C230K Problems..
OK..let's see..we've had ours since 8-01. We love the car (black, oyster leather, power, bose, etc) ...however, we are truly dissapointed in the obvious lack of quality control during the manufacturing process.
First problem noticed within the first few weeks was a rear chassis squeak..somewhat weather dependent. Brought it in, they removed some sort of padding that was left somehwere that was rubbing on something...however. here it is a year later..and it still squeaks..but not always..so it's hard to pinpoint.
Second..brought it in for it's 10,000 mile service in April. At this time, we too had sunroof problems..but intermitent. Sometimes it opens properly..other times it opens in one inch increments...then it fixes itself. Also..the tunnel feature does not work (where the roof and the windows should all close when you hit the recirc button) Also..the right side mirror was not always angling down when in reverse, the gas gauge would not always go to full when filled...it would sometimes take a half hour...or, if you shut the car off..then started it again, it would move to full right away. We also have the one touch window buttons requiring two or three touches...and the seatbelts do not always fully detract once removed (the old hanging out ogf the car door syndrome).
So...I tell them all of this when I bring the car in. They call me later in the day to tell me that I need a
head gasket. I was floored. I've owned a couple of junkers in my time..and I have
never needed a head gasket. Anyway, they had to keep the car for a while, waiting for the part.
I finally pick the car up...they claim all is fixed..nothing was..except the head gasket...I assume. By the way, the poster above who is burning oil...that could indded be a head gasket issue. Anyway, all of the other problems remain..intermitently. My husband seems to have noticed that when we have an electrical storm, the sun roof will definetly act up..then somehow fix itself again...as if it's "Christine".
Last but not least...when I picked the car up, and accelerated out onto the busy road that the dealershoip is on, I floored it..but the car took a few seconds to move. Guess what? When they reconnected the super charger after apparently disconnecting it to replace the head gasket, they did not clip it on tightly enough...and my acceleration blew it off...so that heavy little car was operating on only 4 cylinders..with no boost. They did reconnect that..and so far so good...except..the other day, we noticed the car pulling to the right..and the right tire is showing signs of alignment probems. I've had Toyotas & Hondas before this..and did not have to align for years...and that was on rough NYC roads.
Here we are, one year later..with a MERCEDES no less..on rural, smooth as glass roads...and we need an alignment?
As much as we do love the car...we are extremely dissapointed in the quality...of the car..and the ability of Mercedes to rectify problems.
I'm taking it in tommorrow..and if they think I'm going to pay for thiis alignment, they are indeed mistakne. I'm glad we leased. Oh..one last thing...one of those plastic engine cover things was left in my windshield wiper well.
