Various problems, disappointments
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 211
From: Bahrain
R129 SL55 AMG & W208 CLK55 AMG
wow, well let me join in..
2000 CLK320 AMG
ESP fault due to BAS OR ABS OR ASC
Window comes back down when it should go up for good.
Sunroof wont open or close at 70 miles per hour.
Seat rattles always.
A/C filter continously fails.
Parking sensors go nuts occasionally
Rear blind broke
Fog lamps and tail lamps burning off
2000 CLK320 AMG
ESP fault due to BAS OR ABS OR ASC
Window comes back down when it should go up for good.
Sunroof wont open or close at 70 miles per hour.
Seat rattles always.
A/C filter continously fails.
Parking sensors go nuts occasionally
Rear blind broke
Fog lamps and tail lamps burning off
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
My comments below (in CAPS, but I'm not yelling 
):
[QUOTE]Originally posted by RJC
[B]
I JUST WISH I'D HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO CHECK THE HISTORY *BEFORE* I BOUGHT THE CAR. I REQUESTED A COPY OF THE RECORDS BUT DIDN'T RECEIVE THEM UNITL AFTER I'D BOUGHT IT. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE TWO PREVIOUS M-Bs GAVE ME A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY WITH RELIABILITY.
):[QUOTE]Originally posted by RJC
[B]
[i]This car has experienced almost one problem per thousand miles! And furthermore, the car now has three additional problems:
1. CD changer does not work
2. One of the three programmable remote controls does not work
3. The transmission is sometimes very slow to shift out of 1st gear when cold (won't shift out until you've driven the car about a quarter mile at about 3500 RPM or more).
The other numerous problems aside let me address two of the new ones.
If the remote was ever dropped on a hard concrete floor it may crack some of the circuit board, the battery might be shot or the contacts to the battery may need a cleaning.
I MEANT THE REMOTE BUTTONS IN THE MIRROR. THE REMOTE CONTROLS I USED TO ATTEMPT TO PROGRAM THE M-B REMOTE IN THE MIRROR WERE WORKING NORMALLY ON THEIR OWN.
The transmission is designed to hold 1st gear when cold in order to allow the catalytic converters to heat up quicker, although staying in 1st gear and not shifting for a quarter mile is out of the norm.
I'M PRETTY SURE WHAT THIS CAR IS DOING IS NOT NORMAL (IF IT IS, IT SURE IS ANNOYING). IT DOES IT INTERMITTENTLY AND EVEN AFTER SITTING IDLING FOR 5 MINUTES FOLLOWING THE STARTUP. I'M ACTUALLY NOT SURE IF IT WOULD SHIFT OUT AT 3500 RPM OR NOT BECAUSE I WON'T REV IT THAT HIGH WHEN THE ENGINE IS REALLY COLD. AFTER A QUARTER MILE OR SO I'M WILLING TO REV IT A LITTLE MORE AND THEN IT WILL SHIFT OUT AT 3500 OR SO.
I had a clk that had lots of prolems and most were recitified, I admire your checking the service history as most people don't.
1. CD changer does not work
2. One of the three programmable remote controls does not work
3. The transmission is sometimes very slow to shift out of 1st gear when cold (won't shift out until you've driven the car about a quarter mile at about 3500 RPM or more).
The other numerous problems aside let me address two of the new ones.
If the remote was ever dropped on a hard concrete floor it may crack some of the circuit board, the battery might be shot or the contacts to the battery may need a cleaning.
I MEANT THE REMOTE BUTTONS IN THE MIRROR. THE REMOTE CONTROLS I USED TO ATTEMPT TO PROGRAM THE M-B REMOTE IN THE MIRROR WERE WORKING NORMALLY ON THEIR OWN.
The transmission is designed to hold 1st gear when cold in order to allow the catalytic converters to heat up quicker, although staying in 1st gear and not shifting for a quarter mile is out of the norm.
I'M PRETTY SURE WHAT THIS CAR IS DOING IS NOT NORMAL (IF IT IS, IT SURE IS ANNOYING). IT DOES IT INTERMITTENTLY AND EVEN AFTER SITTING IDLING FOR 5 MINUTES FOLLOWING THE STARTUP. I'M ACTUALLY NOT SURE IF IT WOULD SHIFT OUT AT 3500 RPM OR NOT BECAUSE I WON'T REV IT THAT HIGH WHEN THE ENGINE IS REALLY COLD. AFTER A QUARTER MILE OR SO I'M WILLING TO REV IT A LITTLE MORE AND THEN IT WILL SHIFT OUT AT 3500 OR SO.
I had a clk that had lots of prolems and most were recitified, I admire your checking the service history as most people don't.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 43
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Karl K,
The experiences of the Hong Kong owner are beyond scary!
I'm off to the local dealer this morning to see if they can sort out the CD changer thing, but I'm not going to have them mess with anything else yet. I'm still waiting to see what Pennmark is willing to do. Quite frankly, I suspect they will do nothing, but we'll see. From the sounds of it, many of these cars are simply lemons by any reasonable modern-day standard.
What I don't understand is WHY the public doesn't know about this. If the experiences here are indicative of all M-Bs nowadays, why are they not at the very bottom of every reliability list in the country?
I've owned approximately 34 vehicles in my life and all but about 5 were bought used. I've kept some of them until they had almost 150K miles on them and I have NEVER had a rash of problems out of ANY of them except a 1988 Ford truck that was unfortunately built on December 23 (I picture everyone on the Ford assembly line drunk or in a Christmas mood and not paying attention ).
For M-Bs to be giving these sorts of problems -- problems that you might expect out of a poorly built kit car with home-made electronics -- is just simply unforgivable, IMO.
The experiences of the Hong Kong owner are beyond scary!
I'm off to the local dealer this morning to see if they can sort out the CD changer thing, but I'm not going to have them mess with anything else yet. I'm still waiting to see what Pennmark is willing to do. Quite frankly, I suspect they will do nothing, but we'll see. From the sounds of it, many of these cars are simply lemons by any reasonable modern-day standard.
What I don't understand is WHY the public doesn't know about this. If the experiences here are indicative of all M-Bs nowadays, why are they not at the very bottom of every reliability list in the country?
I've owned approximately 34 vehicles in my life and all but about 5 were bought used. I've kept some of them until they had almost 150K miles on them and I have NEVER had a rash of problems out of ANY of them except a 1988 Ford truck that was unfortunately built on December 23 (I picture everyone on the Ford assembly line drunk or in a Christmas mood and not paying attention
). For M-Bs to be giving these sorts of problems -- problems that you might expect out of a poorly built kit car with home-made electronics -- is just simply unforgivable, IMO.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Karl K,
Pennmark owns West Chester (PA) MB along with some other dealerships. I bought the car from West Chester MB. The car is still under factory warranty and also has Starmark warranty.
Steve
Pennmark owns West Chester (PA) MB along with some other dealerships. I bought the car from West Chester MB. The car is still under factory warranty and also has Starmark warranty.
Steve
Originally posted by karl k
I6turbo
Is Penmark a MB dealership?
If so, did you have the starmark warranty?
If yes to both -- there is hope...
I6turbo
Is Penmark a MB dealership?
If so, did you have the starmark warranty?
If yes to both -- there is hope...
