Who is our resident Mercedes guy?

[Joe Bob]

Having an issue with my blue tech diesel ML350.

[stomachmonkey]

Dennis knows a fair bit.

[Joe Bob]

I HAVE been speaking with Dennis.

BUT

The issue is a part that is non returnable at $500. It is emission related and no one has seen this part fail before. At least here in Bumfuchs Colorado....

[NutmegCarrera]

Dumb question.....
Vehicle is out of emissions warranty? That period is usually longer and mileage is usually higher than the basic warranty.

Again - dumb question, but I have asked a few in my life where the answer was helpful.

[Joe Bob]

Well, gas engines is pretty well defined by the Feds. 100K miles. Diesel is per the manufacturer. MB is telling me 80K and I'm at 86K.

The DEF system is throwing codes and I'm getting a LOT of vague answers after c'mon down, 2-4K.

I just joined the MB forum and I'm wading thru the comments on the issue.

[NutmegCarrera]

Darn....

Can’t help. Assume the FLAPS is no help either then.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Dennis knows a fair bit.

Yes he does.

[speeder]

I typed out a long reply to this and I don't know what happened to it. I'll try again this soon as I have a minute.

[Bill Douglas]

Yep. Denis is the man. Even if he can't type he can fix a Mercedes.

[motion]

And even if he tends to lose things, he can still work on a Mercedes.

[speeder]

Thank you and sorry to disappoint but while I work on older MB cars a lot, I'm not much good w newer stuff that needs software to diagnose.

My suggestion was to find a dealer that you can lean on. The emissions system should not be failing at that low mileage or that close to warranty ending. I've actually had decent luck w both Mercedes and BMW getting things fixed or at least partially covered out of warranty.

You need to find a sympathetic ear at the dealership, it will probably be a service manager or a long time service writer who will plead your case to whomever they report to at Mercedes-Benz.

Don't get angry w them, no matter how frustrating the situation. It just gives them an excuse to not help you. You need to approach it as a loyal MB owner who was considering buying a new one soon but you're having a little trepidation with this emissions system failure at 85k miles. That you otherwise really love their cars, that you've always thought that they were built like tanks, etc...

If you can't keep a straight face while saying the last one, maybe skip it.

The people at Mercedes have a lot of power to approve things like this, (or not), I've always had the impression that they can do what they want. If it's framed properly, i.e. keeping a customer from going Lexus next time, their JD Powers numbers, etc., good things can happen.

Best of luck w it.

[Bill Douglas]

Umm, good game plan.

[Joe Bob]

After a lotta research, the issue is repetitive with MB and they still sell the same defective or at least under rated ammonia/urea heater system made by Bosch.

Planned obsolescence of 2-3 years. Screw Bosch and MB for perpetuating the problem. Found a company in the Frozen White North. They make a more robust unit. "Xemodex".....told Dennis and he sent a rec to the management weenies to carry the item and have a DIY on the all but dead MB pages at PP.

[speeder]

Who is Dennis? Just curious.

[asphaltgambler]

speeder is correct - you need to have solid diagnosis with a factory scan tool or similar (Autologic or Autel) to pinpoint the issue. You don't have to go any further with them.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by speeder

Who is Dennis? Just curious.

Mercedes sales guy at PP....ala Glen Sager. Nice guy.

[speeder]

Go to the dealer. That's the advice.

[Joe Bob]

Ummmmm, no.....screw the dealer. 5 times the price and the same crappy failure prone part. Even PP was trying to sell me the same crap.

No pic, no description, no refund, no repair literature.

[javadog]

What Denis was trying to tell you was to go to the dealer and complain about it, so that the Mercedes regional service rep was brought into the discussion. The end goal would be to get it repaired under warranty, or for free as a goodwill repair.

It may be the same part that gets put back on but it would push the need for you to spend some of your cash a few years into the future, if you still had the vehicle at that point.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I've had pretty good luck in getting companies to repair things for the customer for free, when they know that the problem lies with a part or design that wasn't as good as it could be.

JR

[Joe Bob]

I'm past that. Spoke with them and the national rep. Pretty much told to pee up a rope. I'm not a valued customer, I bought a used Merc. In other words, just some Barney that buys used stuff....