SL/R230: ABC Out 1 day out of warranty!!!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 250
Likes: 4
From: Orange County, CA
2003 SL500, 74 Harley FL, 08 Yukon Denali
ABC Out 1 day out of warranty!!!!
HAHAHhahahahahaa
All this recent talk about extended warranties and all of my intentions of buying one and my ABC goes out on the 8th, warranty expired on the 7th... NICE!!!
I left the Four Seasons in Aviara (Carlsbad, CA) this afternoon with my girfriend (Little 6 month getaway) and when the valet pulls up the car, I jump in to find the red ABC warning on...
So I drive directly to the local Hoehn MB Dealership and go through all the checking in and the service manager (who was actually very courteous and helpfull) discovers that my factory warranty EXPIRED YESTERDAY!!!!! WOW!
So he told me that he should be able to get it fixed under warranty along with the other items I gave him, but nothing's in stone yet. Waiting to hear back at the moment.
BTW, at the hotel they had about 40 of the new Jaguar coupes... Very nice. The hard tops look little like a Bentley GT along the roof and the convertibles look quite a bit like an Astin Martin. All and all, very nice looking...
OK, back to my issue... With 44k miles on the car I figured I had 5k more miles before I had to worry about this. I drive about 500 miles per month, so needless to say I was a little surprised... They told me that it was delivered to the dealership on 3/7/2002 and that's when the clock starts ticking, not when it's sold... Does that make any sense? Has anyone been told that?
Anyway, wish me luck. He said that if he doesn't call, the management approved the work to be done.. Anyone else have an out or warranty issue resolved or not?
Oh and yes, I will be trying to buy my extended warranty tomorrow.
Wish me luck again.... I *** need it!!! hahahha
All this recent talk about extended warranties and all of my intentions of buying one and my ABC goes out on the 8th, warranty expired on the 7th... NICE!!!
I left the Four Seasons in Aviara (Carlsbad, CA) this afternoon with my girfriend (Little 6 month getaway) and when the valet pulls up the car, I jump in to find the red ABC warning on...
So I drive directly to the local Hoehn MB Dealership and go through all the checking in and the service manager (who was actually very courteous and helpfull) discovers that my factory warranty EXPIRED YESTERDAY!!!!! WOW!
So he told me that he should be able to get it fixed under warranty along with the other items I gave him, but nothing's in stone yet. Waiting to hear back at the moment.
BTW, at the hotel they had about 40 of the new Jaguar coupes... Very nice. The hard tops look little like a Bentley GT along the roof and the convertibles look quite a bit like an Astin Martin. All and all, very nice looking...
OK, back to my issue... With 44k miles on the car I figured I had 5k more miles before I had to worry about this. I drive about 500 miles per month, so needless to say I was a little surprised... They told me that it was delivered to the dealership on 3/7/2002 and that's when the clock starts ticking, not when it's sold... Does that make any sense? Has anyone been told that?
Anyway, wish me luck. He said that if he doesn't call, the management approved the work to be done.. Anyone else have an out or warranty issue resolved or not?
Oh and yes, I will be trying to buy my extended warranty tomorrow.
Wish me luck again.... I *** need it!!! hahahha
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 424
Likes: 1
From: Space Coast, FL
'14 E350, '03 H-D FXDL
Originally Posted by mikeblah
All this recent talk about extended warranties and all of my intentions of buying one and my ABC goes out on the 8th, warranty expired on the 7th... NICE!!! They told me that it was delivered to the dealership on 3/7/2002 and that's when the clock starts ticking, not when it's sold... Does that make any sense? Has anyone been told that?
I take it that you bought the 2003 SL new. I didn't know that 2003 SLs were on the market as early as March of 2002.
It has always been my understanding that the MB 4-yr/50K warranty begins when the car is placed in service with the first owner/leasee. That is, the warranty starts when you, the first owner, take delivery of the car from the dealership -- regardless of when the car was delivered to the dealership by MB. As an example, many moons ago I bought an new '88 420SEL that had been sitting on the dealer's lot for over 6 months, and the warranty began when I bought the car.
Your case also illustrates an important point for all MB owners: Soon after taking delivery of your new car, have your dealer's service department pull up maintenance history record on your car from the MB computer, and verify the in-service date matches the date you bought the car.
Good luck & let's us know how this turn out.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 731
Likes: 23
From: 30-A
2024 AMG G63, 2023 Bentley GTC Speed
Warranty period on MBs start on the IN SERVICE DATE, which is the normally the date you bought it (if new). I would think that most dealerships would honor the warranty in your case as a goodwill gesture. If they refuse, demand to speak to the MB regional service rep. I've had waranty work done on MBs just out of warranty before, it depends on the willingness of the dealership, I guess. Don't let them screw around with you on this.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
1988 560SL (sold); 2001 E430 (sold); 2004 SL500; 2009 CL550
The "in-service" date is when the car is first put in service literally. A friend bought a CLK demo - it's in service/warranty date is when the car began being used, not when he bought it.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 731
Likes: 23
From: 30-A
2024 AMG G63, 2023 Bentley GTC Speed
Originally Posted by Gunther
The "in-service" date is when the car is first put in service literally. A friend bought a CLK demo - it's in service/warranty date is when the car began being used, not when he bought it.
