Bought a New Mercedes and before Delivery of Car, Dealership Damaged a Module in The Car by Jumpstarting It

whatthehell on 18/05/2022 - 14:38
Last edited 20/05/2022 - 12:03 by 1 other user

Hi All

I've paid the whole amount to buy a new Mercedes. The car was already as a show car in the showroom and salesman told me that the battery went flat because it was standing still in the showroom, so after my payment cleared and it was time to register and deliver the car. They came back saying a module in the car was damaged and had to be repaired which would take a week or two, and this happened because someone jumpstarted the car and damaged the module.

If I wait for the car to be repaired and take ownership of it, god knows what other faults might be in there that probably haven't been caught for now. If something goes wrong with the car in the next few months, I'd always be thinking whether it was this event that caused the issue.

Companies always try to wriggle themselves out after delivery with warranty repair, by saying this and that isn't covered in the warranty.

Now this is a new car that the dealership damaged by jump starting it? What would you do? Buy the car or ask for a refund?

I should mention, salesman seems nice and genuine and was upfront about what happened so obviously thankful to him for letting me know.

Also, they aren't asking me for any money to repair it obviously.

Poll Options

  • 68
    Buy the car.
  • 387
    Ask for Refund.
Automotive Mercedes-Benz

Comments

  • Hybroid on 18/05/2022 - 14:42
    +34

    It's brand new. You have warranty if something goes wrong. You bought a Mercedes, love them, but (expensive) gremlins come with the territory. First hand experience.

    • CalmLemons on 19/05/2022 - 20:50
      +16

      Not sure why so many people saying ask for a refund. The OP won't get a new car until 12 months later.

      Just get them to fix the module. If there was major damage across the rest of the car it most likely won't work at all, it's a yay or ney answer. Most of the time it's just an apprentice doing the boring work like charging the batteries every now and again.

      They will most likely replace the battery too but I doubt it would be damaged anyway as there would be fuses and other interlinks inbetween to stop that from happening, like said module.

      They're fantastic cars, will always have issues, just deal with it. I would think a mercedes has twice as many parts as a toyota but it still drives a lot nicer than a toyota.

      If you're going the mercedes route, just be ready to accept small things that go wrong. Mercedes have always fixed major things for me inside and outside warranties.

      They're all human beings, just treat and expect to be treated as such and all will be fine.

      Many of the people here saying ask for a refund probably haven't been in the car market recently, it's literally a free for all, take what you can get.

      • bulletbill88 on 20/05/2022 - 09:40
        +1

        Yep, unless the op has the luxury to wait until 2023 for a car then take the car and deal with any remaining issues under warranty.

        I’m looking for a new car at the moment and it is a patience game. Most of the delivery dates are end this year or early next year (and I’d I expect they would blow out once the order made) and some are 12 months or more.

  • Muzeeb on 18/05/2022 - 14:43
    +21

    Ask for a refund and buy a Camry

    salesman seems nice and genuine

    Ummmmm ok.

    The car was already as a show car

    Production must be improving or it was a cancelled order. To assist in future threads is this car a 21 or 22 build?

    • Domicron on 19/05/2022 - 14:09

      A colleague picked up a new glc300 floor stock (might be a demo). Plenty of stock unless after something specific.

    • michaelTito on 20/05/2022 - 10:03
      +2

      Probably cancelled order because of the broken module

    • Jackson on 19/05/2022 - 21:22

      This was actually funny

  • barge-in hunter on 18/05/2022 - 14:46
    +20

    Something doesn't smell right. A Mercedes dealership employee damaged the car, by not knowing how to properly jump start it?

    I guess it doesn't matter if it was damaged beforehand though - they need to fix it either way.

    My concern would be not knowing/being able to check if other components have been damaged. I mean, how are you going to test if the Autonomous Emergency Braking works? Drive at a wall?

    • try2bhelpful on 18/05/2022 - 14:58
      +2

      Yeah, that would be my concern. Certainly my old Merc had an issue with flattening the battery if left sitting; but you would think a Merc dealer would know how to do this properly. They don’t recommend jump starting modern cars because you can fry some of the electricals. You are meant to trickle charge them back up.

      Me, I’d be talking to them about another car, however I suspect this will involve a, considerable, wait. Also you don’t know what has happened to that car either.

      • ausdday on 20/05/2022 - 10:26

        Interesting they feel they need to jump start the car, while the car is still in the dealership. They could just walk into storeroom and bring out a new battery I suppose?

