artim808

Why they're replacing coolant thermostat? Will the engine run hotter or cooler after the fix?

bugelrex

curious, what's the best guess retail cost of all these replacement parts? New DPF alone is a few thousand right?

Etienne Lau

My guess on the thermostat would be to get the coolant temperature higher and faster to to reduce emissions. Remember the original claim the law firm made was "Emissions increased when vehicle was driven below certain temperatures, and MB response was we are trying to protect the engine and we should be allowed to turn off the emissions control".

So likely the thermostat remains closed longer to force the coolant temperature to rise at a faster rate. And that's not necessarily a good thing as many on here already think that these engines already run too hot.

Note that this faster warm up issue is not just a diesel engine issue, but also a gasoline/petro engine issue. Look at the Honda CRV and their oil dilution problem! Also fixed by changing/reducing the warm-up time needed to get the engine oil up to operating temperature faster.

mfab

The diesel particulate filter wasn't previously covered under warranty because it is a filter (consumable). I wonder if it's now covered? I think it probably should be since they are replacing it. That's a big deal. I always assumed it was just a matter of time until I had to buy/clean/replace the DPF.

This settlement may turn out to be pretty good for the owners. We're getting a chunk of money - depending on the age of the car maybe 20% of the street value of the car (or substantially higher % based on the age of the car). And we're getting a DPF, and we're getting coverage on the emissions system which folks seem to think is the weak spot on these otherwise brilliant cars.

If the software "fix" doesn't break the best parts of the car this could work out.

/

mfab

I'll speculate:

I routinely overachieve the official mileage estimates.

I understand Mercedes will need to re-issue fuel economy estimates for the E250 specifically.

I suspect that they will be a mile per gallon or so lower for all models, but my concern is that we will no longer routinely exceed the official estimates (so the real world change will be material).

/

mellonc

I don't mind losing some MPG but do mind if my power goes down and/or if the turbo lag gets worse.

ccww

Has anybody found out the length and scope of the extended warranty yet? I've searched quite a bit and can't find anything specific.

bugelrex

the fines for emission warranty denial is quite huge. The lawyer is just a call away. I expect VIP treatment for any issues

artim808

Will adblue heater covered under this warranty as well?

Steven Gu

I think so.
I will opt out this settlement. This law firm is working on the case, most likely to get more money.
As for the fix and extended warranty, that is a given even if opted out the settlement.
www.kazlg.com

BenjaminPQ

I thought the entire purpose of a class action settlement was that it covers everyone and puts an end to any future litigation. I would be very skeptical of any law firm suggesting they can get you a special deal. If the law firm wants to pursue the case on their dime, OK, but don’t give them any money up front!

mellonc

what class is kaz law firm representing? Are they getting a different settlement than what was announced? I thought once you settle one, there isn't another.

Steven Gu

Any MB Bluetec owners who want to opt out of the class action.
Class action means: you either accept the settlement in the class action, or you refuse. This happened in the VW diesel gate case as well. In that case, who opted out seems got paid more.

mfab

The volkswagen case seems like it was more egregious. There was also more of a feeling of them being caught red-handed. I'm not sure the Mercedes case is quite the same, maybe it is, but the tone is different. You have the weigh the hassle and likely outcome of getting a result if you opt out vs. the cash (and extended warranty) if you stay part of the class.

/

Steven Gu

If opted out. The only part get affect is : Cash. For the fix and extended warranty, everybody will get them (EPA mandate).
For the hassle part, lawyer will handle all the filing, negotiation etc. So the only real hassle is: get cash later (maybe 1 or even 2 years later then the folks accept class action).
The real danger is: potentially you can get about $1000 less than the folks accept the class action (this worst case will happen if MB insist they still pay the same amount cash, then your attorney will take $1000 or so as fee).
The plus sides is: 1) historically, lawyers will get more cash for you (which make perfect sense: MB has to spend their resource on the case, settle it can at least save some attorney fees). 2) the so called fix will make our aging and poorly designed power train under stress. Stuff such as plastic gaskets, pipes, sensors might break; heavy carbon build up might occur. It can easily cost thousands of dollars to repair. The folks accept the class action will have no legal ways to ask for compensation for these.

bugelrex

Alternative thinking, without a class action the lawyers max payout is determined by your single case. Based on their hourly rate, they are not going to spend more than 4 hours on your case because the max payout is only a few thousand at most.

Mercedes lawyers work full time and can any case for as long as they wish

Remember, the lawyer is not your friend

Steven Gu

Still Class action, but far less than 200,000 folks. Maybe in hundreds. So lawyers still get paid well. But MB lawyers (most likely they are hired from outside) has to deal with it. In VW case, the same firm worked for some folks opted out the class action, and was successful. Anyway, there is some risk to opted out.

Steven Gu

The exact amount not determined yet.

bugelrex

any link to bosch news? This is first I've heard about bosch + mb

Steven Gu

https://www.hbsslaw.com/sites/defaul...settlement.pdf

______________________________
Last week, Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh preliminarily approved a settlement reached between a class of consumers and Bosch, the German engineering company that supplied emissions software to Mercedes that enabled cheating on diesel emissions tests in select Mercedes-Benz vehicles. While a dollar amount was not disclosed, Judge Cavanaugh’s ruling states that “the Bosch Settlement provides meaningful relief to the Class in the form of monetary compensation.” Read the Order »

To claim a Class Member Payment under the Class Action Settlement you must submit a valid claim. The claim form will be available on the Settlement Website (www.mbbluetecsettlement.com) with further information about the settlement, as well as updates about the deadline to submit your claim. The settlement website is currently being updated and will hopefully go live within two weeks, hopefully sooner.

chassis

Bosch paid cash compensation, in addition to cash compensation paid by VW, to VW owners in the VW Dieselgate situation. Bosch is the technology supplier for the fuel system and emissions hardware and software to many carmakers, specifically MB and VW.

peter2772000

Just curious, did VW do a mechanical verification before paying out?
Also, is the compensation payable only to original owners, or does that not matter?

chassis

VW did not do a mechanical evaluation. The "evaluation" was a live skype video done at the local VW dealership with a VW local salesperson, and a VW corporate person on the other end of the skype call. The skype call was on an iPad, and they took a photo of me, my identification, did a walk around iPad video of the vehicle, verified odometer mileage and that the vehicle was driveable. I drove the vehicle to the dealer, so it was surperfluous. The definition of "driveable" was spelled out in the compensation agreement, I think the vehicle was required to move forward and backward 10 feet under its own power.

I had the clean title with me, which I signed over to them and surrendered. My wife picked me up from the dealer, as I no longer had a means of transport!

There was no private behind the curtains mechanical evaluation by a mechanic, technician, or anyone else besides the local VW sales person with the iPad.

Separate from the diesel issues that car had, and there were many, with 238k miles the 8 speed Aisin transmssion was on its way out, so VW's timing worked out well.

peter2772000

Interesting and good to know, thanks.

After investing what I have in vinyl wrap, mags, 9" screen and other stuff, I think I'd rather take the cash. I've done everything possible to avoid the sludge & oil cooler leaks, I'll just cross my fingers and hope to hell we don't have any major problems.

gkgeiger

Has anyone received any communication from MBUSA regarding this issue?