If you purchase a demo.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 250
Likes: 4
From: Orange County, CA
2003 SL500, 74 Harley FL, 08 Yukon Denali
date
ya, i am the second owner and never thought to ask when the original sales date was... I figured it was later in 02, instead it was 3/7/02....
I was a little surprised that it was sold that early in the year, but it was a new model, etc... Not too shocking, just something I didn't think would come up. I usually don't buy used cars and didn't think to ask.
I haven't heard back from the dealership so I'm assuming that they are doing the work. I'll post an update with any interesting news...
I was a little surprised that it was sold that early in the year, but it was a new model, etc... Not too shocking, just something I didn't think would come up. I usually don't buy used cars and didn't think to ask.
I haven't heard back from the dealership so I'm assuming that they are doing the work. I'll post an update with any interesting news...
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 250
Likes: 4
From: Orange County, CA
2003 SL500, 74 Harley FL, 08 Yukon Denali
good news
so i heard from my service advisor, Rick, this afternoon and it looks like they went ahead and took care of everything as if i was under warranty.
he's just waiting for my new keyless go cards that should be in tomorrow and i'm good to go.
i also picked up that millinium platinum warranty from fletcher jones for $4500. it's 4 years from now and up to 100k miles (i have about 45k on the car). transferrable and refundable (pro rata) if i trade it in or wish to cancel coverage. Jay at courtesy couldn't go the 4th year, he was capped at 3 years. something about that last year made me worry. it was an extra $2k for that 4th year, but after just selling (or should i say - giving away) my 2000 S due to having no warranty, i think it will pay for itself a few times over.
anyway, if anyone picks one of these up used, be sure to check that in service date. i feel fortunate they took care of me. probably saved me a couple grand with the ABC issue alone.
Sunyich OUT
he's just waiting for my new keyless go cards that should be in tomorrow and i'm good to go.
i also picked up that millinium platinum warranty from fletcher jones for $4500. it's 4 years from now and up to 100k miles (i have about 45k on the car). transferrable and refundable (pro rata) if i trade it in or wish to cancel coverage. Jay at courtesy couldn't go the 4th year, he was capped at 3 years. something about that last year made me worry. it was an extra $2k for that 4th year, but after just selling (or should i say - giving away) my 2000 S due to having no warranty, i think it will pay for itself a few times over.
anyway, if anyone picks one of these up used, be sure to check that in service date. i feel fortunate they took care of me. probably saved me a couple grand with the ABC issue alone.
Sunyich OUT
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 250
Likes: 4
From: Orange County, CA
2003 SL500, 74 Harley FL, 08 Yukon Denali
actually no.
i picked it up on saturday and the service rep wasn't in. just the receptionist.
when i looked at the work order, it listed that 'the customer claims the ABC warning is on', but that they checked it out and didn't find an issue.
It is definitely fixed. the ride is back to normal. and they fixed everything else i asked them to. but for some reason the ABC didn't need attention.
Maybe it just needed to be reset or something. i have no idea. i can't imagine what the valet would have had to do to trigger something like that.
i picked it up on saturday and the service rep wasn't in. just the receptionist.
when i looked at the work order, it listed that 'the customer claims the ABC warning is on', but that they checked it out and didn't find an issue.
It is definitely fixed. the ride is back to normal. and they fixed everything else i asked them to. but for some reason the ABC didn't need attention.
Maybe it just needed to be reset or something. i have no idea. i can't imagine what the valet would have had to do to trigger something like that.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 14
From: UK
SL55 AMG
Might have been something got damp in the car and caused a temporary brain storm. If your valet man used a jet wash, it's important not to over do it. These things can supply pressure way over what the various seals are intended to handle.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 250
Likes: 4
From: Orange County, CA
2003 SL500, 74 Harley FL, 08 Yukon Denali
update:
a ouple of days ago after quickly starting the car just to check the nav destination and then shutting it off, i restarted the car and the ABC warning was up.
i turned off the car, counted to 10 and restarted it, hasn't come back on since and rides fine.
we'll see what happens next! haha
a ouple of days ago after quickly starting the car just to check the nav destination and then shutting it off, i restarted the car and the ABC warning was up.
i turned off the car, counted to 10 and restarted it, hasn't come back on since and rides fine.
we'll see what happens next! haha
