$11k in car repair in 8 mos - 08 S63 my dlr offered to trade me out of it but into ?
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From: Maryland
2025 S63. 2022 911 Turbo S, 23 BMW M5C
08 S63, $11k in car repair in 8 mos., my dlr offered to trade me out of it but into ?
Folks,
So I've had my first Mercedes, this 08 S63 for 8 months now and it's cost $11k in repairs so far. Latest repair was the transmission "plate"? - car wouldn't go forwards or backyards anymore after stopping unless I shut the car off and restarted it - $1400, covered under the Continental extended warranty I bought.
Also on that same visit last week was the $670 to repair the things in the bumper that told me I was too close to another car - it would beep even if I wasn't that close at all to other cars (the dealer said that someone may have bumped my car in the parking lot somewhere causing this to not work right anymore ?!?. This wasn't covered under the Continental warranty but they were nice and covered it anyway since I'm friends with the used car manager and he felt bad about all the repairs I've had in such a short time.
Also there was the $950 repair last week for the front seat. The bladders randomly open up when they're not supposed to. I always set everything to zero in terms of settings. The memory on the car is the same for #1, 2 and 3... everything should be a ZERO setting but as I'm driving or when I get back into it after it's been parked, the lumbar support randomly goes to 3 or 5 or whatever it feels like.
The manager said another car there had the same problem even after they "fixed it" with this $950 repair. Mine's still doing the same even though it was the 2nd time I brought it in for this. I just go into the settings while driving and change all of them back to zero. It's a shame that they can't fix this one. They say they can't reproduce it while road-testing it though as soon as I picked up the car it did it again.
So... the manager said - "Steve, we could trade you out of your car. It seems to continuously have problems and we feel bad about that. It would have to be a more expensive car than what you paid for your current one and you won't recoup any money from the $5600 warranty you bought since we've covered so many repairs". Really? That kind of stinks....
I asked him - "but what car could I possibly get"? I didn't want to spend one penny more than what I had already paid 8 months ago but was vaguely open to it if the right car came along ... I was open to seeing what he'd say. He said - "what about a 2010 E63? Handles much better than your car and is a fantastic machine. You don't have kids or a wife, why do you need such a big car?" Or the conversation went something like that at least...
I researched the 2010 E63's, and wasn't too keen on the angular looks in the rear or the front. Didn't love the way the lights were on them in the rear, either. Actually I preferred the older ones. He called 2 days later and said that amazingly enough, a 2009 E63 in the only color I'd want had just been traded in by a fanatical owner. It had 19K miles, every option, silver with black and was perfect.
It certainly wasn't the 2010 or later car he'd mentioned but I dutifully went down there and checked it out. I was there anyway to pick up my car that was finally done. I parked them side to side to really give me an idea of what they'd look as a comparison.
I checked out the back seat first. REALLY small compared to the "S". I put my arm down on the tiny little armrest in the middle between the 2 front seats and it wasn't comfortable at all compared to the S63's wide armrest which I love. I thought the interior looked kind of chintzy compared to my "S" but I drove it for a few miles to see how it drove. Maybe I'd change my mind after driving it. I did like the way it looked and loved the wheels. It was my dream car till I found "S" 8 months ago.
Of course it was fast as heck, handled MUCH better than my "S", but that right armrest was a drag (too thin) and the back seat room wasn't great for my guests. It drove... like a 911! A bat out of hell. I already have a 911. I missed my "S" so I quickly drove it back to the dealer, though still unsure of what to do.
I had a few people from the dealer that work in the loaner car area sit in both, front and back seats, and asked for their opinions. Each one said that it would be foolish for me to spend more on this E63 when I have this beautiful, big "S". They much preferred my current car.
Decision made. I'll just keep fixing my car, whether it's a lemon or not. Also, the E had some rattles which drove me crazy in the few minutes I drove it. The "S" is silent and felt like a million bucks.
Maybe, in 4-6 years I'll trade out of this for a 2014 (current model) S63 when they're less than 1/2 the price they are now, but for now, I'm keeping this beauty.
