Rants & Raves?
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:06 pm
I recall posting some years ago on a BBS that had a separate "area" for what it termed, "Rants & Raves." Self explanatory. I apologize in advance for posting a generic rant on a "Politics" board, but...
I've had another run-in with my Mercedes dealer. Shortly after purchasing this car (a 2006 C230 Sport), I bought a "beater" to meet most of my transportation needs, so I don't drive the Mercedes much. About 6k miles in three years. I also store it in the Winter, so that I can keep my Element indoors and not have to clean ice of the windshield every morning before heading off to work.
Last year, I took it in for something and authorized them to do one of their service packages (I think they call them an "A" service and a "B" service), and it ended up costing me something like $400, largely because they used synthetic oil and charged me $40/quart for that.
Now, less than 1000 miles later, one of my inaccessible bulbs has burned out, and for some unknown reason, one of my fog lights has become detached (it is just resting inside a housing that is there for that purpose) and I'm driving a one-eyed car. The light must have vibrated off, because I have not hit anything - which would have left a mark someplace, and the fog light itself is unblemished.
So I call to set up an appointment. The dealer has been sending me friendly reminders every other week or so, saying that I really have to get one service or another taken care of "soon." I tell the writeup person what I want done, and of course she says, "You will also need an oil change, sir." I explain to her that there is less than a thousand miles on the car since the last oil change, and of course she says, "We recommend all services be done on time, either because of reaching the mileage levels or if time has elapsed." I point out to her that I will be dead and totally decomposed before that synthetic oil (they installed last time) will have degraded enough to become a threat to the internal moving parts of my engine.
"So, shall I write you up for an 'A' service, or a 'B' service?"
"Neither. Just fix my fog light and the turn signal lamp."
So I show up this morning, and of course - being a Mercedes Benz dealership - my arrival has been planned for. The pre-printed write-up sheet very clearly says, fix the fog lamp, replace the turn signal bulb, and CHANGE THE OIL." I make the necassary correction.
The write-up person says, "You must have really knocked that fog lamp pretty good. It's held in there with five screws and two separate brackets." "Well," I say, "if I hit that fog lamp, it was a very precise blow, because none of the fiberglass is touched, and it must be made of indestructible German glass, because there is not a mark on it."
In true Mercedes fashion, they have given me a 2011 C300 4-Matic as a "free" loaner car.
People like me really should not own such cars*. And the dealership should have a can of Crisco on a table at the entrance of the Service Department.
I can't wait to see what they are going to charge me to re-attach the fog light.
___________________________________
* Believe it or not, I love the car (which is why I haven't gotten rid of it). It is everything I am not: It is fast, comfortable, good-looking, ,economical and it handles like a slot car.
I've had another run-in with my Mercedes dealer. Shortly after purchasing this car (a 2006 C230 Sport), I bought a "beater" to meet most of my transportation needs, so I don't drive the Mercedes much. About 6k miles in three years. I also store it in the Winter, so that I can keep my Element indoors and not have to clean ice of the windshield every morning before heading off to work.
Last year, I took it in for something and authorized them to do one of their service packages (I think they call them an "A" service and a "B" service), and it ended up costing me something like $400, largely because they used synthetic oil and charged me $40/quart for that.
Now, less than 1000 miles later, one of my inaccessible bulbs has burned out, and for some unknown reason, one of my fog lights has become detached (it is just resting inside a housing that is there for that purpose) and I'm driving a one-eyed car. The light must have vibrated off, because I have not hit anything - which would have left a mark someplace, and the fog light itself is unblemished.
So I call to set up an appointment. The dealer has been sending me friendly reminders every other week or so, saying that I really have to get one service or another taken care of "soon." I tell the writeup person what I want done, and of course she says, "You will also need an oil change, sir." I explain to her that there is less than a thousand miles on the car since the last oil change, and of course she says, "We recommend all services be done on time, either because of reaching the mileage levels or if time has elapsed." I point out to her that I will be dead and totally decomposed before that synthetic oil (they installed last time) will have degraded enough to become a threat to the internal moving parts of my engine.
"So, shall I write you up for an 'A' service, or a 'B' service?"
"Neither. Just fix my fog light and the turn signal lamp."
So I show up this morning, and of course - being a Mercedes Benz dealership - my arrival has been planned for. The pre-printed write-up sheet very clearly says, fix the fog lamp, replace the turn signal bulb, and CHANGE THE OIL." I make the necassary correction.
The write-up person says, "You must have really knocked that fog lamp pretty good. It's held in there with five screws and two separate brackets." "Well," I say, "if I hit that fog lamp, it was a very precise blow, because none of the fiberglass is touched, and it must be made of indestructible German glass, because there is not a mark on it."
In true Mercedes fashion, they have given me a 2011 C300 4-Matic as a "free" loaner car.
People like me really should not own such cars*. And the dealership should have a can of Crisco on a table at the entrance of the Service Department.
I can't wait to see what they are going to charge me to re-attach the fog light.
___________________________________
* Believe it or not, I love the car (which is why I haven't gotten rid of it). It is everything I am not: It is fast, comfortable, good-looking, ,economical and it handles like a slot car.
