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This weekend I went (120 miles away) to look at a 2018 SL550 sold as a CPO.
The car is a two owner, 32500 miles, maintained at dealership (same that was selling it as a CPO) .
Test drive was good. Took it to high way where it climbed to 80mph without any issues to note.
I asked for vehicle VMI and CPO inspection report before moving forward.
VMI indicated no break fluid flush since 20K service and 2 refusals to do so after that.
CPO inspection report indicated that front brake pad/rotor are in need of replacement but was refused by the Sales Dept.
It also indicated rear brake pads and rotor replacement, installation of 4 new tires (but no wheel alignment?), a 30k miles service (oil change & wiper blade) performed.
Not seeing a brake fluid change since 20K service I asked for it, however, final word on it was deferred till Monday. So we returned without any commitment.
After the trip:
On further review of CPO perquisites (see enclosed) I noted that this car should have received a 50K service (as it is past its 5th anniversary), all missed services (e.g. brake fluid change) and any needed repairs before it can be certified as CPO (see item # 3 in CPO certification process).
So this car needs Spark plug & Engine Air Filter, Brake fluid, front brake pad & rotor replacement, and a wheel alignment(?) to qualify as a CPO. I shared my understandings with the Sale Associate via e-mail.
On Monday morning sales person called to indicate that they will do the break fluid. When I indicated to him that car needs more than this and asked him to check his e-mail for details. He is yet to return.
Had he agreed to do the brake fluid change when we were there, I would have bought the car.
So my questions (though hypothetical) are.
1. Had I taken the delivery of this car, could I claim any repairs under warranty without risking a refusal on the ground that car is not maintained according MB standards.
2. If I am refused a service on this ground, will MBUSA step in to save me since I bought the car as a CPO, and all the omissions were supposed to be taken care of during the CPO certification.
3. Am I too conservative in my expectations when buying a CPO?
Please share your thought or experiences.
MBUSA states that one of the prerequisite to qualify a car as CPO is that the car has been serviced according to schedule.
So, when that dealer claims that car is CPO while it has not been serviced so, he is not honest enough.
Is there a fraud here? Do not know.
I just stay away.
This is yet another example of the typically fraudulent nature of the CPO claim. I've purchased several CPO cars from both BMW and MB over the years and have yet to encounter one vehicle for which the dealer had actually performed ALL of the allegedly "required" inspection and maintenance points.
I echo the thoughts of those recommending you run from this deal. It certainly does not pass the smell test and the dealership is likely less than honest. My experience with MBUSA is very poor. All I ever got from them was a response to contact the dealer, even though my complaints were the dealer was unresponsive and the problem. If it were me I would continue looking.
03-07-2023, 07:14 PM
