Certified pre-owned with "Code 4"
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Joined: Sep 2013
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ML350 Bluetec
Certified pre-owned with "Code 4"
About 3 weeks ago, we bought a certified preowned 2011 ML350 Bluetec Diesel with 19k miles from the Coral Gables FL Mercedes dealer. A few days ago, the check engine light came on. We brought it to a Boca Raton dealer, who told us that the vehicle has a "Code 4", which means that any warranty repair has explicitly to be approved by Head Office. Turns out the previous owner/lessor filled it with gasoline. Apparently, "It wasn't driven, but was towed and flushed out and was as good as new." Obviously, Mercedes doesn't think so, or we wouldn't be required to seek special authorization every time we need a warranty repair. Are there now things not covered? None of this was disclosed to us when we made the purchase. We paid about $45k, so no unusual discount. We would like to take this up with the head office. Does anyone know to whom we should speak, and what their contact details are? Thanks.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 431
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From: Cross Roads, PA
2008 ML320CDI
I have a similiar situation. Although yours is much more frustrating. If in fact, the previous owner did put gasoline, then this should have never been a vehicle to be sold as a CPO, it should have gone to auction if you are going to have this grief everytime you take it in. If in fact, its a Mercedes CPO vehicle, then it should start with a clean slate. I have an 08 CPO ML, that is still under warranty. I had front struts replaced by an independent MB service center. The next trip to a dealer, they flagged my CPO warranty requiring Area Manager approval for repairs. Its rediculous, as the next warranty repair needed was the rear tailgate lock, having nothing to do with my "Bilstein" struts on the front, they still had to get approval. In my case why would I replace with OEM struts if they didnt even last 70K miles.
Call MBUSA and speak to their CPO warranty department. If that doesnt work, contact the AOM (area operations manager, he/she is whom makes the determination whether or not to warranty the repair being performed) That code should have been removed if they performed the CPO inspections and deemed it acceptable as a CPO vehicle.
Sorry for the 3rd edit, but my blood pressure keeps rising everytime I read this. Part of the CPO process is the vehicle is clear of any known defects, well quite frankly if they are going to hold back on warranty repairs on the fuel system because of what happened prior to your purchase, then it did not meet the CPO requirements..
Call MBUSA and speak to their CPO warranty department. If that doesnt work, contact the AOM (area operations manager, he/she is whom makes the determination whether or not to warranty the repair being performed) That code should have been removed if they performed the CPO inspections and deemed it acceptable as a CPO vehicle.
Sorry for the 3rd edit, but my blood pressure keeps rising everytime I read this. Part of the CPO process is the vehicle is clear of any known defects, well quite frankly if they are going to hold back on warranty repairs on the fuel system because of what happened prior to your purchase, then it did not meet the CPO requirements..
Last edited by 06e320cdi; Sep 16, 2013 at 08:35 AM.
