What has happened to the Quality of Mercedes?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
S class
What has happened to the Quality of Mercedes?
Yesterday, my wife opened the car door to our 2007 S Class with 55,000 miles. All of a sudden we hear a loud BANG that sounded like a gunshot. I ran out to ask if she was alright. She was, and she asked "what was that"? It turns out the right front strut blew out.
Really??? Is that what Mercedes has come down to. Can we expect that their top of the line automobiles will need struts replaced at 50,000 miles or they will blow out. What happen to the long term reliability?
Really??? Is that what Mercedes has come down to. Can we expect that their top of the line automobiles will need struts replaced at 50,000 miles or they will blow out. What happen to the long term reliability?
Last edited by cdmdriver; Aug 20, 2012 at 09:37 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 685
Likes: 12
2012 w221
Yesterday, my wife opened the car door to our 2007 S Class with 55,000 miles. All of a sudden we hear a loud BANG that sounded like a gunshot. I ran out to ask if she was alright. She was, and she asked "what was that"? It turns out the right front strut blew out.
Really??? Is that what Mercedes has come down to. Can we expect that their top of the line automobiles will need struts replaced at 50,000 miles or they will blow out. What happen to the long term reliability?
I feel like I am literally driving a ticking time bomb.
Really??? Is that what Mercedes has come down to. Can we expect that their top of the line automobiles will need struts replaced at 50,000 miles or they will blow out. What happen to the long term reliability?
I feel like I am literally driving a ticking time bomb.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 4
From: ChiTown
06 Carrera4
These things happen. It's probably one out of a hundred cars that this happens to. All mechanical items crap out at one point or another. One blown air strutt is nothing to scream about and ask where quality has gone. You obviously never owned early year w220. Thats where you can ask where quality went.
It could have been a defective strut. Could have been a harsh pot hole at some point. Could have been bad sensor and pump kept working. My fathers R class had both rear struts go out with in two minutes of each other. No one will ever be able to find out why. Some things like that just happen.
Lexus was hailed as worlds top quality. In Last ten years that they've started to put as many toys in their cars ans Benz and BMW and looks th the issues they have now.
The more expensive the car is the more it takes to maintain and things do happen even on $200k cars.
Over sized rims may put additional stress on shocs if they don't camber right.
It could have been a defective strut. Could have been a harsh pot hole at some point. Could have been bad sensor and pump kept working. My fathers R class had both rear struts go out with in two minutes of each other. No one will ever be able to find out why. Some things like that just happen.
Lexus was hailed as worlds top quality. In Last ten years that they've started to put as many toys in their cars ans Benz and BMW and looks th the issues they have now.
The more expensive the car is the more it takes to maintain and things do happen even on $200k cars.
Over sized rims may put additional stress on shocs if they don't camber right.
Last edited by malahhaor; Aug 20, 2012 at 09:15 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 556
Likes: 4
From: Berlin
2018 C63s
And yes, larger wheels can lead to strut failure. Any added weight and size can cause significantly more wear on a strut assembly.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 382
Likes: 4
From: LI, NY
(1960) 300d, S550 AMG S500 S600 560SEL
malahhaor, well said, the trouble for the S class started in 1993 when they produced the suppossed beautiful 140 which turned out to be too troublesome and when the W220 came out, it was dead worst, almost all the parts of the car gets into trouble mode, when the W221 came out of the plant it was a lot better than the two older series.
CDM driver, you are right and i would not blame you for thinking that way after all we are owner of a high end series of the W221 i partially agree with you on the quality of cars produced by the plant (wish many of us have the opportunity to know whats going on with the R & D and see how they decide on suppliers appointment and procurement. And the rest of the guys are right too, if you decide to add accessories that does not conform to the standard configuration of your car it will indeed cause strain on the suspension, but non the less the strut diaphragm should not have blown just like that, you might want to have it check out by a pro and highly qualified and knowledgeable individual, at the end of the day you still need to change either the diaphragm (if you can find the parts) or change the whole strut.
Personally i am really satisfied with this series, I have all the S class models starting with the tail 1960 Adenaur model to the current 221 and i tell you the best is still the 126 series but it does not have all the luxury appointments as to the W221.
CDM driver, you are right and i would not blame you for thinking that way after all we are owner of a high end series of the W221 i partially agree with you on the quality of cars produced by the plant (wish many of us have the opportunity to know whats going on with the R & D and see how they decide on suppliers appointment and procurement. And the rest of the guys are right too, if you decide to add accessories that does not conform to the standard configuration of your car it will indeed cause strain on the suspension, but non the less the strut diaphragm should not have blown just like that, you might want to have it check out by a pro and highly qualified and knowledgeable individual, at the end of the day you still need to change either the diaphragm (if you can find the parts) or change the whole strut.
