When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Bought a 2012 E350 well outside the supposed VIN Range. Wood looks bad. Took it to Park Place MB in Dallas and they ordered the trim for warranty replacement, no questions asked. Of course they told me it could be 6-8 months to get the parts in.
So my current question is: Any suggestions on making the faded wood look as good as possible until the replacement arrives?
I bought a CPO late 2011 model year E350 bluetec and my brother in law bought an early 11 model year. We both uyad our wood trim replaced under warranty although parts took over three months to get.
Brought my 2011 E350 in today ( Aug. 13 ) to my Dealer. Called yesterday to make the appointment for my burl wood panels to be "review" and schedule maintenance, but was told that if deemed replaceable, it could take up to 4 months, just like the forum mentioned.
Today, we to my schedule appointment and came out with my original scheduled maintenance, plus a complete wood trim replacement by tomorrow PLUS a free $199 full detail including interior, exterior engine, engine bay as well as under carriage detail. PLUS free trunk hydraulic replacement. I will get my car back tomorrow ( Aug. 14 ) with everything just described. Not bad for a days work. Excited to see my new toy.
Oh, did I mentioned the same dealer replaced my headlight Assembly ( both sides ) when I got the car 3 months ago.
I feel blessed to have my dealer and my inside connection.
Last edited by Davidkuo0330; 08-30-2014 at 02:21 PM.
Reason: Add photos
I bought my 2010 e350 a few months ago and it has faded wood. The VIN is within range of the TSB. My wife called the service Manager at our local dealership where the car was purchased. He said, it isn't a recall but a TSB and even though the car is a CPO, they won't replace it. I'm frustrated with that response and don't know what action to take without first understanding the difference between a TSB where the manufacturer acknowledges the defect and indicates it should be repaired under warranty and a dealership that won't do it, vs a recall. SOmethings not right. I shouldn't have to argue with the dealer if MB says it should be replaced. Any thoughts?
I bought my 2010 e350 a few months ago and it has faded wood. The VIN is within range of the TSB. My wife called the service Manager at our local dealership where the car was purchased. He said, it isn't a recall but a TSB and even though the car is a CPO, they won't replace it. I'm frustrated with that response and don't know what action to take without first understanding the difference between a TSB where the manufacturer acknowledges the defect and indicates it should be repaired under warranty and a dealership that won't do it, vs a recall. SOmethings not right. I shouldn't have to argue with the dealer if MB says it should be replaced. Any thoughts?
I bought my 2010 e350 a few months ago and it has faded wood. The VIN is within range of the TSB. My wife called the service Manager at our local dealership where the car was purchased. He said, it isn't a recall but a TSB and even though the car is a CPO, they won't replace it. I'm frustrated with that response and don't know what action to take without first understanding the difference between a TSB where the manufacturer acknowledges the defect and indicates it should be repaired under warranty and a dealership that won't do it, vs a recall. SOmethings not right. I shouldn't have to argue with the dealer if MB says it should be replaced. Any thoughts?
Either go to a different dealer or call MB directly.
If you are out of warranty, MB customer care is where the dealer will send you. Unless you have a great relationship with dealer. Depending on your history with MB, prior purchases, was car still under b2b to when you bought it, etc. they might cover some or all of it as a goodwill adjustment.
I'm sorry guys, I'm unfamiliar with the b2b acronym. The car was purchased maybe 2 months ago and is pre certified. Had one year on the CPO warranty at time of purchase.
I'm sorry guys, I'm unfamiliar with the b2b acronym. The car was purchased maybe 2 months ago and is pre certified. Had one year on the CPO warranty at time of purchase.
b2b = bumper to bumper, otherwise known as factory warranty. 4 years or 50k miles, whichever comes first.
b2b = bumper to bumper, otherwise known as factory warranty. 4 years or 50k miles, whichever comes first.
Thank you for the clarification. The warranty is CPO. Certified on 6/11/14 and purchased by my on 6/24/14. The inspection notes the wood as OK passed - I disagree.
Thank you for the clarification. The warranty is CPO. Certified on 6/11/14 and purchased by my on 6/24/14. The inspection notes the wood as OK passed - I disagree.
Is your car less than 4 years and 50,000 miles if it is you will meet no resistance as the wood is covered under the factory warranty, or has your CPO warranty already kicked in due to mileage or age?
Is your car less than 4 years and 50,000 miles if it is you will meet no resistance as the wood is covered under the factory warranty, or has your CPO warranty already kicked in due to mileage or age?
Yes the CPO kicked in @ purchase due to mileage 58000
Yes the CPO kicked in @ purchase due to mileage 58000
TSB's are covered when you're under the factory warranty, CPO warranty does not cover trim
Hopefully you can work out something with your dealer, who can escalate it to corporate, and also you can use the misleading CPO inspection report as Ammo with MB corporate, it should not pass a CPO inspection, the highest of all standards
truth be told, I saw many faded trims when I was just starting to look at Used MBz, and would not have known if it was nor for this forum.
