and for all.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 46
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
2011 C63 AMG, 2011 Z4, 2013 BMW 335
The latest from the dealer's shop foreman is that they have narrowed it down to the fuel tank or the fuel lines and should have it fixed in the next day or they will order a whole new tank and lines.
Once I hinted that I had talked to my company's legal dept. (one of the benefits I get at work is almost free legal advice on any personal matters), they became even more accommodating and swapped my loaner to a brand new E350 4Matic loaded, which is a nice car for driving around in if you're my dad!
Still, I am thinking that if I do get the check engine light a 4th time I will lemon it.
Once I hinted that I had talked to my company's legal dept. (one of the benefits I get at work is almost free legal advice on any personal matters), they became even more accommodating and swapped my loaner to a brand new E350 4Matic loaded, which is a nice car for driving around in if you're my dad!
Still, I am thinking that if I do get the check engine light a 4th time I will lemon it.
Super Moderator Alumni
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From: Basel, Switzerland
Audi A5 Sportback + Cannondale Prophet
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,060
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From: Basel, Switzerland
Audi A5 Sportback + Cannondale Prophet
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge, LA
2011 C63 AMG, 2011 Z4, 2013 BMW 335
Dealer claims to have changed a charcoal filter near the fuel tank (right wheel well?). Drove the car 75 miles in the last couple of days. Check engine light just came back on. Since this will be the 4th time, i think the lawyer will be writing a letter to MB USA (Per their instructions in the warranty and maintenance hand book) and giving them one final chance o remedy the situation.
What a mess. Other than that, I really like the car and would probably buy another if they take this one back.
Has anybody reading this been through the same situation?
What a mess. Other than that, I really like the car and would probably buy another if they take this one back.
Has anybody reading this been through the same situation?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2010
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From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2010 C63 AMG, 2009 ISF , 2002 L-Tuned IS300, 2011 ML350
Dang, that really sucks.. Sorry to hear your misfortune. I would definitely try to get rid of the car.. Cuz I would become paranoid! Good luck!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 344
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From: Battle Ground WA
C63AMG, NIssan NX2000, Pontiac Fiero GT
cel's on new amg
Look at my blog on my two cel's . The dealers are sometimes clueless. Local dealer had to make long conference calls to NJ ?mastser dealer? before solving the bad air injection valve. Motoman
