hyperion667

Hello MB heads.

I wanna know. Who trusts the dealer when they take the car in for service?? I have seen a few folks with the black box, the V1, laser jammers...........but what I'd like to know is who has the surveillance UNDER their car for when it goes for service?? That way you could see what they are doing and know whether or not they're taking you for a ride on charges........
yeah, I trust no one, and certainly not a bunch of dudes living off MY car coming in to be worked on.....

so, anyone ever considered this or currently doing it?

htn75

I don't think we have much to really worry about with the Es.
However, I'm very paranoid when servicing my NSX. Yes, it's been know where service techs would take it out for joy rides etc. Crashing it in some cases.
I've had extra scratches when servicing my previous M45. So no I do not trust them, but we don't really have a choice do we.

220S

That must make life pretty stressful.

hyperion667

220: it does, yes...........

wish it could be another way, but................

Dema

General fear is that a technician can demount new good parts from your car and put some used instead from some car. It is a common practice for some Eastern countries, but since people immigrate, it can be migrated to US as well.

hyperion667

Dema: that IS one reason I'd always ask to see whatever was repaired on my POS
car I have now (s40), I just wrote a huge gripe blog on the s40 forum LOL..........
I have a collection of parts from pretty much ALL my cars ever...........LOL

K-A

The only precaution I'm gonna take, is maybe request a full walk through of the car, to note any possible existing "damages" (there won't be any, hopefully), and do a fine toothed comb walk through when I pick it up, to ensure they didn't do anything.

I'm sure they'll be upset about it, but for my piece of mind, it's worth it.

petee1997

It's funny you mention that K-A. My dealer does a body check on the car when it is brought in for service and any nicks etc. are noted by the car jockey. They are extremely careful with customer cars and they cover their ***.

K-A

^^ That's very smart. I'm SHOCKED that Dealers I've gone to don't do that, as a means to protect themselves especially.

If I bring it up, and a Dealer/Shopman gives me guff, I'll just take it somewhere else. I'm happy to admit that I'm an O.C.D freak that demands perfection!

Dema

Now I understand why CA showed me replaced parts and explained what was broken.

chilledbenz

hyperion667 has some serious paranoia issues going on ha ha. Every new MB comes with a 4 year 50k mile warranty, if any part or parts should fail they will be replaced free of charge. So for those first 4 years (or 50k miles what ever comes first) I could care less if they are replacing things that don't need replaced, or charging an arm and a leg to do it, because I won't be footing the bill. After the warranty expires is when I would be more inclined to find out what exactly is going on and keep tabs on things. That said, I have yet to see anything on a bill (covered under warranty) that seemed suspicious.

As for the treatment of cars in for service, my dealership does the walk around when you bring the car in as well. They note any scratches, dings, or curbed wheels on the paper and I then have to sign off on it. If anything has happened to the vehicle while in their care, I then have that sheet to fall back on. I have complete faith in my dealership and the mechanics in the back, I can't say the same for the kids they got washing the cars though lol. Guess you can't win them all.

Dema

Right, but this walk around vehicle gets notes about exterior (visible) damages. What about something you can't easily see? Like inner walls of wheels, something under...

mg-E550

I've heard a few stories about my local Acura dlr (I also have an 08 MDX) that has charged for replacing parts they didnt replace. I generally trust the benz dealer so far although my only gripe is that the 600 and change they charge for service B is absurd.

I suppose if you are really paranoid you could make discreet score marks on certain parts that would be easy to swap like alternator, radiator, abs unit, battery, etc so you can check afterwards.

hyperion667

that acura story sux......I was just poking around in the trunk of my volvo and found some tape that was used to hold something in place.........GREAT..............

yep, I'm a paranoid ****............
I've had plenty of experiences to create this outcome.........

first I'll try............then I might trust.............

petee1997

Reading some of these threads makes me think that new car ownership for some of you is very stressful. If I had to worry about the inside of my wheels etc, I would rather take the bus. It would take all the fun out of owning a new car.

hyperion667

peetee1997: I agree, and I do plan on enjoying my car, it's just my experience's have been mostly lame I guess.....maybe I'm entering into a new era of service-man-ship,
I hope that my stereotypes of dealers gets proven wrong........

Dema

It is one major reason wny I lease my cars. If dealer did something wrong, it will deal with that later. I couldn't imagine bring my own car in dealership for service, it is heart attack for me.

mg-E550

Petee1997: Good point and remind one to relax. I guess from my standpoint it's less car or new car specific, bit more about someone f'ing with your stuff. As for the bus....I could easily take the NYC commuter trains but find breathing others Bo and listening to their cell phone conversations to be even more painful.

Funny story that for some won't be: a buddy of mine parks in a garage in NYC (not te same one i do). For years he would always be annoyed that his radio stations were always changed when he returned to his car at the end of the day. He just figured that was the "price" of dealing with NYC garages until the day he found a half eaten mcdonalds sandwich and fries in his center console.

K-A

LOL.

We, being enthusiasts, will obviously put extra attention to these things, which is the price of car-enthusiasm, as it indeeds makes car ownership part fun, and majorly part stress.

Whenever people give their stuff to other people to fix/handle/etc., it's always a potentially stressful situation.

My friend used to work at a Dry Cleaners when he was younger. The horror stories of fights, and rude/demanding/unreasonable customers was atrocious. His Boss told me; "Whenever you handle other people belongings, it can always end up a very tense situation", which always stuck with me. Of course, the CUSTOMERS certainly have their side and argument too.

I can give a crap about clothes stuff, I just throw my stuff in the wash, and hope it all lasts and stays good looking for a long time. I guess the stress I save from there, can go into cars.

chilledbenz

I shouldn't have called you paranoid, it is your car after all and you have the right to know whats going on with it. Guess I've just been spoiled with my dealership and the quality of service they provide. All dealerships are not created equal.

Dema

I found a relevant thread in other forum. So certainly when you bring your car for service, you should think twice

OceanView

I've never had any issues with the dealer stealing or damaging anything on my cars but for any out of warranty issues, they seem to find things that I've never even noticed going bad. It's like my bill comes out to $700-$1000 everytime I go to the dealer.
Valets on the other hand are entirely a different story.
F-er's damaged my cars and didn't tell me about it.
Never Valet dudes.

hyperion667

Dema: thanx for that link: I kind of like reading stories like that because it validates
some of my thoughts and feelings on this matter........I'd still like to have some sort
of surveillance for these reasons.....hehe, it would help me sleep better at night.....

ash_cpe

I went to the dealer on Saturday for A service, the car was clean and asked them " please don't wash" they went and parked it after service beside a sprinkler!! then they hand wash the car with water and they didn't even use soap they just wiped it with chamois right away, good thing i had it waxed. Another thing after I got home, i started hearing rattle coming from the hood, after troubleshooting i found out it's coming from the hood it's self keeps hitting the hood levelers "don't really now what they are called" So this happened because they SLAM the hood all the way, because they don't care; it's not their car.

hyperion667

thanx for the story ash cpe,

it really helps to hear other customer stories to better arm ourselves...

good luck and happy motoring