New C Class faults and failures

[Fergie]

Hi fellow owners,

I have a C200k W204 May 2009 build, I would like to know if anybody else has experienced these problems or have had similar ones. The car is a WDD vin, so built in Germany.

The car has several issues, rattles, wrong rego plates fitted, wheels going out of balance, etc, but I am more interested in the major problems. The dealer has fixed the car under warranty. I am trying to workout whether these are common problems or just this car and how many more can I expect.

The List,
1st major problem, at about 15,000km the drive shaft nut had fallen off leaving the rear wheel wobbling all over the place. Took 3 days to fix. (& yes, drive shaft nut, not wheel nut).
2nd  The front passenger strut was replaced at 20,500km.
3rd  Two months later the other front strut replaced.
Next, the internal drivers door handle broke, hence cannot open the door from inside.
Also over the last few months I had been discussing with the dealer that grating noises were coming from the steering, now the dealer believe the wrong bushes were fitted at manufacture. Work in progress.
The front tyres lasted about 20,000kms.

All this in 13 months!!!! 
Before you ask, the car is NOT raced or driven hard, most km’s are on toll roads outside peak hour.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Regards,

Fergie

[Mathew]

Fergie this is most unusual for a W204 these cars have received favourable reviews as they have proven to be the most reliable car on the road in Germany. My mother has a C200 2009 model and it's clocked up 35,000km without a single glitch. Having driven in and ridden in the back I haven't experienced any of the issues you list below. Hers is free from any rattles and anyone that has ridden in it remarks on how well screwed to gether it is.

1- This is the first I have read anywhere of this happening to any new Mercedes regardless of model.

2&3- Struts should do about 100,000km even under hard conditions I've never heard of just getting 20K out of one.

- Tyres lasting 20k seems pretty poor, but if the struts were unserviceable well they can indeed wear that fast on any car.

-Wrong bushes fitted at manufacture sounds like a pretty long shot to me I highly doubt that would be the case (although you can never rule anything out I guess) sounds more like the mechanic is perhaps a little lost with what it actually maybe.

Like I said Fergie these cars have an excellent reputation and for good reason they have had the lowest rate of warranty claims since the W124 E-Class from the mid eighties, on the whole they have proven to be excellent, clearly yours has issues none of which i would expect on a car so young.

In fact a couple of things you have mentioned raises the question have you just got that one in a million lemon or was this car accident damaged before you got it perhaps. Rattles, collapsed struts and noise in the steering along with a nut letting go on the driveshaft suggests a possible frontal impact.

All the faults you have listed are not known on the W204 so there is something a miss certainly. You could try changing dealer to see if they have more luck trouble shooting additionally you could drive another W204 and compare it to yours to see how yours measures up. W204 interiors are well screwed together and don't rattle certainly not at this tender age.

Cheers Mat

[John Skene]

It may pay to write to Mercedes Benz Australia Fergie, listing your problems with the car and ask that one of their experts to check it out for you.

[nytelfer]

Fergie,

I would also be questioning if your car was involved in some sort of an "incident" before you took delivery that required repairs to the front suspension (you do not say if you purchased new?). I have found the W204 to be a major improvement in quality - mine is a 08/2008 build C320cd that has now travelled circa 35,000k - it has not been babied but used daily for a CBD commute and running kids around on the w/e. I did have a problem with a squeaky driver's seat that (frustratingly) required 3 or 4 visits to the dealer before they finally replaced the seat base but otherwise it has been defect & rattle free and still on the original tyres (I expect a replacement set will be needed at around 40,000km). It appears to be ageing very well both inside and outside and mechanically remains very tight in the driveline / suspension - the other notable point has been the complete lack of electrical issues which is in contrast to a couple of MBs I have owned (W202 & W163).

[Fergie]

Hi Guys, thanks for the feedback. I purchased the car brand new while still on the boat coming over. No sign of incident, only way to tell IMO is over spray, none seen, paint finish consistant, have painted cars so know what to look for. This car has been babied, which is why I don't understand why this is happening. When the struts started to go they deteriorated quickly, you could hear then clunking. The brushes had the incorrect markings on them, they are confident it will fix the problem.

The dealer has been good, they know me well now, it my 2nd home, lucky they have good coffee. They tell me these problems are really unusual, but I need to check everything I can.
I have approached Benz Australia, they sent an expert to look over the car. He would not commit to anything in relation to future problems. I will say it is a work in progress .

Hi Nitelfer, I know what you mean, I had W163 ML430, 195,000km, sold that to buy this because I had to repair the ML very 6 months! Ironic isn't it, now car needs repair every 6 weeks! Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire!

I still have a W124, '88, 300CE, love this car and definately not babied, fantastic build quality, no issues for a long time! So I scratch my head more! 

[Inspector]

I'd be asking them to replace the car with a new one. I think it is only fair, to be absolutely honest.

[Fergie]

I did asked Mercedes Benz Australia to take the car back after the inspection, their specialist said "they do not take cars back on principle". I don't think this is fair either. I have owned (or company car), 7 Toyota's, 3 Honda's, 1 Mitashity, 1 MG, 4 Commodores, and the last 3 being Benzs. More cars than the average, I do appreciate the difference. Other than the Benzs, I really liked 2 Toyota's and the MG was absolutely fantastic ('68 MGB with over drive), all the others did little for me, just a car, now I would classify myself as a Benz for life person, but due to MB support I am now questioning this.

[Inspector]

This is precisely where MB go wrong. If this is all true (I have no reason to significantly doubt), here is a case of a shocking, if not a dangerous unit from what is supposed to be the worlds best car manufacturer. Those little C class models are great little cars and it looks like you have ended up with an absolute lemon, a one off lame duck, and MB are adamant you have to put up with it as part of the total MB experience! Silly, if not stupid policy IMHO.

There are people on the UK Forums who have had equally disappointing cars and have had them replaced with a new car free of charge.  Surely common sense would prevail here and the powers that be would do the right thing by their customer - yes??

[StarMan]

My wife saw someone at the dealership once touting that they thought their w202 was a "lemon". Surprised the heck out of me as mine was built like a tank and ran like a train. I really feel for Fergie though.

[Fergie]

UPDATE, I have sold to car back to the dealer (at 13 months old), it has cost me money, plus since my last post there is a new rattle in the dash and I think one of the rear shocks is starting to go as well.  I have about 45 years of motoring left and as they say, once bitten twice shy!
Do you think MB stand by their product, I don't.   If I thought they did I would of hung out in the hope they would replace it.

After purchase, I can count that I have been to the dealer 21 times in 13 months!