Corsa9000

My 2004 S55 is under MB warranty for another 15 months. I took my car to an Independent MB shop last week for a transmission fluid/filter change. They did the work and their inspection of the car reported the following:

1. Left engine mount is worn
2. Lower control arm bushing is cracked
3. Thrust arm bushing/ball joint is cracked
4. Oil leak at valve cover gasket
5. Excess play at left inner tie rod

Here is my dilemma, if I take my car to MB Dealer with this list, I know they could not cover it under warranty. I need to report actual problems which will result in parts replacements which will be covered under warranty.

What do you suggest I should report as problems, given the list above???? i.e excessive engine vibration (for engine mount), imprecise steering (for tie rod, control arm and ball joint), oil leak at valve cover should be the easy one.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Skylaw

I suggest telling the authorized dealer exactly what you did. You took the car to an indy for non-warranty work, and he identified the following deficient items that are covered by warranty. You would like the dealer to carry out the warranty work.

Unless the indy worked on those items, they should still be covered; but check the warranty contract to be sure.

It would not hurt to report the symptoms as well, but I don't see why it would be necessary if the indy's inspection was accurate.

Also remember that many "wear" items are not covered by warranty.

Corsa9000

I know how the MB system works. If I take the car in and say one engine mount is worn, my CPO warranty won't cover it since it is considered were and tear. I have to say something like excess vibration at high RPM or something like that which will lead them to look at the engine mount and replace it.

tusabes

it seems like you know the way the warranty game is played and also already know what to "say" as the problems you are experiencing

Corsa9000

Not really tusabes. I am not sure what to complain about so they change the lower control arm bushing, thrust arm/ball joint or tie rod. The car feels fine but I want to have these changed while under warranty.

Maybe I should just wait a little longer till something breaks.

my06clk

Sounds like you are preanticipating a runaround and you should't be. Warranty is warranty. If the parts are worn, you should only have to state what is worn and the the MB shop have a look. They will make the final determination on whether or not the parts need changing. Simple as that. Please don't tell my you are dealing with Fletcher Jones, otherwise forget what I said and find another dealer.

Corsa9000

I might just take the car in and have them look and replace these parts. I am not dealing with Fletcher Jones MB, I use the MB Laguna Niguel, they are very good.

tusabes

let us know how it turns out

sammy38

say you hear weird noises while turning... that's what happed to my car when the bushings and ball joints were bad...

Corsa9000

Well, I took the car in and handed them my list:


1. Left engine mount is worn (Replaced)
2. Lower control arm bushing is cracked (Replaced)
3. Thrust arm bushing/ball joint is cracked(Thrust arm and bushing replaced)
4. Oil leak at valve cover gasket(new gasket installed)
5. Excess play at left inner tie rod (Tie rod and bushing replaced)

The Service Advisor at MB Dealer gladly grabbed the list and they took care of all five items plus found a couple of problems with the trunk closer. All covered under warranty, I just couldn't help it and asked how much would this have cost without warranty, he estimated near $4K.

I normally do not purchase extended warranty for anything and this being an exception was a good decision and has paid off.

The car's steering is taut and much more precise now, quite noticeable.