Really annoyed!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 95
Likes: 15
From: Hamilton, New Zealand
2003 E500, 2010 C300
Really annoyed!
I bought, about a year ago, my E55.
Now this car was imported into New Zealand as a used car, and had under go a certification check to ensure it met with our current requirements to be driven on our roads here.
This car obviously passed, as I was driving it, not long after it landed here in the country.
I took the car in today for its yearly Warrant of Fitness check. Decided to take it to our local Mercedes dealer, rather than the garage I normally use.
It duly failed on one park light bulb not going and the other one strobing ( I had replaced the bulbs with led ones). No problem easy fix for me.
The issue ended up being that my rear side windows and back window have apparently had a tint put on them, to make it like privacy glass.
The Mercedes dealership said that there was nothing on there to state that it met our regulations for tinting levels (35% max).
My argument was, that as the car was certified in its current state, by the governing body, what is the problem.
This has created a lot of to and fro-ing for me to resolve this issue.
Even the car dealer I bought the car from was astounded, but then told me that they have had a few customers contact them with the same issue with some cars they bought from them.
My car dealer is getting back to me on Wednesday, with hopefully an answer to the problem
I know that if the tinting (which was done in Japan) has to come off, it will be at the Certifying company’s expense not mine, and if they manage to damage the heated rear window elements, I will be demanding a replacement rear window!
Time will tell what happens.
Graeme
Now this car was imported into New Zealand as a used car, and had under go a certification check to ensure it met with our current requirements to be driven on our roads here.
This car obviously passed, as I was driving it, not long after it landed here in the country.
I took the car in today for its yearly Warrant of Fitness check. Decided to take it to our local Mercedes dealer, rather than the garage I normally use.
It duly failed on one park light bulb not going and the other one strobing ( I had replaced the bulbs with led ones). No problem easy fix for me.
The issue ended up being that my rear side windows and back window have apparently had a tint put on them, to make it like privacy glass.
The Mercedes dealership said that there was nothing on there to state that it met our regulations for tinting levels (35% max).
My argument was, that as the car was certified in its current state, by the governing body, what is the problem.
This has created a lot of to and fro-ing for me to resolve this issue.
Even the car dealer I bought the car from was astounded, but then told me that they have had a few customers contact them with the same issue with some cars they bought from them.
My car dealer is getting back to me on Wednesday, with hopefully an answer to the problem
I know that if the tinting (which was done in Japan) has to come off, it will be at the Certifying company’s expense not mine, and if they manage to damage the heated rear window elements, I will be demanding a replacement rear window!
Time will tell what happens.
Graeme
Last edited by Kiwibenz; Nov 26, 2018 at 03:19 AM. Reason: typo
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 860
Likes: 80
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
CLS55
Its the car dealership who imported the vehicle and sold it to you who will be liable to you. Mention the consumer guarantees act stating that the car has to be sold fit for purpose and having illegal tint on it is not fit for purpose.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 358
15 S550 4Matic, 86 560SL
Sorry to hear about this mess. The good news is that removing window tint is not a very costly / difficult endeavor, and defroster lines are rarely harmed in the process (must more likely from non-computer cut installation).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 288
From: New Zealand
I presume this has to be an aftermarket tint? My JDM has had a warrant or two through inghams without issue. Yep I would say the importer/original dealer should be fixing it somehow. Every car I have had tint removed from has destroyed the rear window heater.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
Paid a guy $100 to remove the tint from all 10 windows in mine, everything turned out fine.
still so strange to me that this is even an issue you have to worry about
still so strange to me that this is even an issue you have to worry about
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 288
From: New Zealand
