Garage having problems fixing car - suggestions please?

batman2000

guy999 wrote: »

Hi
My wife has the same car but an A160 purchased new in 2005, apart from problem with the windscreen wiper stalk (which is a common problem) has been faultless. Car drives well and space internally is great for its size.
Will check the vents on her car car later, just in case.
Have seen same car with 150k plus miles, probably higher for sale on autotrader.
Agree have heard that starter motor will be a big cost due to engine will need to be dropped to be replaced.
Personally would only take to a local garage now, not MB.

People I know at work, would just call the AA/RAC out straightaway if car wouldn't start, cheap diagnosis, considering some don't even service regularly let alone check tyre pressures.

Have to say that I have LOVED driving this car, it suits our purpose very well. It's compact on the outside but with plenty of room on the inside, and the higher-than-usual seating position is brilliant.

Overall, we've been happy with it, but I added up all the repair/service costs and for us it's been expensive, about £700 per year over the last 7 years (we bought it used). Probably that's due to us taking it to the dealership, but even so... there's been a steady accumulation of faults. Disappointing for a car that's low mileage for it's age.

We did try to get the AA out a couple of weeks ago, but it was going to take hours and we only in the car park of the local supermarket (walking distance!). Kind of wish we'd done that now...

BTW, the garage never called back today.

EdGasket

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

Are aged Mercs good candidates for bangernomics?

Yes my W202 is brilliant; does a huge mileage with little on repairs (ball joints, crank sensor and flex disc) and only cost me £750 5 years ago and came with 3 keys (they cost £255 each if you need one!). Avoid the W203 series like the plague though; they really went downhill after the W202.

takman

batman2000 wrote: »

Have to say that I have LOVED driving this car, it suits our purpose very well. It's compact on the outside but with plenty of room on the inside, and the higher-than-usual seating position is brilliant.

Overall, we've been happy with it, but I added up all the repair/service costs and for us it's been expensive, about £700 per year over the last 7 years (we bought it used). Probably that's due to us taking it to the dealership, but even so... there's been a steady accumulation of faults. Disappointing for a car that's low mileage for it's age.

We did try to get the AA out a couple of weeks ago, but it was going to take hours and we only in the car park of the local supermarket (walking distance!). Kind of wish we'd done that now...

BTW, the garage never called back today.

Low milage isn't always a good thing especially when it's very low!. Your car has done on average 4545 miles a year. So that points to lots of short journeys which are not very good for a car at all.

batman2000

takman wrote: »

Low milage isn't always a good thing especially when it's very low!. Your car has done on average 4545 miles a year. So that points to lots of short journeys which are not very good for a car at all.

In our defence... we did most of the mileage, in the 7 years we've had it, but I do take your point

So, the car is having a new starter motor fitted, and the engine has been dropped to do so. No price agreed as yet - the garage keeps saying that we'll 'come to some agreement'. Hopefully we'll hear from them this afternoon.

DoaM

batman2000 wrote: »

No price agreed as yet - the garage keeps saying that we'll 'come to some agreement'.

Oh dear ... have you seriously still not learned your lesson yet?

batman2000

DoaM wrote: »

Oh dear ... have you seriously still not learned your lesson yet?

We really tried... rang numerous times and pestered...

As it turns out, Mercedes have said today that they will cover all labour costs if we pay for the starter motor, for which they've quoted £200 (seems expensive? might be the model?). We collect the car in an hour or so.

EdGasket

That's pretty good of them. Sounds about the right price for a genuine starter.

batman2000

EdGasket wrote: »

That's pretty good of them. Sounds about the right price for a genuine starter.

Thanks. I'm feeling optimistic at the moment . Fingers crossed it does the job!

(And yes, I think Mercedes have been very reasonable with us)

guy999

Good to hear you got it sorted finally for a reasonable price.
Fingers crossed going forward.

gabitzul

Result. Just looked it up and it seems to be 4 hours labour to replace it, as the back of the engine and the subframe have to be dropped out. Ouch.

Thought that the "sandwhich" layout regarding the packaging onf the enfine only applies to the 1st gen A Klasse (W168), but it seems to apply to the 2nd one as well (W169). Oh well.