        • apsilon on 20/05/2022 - 10:57
          +2

          Batteries aren't free. They can't ask the customer to pay for it so do you really think they're going to pay for it themselves?

          • the wiz on 22/05/2022 - 04:14
            +1

            @apsilon: Yes.

            It's supposed to be a new car.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 18/05/2022 - 15:08
      +6

      Work experience kid: it’s my first day

      • WT on 19/05/2022 - 08:40
        +7

        someone in our year jacked a car up, from the fuel tank

        • Domicron on 19/05/2022 - 14:10
          +1

          Genius.

          Maybe MB tanks are more solid?

      • RedSky1 on 20/05/2022 - 09:03
        +5

        Work experience kid / Mercedes Senior Technical Engineer (on bill)

    • Ocker on 18/05/2022 - 16:48
      +3

      MB dealership employees are not more capable than your average workshop employee.
      Dealership changed the battery in my MB and (a) used wrong size battery in replacement (b), left the insulating cover off the battery terminal and c), only closed the bonnet to the safety catch position position. Noticed the latter when the bonnet started flapping around when doing 100kmph on the freeway.

      • try2bhelpful on 18/05/2022 - 17:03
        +3

        Yeah, that wouldn't give you the warm fuzzies would it?

      • barge-in hunter on 18/05/2022 - 17:07
        +4

        Understand they're not, but for the price you pay they should be.

        I would also consider "how to properly jump start a car of your brand" as something every dealership employee should know, regardless of brand.

        • Ocker on 18/05/2022 - 18:04
          +1

          Especially when they charge $286 ph for workshop labour.

      • juki on 21/05/2022 - 23:42
        -1

        you get what you pay … oh wait you dont :)

    • bunkymag on 19/05/2022 - 08:28
      +6

      “how are you going to test if the Autonomous Emergency Braking works? Drive at a wall?“

      They’ll use a code reader to check via the car’s onboard computer, same as we do for every other similar situation in the world. Do you think they pre-crash aircraft too to check the emergency landing systems?

    • HeWhoKnows on 19/05/2022 - 20:28
      +2

      The computer would warn if other components were damaged guys

      We are in 2022
      Not 1992

  • Porker on 18/05/2022 - 14:48
    +3

    Just hope that the car's battery doesn't go flat in the real world.

    • websterp on 18/05/2022 - 14:53

      In the real world you have to tow it to the dealership to reset "the computer" after replacing/reconnecting battery.

      • plmko on 18/05/2022 - 15:35
        +7

        Why would you buy a car that can't even be jump started. That's just incredibly dumb.

        • websterp on 18/05/2022 - 16:44

          Forget about jumpstarting, you can't even replace a new battery at home.

          • websterp on 19/05/2022 - 13:59
            +1

            @websterp: Clearly the one who negged does not own a late model X5

            • Domicron on 19/05/2022 - 14:13

              @websterp: Might as well go for a Kenworth T880, at least it is a bigger truck.

        • yokel on 20/05/2022 - 11:08

          A car that cannot be jump started is insanity. Something is fishy with the story. I don't get the appeal of a Mercedes at all.

          • nigel deborah on 20/05/2022 - 12:02
            +2

            @yokel: Friend of mine had a merc that wouldn't even let you change the oil. If you did it yourself (after getting some proprietary screwdriver head) the cars system would detect a change in oil quality and go into limp home mode until you took it to a dealer. Madness…

          • Vote for Pedro on 20/05/2022 - 17:29

            @yokel: I’m surprised we haven’t heard from the “if it’s not a manual it’s a toy” brigade lol.

          • MrThing on 20/05/2022 - 19:56

            @yokel: rich people dont have taste, just look at their houses

            • yokel on 22/05/2022 - 22:07

              @MrThing: Seems to be a thing in Sydney suburbs to drive the merc but live in a very ordinary dwelling. Gets me every time I see one in the shared driveway of a narrow, pre cast concrete panel constructed duplex.

              • MrThing on 23/05/2022 - 06:45

                @yokel: I feel thats very standard around the joint.

                I dont believe a flash car is a good sign of wealth, when driving around I see heaps of flash cars pull into copy paste apartment buildings, especially around chatswood / ryde / carlingford

      • eug on 21/05/2022 - 10:08
        +1

        The battery "reset" just tells the car a new battery is connected, so use a "new battery" charging profile. The car adjusts the charging profile as the battery ages.

        It will work even if you don't do it, but the battery lifespan may or may not be shorter. You do not have to tow the car to replace a battery.

