Should I suspect my Mercedes C-Class has an undisclosed history?
My Mercedes C220 Estate was 11 months old, with 13,000 miles on the clock when purchased from a main dealer in 2012. From the outset I suspected the car might have some 'history', when I started to uncover several, relatively minor issues including a misaligned bonnet, broken engine cover and a tendency to drift left, even on flat roads.
These issues were put right by the dealer with no quibbles. Two years later, with only 38,000 on the clock and having experienced a rear damper failure, dual-mass flywheel and clutch replacement, a re-occurrence of the drifting problem and, most recently a turbo bearing failure. I am seriously concerned that the car may not be what it seems.
The MoT tester also mentioned there was no 'Vehicle Specific Information' on the system, which is apparently synonymous with grey-imports, when it was first tested a month ago.
The Service Centre has checked the vehicle's electronic history and tell me there is nothing abnormal and it appears to be a genuine UK model, but I cannot help thinking that this is more than an unfortunate set of unrelated and hugely disappointing issues. What do you think?
These issues were put right by the dealer with no quibbles. Two years later, with only 38,000 on the clock and having experienced a rear damper failure, dual-mass flywheel and clutch replacement, a re-occurrence of the drifting problem and, most recently a turbo bearing failure. I am seriously concerned that the car may not be what it seems.
The MoT tester also mentioned there was no 'Vehicle Specific Information' on the system, which is apparently synonymous with grey-imports, when it was first tested a month ago.
The Service Centre has checked the vehicle's electronic history and tell me there is nothing abnormal and it appears to be a genuine UK model, but I cannot help thinking that this is more than an unfortunate set of unrelated and hugely disappointing issues. What do you think?
Asked on 12 February 2014 by Rick Parfitt
Answered by
Honest John
The drifting left is common on this model. Progressively gets worse as the n/s tyre sets up a wear pattern, so best countered with a side to side swap, or a front to rear swap where all the tyres are the same size.
To make a further check, first find out if the dealer you bought the car from is Mercedes-Benz owned or not. If it is owned, find an independent Mercedes dealer to interrogate the ECU. If independently owned, take it to another independently owned dealer or an owned dealer for the interrogation.
To make a further check, first find out if the dealer you bought the car from is Mercedes-Benz owned or not. If it is owned, find an independent Mercedes dealer to interrogate the ECU. If independently owned, take it to another independently owned dealer or an owned dealer for the interrogation.
Tags:
accidents
technical issues
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