vB Easy Archive - I swear, my car must have been built on a Friday

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I swear, my car must have been built on a Friday
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Posted by: mbrowning

Once again, my car is going to have to be towed to the dealership.

Before I left on a one week vacation, the engine was whining a little bit and I figured I'd take it in when I get back. When I got back, after only 8 days of the car not being driven, the battery was dead! Today I decided to jump it, and as soon as I turned it on I smelled something burning and could here a clunking noise from the engine. Great.
I thought maybe it was acting up since it hadn't been driven in a while, so I thought I'd drive it a little bit. I didn't get 20 feet before the clunking noise stopped and I thought thank god but not one second later a really loud noise came from the engine and the warning light started flashing. At that time I completely lost power and luckily I was able to turn it around and park it.

This is like the 30th time I'm going to have to take the car in for something other than required maintenance.

Lesson is: never buy a Mercedes, especially one made in Kentucky!

Posted by: MikeBuzzsaw

What model benz is it?

This happened to my sisters BMW too. These new "rechargeable" batteries that never need to be changed die quickly for some reason. My sister bmw wudn't start 4 seperate occasions... but BMW did a small recall and she got that fixed. Something wrong with the programming...

Posted by: mbrowning

99 ML430.

Sad thing is, the battery is only a little over a year old and it's a 5 year battery.

Posted by: buhdussy

I highly doubt being built in kentucky has anything to do with your problems. German cars arent always the most dependable, however the problem may not be something that happens to most MB's.

Posted by: mbrowning

On the contrary, it does. The M class has the highest amount of problems in the Mercedes line up and is the only one built in the US. It is quite a problematic car, especially 98-01 models.

Posted by: buhdussy

The reason I say it doesnt, is because millions of cars are bulit in the states every year and I have relly never heard of any American cars being that problematic. How is the ML320 n reliabilty, maybe it's just the 430's with the problem, maybe bad engineering.

Posted by: mbrowning

320, from what I've heard, is even worse.

Maybe the engine will have to be replaced and I can get 5.0 instead of the 4.3

Highly doubtful but I can dream :moon:

I saw something that said Mercedes is now top quality in the luxury segment again, so maybe they've got their act together now, but boy did they screw up back in 99.

Posted by: buhdussy

What kind of lemon laws are in your area? If the car has been a Chronic problem, you may qualify for a new car!

Posted by: mbrowning

I think it would be too late anyway, plus we're the second owner of the car, if that matters.

Posted by: crazeazn

never buy a german car made in the US

Posted by: mbrowning

Quote:

Originally posted by crazeazn
never buy a german car made in the US

Exactly.

Posted by: BMWFilms

Quote:

Originally posted by mbrowning
Once again, my car is going to have to be towed to the dealership.

Before I left on a one week vacation, the engine was whining a little bit and I figured I'd take it in when I get back. When I got back, after only 8 days of the car not being driven, the battery was dead! Today I decided to jump it, and as soon as I turned it on I smelled something burning and could here a clunking noise from the engine. Great.
I thought maybe it was acting up since it hadn't been driven in a while, so I thought I'd drive it a little bit. I didn't get 20 feet before the clunking noise stopped and I thought thank god but not one second later a really loud noise came from the engine and the warning light started flashing. At that time I completely lost power and luckily I was able to turn it around and park it.

This is like the 30th time I'm going to have to take the car in for something other than required maintenance.

Lesson is: never buy a Mercedes, especially one made in Kentucky!

eww they make mercedes in kentucky? i thought they were all made in Germany

Posted by: mbrowning

Only the M class. I think it's Kentucky... but I also have Alabama in the back of my mind for some reason..

No wonder why! A quick google search confirms it is built in Alabama. Not any better, IMHO.

http://www.businessweek.com/1997/13/b352089.htm
The stakes extend well beyond the M-Class. In Alabama, Mercedes is not simply building its first sport-utility vehicle. It's building its first SUV in its first foreign plant, with its first non-German workforce. Even though the auto maker took a big gamble relying on workers who have never built an automobile--let alone a Mercedes--it had little choice.

Posted by: BMWFilms

lol man...that really sucks...for all that money and its domestic...how's your car now man? everything all right?

Posted by: mbrowning

Dealership is closed to Monday, and my car probably won't be touched by them till Thursday.

Posted by: ice512

Quote:

plus we're the second owner of the car

u know if the previous owner did anything to the car ??

Posted by: mbrowning

We bought it with 700 miles, the guy couldn't afford his lease... I doubt anything serious could happen in that short time. It didn't act up at all until around 30,000 miles (20,000 miles ago). Before that, I actually thought we got lucky compared to others who had problems right from the start.

Posted by: [Corporal Dan]

Quote:

The ole mazda 626 has sat for a month and started up without issue.

And the firebird was sitting for 10 years when I draied and replaced all fluids. I drove it home and it went like a champ.

Suddenly, "superior" german engineering doesn't seem superior anymore.

The moral of the story? Buy american. And if you absolutely cannot (because you like getting ripped,) buy jap at the very least.

Posted by: B0000rt

Quote:

Originally posted by [Corporal Dan]
The ole mazda 626 has sat for a month and started up without issue.

And the firebird was sitting for 10 years when I draied and replaced all fluids. I drove it home and it went like a champ.

Suddenly, "superior" german engineering doesn't seem superior anymore.

The moral of the story? Buy american. And if you absolutely cannot (because you like getting ripped,) buy j*p at the very least.

"J*p" is a derogatory term, please don't use it.

Posted by: altec18

that really suk

and it's only a 5 year old car

Posted by: mau108

might i also add, its not fuel efficient one bit! what a waste of a car...

bmw x5 is 100 times better

Posted by: mbrowning

X5 is rated 16 / 22 mpg. I average 21mpg.

