Help/insight friends Mercedes
 

Long story short, anyone know how TSB’s work on used cars? My friend and colleague bought a 2012 C250 in 2016 in Atlanta. It’s out of warranty by year not mileage and her car is dead. Won’t start. Electrical. Some things get juice others don’t. She got it towed to a “friends” garage and was quoted close to $3k to fix it. I found a dozen TSB’s relevant to the issue. Do you think it’s plausible to get it to a Mercedes dealer and they will fix it under a TSB process? I know on new cars they will. Also I’m in Fl and she’s in GA. Thank you.

A TSB is a Technical Service bulletin used to help Technicians fix cars basically. It should not be looked at as a Recall bulletin. So no, just because a car has a TSB on it doesn't mean that issue is covered. Sorry about her luck. Mercedes and BMW's are expensive to fix out of warranty. That's why people dump them right before the warranty is up.

Yea that’s what I figured too. Though at this point it might be worth getting it to a dealer for an chance. Don’t see how it could be worse. Thanks man.

Mercedes already told you this in their slogan: It is the best (when it is under warranty) or (worth) nothing (when you start paying for repairs).

Ain’t that the truth. Told her the only Mercedes I’d ever buy has an AMG in it, and I could afford that I wouldn’t worry too much about repairs.

It will only cost you a few phone calls. Call a dealer, give them the TSB and vehicle info, and see if they will cover it. If the first dealer says no, call another. The worst they can do is laugh.

Edit: Even if Mercedes won't cover the cost, the dealer may do it free in hopes of getting owner's future business. They'll never say yes if you don't ask.

Exactly. Thanks man.

The other thing is, the TSB's might mean the problem is easier and cheaper to diagnose for the dealership - as opposed to the independent "garage" which might be re-inventing the wheel in terms of diagnosis, or perhaps even barking up the wrong tree altogether.

Sometimes, I've found that it is better to pay dealership shop rates for the experience, than to let someone else work on the car. Especially true these days, with modern vehicles being so computer-controlled. Not like in the old days, when it was either fuel or spark...

Very true. I relayed that info as well to her. Thank you.

Just saying...love my Genesis. 100 freaking thousand mile warranty and it’s been bulletproof 40k miles in. And worst case...it’s a Hyundai...who gives a rats ***? Lol

My wife loved her old Pony. Tried to kill that thing 6 ways to Sunday, and it just wouldn't die. And they've come a long way from those days.

Many people don't give the Korean twins the credit they deserve. They've followed pretty much in Honda/Toyota/Datsun's footsteps, and are now where their Japanese cousins were, only +/-30 years behind. Nobody took the Japanese invasion seriously in the 70's either. Then one day we all blinked and OMG they were outselling Detroit and Europe with good, inexpensive cars that lasted forever.

So she’s getting Das Benze ze towed to ze fuhror!! They said they will do it on a case by case basis if they have ze time. She’s blond and has blue eyes and will goose step into the dealership if need be.

Oh and thanks for the insight gents, always an *** act. I mean class. Thanks. ��

Now you see why a Benz gets dumped right after the warranty is over. Used lots are littered with all kinds of them even AMG versions, since they crap out pretty fast when the warranty is over. It's usually some off electrical or sensor problem, a small part but the diagnostic cost is really high. Leveling sensors, crank sensors, wheel speed sensors, suspension air pumps, bad transmissions..and more. As for her, better find an Indy shop as a dealer is going to rake her over the coals, and unless she bought from them before...as in new cars.....i doubt they will do a goodwill repair. They could care less about loyalty and fixing an older car with problems. Fix it, then dump it. I admit I've been tempted by things on BAT or Barnfinds, all kinds of cool AMG things, S600, S class, and more....then I come to my senses.

Update. She took it to local Benze dealer and charged her $167 out $2234. $167 compared to $3k from indenpendet garage. Even though out of warranty. Thanks gents.