OOOPS! We Were Wrong! Mercedes Is A Solid As A Rock!

My guess is that warranty costs are taking a big impact. All those problematic 1st gen, 2003-2005, E-Classes are still under warranty and the trouble-plagued 2nd gen, 2004-2006 S-Classes, are also still under warranty.

In the US, they'll also still be paying for the "free scheduled maintenance" on cars prior to it being discontinued in 2006. Anybody know if MB offered the same warranty/free service in the rest of world?

Anybody own a new MB? If so, how's the quality?
My 2001 S430 still runs like a champ but I think the 2003-2006 period was especially bad.

Any thoughts?

I have a 2006 Mercedes S550 and I've had no problems with that car at all. I personally know two other people who have the S550 and their ownership experience has equally been very satisfying.

My previous Mercedes' was a 1997 E420 sedan and the only thing wrong with that car has been the electronic window controls on the driver's side. They stopped working one day and upon inspection it turned out that the wiring had somehow "come loose". It was replaced under warranty since this happened early in the cars career and after that I've never had any major problems with the car. The electronics were fine.

My wife drives an Infiniti FX45 and it has been quite problematic, especially with the fuel pump. We're thinking of perhaps getting a new car. She doesn't want an SUV for her next car, thank God.

(Not counting classic models) I have a w209 CLK350 2006 model and so far no problems. I previously had an 05 C230 Kompressor and did not have any problems either.

Before those a '99 C280 (one of the last W202s) and the only problem was a small rubber mount where the muffler goes was making a little noise while the car was in idle (only heard when the car was in park at night and the radio was off)Apart from that I have had a wonderful experience with these cars

My uncle has a 2003 S500 and he did not have any problems after 4 years of ownership. On the other hand, before he got the 2004 model he used to have the 2001 model and it had many issues. I think the reliability of the model improves in its last years because all the problems are fixed by then.

My 2001 S500 was problematic,didn't go back after that experience.
But the new S550 is getting rave reviews from friends that have them. It is a great car!

eliminating two jobs and a fluffy magazine means the organization is in trouble? sounds more like cleaning house.

and since when do we get our business news from 'sports car market magazine.' haven't seen anything about this in the economist, new york times or wsj...

+1 !!! Wasnt it Deiter Zetsche's job to clean house after taking over? Isnt that job still in play?

i doubt wsj would publish 2 jobs lost at mbusa, even if they were top tier managers.

I have a new CLK 550 cabrio and have had the last two gen CLK 320 cabrios and neither car has been problematic. When I first go tmy CLK 550 the radio was bad and the top had to be resealed but since then nothing. The black CLK (2001) I had before it was one of the best cars I ever owned. That car was bought under the free maintainence contract and it showed how great the car really was. The only thing I ever had done was brakes and alignments. That car let me know that I had been taken when I bought my first one in 98. The 98 CLK was in the shop all the time for S service then 3 or 4 months later b service. My 2001 didn't need its first oil change until about 13.000 miles. Just like my new one. This car is at 13,500 miles and the little wrench just lit up saying service in 1500 miles.
I personally think they may be losing money because they discontinued the free maintainence. Because people know that the cars don't have to be in the shop every 3-5000 miles like they used too. So if the cars come in to the shop less they can't charge you 300-500 every few months in service fees.
T

"I personally think they may be losing money because they discontinued the free maintainence. Because people know that the cars don't have to be in the shop every 3-5000 miles like they used too. So if the cars come in to the shop less they can't charge you 300-500 every few months in service fees."

That doesn't make any sense. When maintenance was free the manufacturer was paying the dealer to do the work, so offering free maintenance was COSTING Mercedes money. Now that it's not free anymore the customer pays for it themselves and the dealer still gets their $300-500 but Mercedes isn't out anything. Mercedes should be making MORE money now, especially considering they certainly didn't make the cars any less expensive after dropping the free maintenance.

I have a 2007 E350 with 12,000 miles on it and thus far have had no issues. Mercedes had a poor quality wrap in the past, however the quality has jumped from 25th to 5th in initial quality.

And that's a good sign. It shows that something has been done and things are improving. And these were 2004 cars being surveyed I believe, right?

I always said it will take time for these things to add up and show in quality surveys. Either way I still find the JD Power methods a bit questionable since often the severity of the problems is ignored.

I've had a 03 E320 from new. Apart from a couple (3) software flashes, and 1 recall (for the SBS braking system), and a roller shade replacement (on the Pano roof), the car has been mechanically rock solid. Of course, I did have to change the brakepads, and I'm due for a tyre change before winter.

