A clutch actuator would probably be a good place to start. With complaints and proof of faults they should at least offer monetary assistance for the repair. If that doesn’t do it I suspect it will need a transmission. Sorry.

Maybe, hopefully, I can help shed some light on it and offer advice. My dealer happens to be one of the top smart dealers in the U.S., although I’m no smart expert I do work on them from time to time.

I don’t normally like service managers, they’re too concerned with hitting their numbers so they get their bonuses. But you sound like one of the good ones. Good managers attract top talent, top talent makes customers happy, happy customers mean more customers and more successful store. Keep it up, and don’t forget to…

Almost every car specifies that actually, just usually not where the customer can see it. Typically they put it in the service manual. Some are even less, like 600-700 miles.

It is a common problem. We usually goodwill those brake jobs, that is if we can’t get warranty to cover it. If I recall, there is even a technical bulletin (“LI” in Mercedes speak). Because there is a bulletin and it is a known problem dealer needs to stop being a bunch of dickheads and just fix it. If they’re not…

Somebody screwed up big time, maybe it was speed, alcohol, inattentiveness or something else altogether. Whatever it was, they chose the worst possible night for it. Hopefully the authorities figure out who was at fault here and punish them to the full extent of the law.

2008 ML63 with power tailgate. It had an electric motor in the tailgate latch that pulls the tailgate tight, like the soft close on your 220. It’s on its 5th latch in less than a year. It’s already had the tailgate and striker adjusted numerous times, pinch sensors replaced, struts/rams replaced, tailgate wiring…

I was chatting with someone very high up in AMG about a year ago and asked “are you developing a new V12 with more modern technology?”

Excellent read.

Just wait, next gen will drop to 4 cylinders.

Don’t worry about it. If it sounds bad they will just use the stereo to pipe in fake engine noise. It’s all good man!

This is fantastic. Wish I had found it sooner. I need to start documenting some of the things I do, both at work and in my spare time. Could make for some good reading.

Evaporator on a 140 S-class?

Spark plugs are maintenance, right? Well the coils have to be removed to replace those. If the person removing the coils is a bit overzealous they can be damaged. Not only that but worn out spark plugs and spark plug insulators can create added stress on the coils and cause premature failure.

You are so right. I can never figure out why an ABC flush wasn’t a part of the normal factory service schedule. Those that do this tend to have far fewer repairs done over the course of their life.

V220 S600. Duh. Twin turbo V12. Hydraulic suspension. Over 40 control modules. Multiple CAN buses running at different speeds and capacities. Fibre optics. Pneumatics. Dual spark plugs. Two cooling systems. Etc. Etc. Etc...

Totally thought this was going a different direction. Glad it didn’t. You always seem to strike a perfect balance.

Personally I don’t feel bad when service contact companies get screwed. Not that I would ever hope or try for this to happen, I’m just not that kind of person. But they’re constantly ripping off shops and technicians. Which really is only partially their fault and partially the fault of the shop (for not getting the…

Knowing what we’ve been told here and not making any extra assumptions, firing in this case is drastic. I’m not saying it’s acceptable to run personal errands in a customer’s car, especially lunch, because it isn’t (unless the customer has approved this). But straying from “the standard test drive route”? That isn’t…

Aftermarket warranties/service contracts can be great, especially for used European cars whose parts alone can be thousands of dollars for a single simple repair. I see these pay out all the time in the customer’s favor. Would I recommend one for a Honda Civic? Hell no! But for cars with questionable reliability or…