Have any of you dealt with significant car repairs in the past and then thought - lets see what else is out there? But after you looked around, you realized the grass isn't always greener?
Steve
So I've had my first Mercedes, this 08 S63 for 8 months now and it's cost $11k in repairs so far. Latest repair was the transmission "plate"? - car wouldn't go forwards or backyards anymore after stopping unless I shut the car off and restarted it - $1400, covered under the Continental extended warranty I bought.
Also on that same visit last week was the $670 to repair the things in the bumper that told me I was too close to another car - it would beep even if I wasn't that close at all to other cars (the dealer said that someone may have bumped my car in the parking lot somewhere causing this to not work right anymore ?!?. This wasn't covered under the Continental warranty but they were nice and covered it anyway since I'm friends with the used car manager and he felt bad about all the repairs I've had in such a short time.
Also there was the $950 repair last week for the front seat. The bladders randomly open up when they're not supposed to. I always set everything to zero in terms of settings. The memory on the car is the same for #1, 2 and 3... everything should be a ZERO setting but as I'm driving or when I get back into it after it's been parked, the lumbar support randomly goes to 3 or 5 or whatever it feels like.
The manager said another car there had the same problem even after they "fixed it" with this $950 repair. Mine's still doing the same even though it was the 2nd time I brought it in for this. I just go into the settings while driving and change all of them back to zero. It's a shame that they can't fix this one. They say they can't reproduce it while road-testing it though as soon as I picked up the car it did it again.
So... the manager said - "Steve, we could trade you out of your car. It seems to continuously have problems and we feel bad about that. It would have to be a more expensive car than what you paid for your current one and you won't recoup any money from the $5600 warranty you bought since we've covered so many repairs". Really? That kind of stinks....
I asked him - "but what car could I possibly get"? I didn't want to spend one penny more than what I had already paid 8 months ago but was vaguely open to it if the right car came along ... I was open to seeing what he'd say. He said - "what about a 2010 E63? Handles much better than your car and is a fantastic machine. You don't have kids or a wife, why do you need such a big car?" Or the conversation went something like that at least...
I researched the 2010 E63's, and wasn't too keen on the angular looks in the rear or the front. Didn't love the way the lights were on them in the rear, either. Actually I preferred the older ones. He called 2 days later and said that amazingly enough, a 2009 E63 in the only color I'd want had just been traded in by a fanatical owner. It had 19K miles, every option, silver with black and was perfect.
It certainly wasn't the 2010 or later car he'd mentioned but I dutifully went down there and checked it out. I was there anyway to pick up my car that was finally done. I parked them side to side to really give me an idea of what they'd look as a comparison.
I checked out the back seat first. REALLY small compared to the "S". I put my arm down on the tiny little armrest in the middle between the 2 front seats and it wasn't comfortable at all compared to the S63's wide armrest which I love. I thought the interior looked kind of chintzy compared to my "S" but I drove it for a few miles to see how it drove. Maybe I'd change my mind after driving it. I did like the way it looked and loved the wheels. It was my dream car till I found "S" 8 months ago.
Of course it was fast as heck, handled MUCH better than my "S", but that right armrest was a drag (too thin) and the back seat room wasn't great for my guests. It drove... like a 911! A bat out of hell. I already have a 911. I missed my "S" so I quickly drove it back to the dealer, though still unsure of what to do.
I had a few people from the dealer that work in the loaner car area sit in both, front and back seats, and asked for their opinions. Each one said that it would be foolish for me to spend more on this E63 when I have this beautiful, big "S". They much preferred my current car.
Decision made. I'll just keep fixing my car, whether it's a lemon or not. Also, the E had some rattles which drove me crazy in the few minutes I drove it. The "S" is silent and felt like a million bucks.
Maybe, in 4-6 years I'll trade out of this for a 2014 (current model) S63 when they're less than 1/2 the price they are now, but for now, I'm keeping this beauty.
Have any of you dealt with significant car repairs in the past and then thought - lets see what else is out there? But after you looked around, you realized the grass isn't always greener?
Steve
Last edited by stever500; Nov 17, 2013 at 09:42 PM.
