Is This Normal With MB Dealership Repairs?
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Joined: May 2011
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From: "God's Waiting Room", SW FL
'03 CLK55 AMG, '06 Jeep SRT-8
Is This Normal With MB Dealership Repairs?
Hi All - I hope I'm posting this in the right forum...
As this is my first foray into MB dealership repair world, I need some advice from the forum gurus regarding dealing with an MB dealership repair situation on my '03 CLK55.
Back on 4/26/12 the dealership (MB of Fort Myers, FL) had to replace my fuel pump. That new pump went bad last week (8/2/12) so they just had to replace it under P&L warranty. I just got word that although the pump repair is complete, apparently, in the process of resyncing up the windows (due to installation procedure specs of disconnecting the battery, etc.) they broke driver's side window regulator belt - which they now want me to pay for the parts & labor to repair to the tune of an additional $1200.
Frankly I don't think I should have to pay for a window regulator belt install/repair situation that occurred as part or result of their fuel pump replacement process. The way I see it, if they had installed a good working fuel pump in the first place back in April, then it wouldn't be in the shop for a new one now, and thus the windows wouldn't have to be resynced, and the window regulator belt would be just fine.
It's not really the money as much as my gut feeling that I'm just being taken for a ride by the service department trying to recoup some of their labor hours for the warranty pump replacement.
Am I off base here?
Also, as I'm sure there will be an argument made for normal wear-&-tear over time, does anyone know what a window regulator costs? I'll be willing to negotiate to pay for the part but not for the labor.
Thanks!
As this is my first foray into MB dealership repair world, I need some advice from the forum gurus regarding dealing with an MB dealership repair situation on my '03 CLK55.
Back on 4/26/12 the dealership (MB of Fort Myers, FL) had to replace my fuel pump. That new pump went bad last week (8/2/12) so they just had to replace it under P&L warranty. I just got word that although the pump repair is complete, apparently, in the process of resyncing up the windows (due to installation procedure specs of disconnecting the battery, etc.) they broke driver's side window regulator belt - which they now want me to pay for the parts & labor to repair to the tune of an additional $1200.
Frankly I don't think I should have to pay for a window regulator belt install/repair situation that occurred as part or result of their fuel pump replacement process. The way I see it, if they had installed a good working fuel pump in the first place back in April, then it wouldn't be in the shop for a new one now, and thus the windows wouldn't have to be resynced, and the window regulator belt would be just fine.
It's not really the money as much as my gut feeling that I'm just being taken for a ride by the service department trying to recoup some of their labor hours for the warranty pump replacement.
Am I off base here?
Also, as I'm sure there will be an argument made for normal wear-&-tear over time, does anyone know what a window regulator costs? I'll be willing to negotiate to pay for the part but not for the labor.
Thanks!
Administrator
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From: www.Traben-Trarbach.de
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. I hope you don't tell that your customers based on what you claim you are in your sig: a MB production manager. Because you have no way of proving your statement to be a fact. Or be able to disprove the OP's story.
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E55, SL63, ML550
I'm not claiming anything. Just relax dude.
FYI amdeutsch, its because of ignorant people like you more people like me stay away from these forums.
FYI amdeutsch, its because of ignorant people like you more people like me stay away from these forums.
Last edited by Shifter; Aug 6, 2012 at 08:42 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2011
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From: "God's Waiting Room", SW FL
'03 CLK55 AMG, '06 Jeep SRT-8
@amdeutsch -
"That is utter"
Yes, my initial thoughts, precisely.
(Umm... not necessarily the stuff about Shifter though...)
@Shifter -
Yes, maybe you're right - or maybe not, as the sync process' additional strain on the rear window regulator cable (thus causing it to fail) wouldn't have been necessary in the first place - had they not originally installed a defective fuel pump back in April they now needed to replace. Really, all just speculation at this point, as the deed is done.
But even if it did happen to fail on me later, I would just bring it to my bodyshop guy who will replace it for $550, P&L (I just spoke to him to verify it. His cost for the actual MB OEM part for my VIN is $320 - I have to believe the dealer could provide an even less expensive cost if they were interested in doing the right thing).
So the dealership did finally get back to me after my initial refusal to pay $1200 this morning. He graciously offered to take 20% off "due to the circumstances of the event", bringing the cost to $960. I bit back my instinctive response (after all this dealership does seem to be the only game in town should I need dealer-specific MB/AMG service). I politely asked him to please just have my car ready for pickup in the morning. I'll just take it my guy who will take care of it instead for a cost of a little over 57% (after the offered 20% discount).
This (once again) re-affirms my core and vehement distrust of all interactions dealership-related.
Thanks again for weighing in on this guys.
"That is utter
"Yes, my initial thoughts, precisely.
(Umm... not necessarily the stuff about Shifter though...)
@Shifter -
Yes, maybe you're right - or maybe not, as the sync process' additional strain on the rear window regulator cable (thus causing it to fail) wouldn't have been necessary in the first place - had they not originally installed a defective fuel pump back in April they now needed to replace. Really, all just speculation at this point, as the deed is done.
But even if it did happen to fail on me later, I would just bring it to my bodyshop guy who will replace it for $550, P&L (I just spoke to him to verify it. His cost for the actual MB OEM part for my VIN is $320 - I have to believe the dealer could provide an even less expensive cost if they were interested in doing the right thing).