If you are out of the B2B warranty they won't cover under the CPO warranty. The CPO warranty does not cover trim items.
You can call MBUSA and see if they will handle via a goodwill gesture.
If the wood looked ok when you bought it why is it an issue now? If it looked bad when you bought it you should have pushed the dealer to do it then.
My wood is still on order and I asked why they didn't just change it. The dealer told me the request must start with the customer and can not be initiated by the dealer.
I guess they are hoping it gets past 4 years and they can save the money. The wood kit plus installation costs close to $3K from what I understand.
Question - I have the black ash trim and the drivers side piece has small clouding in one spot. The dealer said they'll replace the piece but it woun't match the rest of the trim since each set comes from the same tree. Is this actually true???
If that's the case, I wonder if it would really be that different?
If a whole set of wood panels, yes. It can be made out of the same tree or batch, but not if 1 piece of panel out of a set of panels can be out of the same tree or batch ( Only 1 in a million chances ) MB vendor would need hundreds if not thousands of tree just to make all of the MB wood panels. My panels were just replaced and my dealer told me that the wood panels come to the dealer as a set and not by each individual pieces and I believe that since i come from wood base furniture manufacture background. Each type of wood comes in different wood grain and swirls to match as a set. The dealer just told you that so they don't have to replace the whole set because labor costs and they can replace other panels that have the remaining wood panel piece leftover from your replacement set.
Also, keep in mind that if only one piece of the wood panel gets replace, as time has passed and the sun exposure that cause the fading would make it stand out even more if 1 piece was new and the other panels are not.
[QUOTE=SLpat;6157275]If you are out of the B2B warranty they won't cover under the CPO warranty. The CPO warranty does not cover trim items.
If the wood looked ok when you bought it why is it an issue now? If it looked bad when you bought it you should have pushed the dealer to do it then.
honestly I'm here for help, not a scolding but in the interest of keeping peace, I will answer. First and foremost, this is my wife's car. She bought it, test drove it etc. I told her I thought the wood was "ugly". It wasn't until I saw the interior of another model, I thought it might be defective. The forum convinced me I wasn't seeing things. I will pursue with MB USA directly.
Please don't consider it a scolding. This is an information sharing forum and we all learn from ours ( as well as others) mistakes.
Now we know to check the wood trim on all used cars before purchase. Of course wives may not listen to husbands but that is another matter altogether.
We hope you get a resolution on this issue from MBUSA.
If you are out of the B2B warranty they won't cover under the CPO warranty. The CPO warranty does not cover trim items.
If the wood looked ok when you bought it why is it an issue now? If it looked bad when you bought it you should have pushed the dealer to do it then.
honestly I'm here for help, not a scolding but in the interest of keeping peace, I will answer. First and foremost, this is my wife's car. She bought it, test drove it etc. I told her I thought the wood was "ugly". It wasn't until I saw the interior of another model, I thought it might be defective. The forum convinced me I wasn't seeing things. I will pursue with MB USA directly.
I am in a similar boat to you but mine was not CPO mor purchased from MB dealer. My story is posted in here somewhere. Car was only 3.5 years told with 50,400 miles on it. MB customer service did not grant me any goodwill. But you have it going for you that you bought yours from an MB dealer and they didn't disclose wood issue to you. Give customer service a shot.
If you are out of the B2B warranty they won't cover under the CPO warranty. The CPO warranty does not cover trim items.
If the wood looked ok when you bought it why is it an issue now? If it looked bad when you bought it you should have pushed the dealer to do it then.
honestly I'm here for help, not a scolding but in the interest of keeping peace, I will answer. First and foremost, this is my wife's car. She bought it, test drove it etc. I told her I thought the wood was "ugly". It wasn't until I saw the interior of another model, I thought it might be defective. The forum convinced me I wasn't seeing things. I will pursue with MB USA directly.
Sorry that you took it as scolding - I didn't mean it that way.
My neighbor has a 2011 that he bought new and it faded and he never noticed it. Now when he sees it compared to the non faded wood in other cars he realized it faded but he is OK with it. He was the one that told me about the fading wood in my car. He didn't get his replaced because it was beyond 50,000 miles when he found out and feels it looks OK anyway. His seems to have faded pretty uniform.
Best of luck with MBUSA. I hope you can get a good resolution.
My e550 is with the dealer as we speak getting the wood trim replaced under warranty. I reported it in July and the dealer said it has to be ordered from Germany and would take 2-3 months to arrive. The called me last week saying the wood trim had arrived.
Dropped off my car on Tuesday, it takes a couple of days to replace... will pick up the car later tonight.
08-09-2014, 11:34 AM
