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I just took my sons 2012 Mercedes C300 in for a four wheel alignment due to putting new tires on it. They alerted me of the subframe issue and are repairing it for free and gave me a loaner car for the entire two weeks. I have to say I’m impressed with Mercedes and how they handled it although I never did get the warning letter and it wasn’t until I took it in for service as to when they found it.
I just got my rear sub frame replaced. My 2013 C300 has only 37,000 miles, and garage kept and ALL dealer serviced for it's decade of life so far. In last month, it started developing a mild clunk in coming from trunk area when turning left or right from dead stop, and sometimes on speed bump. Just a brief mild clunk or sometimes sounding like a brief sound of a rock hitting wheel well, that would be easy to live with. I took to dealership for diagnosis, and rear sub frame had cracked. The Mercedes dealer replaced for free, and job took 2 days. My lesson: No matter how well kept your car is, or how many times you have taken to dealer for service where you'd think it would be visible during routine service... the sub frame can be an undetected problem... until it does crack. Good news is that it started as a sound that it did not feel unsafe to drive, and was not a catastrophic failure. There was time to get it diagnosed before something serious could happen. W204 has steel gas tank bolted in back in that area and will wiggle slightly and make clunking noise once your sub frame is loose, so proactively get this kind of sound diagnosed for your peace of mind.
I spoke with a Mercedes rep on yesterday and he didn’t mention any of this, only that my vehicle meets the criteria for the extended warranty. He even called my local dealership to advise that it’s covered under warranty.
I’m dropping my car off and getting a loaner on next Wednesday. I sure hope I’m covered 100%. I have a 2014 E350.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by smclaren253
What if it was soft, would not pass state inspection but had no holes yet? Tech said no holes at this time but will be soon.
Do you know what a ballpeen hammer is? I don't see anything in the letter requiring holes to have occurred naturally. The undercarriage is a hostile environment.
I am going through this now on my 2013 E350 wagon. Was in my indy shop for a service and they noticed the rear subframe was rotted through. Sent me to dealer for under warranty repair. Of course dealer sent a list of recommended services including an alignment. Now I had the car aligned less than 6000 miles ago and so my guess is they are trying to charge me to adjust the alignment needed as a result of the replacement of the rear subframe. But since my alignment was fine before I brought the car in (as evidenced by their report of normal wear on all 4 tires and it was just done 6K miles ago) then shouldn't they do the alignment as part of the subframe replacement? In other words doesn't Mercedes reimburse them for an alignment after they do the replacement? Or are they trying to get paid twice for the same alignment (from me and MBUSA)?
Everything else on their list wasn't immediately needed (tires, spark plugs, battery) but the alignment caught my attention.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Why not ask the dealer why an alignment is required? If it is required because of the subframe replacement, then ask why it is not included. Is the rear even adjustable?
Why not ask the dealer why an alignment is required? If it is required because of the subframe replacement, then ask why it is not included. Is the rear even adjustable?
Yes, the rear end does have adjustable alignment parameters which would be disturbed by the work being done. I inquired about it and was told today that an alignment would be performed as part of the scope of work in the replacement of the rear subframe.
So the $189 they were quoting to do an alignment was just a way of billing me for work that they would be paid for as part of the warranty claim, as I had suspected.
I've got a Canadian e63 AMG that was imported into the US with EPA and DOT approval in 2019. MB USA will not repair mine under warranty for some reason because it is a Canadian car.. Does MB Canada do the extended warranty repair?
Wanted to reach out to you and let you know that the rear subframe has been added with an extended warranty from the factory. Standard warranty was 4yr / 50,000 miles and has been extended to 20 years / unlimited miles.
You can possibly be reimbursed for this repair you paid for yourself. You should receive a notification in the mail from MBUSA on this. Once you do see your local dealer on how and if they can process a credit for this now covered repair.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) has extended the warranty for the rear subframe on the vehicles listed below, from the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 4 years/50,000 miles to 20 years/unlimited miles, and applies to the vehicle regardless of ownership.
This warranty extension applies to the replacement of the rear subframe under the standard warranty terms and conditions in the event the subframe experiences corrosion with perforation (holes). The extended warranty is applicable to the following vehicles:
Wanted to reach out and thank edeleonmb! I bought a C300 with, come to find out, a very compromised rear sub frame. I used the bulletin he posted with my local Mercedes dealership and they have been excellent on taking care of it!
Would love to buy you a beer or lunch sir if you tell me your Venmo, etc!!!
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