Cosm

Has anyone dealt with Fletcher Jones Newport beach service ? I have a 2016 S550 with 70k miles that I took in for service A on July 2nd, paid $500 for service a and got the car back on July 3rd. On July 4th I was driving from tustin, ca to six flags magic mountain and when I was almost there the car flashed a warning about the coolant so I turned the a/c off and the message went away, a few mins later the warning came back on in red then the car shut off on the highway. I had to get it towed back to Fletcher Jones and they said it was the cooling lines needed to be replaced and it was gonna cost me $3100. I just got a call from them today and he said basically after they fixed the lines it still wasn't working and that it would cost 7K to tear engine down and if it needed a new engine it would cost me $62K ??? Kinda fishy as when I looked at my old service records I have complained about the cooling light coming on shorty after I had a service done with them. What can I do ? anyone have any similar problems with them ?

MBNUT1

What all is included in the A service. Specifically what inspections are supposed to be done?

Cosm

Mercedes-Benz motor oil replacement. Oil filter replacement. Fluid level checks and corrections.

Cosm

And I asked them if I wanted to trade it in what would I get and basically he said he could offer me 3k which is what I owe for the replacement of the coolant lines so basically just giving them my car. My car is a 2016 S550 sport factory matte white with the executive rear seat package with 70k miles. What would you guys do ?

Cosm

my vin is WDDUG8CB1GA214790 let me know what I should do.

maw1124

Stop taking the car to the dealer. Find an indy. These cars are easy to take care of but you need to have someone with integrity. The dealers used to be great, and Fletcher Jones near the top of the pile. But lately I've been hearing how dealers don't really want any car older than 2006, and I've been seeing them quote outrageous numbers just to get the owners to abandon the cars (so the techs can buy it, etc).

So if you want to keep the car, sadly that means keeping it away from Benz dealers.

GL

maw

Cosm

Unfortunately its too late for that.

carlosinseattle

I don't thnk you're going to be able to force the dealership to do anything for you, at least nothing that really makes a difference. It really boils down to how much you like your car. But it probably makes the most sense to go to an independent to get a second opinion.
It's extremely disappointing that they blew through $500, then $3100 and the car doesn't work. I know the $500 was from before this happened, but they really should inspected the car better. You might try to look at the service order in detail to see what they did. Then follow up with the manual to see what services were "supposed" to be included in the service A. If inspecting coolant lines was specifically mentioned then you might get somewhere with the dealership. And I suppose they could always say the hoses failed in an area that was not covered.

As far as your previous experiences with complaining about the cooling light coming on, can you provide more details about this??? Are you talking about the last time you took it to FJ? If so, how long ago was that? And did you mention that when you took it in for Service A this time??

streborx

I negotiated a new G purchase online with a FJ dealership a couple years ago. After agreeing on a price, told the SA I'd pick up the vehicle 2 days thereafter. Next day, SA emails me and says the price is now $10K more. Told him to #$%&@ himself. Would never do any business with FJ.

MBNUT1

Did they inspect and or add coolant? Did someone leave the cap off?

maw1124

Meaning, tell them to stop work and have it towed elsewhere.

maw

Cosm

Service A is supposed to check all fluids, and they said it was cracked lines

BenzNinja

iTrader: (4)

seriously, sounds all very very strange " 7K to tear engine down and if it needed a new engine it would cost me $62K "
if lines are cracked (never seen that on S that age) let them show you or pictures

Cosm

Yeah I feel like something fishy i going on cause they tried to offer me 3k for the car but I called a car buyer and told him 10k and he went to go look at it at the dealer and they gave him the cold shoulder and wasn't' friendly or trying to let him see the vehicle.

95Sinned420

Sounds shady as hell. $62k for an engine.. you might as well pick up two used 2018 S-Classes for that price. Tow the car to another shop that knows these cars, worse case you'll need to source a used engine, or a rebuild. Assuming coolant was all gone and you kept on driving and seized the engine. I don't think the car ever just shuts off the engine while you're driving due to a warning message. It must've seized on you.
When it comes to coolant warnings, whatever type of car you're driving, if you ever get a coolant low or check coolant or any coolant light, pull over and turn off the car immediately. Then visually inspect to see if there's coolant leak anywhere, and check the reservoir to see if there's any coolant left. If there isn't any coolant, car has to be towed and not driven, otherwise the engine will overheat.

MBNUT1

I'm assuming that the W222 has a low coolant warning which would occur before the engine overheated. Did you have a low coolant warning and was it followed by an increase in coolant temperature? Don't understand what turning off the A/C would do.

Baltistyle

Did they add coolant when checking the fluids. One would think if the lines were cracked enough to have a low tank that needed to be filled during the inspection that when they filled the coolant and properly bled it, they would have seen the pressure reduction. I’d also think a cracked line would have leaked. They know that you had a red light and imo lines were never fixing this engine. Now the issue is to find if they were somehow negligent in the service. Otherwise, pay for the lines, recover the car and sell or fix as you wish, having any used engine boroscoped before install.

good luck. From all the reading Fletcher Jones seemingly has always sucked for both sales and support.

I really hope you have pictures of those cracked lines before they removed them and replaced them because I don’t know how any mechanic would do work these days without proof…

95Sinned420

Turning off the compressor puts less strain on the cooling system, I suppose..
In older cars, you can turn on the heater, which will help cool some of the coolant..
Not a good thing to do either way, if all your coolant is leaked out..

MBNUT1

Yeah I get the load thing but the it wouldn't have affected a low coolant warning. Years ago was in a car that the guy did the heater trick luckily it was a convertible.

Cosm

any shop recommendations in Orange county ?

AMG__POWER

Pm sent! Recommended my go to shop in Oc!

Streamliner

Taking a vehicle not covered by warranty to a dealer, is like putting a fox inside the hen house. The potential for unscrupulous behavior is substantial. Service Advisors—especially those at huge, high volume dealerships—are under the gun to run the bill up as much as possible. Even with a vehicle that is covered by a warranty you really need to stay on top of them, as they will perform expensive services, which they may tell you are “recommended,” but in reality are unneeded. I had a dealership replace the differential oil in our 2019 E450 Wagon, to the tune of over $200.00, saying it was “recommended.” I let it slide as the SA has done me some good turns, but now I am very specific about what will be done when I bring my vehicles to him for service.