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.
Is a MB dealership responsible to ensure that a car's tires meet OEM spec before selling the vehicle as CPO?
Someone, possibly the selling dealership or maybe the former owners/lessees of our wagon apparently chose non-run flats and non-XL rated tires as replacements for our 2018 E400 wagon, purchased CPO in February.
There is no spare, so I assume it originally came with run flat tires. It does have the optional third row seats.
Although the tires still have plenty of tread, one has developed a sidewall bubble.
I tracked down the matching tires at TheTireRack, but they aren't XL rated. The order got flagged because they don't meet manufacturer's specs, even though their weight rating is adequate for the car according to them. They're asking if I want to proceed with the purchase.
I'm not sure what to do. Should I bother contacting the selling dealership? Mercedes corporate?
FWIW, we've recently moved from Alaska to Indiana, so I can't just stop by.
I'm pretty sure your car originally came with run-flats. Unfortunately, CPO actually means nothing beyond an extended warranty. They claim all manner of inspections and assurances, but very little of those claims are valid. Technically, the dealer probably should have put the original spec run-flats on the car before offering it for sale, but it doesn't surprise me at all that they didn't. Prior to my current car, I purchased a similar CPO model which I quickly discovered had sustained front end damage and the hood had been entirely repainted. I promptly returned it and demanded a full refund, which they agreed to, but not until after assuring me that CPO doesn't mean a car hasn't been in an accident. I would definitely bring this up with the dealer who sold you the car.
I'm pretty sure your car originally came with run-flats. Unfortunately, CPO actually means nothing beyond an extended warranty. They claim all manner of inspections and assurances, but very little of those claims are valid. Technically, the dealer probably should have put the original spec run-flats on the car before offering it for sale, but it doesn't surprise me at all that they didn't. Prior to my current car, I purchased a similar CPO model which I quickly discovered had sustained front end damage and the hood had been entirely repainted. I promptly returned it and demanded a full refund, which they agreed to, but not until after assuring me that CPO doesn't mean a car hasn't been in an accident. I would definitely bring this up with the dealer
who sold you the car.
I'll be contacting the selling dealer about this. A visual inspection of the tires before the sale wouldn't have revealed the issue unless you knew the minimum specifications Mercedes had for the tires and looked for that specifically. I'm not that knowledgeable, but I would think whatever dealership employee was assigned to inspect the car should be.
I once bought a CPO Volvo XC90 that had a bad rear wheel bearing, which I discovered within days. That was on their list of items for their CPO intake inspection, but the sales mgr. admitted they hadn't gotten around to the inspection before I bought the car. They performed the repair and the inspection at no cost, and we drove the car for several trouble-free years.
I'm hoping they will step up and take care of this for us, but I'm not holding my breath.
Check your CPO literature for information about tires (my CPO brochure is doubtlessly out of date at this point), and if it states that tires will be original factory spec with XX,XXX miles left, then they should have to replace all of the tires. I've purchased three CPO BMWs and two CPO MBs, and while that's been no guarantee of quality, I have been fairly successful at making the dealers address items that should have been detected/addressed as part of the certification process.
I'm pretty sure your car originally came with run-flats. Unfortunately, CPO actually means nothing beyond an extended warranty. They claim all manner of inspections and assurances, but very little of those claims are valid. Technically, the dealer probably should have put the original spec run-flats on the car before offering it for sale, but it doesn't surprise me at all that they didn't. Prior to my current car, I purchased a similar CPO model which I quickly discovered had sustained front end damage and the hood had been entirely repainted. I promptly returned it and demanded a full refund, which they agreed to, but not until after assuring me that CPO doesn't mean a car hasn't been in an accident. I would definitely bring this up with the dealer who sold you the car.
Originally Posted by Mr. Toad
Check your CPO literature for information about tires (my CPO brochure is doubtlessly out of date at this point), and if it states that tires will be original factory spec with XX,XXX miles left, then they should have to replace all of the tires. I've purchased three CPO BMWs and two CPO MBs, and while that's been no guarantee of quality, I have been fairly successful at making the dealers address items that should have been detected/addressed as part of the certification process.
I can't it my hands on our sale paperwork at the moment. It's in one of a couple dozen boxes still unpacked after our move. However, the Mercedes Web site's CPO program page does indicate that they inspect to
ensure the tires meet specs.
I guess we'll see how well they stand behind the program.
Tires must have a minimum 5/32" tread depth and be original equipment, meaning MO, MOE, or run flat specification as originally equipped on the car to pass a CPO inspection. Off-brand tires are not permitted. Contact the dealer you purchased from and they should have no problem paying for the correct oem spec tires. Please post what brand tires, size and type you currently have.
Last edited by E55Greasemonkey; Nov 4, 2021 at 01:26 PM.
As long as they have the correct speed rating and are adequate load rating and are approved by Mercedes as an aftermarket fitment I cant see the issue. I'm assuming you clipped a kerb or whatever for that to bubble like that so I can understand you wanting to try and get a free set....but here a "Mercedes Approved" car (what CPO is called here) would not need the original type of tyres on to comply.
I just went thru a similar situation regarding CPO tire, yes, the tires have to meet ORGINAL Mercedes specs as well as the 5/32nds of tread depth. The inspection isn't just a walk around they have to take tread depth measurement's and inspect the inner side of the tires. ASK FOR THE INSPECTION REPORT mine is attached.
Bought my car end of August 202, 2 weeks later had VA state inspection done by the local Firestone shop, - have been doing business with this shop for 17 years - tires and inspection only - they measured the depth as 4/32nds. Asked dealer for the CPO inspection report see attachment - the boxes at the bottom of the report are in color and when copied in B&W the REPLACE NOW box appears black ignore this. Mercedes of Buffalo was open honest and very friendly, said that if tire report showed an issue, they would replace the tires. was concerned that 3 of the tires tread depth was stated as marginal, so sent report to my local MB dealer service manager who has serviced our MBs for 12 years and she said that if this report came to her, she would sign off on it even though the tech listed the depth as marginal it still meets the CPO spec, not what I wanted to hear, but I do trust her.
RELATED: my son just bought a 2018 Land Rover Velar from Carvana (Land Rover & Carvana - don't ask) 2 days after taking delivery on the way home to Philly from SC got a flat - went to discount tire to replace - tire had been patched twice, once home had car looked at by Land Rover dealer - 1 other tire had been patched.
Carvana - mailed him a check to cover the cost of replacement - was no issue. Carvana also touts their 150-point inspection.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