  • apsilon on 18/05/2022 - 14:59

    I share your concerns with what else may be damaged. Even if it hasn't failed right away it could have shortened life span but on the other hand you do have warranty.

    I've walked away from 2 cars that were damaged in pre delivery and probably would in this case as well though new cars are hard to come by in the current market. If you decide to proceed ensure they put in writing what was damaged and how so if further electrical gremlins raise their heads in the future you can point and say it's had X problem caused by the dealer which might help speed up warranty claim (but probably won't).

  • tsunamisurfer on 18/05/2022 - 15:02
    -3

    I would ask for a refund or a new one.

    IT is common knowledge that you cannot jump start a typical Euro car with the electronics it has, it will simply fry the circuits, you need to do something before hand which I cannot remember.

    • serpserpserp on 18/05/2022 - 15:09
      +1

      IT is common knowledge that you cannot jump start a typical Euro car

      You'd reckon a merc dealership would know this about their own cars.

    • JimB on 18/05/2022 - 15:19
      +4

      Is it common knowledge or an old wives tale?

      +ve to +ve
      -ve to (flat battery) car's engine block.

      If you're still worried, just a set a jumper leads with surge protection.

      • brendanm on 18/05/2022 - 22:38
        +4

        Is it common knowledge or an old wives tale?

        An old wives tale. They have terminals under the bonnet for jump starting. Someone probably connected the jump starter with reverse polarity.

        • JimB on 19/05/2022 - 11:23
          +1

          Yeah, I know it's an old wives tale.. haha

          It was a rhetorical question to tsunamisurfer.

    • QualGOTl on 19/05/2022 - 09:32
      +6

      More like a a common misconception. Euro cars can be jump started just the same as any other car. Just need to be particular in how you connect and disconnect the leads. Have owned Mercs & BMW's and jumpstarted without issues.

    • TheOtherLeft on 19/05/2022 - 09:53

      What an idiotic design. The fact it has no protection against jumpstarting is pure idiocy.

    • brendanm on 19/05/2022 - 13:39
      +6

      IT is common knowledge that you cannot jump start a typical Euro car with the electronics it has

      Completely incorrect.

    • CalmLemons on 19/05/2022 - 20:44
      +2

      What? No you do it in the same way. The terminals just aren't directly accessible on the battery, the negative and positive are normally in the front bonnet somewhere as the battery is often in the boot.

      Electricity is electricity 12V/24V

    • quasio on 20/05/2022 - 11:26
      -1

      This doesn't seem right. all electronics are tested and validated to ensure it can handle jump start. Even jump start at 48V (in case someone accidentally uses a truck jump starter), reverse polarity, everything. However you should use the correct jump start points to do it.

      Although i also know that if its a brand new merc with new platform, there's still a ton of bugs, so it's more likely the software for that module couldn't handle it.

    • bmerigan on 20/05/2022 - 21:03

      How do you not know this common knowledge procedure?

    • the wiz on 22/05/2022 - 04:37
      +1

      You can but you need metric jump cables.

      Do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder in Paris?

  • serpserpserp on 18/05/2022 - 15:08
    +2

    Laugh in their face and demand a refund.

    Then go buy an OZB approved Camry, Kia Stinger or Tesla 3.

  • AdosHouse on 18/05/2022 - 15:20
    +14

    If the battery was so flat that it wouldn't start the car, then that battery is already dying, so they were hoping to give you a battery that is already stuffed instead of just replacing the battery. Gives you a bit of a hint as to how they will treat you if you need warranty repairs.

    • Domicron on 19/05/2022 - 14:16
      +3

      But it is a new car? Battery in one of my old car worked fine after a 6 months trip overseas.

      Not sure how a new car can have a battery flat before delivery, and we have a "shortage" here with cars flying out of the dealership doors.

      I am also curious as to what caused the flat battery to begin with.

      • AdosHouse on 19/05/2022 - 17:25
        +1

        I suspect the new car has some sort of parasitic drain, but with all the news features with new cars, especially higher-end Euro cars, I'm not surprised.

        • Domicron on 19/05/2022 - 18:50

          Well, mine was a Cooper S, also on the S3 as well. Nothing high end, but idle consumption shouldn't be too different. The cla250 has two batteries, one for aux.

          European cars do come with a higher capacity battery in general.

          Again, still not adding up as there are rarely any cars in the showroom there days. Doubt they would have been sitting there for long.

          • AdosHouse on 19/05/2022 - 20:01

            @Domicron: Also possible that one of the salespeople screwed up and left it in ACC or ignition to show off, and didn't tell anyone.