So the dealership did finally get back to me after my initial refusal to pay $1200 this morning. He graciously offered to take 20% off "due to the circumstances of the event", bringing the cost to $960. I bit back my instinctive response (after all this dealership does seem to be the only game in town should I need dealer-specific MB/AMG service). I politely asked him to please just have my car ready for pickup in the morning. I'll just take it my guy who will take care of it instead for a cost of a little over 57% (after the offered 20% discount).
This (once again) re-affirms my core and vehement distrust of all interactions dealership-related.
Thanks again for weighing in on this guys.
Last edited by Stealthxusa; Aug 7, 2012 at 06:59 AM.
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From: www.Traben-Trarbach.de
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Good for you. At least you have an option you can exercise instead of being shifted. This forum is full of such guidance only to be countered by the knowledgeable membership.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Connecticut
2003 CLK55
Funny this thread should pop up. I had my fuel pump replaced in my 2003 CLK55 about two years ago. Then last month the fuel pump died again. The dealership decided since I had driven so few miles since the original replacement that it was a bad part. They got MB to cover the cost of the part but had me pay for half the cost of the labor. I agreed only because I wasn't expecting MB to pick up the majority of the tab at all. In hindsight I wish I fought it a little more but what was I gonna do...my car sat dead at the dealership. I don't know what is going on with these faulty fuel pumps but I really hope I got a good one this time.
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Thread Starter
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From: "God's Waiting Room", SW FL
'03 CLK55 AMG, '06 Jeep SRT-8
@Stiggs:
I hope so too and equally share your concern. As you know, it's a definite heartbreaker to get in there, turn the key, and hear what's normally the sound of a finely-tuned engine instead sound like "sputter-putt-sputter-putt-sputter-putt-putt" then just shut down. Especially at a cost of ~$2400 a pop for the fuel pumps for our car model.
And you're right, what can you do when they have you over a barrel...
In my scenario, the pump was installed barely 3 months ago and I may have put only ~500 miles on it. And I told them I would have been fine with paying for the cost of the regulator cable part(s). They apparently didn't recognize that as an option on the table when I offered it. Maybe they were trying to call my bluff - who knows?
Regardless, so instead they got zilch.
I hope so too and equally share your concern. As you know, it's a definite heartbreaker to get in there, turn the key, and hear what's normally the sound of a finely-tuned engine instead sound like "sputter-putt-sputter-putt-sputter-putt-putt" then just shut down. Especially at a cost of ~$2400 a pop for the fuel pumps for our car model.
And you're right, what can you do when they have you over a barrel...
In my scenario, the pump was installed barely 3 months ago and I may have put only ~500 miles on it. And I told them I would have been fine with paying for the cost of the regulator cable part(s). They apparently didn't recognize that as an option on the table when I offered it. Maybe they were trying to call my bluff - who knows?
Regardless, so instead they got zilch.
Last edited by Stealthxusa; Aug 7, 2012 at 01:49 PM.
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7
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From: "God's Waiting Room", SW FL
'03 CLK55 AMG, '06 Jeep SRT-8
Update (just to tie things up here):
So I arrive to retrive my car at the dealership this morning. I went to the cashier to pick up my keys and (what should be) a no charge invoice. Instead the invoice has $42.40 balance on it. Looking up the page I see a line item of "Shop Fee - $40 +6% tax".
I'm not quite sure how many shades of red and purple my face turned at that moment, but my wife was already digging for the numbers of a local attorney and a bail bondsman. Meanwhile all I was able to growl out to the poor cashier was:
"SHOP FEE ?!? ARE YOU...?
SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?"
Visibly concerned, the cashier quickly contacted whoever the head-honcho-cheese-in-charge-of-what-it-is was, printed me a new no-charge invoice, handed me my keys, and we were off on our "merry" way.
Interesting to note though, that the service advisor didn't even bother to come out for this exchange.
BTW, Believe it or not, I really am normally an even-keeled individual - for the most part.
So I arrive to retrive my car at the dealership this morning. I went to the cashier to pick up my keys and (what should be) a no charge invoice. Instead the invoice has $42.40 balance on it. Looking up the page I see a line item of "Shop Fee - $40 +6% tax".
I'm not quite sure how many shades of red and purple my face turned at that moment, but my wife was already digging for the numbers of a local attorney and a bail bondsman. Meanwhile all I was able to growl out to the poor cashier was:
"SHOP FEE ?!? ARE YOU...?
SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?"
Visibly concerned, the cashier quickly contacted whoever the head-honcho-cheese-in-charge-of-what-it-is was, printed me a new no-charge invoice, handed me my keys, and we were off on our "merry" way.
Interesting to note though, that the service advisor didn't even bother to come out for this exchange.
BTW, Believe it or not, I really am normally an even-keeled individual - for the most part.
Last edited by Stealthxusa; Aug 7, 2012 at 05:03 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 382
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From: LI, NY
(1960) 300d, S550 AMG S500 S600 560SEL
Digest and look at who is advising before you guys start to follow procedures in rectifying your issues with your W221
There are lots of ego tripping ignorant individuals among the members, they have nothing good to contribute except to create confusion. Remember them and their screen name and never to believe in their lies.
Last edited by cool_lagoon; Aug 19, 2012 at 10:41 PM.