And if you're wondering how: I drive mostly on the interstate, I accelerate slowly, don't speed, don't brake hard, don't idle, and keep my tires properly inflated.

Posted by: buhdussy

Quote:

Originally posted by B0000rt
"J*p" is a derogatory term, please don't use it.

True but I doubt he meant to use it like that, he probably didnt wanna type out Japanese.

Posted by: doctob

You really ought to be a little less condescending when referring to states of manufacture. I am from Ky, and find it arrogant at best that you ASSUME that a product is inferior or deficient simply because it was supposedly made here. Same about the attitude with it being manufactured in Alabama.

Misconceptions and stereotypes are the mother of all ×××× ups....

Posted by: mbrowning

Sorry that you took it that way, but I was just referring to the fact that it's a German car made in America by people who haven't even made cars before. I know I didn't make it very clear at all.
The state didn't really matter. I'd feel the same if it was built here in Virginia.

Posted by: buhdussy

Quote:

Originally posted by mbrowning
Sorry that you took it that way, but I was just referring to the fact that it's a German car made in America by people who haven't even made cars before. I know I didn't make it very clear at all.
The state didn't really matter. I'd feel the same if it was built here in Virginia.

I dont get it, no one who steps foot into the plant that just got a job hasnt built a car before, why would germany be any different?
Plus arent all of the components made in Germany and just the cars assembled here? Because It sounds more like an engineering mistake.

Posted by: fredwards

Quote:

Originally posted by mbrowning
On the contrary, it does. The M class has the highest amount of problems in the Mercedes line up and is the only one built in the US. It is quite a problematic car, especially 98-01 models.

were you aware of this BEFORE you bought it?

Posted by: NextelsOnly

I had this problem with my car. It's a 2000 S430 and I had a lot of battery bull***** a few months ago.

Posted by: Mr_Ed

Quote:

Originally posted by doctob
You really ought to be a little less condescending when referring to states of manufacture. I am from Ky, and find it arrogant at best that you ASSUME that a product is inferior or deficient simply because it was supposedly made here. Same about the attitude with it being manufactured in Alabama.

Misconceptions and stereotypes are the mother of all ×××× ups....

As he said, he was not picking on any one state but I would like to point something out to you. If the country of manufacture made no difference, then the quality of domestic automobiles would have remained comparable to imports over the last 30 years. We all know that is simply NOT the case. In recent years our domestic auto makers have made great strides in quality and I personally believe today they are as good and in some cases better than the imports, but to think this was always the case is to put blinders on. You may not like it, but there is precedent for someone to make an assumption of lower quality on an automobile built here.

On a side note: I own an american car and a german car. I think both are good cars for what they are, and the american car is a fine car for the money. Good bang for the buck.

Posted by: mbrowning

Wow, I just got it towed, and the truck driver said it's his FOURTH ML he's had to tow TODAY. Bah!

Posted by: Joel930

Quote:

Originally posted by mbrowning
Wow, I just got it towed, and the truck driver said it's his FOURTH ML he's had to tow TODAY. Bah!

Doesn't say much for the ML. Did you consider calling up Mercedes corporate offices?

Posted by: mbrowning

You're right, the ML is a POS. ML = Mercedes Lemon. I haven't thought about calling, but I don't see how much good it could do now being 6 years old (made in 98, early 99 model) and far out of warranty.

Posted by: Joel930

Quote:

Originally posted by mbrowning
You're right, the ML is a POS. ML = Mercedes Lemon. I haven't thought about calling, but I don't see how much good it could do now being 6 years old (made in 98, early 99 model) and far out of warranty.

Whats the mileage on the truck?

Posted by: mbrowning

50,400

Posted by: Joel930

Quote:

Originally posted by mbrowning
50,400

Thats not much for a nearly 6 year old car. I think its safe to assume that the Benz head corporate office would not like to hear bad things about their vehicles. Threaten to contact the press/media.
For the amount of money you paid, you should not be having any problems like that at all. Since your truck was the 4th ML that the tow truck driver picked up, maybe theirs a TSB or a recall.

Posted by: mbrowning

There have been many TSBs and a few recalls already, each of which I have taken it in for. Mercedes knows about the problem..

Posted by: B0000rt

Quote:

Originally posted by buhdussy
True but I doubt he meant to use it like that, he probably didnt wanna type out Japanese.

Too bad for him eh?

Posted by: mbrowning

I just talked to the service manager.. crank pulley was damaged, tore some belts and was rubbing against the transmission case.
He said that alone would be $1,035 for parts and labor, then add on the towing bill and an oil change (at my request).

Posted by: buhdussy

Quote:

Originally posted by mbrowning
I just talked to the service manager.. crank pulley was damaged, tore some belts and was rubbing against the transmission case.
He said that alone would be $1,035 for parts and labor, then add on the towing bill and an oil change (at my request).

What was rubbing against your tranny case?

Posted by: mbrowning

The crank pulley. I think. I was woken up at 8am by the guys phone call so I wasn't paying the most attention.

Posted by: buhdussy

You may want to check that out because the crank pulley would not rub the transmission case. The crank pulley is on the front of the motor, and the trans bolts to the back of the motor.

Posted by: mbrowning

I guess I'll find out tomorrow when (if) it's ready.

Posted by: Joel930

So you don't have a warranty, or roadside on the ML?

Posted by: mbrowning

Nope.

Posted by: GarageBoy

Uhh, hope ya guys know that all current Hondas are US built except the S2000 (most of Acura too)
Toyotas are a majority US built

Posted by: mbrowning

Yup, and some US automakers have their cars built in Canada and Mexico.