What Did the Dealer do to my Radiator?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 996
Likes: 16
From: Tampa, Florida
2017 E300W
What Did the Dealer do to my Radiator?
So the car went to the dealer for tire balance/rotation for a 2.5 hour job. They ended up keeping the car for two days. When I looked under the hood, about 20% of the radiator fins were pushed to one side. Does anyone have any idea what could have happened (like the tech’s knee hitting the radiator)? Does this look like the radiator is compromised?
The warranty receipt says “updates required” but nothing more. The service rep is out of the office for the rest of the week.
The warranty receipt says “updates required” but nothing more. The service rep is out of the office for the rest of the week.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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Dude, go back in there and get your radiator replaced. There's no excuse for that to happen to you. According to your picture, it definately looks compromised. I mean, you know, just look at it! What do you mean by "updates required"? You shouldn't have to wait for the service rep to come back in a week. Try and talk to a manager or supervisor or even someone higher up. Good luck man.
Last edited by Zillarpillow23; Sep 23, 2005 at 02:13 PM.
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S55L AMG
Dont want to worry you but do you think they might have crashed it on a test drive and replaced some of the panels? Are there marks on the front panels consistent with the age of the vehicle or do they look new?
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Originally Posted by TPAbnz
The service rep is out of the office for the rest of the week.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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Originally Posted by rob940
Dont want to worry you but do you think they might have crashed it on a test drive and replaced some of the panels? Are there marks on the front panels consistent with the age of the vehicle or do they look new?
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by konigstiger
I would make an appointment to meet with the “Service Director” and together question the Shop Foreman as to how and why this happened. In this way you by pass the others and, at the same time, introduce yourself to management. If and when anything unacceptable happens in the future, you will now have leverage. Good luck.
Well said, hold them accountable for the damage they caused. Heck I give my dealer hell for just scuffing my door sills, and now they know how to handle my car "with kid gloves".
If you don't squeak, you wont get it fixed. And you should certainly squeak.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 551
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From: Virginia
2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
Classic pressure-washer damage.
Obviously they turned a retard loose on a high-pressure wash nozzle.
Did your engine look really clean upon return of the car?
Schmuck probably thought he was helping by getting the insects out of your radiator.
I have performed some pressure washing in my time...you have to be careful around residential air conditioners for the same reason.
Look also for swirl marks/ linear scuffs in your clear coat. Whoever raped your radiator with a water jet also has the mentality to drop a sponge then use it to continue washing merrily like nothing happened. Or to run the sponge along the low rockers or inside the wheel arches, then across the hood and roof.
KB
Did your engine look really clean upon return of the car?
Schmuck probably thought he was helping by getting the insects out of your radiator.
I have performed some pressure washing in my time...you have to be careful around residential air conditioners for the same reason.
Look also for swirl marks/ linear scuffs in your clear coat. Whoever raped your radiator with a water jet also has the mentality to drop a sponge then use it to continue washing merrily like nothing happened. Or to run the sponge along the low rockers or inside the wheel arches, then across the hood and roof.
KB
Last edited by cdiken; Sep 24, 2005 at 12:49 AM.
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From: Michigan, USA
'05 E320 CDI, '07 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2007 Porsche GT3
Hi Mark. Looks like the damaged part is the A/C condenser, mounted in front of the radiator, not the radiator itself. Looking at mine, it's hard to see how a fin comb could be of much use for repair, given the configuration of the fins and tubes.
I have no clue re how this might have happened. The fact that they had the car two days for what should be less than 2 hours of work makes me suspicious as well.
In any event, it looks like the damage will restrict airflow, through the radiator as well as the A/C condenser that's damaged. Not something I'd want to have if I lived in Tampa.
Good luck. Please let us know how this ends up.
I have no clue re how this might have happened. The fact that they had the car two days for what should be less than 2 hours of work makes me suspicious as well.
In any event, it looks like the damage will restrict airflow, through the radiator as well as the A/C condenser that's damaged. Not something I'd want to have if I lived in Tampa.
Good luck. Please let us know how this ends up.
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by cdiken
Obviously they turned a retard loose on a high-pressure wash nozzle.
Did your engine look really clean upon return of the car?
Schmuck probably thought he was helping by getting the insects out of your radiator.
I have performed some pressure washing in my time...you have to be careful around residential air conditioners for the same reason.
KB
Did your engine look really clean upon return of the car?
Schmuck probably thought he was helping by getting the insects out of your radiator.
I have performed some pressure washing in my time...you have to be careful around residential air conditioners for the same reason.
KB
There is a chance that your dealer did not even do it!
Steve
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
Since it's the A/C condenser and you are in hot/humid Florida...
You should insist on a replacement. The performance of your A/C could be reduced.
If you don't get it fixed, you will pay at sale time; if it is noticed, your car has a blem and it is not as valuable.
If you don't get it fixed, you will pay at sale time; if it is noticed, your car has a blem and it is not as valuable.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 996
Likes: 16
From: Tampa, Florida
2017 E300W
Originally Posted by aceman
do you know they were straight prior to taking the car in for rotate/balancing? It does seem odd as i would think they wouldn't have to pop the hood... 
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 996
Likes: 16
From: Tampa, Florida
2017 E300W
Originally Posted by cdiken
Obviously they turned a retard loose on a high-pressure wash nozzle.
Did your engine look really clean upon return of the car?
Schmuck probably thought he was helping by getting the insects out of your radiator.
I have performed some pressure washing in my time...you have to be careful around residential air conditioners for the same reason.
Did your engine look really clean upon return of the car?
Schmuck probably thought he was helping by getting the insects out of your radiator.
I have performed some pressure washing in my time...you have to be careful around residential air conditioners for the same reason.
OK, so the service manager hasn’t returned my calls or emails for 5 days. I had my secretary call to make an appointment with the general manager, and, voila, the service manager had time to see me.
He looks at the damage and said at first a tech may have put his knee into the radatior. But, the bent fins went in several directions. Apparently, nothing they did caused the damages.
So I asked whether they use a pressure washer in the car wash and he said we’d go look.
With a quick drive to the car wash area, we found there were two S Classes in line and, OMG, a little old man with a PENCIL POINT spray nozzle on the pressure washer. So the service manager points it at my grill and smashes more fins. Good Lord, don’t they know that tip is used to remove old paint?
Thanks SO MUCH to cdiken for this insight. A new radiator and AC condenser (thanks Karl) are to be installed.
This board is invaluable. Thanks for the helpful contributions on this topic.
Last edited by TPAbnz; Sep 29, 2005 at 12:27 PM.