As far as the Customer Svc goes from MB Canada (specifically Mississauga, Ontario), they have been exceptional, always courteous, never give you the (you're an idiot) look when you ask something.

Overall, I've been really pleased. BTW, I'been reading this forum for a while now, and I must say I enjoy the clashes (friendly debates) between the German car fans and the Lexus boys :-).

We have 2 E320s in the family (2003 and 2004)....they have been SO problematic and Mercedes service is SO arrogant about it that we will NEVER buy a Mercedes again even if they improve in quality becuase their attitude is so unprofessional. I'm not sure Mercedes can ever regain its former glory....it has sacrificed an impeccable reputation that took decades to earn in exchange for higher short term sales numbers. It will hurt them in the long run.

If one car was so problematic, why did you get another?

Well some people are like that, my uncle for example did the same, but the 2nd one was problem free. Hes been buying from mercedes benz from the 80s.

The "attitude" you are referring to has more to do with your certain dealer than Mercedes-Benz itself. I have two M-B dealers in my area- one is okay, and the other is excellent. Unfortunately, the excellent dealer is farther from my home.

Sending magazines to current owners is a costly way to maintain customer loyalty and these magazines usually contain far too many useless articles about safety or the environment or whatever politically correct crap that readers are sick of so they toss it in the garbage after leafing through it to look at pictures. If you are going to send out a magazine, then pack it with useful technical details and future product information and not useless garbage.

For all of you that say you do not have any problems, totally lucky for you as you guys represent 1% of all North American population. I have close friends who are Master Technicians for Mercedes, coming from Toronto Canada, to down south Florida and all they tell me are nightmare problems with their MBs', they say the engine and transmission are bullet proof, but more so electrical problems(sensors, overheating wires that insulation melts due to shortages, and computer failures) and fit and finish issues(rattles & squeeks).

I have a family member who had the 2003 E200 Kompressor with no probs but their firend own keeps stalling. They traded it in for 2006 S280 which runs great. They got the 523 but they said the E200 has better quality. Another relative has the 2000 S500 which is really problematic. The engine keeps breaking down and the rear sensor popped out lol. I was there for the launch of the C-Class and its not bad but kind of expensive. I passed the dealer and the luxury version looks a lot like the S in the front.

*friend's * The car keeps breaking down. And everyone buys Merc. The car that pop into everyones mind is MB when they hear Luxury car

BigShow50

They are not very reliable but why do you think people keep buying them? This only means that many others had no problems with their's.

No M53R, not really they are just blindsided by the badging, c'mon they had at least 100 years of brain washing in the business....by the way...you agree with me on the 100 years plus MB being in the game right?....so why still constant pathetic hiccups from MB?...forget the people. Let's talk about the "car". And it's not about innovative products they create, it's about the exisiting products they have been working on for decades. Like I said I have known people who have been working on MBs' for the longest time. It's not only the success for the company as a whole as to why they have a job, but also they are successfull in warranty issues. These guys feel sorry for the people who actually spend "potentially" hundreds of thousands of dollars just to keep the shop in business and barely drive them as much as they should in a shorter period of time. These are just simple facts, and by the way I have owned MB's for quite sometime and had my fair share of good and bad experiences. The good stay great!!! But the bad can be quite the inconvience with a list longer than the good.

Yes, good point there. But even the rich wannabes that only care about the badge cant afford to repair their cars so often. Except if they are dumb enough to keep getting a car with problems, and some of them are..

to err is human

I love the safety, performance, service and design of MB cars. I hate the reliability I encountered, as do some of my collegues that share my opinion. However, it seems MB is improving realibility to a level that is "acceptable". Notice the 2006/7 ML has the same recall of the 2000 ML even after a complete redesign.

New 2003 E500 repair list with 30k miles;
transmission
xenon light harness
convience computer
sunroof motor (twice)
door rubber molding falling off
trunk failing to "self open"


Used 2000 ML320 (sold @ 60k)
fuel pump
rear control arm
rear brake caliber
ESP sensor
cup holder
sun roof deflector
2x catalytic convertors
loose rear hatch
2x key/remotes
locking computer
steering pump clamp recall



Loaner 2007?? ML350 (16k miles)
unable to adjust right side mirror
sun visor refuses to stay up
steering pump clamp recall



MY MB cars have been the worst reliable and I doubt would purchase again.

Other cars own/ed
maxima, camry, XC90, corolla, civic, 323i,

This looks better than my 1999 honda accord that required the transmission and engine to be replaced.