SLK-Class (R171) 2004-2010: SLK200K, SLK280, SLK350, SLK55, SLK55 Black Series

SLK/R171: my butt were forzen

Old Nov 18, 2007 | 07:40 PM
  #1  
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From: Cromwell, CT
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my butt were forzen

It's getting old in north east. I have tired my best to enjoy every single mins before they sand the road. Guess what? The heating seat at the driver side decided not to warm my butt anymore. OK, Fine !! It's covered under the warranty. So, I took to the dealer. This is the dealer told me.. the seat has been back order, so we would have to order from German. We should get it in 3 weeks. 3 weeks doesn't sound that bad, but 3 weeks is also long enough for snow to come down.

Here comes the reliability issue again !
MB's reliabilities have been known to be lower than average those years. They makes good cars, but it does make more non-scheduled dealer visit. My family owns several MB in the past. We never has those kind of experience before. Is this model specific or it's the way it's for Benze?

I don't usually complain about suff. However, when my butt are cold, I gotta moving the other end to keep my body warm.
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Old Nov 18, 2007 | 08:13 PM
  #2  
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That is the funniest thread I have ever read. For the record, my heated seats still work. You could always trade in for a BMW Just kidding Lucky6600.
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Old Nov 18, 2007 | 09:28 PM
  #3  
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SLK55///AMG The MONSTER on the block
Give your dealer the opportunity to fix it. It's a shame the part is a three week back order. Hopefully this is an isolated incident with your car and the back ordered part.
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Old Nov 20, 2007 | 06:35 PM
  #4  
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I guess the snow we got this morning didn't make you feel any better.

I also agree with you that Mercedes are great cars but require more than a normal number of trips to the dealer for repairs. Too bad that they have let quality slipp to the point where it starts to affect resale values.

Unfortunately they have been promising to improve quality for quite a few years now but have not been able to consistently deliver.

Let us know when you get the car fixed and how helpful the dealer was.
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Old Nov 21, 2007 | 06:29 PM
  #5  
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05 SLK 350, 97 S420, 92 Jeep, 04 Kia, 28 Ford Tudor, 51 Ford F3, 01 Harley, 03 Harley
Uh, I won't even say how cold it is here.... but the A/C works well :-)
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Old Nov 21, 2007 | 08:50 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by RoadkingHI
Uh, I won't even say how cold it is here.... but the A/C works well :-)
Nice!, I'm sure Lucky6600 will be happy to hear your A/C works. I wish I was in Hawaii. Any pics of the 51' F3?. Stay cool.
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Old Nov 23, 2007 | 10:03 PM
  #7  
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Well ... here is the update for the "service".
I got a phone call from the client advisor this Monday. He told me the parts are arrived and we could set up a time for the repair. So, I told him that I could drop off my car on Tuesday morning and pick up in the evening. He checked the work load and told me "it should work", but he won't be able to give me a lonar car due to the holiday and stuff. I said it's fine I would have someone goes with me. Guess what, it was snow on Tuesday morning. I checked my schedule. Well, there is no other day that I would be able to do it. So, I decided I am still going to do it. let me tell you, that was no fun at all by driving a rear wheel drive with a set of summer tire on a ICE/SNOW rain. Whenever I paddle the gas, the traction control kicked in. whenever I stepped on the break, ABS kicked in. Well, it's nice that you know the car's safty function is working.
Finally, after very light feet on the highway to the dealer, I gave them the car, drop off the car, and have my Gf picked me up.
Aroud 2 pm, he called me and told me that the parts that they order were enough. They needed to order 2 more set of the parts (or maybe the wrong parts, who knows). The new parts should be there on Wednesday. I said "fine, just fix it and I would pick it up on Friday".
Here comes the best part, at ~5 pm on Wednesday, they called me again and told me that the parts have to be special order "again" and it's in back order or stuff. It might take up to 1~2 weeks. He felt very sorry and well have the driver drop off my car.
So, they dropped off my car at my place today... and again!

MY BUTT are STILL FROZEN
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Old Nov 23, 2007 | 10:04 PM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by wheld280
I guess the snow we got this morning didn't make you feel any better.

I also agree with you that Mercedes are great cars but require more than a normal number of trips to the dealer for repairs. Too bad that they have let quality slipp to the point where it starts to affect resale values.

Unfortunately they have been promising to improve quality for quite a few years now but have not been able to consistently deliver.

Let us know when you get the car fixed and how helpful the dealer was.

I took your advice and I am using the MB at North Haven this tiime.
I hope it's not the last time as well.
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Old Nov 28, 2007 | 06:37 AM
  #9  
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I wonder why dealers seem to order the wrong parts so often. Just downright dumb...

My seats are still ok after 3 years.
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Old Dec 3, 2007 | 03:50 PM
  #10  
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[QUOTE=Shinigami;2525325]I wonder why dealers seem to order the wrong parts so often. Just downright dumb...