    • Harold Halfprice on 20/05/2022 - 12:35

      If the battery was so flat that it wouldn't start the car, then that battery is already dying, so they were hoping to give you a battery that is already stuffed instead of just replacing the battery.

      That is not necessarily true and is pure speculation.

      It's far more likely they left the car accessory power on or some interior lights or something. That doesn't mean the battery is dying, and a jump start is enough to bring the battery back.

      • AdosHouse on 20/05/2022 - 15:22
        +3

        When a battery gets below its working voltage the plates start degrading, how low it goes and for how long determines the damage. Sure you might be able to bring it back, but the life has been cut.

  • PLA74 on 18/05/2022 - 15:22
    +2

    I suspect it might've been caused due to 12volt/48volt battery systems that new Mercedes cars run

  • Hithere on 18/05/2022 - 15:23

    ask for a refund?

    This. Who knows what other damage may have been caused by this negligence. It may take a while to show up, not worth taking the risk.

    salesman seems nice and genuine

    They all do until they get your money and you've driven away.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 18/05/2022 - 15:29
    +6

    If you are buying a NEW car you expect it to be (profanity) New i mean isn't that common sense ?

    Mercs aren't cheap and they aren't all that reliable tbh i would be demanding another car that is not damaging

    What they are selling you imo is selling a used car or at very best a factory defected model. If they gave you 20% back and kept the 5 year warranty in case anything went wrong i'd prob settle for that too

    Gosh car salesmen are shifty (profanity)

    • Domicron on 19/05/2022 - 14:17

      Yes, most are cheap. Just that people perceive MB to be expensive.

  • payless69 on 18/05/2022 - 15:33
    +1

    Mercedes has followed Honda by firing its dealers and re-hiring the workers as sham contractors.
    Ownership passes from Merc to you so Merc has full responsibillity. Money back of a loan car of equal type!

  • solidussnake on 18/05/2022 - 15:41
    +2

    They should have one of those plug in trickle chargers for cars they leave in the showroom for this exact reason, secondly they should just have replaced it with a new battery.

    They have either put the jumper on the wrong connectors or they have done some major damage to the electronics and or systems. You do however still have the full warranty and could haggle to have it reduced for their consequences and you being put out up to you in the end

  • Fredfloresjr on 18/05/2022 - 16:00
    +1

    Weird flex but okay.

    I would ask for refund becausei it's Mercedes

    • elgrande on 18/05/2022 - 17:10

      Weird flex Wednesday

  • GrueHunter on 18/05/2022 - 16:10
    +1

    Ask the nice dealer if he'd pay new Merc money for a refurb.

  • djones145 on 18/05/2022 - 16:20

    ask for discount
    sell car as second hand for more
    buy Camry
    win win

  • pegaxs on 18/05/2022 - 16:32
    +24

    100% nobody blew up a module jumpstarting it. My bet is on the fact that another shitbox came in for an issue and the part was 4 to 6 weeks ex-Germany, so they cannibalised the showroom vehicle to get the part now and put the ordered one onto your car.

    Just get a refund because you will never be happy and will use this as leverage for anything that goes wrong with your car and will end up being a pissed off customer over something that is a non-event.

    But just so you know, you wouldn’t believe the shit that gets done to new cars between the factory and you being handed the keys. I have seen cars literally crashed in the holding yard and then repaired and sent out to dealers as new vehicles.

    • Muzeeb on 18/05/2022 - 17:37
      +1

      they cannibalised the showroom vehicle to get the part

      That makes so much sense. Cheers

    • gbarlett on 19/05/2022 - 08:16
      -1

      They are very easy vehicles to cause damage to when jump starting if not done correctly.
      i see it all the time with mercs.
      they have a module in the boot that would blow just by showing it a set of jumper leads
      this is based on previous models, no experience with current model however some things never change.
      Probably jump started by the know all apprentice.

  • oscargamer on 18/05/2022 - 18:21
    +1

    Only read the OP.

    You are required to accept the car, else you are breaking the contract of sale.

    Anything that raises it's head during the warranty period, will be assessed at that time .

    PS… Why did you buy a Mercedes. You are entering a world of pain. This is just the beginning. Merc stealerships are notoriously the worst to deal with.

    • DoctorCalculon on 18/05/2022 - 19:15
      +1

      Why did you buy a Mercedes

      'Tis is an investment vehicle for OP.

