One day before selling the wife's 98 ML 320 several weeks ago, I brought it to the dealer for inspection and at the same time inquired regarding the refund that I read so much about on this board. The check finally arrived last week--$800+ !!! Awesome forum!
I'm going to turn my receipts in on Wednesday (8-3).
What I find interesting is the various degrees of charges from one person to another.
I will only be able to get back about $250.00. The part was $55.00 and the labor to intall was $95.00. The tow bill was $100.00. I told the lady at the cashiers counter at MB of Huntsville that I paid $55.00 for the balancer & she said NO WAY! I told her I would show her the receipt! She said the balancers are much more expensive than that.
The stealer wanted $1650.00 for this repair but that was with the oil pan replaced and new idler pulley. Neither were bad, though.
My dealer would not even pay the tow... That is awesome you got yours to.
They haven't paid it YET!! They just said to bring the receipts and they would send them in to MBUSA. If they didn't pay yours, I doubt they'll pay mine but I guess it just depends what paper pusher gets a hold of it!
I talked to MBUSA and the Dealer. The Dealer said it was up to MBUSA, and MBUSA said it was up to the dealer. I think it was up to the dealer, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t want to spare the $96.00.
When I first called my dealer about the refund, which was several weeks before I actually brought it in, I was told the refund would only amount to $130+ (does not include oil pan, belts, etc...) and it would be comming from MBUSA. The invoice had indicated that MBUSA had paid %25 of the original total bill. That's why I was going to ignore it. When I brought the car in in person, I was also told pretty much the same thing. However, the actual refund check is from the dealer and for the total amount that I had to pay for the repair (which had to included towing). I was very surprised. What's the deal?
ML 430 1999 63,000 miles, 95 degree day.
Harmonic Ballancers will turn sour on you when you least expect it. Have it checked out.
My wife and i were out of town 50 miles from home.
Not a Good Day. Cost me 295.00 for belt and Pulley, Plus damage to a small pulley from metal fragments. MB will cover 238.95 of cost. mb would not cover small pulley.
KEEP YOUR PARTS for inspection if you have it done by a private party.
This part, Hamonic Ballancer looks like MB tried to sandwich 1/4 piece of rubber between two pieces of metal on the main belt pulley off the motor. This rubber heats up or just falls out from the metal being crushed from compression and it just falls out. This sends your belt out of balance and will ride on the side wall of your motor. Not Good!
Do they just replace it with another one has it been updated [?]
The next day at work a E320 1999 60,000 miles pulled up next to me with the same noise my ML was making. I asked if she would open the hood of the car and their it was. The rubber core of the HAR.BAL was sitting on the bottom well of the engine and the belt was rubbing through the side wall of the engine.
REMEMBER FOR SECOND OWNERS TO UPDATE RECORDS WITH
MB-USA. Recalls do not go through dealers.
Mouse-
If your radio has bad reception tighten the co-ax line to the amplifier. Tail gate under the molding, right side. Worked for me!
today (8-17) an the Service Director said they(MBUSA) will send me a check. He seen the tow bill and everything and didn't seem too concerned. I'll let you know when I get the check.