Glyn

Hi folks - recent purchaser of an 02 E320, posted about my experience in this thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...se-advice.html

Have had the car for about a month now and am loving it - best car I've ever had - absolutely wonderful. The only minor squawk on the car in the month I've had it is the AM radio reception, even when I'm in the city it comes and goes. When I'm out in the sticks, as I was when I drove the car home after purchasing it there is no AM radio reception whatsoever.

Some reading here on the board led me to suspect the antenna amplifier in the C-pillar may be to blame, so rather than buy the part myself I thought I'd take it into my local dealer, err I MEAN STEALER, to have them replace it as the antenna is clearly covered by my Mercedes warranty. I dropped it off this morning and was called shortly thereafter by the advisor and was told that yes, it probably was the amplifier and the part would be covered but they could only replace it if I paid the $130 "diagnostic fee" as it would take them about an hour to pull the trim parts off and replace the box. BS I told them - I'll pass on that.

I feel good about the warranty in case something major comes up but having to pay $130 for a "diagnostic fee" to replace a component is ridiculous, particularly when it is something as meaningless as the AM radio antenna amplifier. We have another MB dealer in my town and I'm going to check with them as I'd like to get the amplifier replaced - if it is going to cost a similar amount I guess I'll just live without AM on road trips.

Glyn

Update.....

Being a bit hacked off I called the other dealer located here in Dallas - they are a smaller operation than the huge outfit I took it to this morning. Spoke to a very nice service advisor and explained what had happened - he pulled a VMI on my car to verify my warranty coverage and said he would speak to his warranty specialist and call me back. 10 minutes later he calls and says he can absolutely take care of the issue at no cost to me whatsoever, the amplifier part number is definately covered by the warranty and there wouldn't be any kind of fee charged at all.

Bottom line - I won't be going back to the big operation dealer under any circumstance!

01BlackE320

let us know if it helps. Many of us complain of poor am reception

fosmith

All dealers are not alike. Like anything else, there are good and bad ones. I had this experience with my Toyota. The dealer I bought it from wanted to charge me an extra "diagnostic" fee for checking into funny noise the car was making when I brought the car in for its very first service. I told the guy to give me back my keys and took it to another Toyota dealer who didn't charge these fees and had all my subsequent service and warranty work done there.
Fred

sleewell

i love mercedes stealerships that think you owe them hundreds of dollars just for stepping foot in their precious doors. yes, i know its expensive to operate a stealership but c'mon there has to be a point where they are losing business due to the excessive fees and gouging.

good job for not paying that stupid $130, i would have done the same thing. hopefully the amp fixes the problem.

kstreufert

I am also in Dallas and know the Dealer in question. Another interesting thing they do is charge 20% over suggested retail for parts. I refuse to give them any business under any circumstances.

rajssf

Just removing the amp and cleaning the area under it where the screw goes fixed my AM static and reception problem. Took all of 15mins.

purplegrog

where is the amp located? is it under the antenna on the roof of the vehicle?

rajssf

I have a 97 E420 and on that vehicle it is mounted behind the panel in the left C piller. Right behind the rear left passegers left ear. If you have access to the ant. mounted on the roof follow the coax cable to the amp.