Personally i am really satisfied with this series, I have all the S class models starting with the tail 1960 Adenaur model to the current 221 and i tell you the best is still the 126 series but it does not have all the luxury appointments as to the W221.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,373
Likes: 945
W212 FL
I had no idea why airmatic shocks failed until I read comments regarding using big wheels could have bad results for these components.
Regular shocks are easier to maintain and this is why I didn't order my car with these airmatics.
The very design of these could end up in big cost to repair and this is not MB's fault because regardless of what brand you buy,these will fail in the end .
I am very happy to see old MB quality has come back since W221. W126s could be the most reliable cars but let's not forget when these cars were made there were not fancy gadgets ,internet,bluetooth as today's modern gadgets and W221 was launched in 2007 this means MB's top model can benefit all the modern gadgets you can imagine in a car
Regular shocks are easier to maintain and this is why I didn't order my car with these airmatics.
The very design of these could end up in big cost to repair and this is not MB's fault because regardless of what brand you buy,these will fail in the end .
I am very happy to see old MB quality has come back since W221. W126s could be the most reliable cars but let's not forget when these cars were made there were not fancy gadgets ,internet,bluetooth as today's modern gadgets and W221 was launched in 2007 this means MB's top model can benefit all the modern gadgets you can imagine in a car
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2007 S550
Four of my door trim moldings blew off going down the highway. Then another fell off at the car wash [hand wand not brushes].
This is inexcuseable. Even so, out of embarrassment they should have replaced them under warranty.
The airmatic pump failed at 79k. What reason could there be for not installing a heavier duty pump? The day I picked up the car after the pump was replaced the car began having problems shifting, and now needs a $1,300 repair to replace the trans electronics. Electronic hardware can be made better than this.
What next? There is no excuse for the above as these should not be in the category of "normal wear items" such as brake pads, rotors, spark plugs, etc. Gadgetry is prone to problems, of the type that can be reset or rebooted, or re-programmed. But failure of hardware such as circuit boards, switches and sensors that fail due to heat, vibration, and normal use indicates inferior parts not up to the task for which they were designed. And we're not discussing acceptable trade-offs such as brake pads that wear quicker because they stop better. This is my fifth Mercedes and I'm used to a higher standard than this. My last one was a 90 model 560 SEL so I suppose I avoided the issues with the models between then and the current version.
My advice to anyone who asks is don't drive one of these cars out of warranty. Mine ran out on time with 20k left of the 100k miles. I'm at 80k now, and wish I would have driven the car more.
They also finally found the cause of what I've been feeling the last 20k+ miles. The sway bar bushings are worn out. That is a normal wear item, but should not be on a Mercedes with less than 80k miles.
Is my car typical? I hope not.
Eric
This is inexcuseable. Even so, out of embarrassment they should have replaced them under warranty.
The airmatic pump failed at 79k. What reason could there be for not installing a heavier duty pump? The day I picked up the car after the pump was replaced the car began having problems shifting, and now needs a $1,300 repair to replace the trans electronics. Electronic hardware can be made better than this.
What next? There is no excuse for the above as these should not be in the category of "normal wear items" such as brake pads, rotors, spark plugs, etc. Gadgetry is prone to problems, of the type that can be reset or rebooted, or re-programmed. But failure of hardware such as circuit boards, switches and sensors that fail due to heat, vibration, and normal use indicates inferior parts not up to the task for which they were designed. And we're not discussing acceptable trade-offs such as brake pads that wear quicker because they stop better. This is my fifth Mercedes and I'm used to a higher standard than this. My last one was a 90 model 560 SEL so I suppose I avoided the issues with the models between then and the current version.
My advice to anyone who asks is don't drive one of these cars out of warranty. Mine ran out on time with 20k left of the 100k miles. I'm at 80k now, and wish I would have driven the car more.
They also finally found the cause of what I've been feeling the last 20k+ miles. The sway bar bushings are worn out. That is a normal wear item, but should not be on a Mercedes with less than 80k miles.
Is my car typical? I hope not.
Eric
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 616
Likes: 5
From: Planet Earth
S500
Can you say unsprung weight?The MB in particular is a very well engineered car and adding 20 pounds unsprung weight per wheel to the suspension would not help to keep tolerances within range I'd think.
But definately a point that MB quality is still not up to pre-war
standards bc all mft need to cut corners in costs nowadays .
Which is **** for us as consumers bc we have to pay for bloody expensive repairs after warranty has expired.
But definately a point that MB quality is still not up to pre-war
standards bc all mft need to cut corners in costs nowadays .Which is **** for us as consumers bc we have to pay for bloody expensive repairs after warranty has expired.