QUOTE]

I agree and Mercedes has one of the best part manual (computerized) in the world for car parts. They even have pictures! So why the mix up?
Poor dealers who are run by and supervised by a bunch car salesmen...!!! So my theory is you take the dumbest and put them in charge and the poor smart guys don't have a chance and the system will not get better.
I know of very few dealers of any make that have had good repair departments... sad.
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Old Dec 3, 2007 | 04:32 PM
  #11  
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Hello All !! Here is the update ...
Well.. they called me last week and told me the parts are here. I took my car in this morning and took the loaner car home. The client advisor told me it should be done this afternoon. He is pretty sure that we should be all set this time. I did ask him what's going? He said the parts in manual book don't match the actual seat. Well ????
Anyway, they called me around 1 pm and told me that they need to keep the car one more day. They need one more part which can be ordered from NJ and can be here via tomorrow.
I really can't believe this. It takes most a whole month and 4 dealer visits, and I still don't know I can get my car back tomorrow or not.

I am very dispoinated at this point. This is first time I am using the dealer and it might be the last time as well.
or, I should get a Lexus next time then.
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Old Dec 3, 2007 | 06:41 PM
  #12  
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Sorry to hear about your problems trying to get the seat heater fixed.

You could get a Lexus and you probably woundn't need to go the the dealer as often for repairs and when you did go to the Lexus dealer you probably would get better service.

However after seeing you drive the SLK350, I know you would not be as happy because Lexus doesn't offer a vehicle that compares to yours. You will pay $10K plus for the SC430 and it isn't near as much fun as the SLK350.
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Old Dec 3, 2007 | 08:10 PM
  #13  
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Really sorry to hear about the crap your going through with heated seat Lucky. Don't let the idiots at the dealerships make you look elsewhere for a car. You have a beautiful car and I know how much you love driving it. The trick is going to be finding a reputable dealership, if nothing else a competent one. I hope you get your car back tomorrow.
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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 08:00 PM
  #14  
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Here comes my latest story about my heating seat!
I got a call this noon and told me the car is ready. I went to pick up. First think I noticed is that the whole seat pad is new. On the work sheet, it says 2 heating pads and the seat cushion were replaced. The service person told me that for R171 heating seat. There is no heating pad right under. It has two pads on the side, interesting .. uh...So, it takes a whole month and 4 try to order the heating pad and cushion.
Anyway, it's finally done and guess what?
I filled up the gas on the way home, and dumped a whole bottle stabilizer in it when I got home.
I am done this year !

I think SLK is the class in it's own. There is no other car comes with hard-top conv. with that much eye catching style. I did consider the SC430 before, but I figure people will think that's my dad's car. I think SC430 is coming to the end and I am looking forward for the new one coming up.

Two cars I will consider buying it, new SC430 with hybird engin or RS4 with the diesel V10. However, they don't make those two 'yet"
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Old Dec 4, 2007 | 08:50 PM
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This ads to my theory.... dealers are run by "used car salesmen" and therefore service side traditionally will be poor.
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Old Dec 5, 2007 | 05:41 PM
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Two cars I will consider buying it, new SC430 with hybird engin or RS4 with the diesel V10. However, they don't make those two 'yet"[/QUOTE]

I thought you were deciding between a 355 and a 360? Maybe get two of the four on your list.
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Old Dec 5, 2007 | 10:06 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by lucky6600
I filled up the gas on the way home, and dumped a whole bottle stabilizer in it when I got home.
I am done this year !
"
seat heaters and airscarf means driving all year...come on out and play some more
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Old Dec 5, 2007 | 10:36 PM
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Is the condensation really that bad if I only leave 1/4 full? then I can fill up with fresh gas when I use it again in the spring.
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Old Dec 5, 2007 | 11:19 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by toySLK
Is the condensation really that bad if I only leave 1/4 full? then I can fill up with fresh gas when I use it again in the spring.

A bollte of stabilizer is ~$4. I am not taking any chances. I have done that with my motorcycles and they turned out pretty good.
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Old Dec 5, 2007 | 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by SLK_Roy
seat heaters and airscarf means driving all year...come on out and play some more

Right after you! when ?
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Old Dec 7, 2007 | 04:57 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by lucky6600
Right after you! when ?

Until it started snowing, I was planning on tomorrow...now I might have to wait another few days. I will give you a call
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Old Dec 7, 2007 | 08:41 PM
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SLK_Roy, when the weather gets better, how about sharing a few photos of your car with us? An Everest Green SLK is very rare and quite interesting.
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Old Dec 8, 2007 | 11:26 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by Duo-Art
SLK_Roy, when the weather gets better, how about sharing a few photos of your car with us? An Everest Green SLK is very rare and quite interesting.
Happy to share a few..
Attached Thumbnails my butt were forzen-dscf0001.jpg   my butt were forzen-dscf0003.jpg   my butt were forzen-dscf0004.jpg   my butt were forzen-dscf0231.jpg   my butt were forzen-dscf0239.jpg  

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Old Dec 9, 2007 | 08:38 PM
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SLK Roy, thanks for the photos. I sure do like the SLK in green.
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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 05:05 PM
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The green is interesting, reminds me of the boston green from the bmw, which looks much better in person then pics.
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