I am in disbelief at the high number of little gremlins that MB has allowed to exist in a $80k+ car. The radio issues, phone issues, chirping issues, pulling to the right issues etc....

This is an unacceptable lack of quality for a marque like MB. I expect better from them and you should too. I think MB has left much to be desired in their level of quality.

The W211 doesn't seem to be any better than the new 5 series BMW in regards to quality and reliability.

 

Read my comments from a recent German article; it's in the MB World General Forum titled MB rates #31 out of 32.
So sad but true

 

its bad but what else is there to drive out there? For me its either Mercedes or BMW. Atleast with mercedes they have the design right. New BMWs looks nasty AND it is Unreliable (look at the countless i-drive problems on bmw boards). And Lexus... I hope you saw the new GS. I will stop here. So whats left infiniti? Honda? Please.

 

The point is, for MB to get the quality back up to the top 5; not what other brands of cars to drive, but if they don't soon, quite a few might just drive something else.

 

The only 'gremlins' that I've experienced was a loose '5' badging on my trunk. Wife's been slammin' that thing down too hard after shopping every day.

 

MB is coming back in QC....just slowly. From every article about the SLK that I've read, their new model seems like they've done right for a change.

Editors have cited the higher quality materials in the cabin, solid construction, nothing broke or didn't work when they tested the vehicles, new engine drives like a charm, even MB got the 6-speed manual right (short, quick shifts unlike previous manual gear boxes where it was sloppy).

The editors also noted that in comparison with previous SLK generation, this one is much more solid and much better quality, what a MB should feel like. I think MB has listened to all the complaints and is working on it to get back up to standards like they use to be.

If they (MB) can get this kind of QC into the following line-up's after the SLK, then they'll start climbing back up the charts.

 

I have only experienced Ccommand problems and even then nothing I couldn't live with. The issues would have to be serious for me to ever give up the enjoyment of the E55 for the reliability of say an Accord. I think truth be known a car company chooses what they put their research into. With Honda an Toyota it's well optioned cars that don't break. With BMW and Mercedes it's speed and handling and the latest bells and whistles. Why reliability can't be part of the equation is beyond me, but it obviously isn't. And if we're suckers for what they put out, there's no motivation to change.

 

I would think the 2nd year W211 will still be easier to live with than the 1st year E60.

Friend just picked up a 545i and reported squeaks on all 4 windows. Noise only goes away when window is lowered.

And while the DVD navigation is ready, no disk from BMW yet.

I have readjusted my expectation, the more money you spend on a car, more toys and hence the more issues you will have with it.

The key is, can problem be promptly debugged if reported? It appears that a good dealership is most important.

My wife's Audi had this annoying rattle on the A pillar when under hard acceleration. The local dealer spent more than 5 times over a period of 8 months to try to fix it. No luck but when the master technician from Audi North America flew in and looked at it, problem resolved in one day.

 

hey guys,

i read with interest as many posts as i can about MB
quality issues. it seems to me just from my own
unscientific view point that MB is getting better
with each new model introduction. the ML really
gave MB a kick in the nuts when it was first introduced.
even the ML they have been able to bring the quality
up a few notches.
my soon to be wife drives my 02 ML500 every day.
i don't think there is a pot hole in all of northeastern
pennsylvania she hasn't found and explored:p the ML
is still very solid and runs great.
i personally feel that Lexus will most likely always be
the top trouble free brand. that's their niche. selling
cars to people who feel they need to have the most
trouble free appliance. people who live and die with
every issue of consumer reports.
when it comes to MB they may never be numer uno in
the anti gremlin department but....you get so much
more in an a MB(variety, safety, power, technology, styling) that in the end you are ahead of the competition.

 

I have to agree that MB is starting the climb UP the QC ladder IMHO. After having bought 34 new vehicles over the years (NOT all MBs), I have only 1 hard and fast rule: I don't buy the first year's model of ANYTHING. I ain't no beta tester. My wife's SLK was the 5th model year, my Z06; the 6th year of the C5. When I wanted an E55, I wanted either an '01 or '02. This would get me into the most evolved of the NA E55s that were hand built by AMG in Affalterbach(sp). Nav works, voice rec. phone works, tracks like it's on rails, 275 rear tires, great brakes, spare tire/wheel, xenons, love the steering wheel and instruments, lighter GVW, and fast enough to lose my license & insurance any day! Paid $28K below MSRP and have 100K Starmark warranty until 2008. I'll get one of the last years of the SC E55s in '07. I'm looking forward to MBs continued improvement. - AC556F

•'01 E55 •'01 SLK 320 6MT

 

ac556f,

can't argue at all with your buying strategy.
especially the part of not buying the first year
of a new product. i'm the same way...let someone
else be the tester.

 

It's hard to say, I bought one of the first R230 SL500s in town, lived with a couple of initial quality problems, 16 months and 6,000 miles later, traded back to the dealer and lost less than $2k.

 

Now thats what I'm talking about. Sometimes when I read all these posts about quality control I just sit and wonder...is it just me that doesn't have a "real" problem with my MB's? Sure I have small problems, but so did my 1989 mercury sable I had in college. I would rather be driving my mercedes than that old beater.

 

I feel the same way. We haven't had much problems at all, nothing major. Just the ML and it's quirks of plastic stuff breaking, but that's it. And my w202, things wearing out from age, but that's expected for a 10 yr old car, right?

 

My CLK55 has been flawless except for me breaking my MAS.

I heard the 208 was built in a different location than the other MB's. Maybe that has something to do with it.

I will tell you one thing though. My friend sells BMW's and he told me to stay away for a year or so...

 

yeah, apparently the new 5 series have been plauged with electonic issues?

 

We can find out easily enough if the E55 has improved by surveying people on this Board -- those who have 03's vs. those with 04's

I have tried to post such surveys but hte response was low. I am guessing my wording was possibly no good. May be someone else can post a survey and make it sticky.