      • oscargamer on 18/05/2022 - 22:22
        +2

        Of course. My apologies…. 😊

    • Myone888 on 19/05/2022 - 08:02
      +1

      Absolutely. After sales service is the pitts. They don’t want to know you after that and brush you of even with 5 years warranty!

  • SlickMick on 19/05/2022 - 08:18
    +3

    I refused to accept a car that was not the latest model as specified on the lease documents.

    I ended up with a brand new loan car (to take on an interstate trip), until they got the new model in.

    I thought that went surprisingly well, but would certainly not accept anything less than what you paid for.

    • Muzeeb on 19/05/2022 - 08:24
      +1

      I'm guessing this was pre covid?

  • bbinc on 19/05/2022 - 08:34

    Could you have an independent auto electrician who knows Mercs check it out before you accept it? Or at least get an opinion from one about the story?

  • hueylewis on 19/05/2022 - 08:37
    +1

    friend had a merc that sparked when he jump started flat battery. airbag seatbelt module went short time later - $1k repair, then the gear shift shat itself $1.5k repair. then transmission went faulty, $3k repair…he got rid of it then.

    • bmerigan on 20/05/2022 - 21:05

      A spark doesn't damage things months later

      • hueylewis on 21/05/2022 - 07:43
        -3

        who said anything about 'months later', oh, that's right, you did. because you are projecting.

        • bmerigan on 21/05/2022 - 09:53
          +1

          You said "then…", "then…", "then…" implying meaning these things did not happen at the same time.

          • hueylewis on 21/05/2022 - 10:09

            @bmerigan: 'Then' = "Subsequently". "Then" gets interpreted as 'MONTHS' to you, for some strange reason.

            • eug on 21/05/2022 - 10:17

              @hueylewis: So how long was "a short time later"?

              • hueylewis on 21/05/2022 - 11:10

                @eug: Long enough to work out that the events were most likely related. There was no other event that caused these electronics to fail just for the hell of it.

  • payless69 on 19/05/2022 - 09:37
    +3

    For all here old enough: There was a reason Janis Joplin drove a Porsche.

  • MontyMacaw on 19/05/2022 - 14:21
    +12

    The salesman seems nice and genuine. Let me repeat that, THE SALESMAN SEEMS NICE AND GENUINE. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I love a good joke😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

    • Leeroy Jenkins on 19/05/2022 - 23:42

      I was gonna comment on this and saw you've already done it.

      I had such a good laugh!!

    • IanC on 21/05/2022 - 15:43

      With respect your comment is most unfair.
      I'm sure the salesman was nice and genuine and even offered the buyer a cup of coffee while giving a super deal to the OP.
      It's people who don't understand sales techniques who give these poor individuals such a bad name.
      I seem to recall Alan Bond had a close friend who sold cars and look what a fine individual he was.

  • Sterio on 19/05/2022 - 14:30

    Who knows what is wrong with the car that prevented delivery? As mentioned above, it could well have been a donor for another failed Merc and they have just mentioned to you that it was a fried module.

    Where is the car now?
    Is it still in the showroom awaiting the new module?
    Is it in the workshop? Or,
    Is it a complete lie and the car is in the panel shop after an over zealous apprentice caused body damage?

    Considering the big? bucks your are spending on a new Merc, for peace of mind I would refuse delivery of the car and seek a refund.

  • OzHunterNSW on 19/05/2022 - 15:30
    +1

    You can not simply jump start modern vehicles… I surmise the vehicle is now damaged

    • MontyMacaw on 19/05/2022 - 16:15

      Agree. I would be forever worried about what would come next. It would dive me crazy. The nature of electrical issues is not always about where the fault occurred but how much further the charge went before it stopped.

  • MontyMacaw on 19/05/2022 - 16:17
    +1

    Who in their right mind thinks jump starting a vehicle with a flat battery is going to recharge the battery?!! The only solution is to use a different battery or fully charge it safely.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/05/2022 - 22:44
      +1

      What makes you think they were trying to charge it? They were probably trying to move it.

      • MontyMacaw on 19/05/2022 - 23:25
        -5

        Same applies 🙄 I bet mummy had problems with her little Skylex being pedantic.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/05/2022 - 00:02
          +1

          That doesn't really answer my question, so you just made it up out of nowhere then I take it.

          If the battery is flat, they would likely charge it, or replace it, but they would hardly do that in the showroom. They would need to move it. Did you imagine their cunning plan was to jump start it in the showroom, then leave it running until the battery was charged?

          You can call that pedantic if you like, I just find it ridiculous that you could somehow come to that conclusion. All the while proclaiming some sense of right mind superiority.

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