FIrst Mercedes Dealership experience this week

[kendall69]

Took my 2007 Dodge Sprinter into a Mercedes dealership this week, anticipating I would be treated like a red headed step child. To my surprise I was "welcomed" into the Mercedes family. Hmmm.

I attempted to go back to faithful Dodge dealer, but it's pretty obvious they are walking further and further away from Sprinters and Sprinter Service. One clue, they took 24 hours to find a part number, and even then they couldn't find it "because they had no Sprinters on the lot to look at the part"

The Mercedes found the part number while I was on the phone. Now anticipating being raped at the Mercedes prices, and not having a choice because it was the sliding door problem, I was pleasantly surprised the price to fix my sliding door was under $200.00.

OK, so I thought I would push my luck. I requested a fuel filter change, and said I had my own filter. Well, that was me pushing too far. They said they can not put in any filter BUT a Mercedes filter. I said no problem, I'll just do it myself. Later in the conversation he agreed, indicating he was doing me a "favor".

He asked if I wanted to wait - HUH? He explained they revamped their Sprinter service to get Sprinters in and out quickly as they know we all use them for business and we can't have out trucks out of commission for any time. HUH again. FAST SERVICE. I said no as I'm anticipating the obligatory " we have to have the part shipping in....", so I'll just get a rental car.

He said, he would pay for the rental car. WTF, not they are scaring me. Immaculate dealership, fast service, fair pricing, free rental car....I'm being PUNKED right - where are the cameras.


Now for the coup de grâce. He pulls up with a new Mercedes C-class Coupe. OK STOP THIS ALREADY, really where are the cameras. Do they all jump out when I get the keys or when I sit behind the wheel, helllooo I'm waiting, you're not going to surprise me.

Still freaked out as I drove home in the nicest car I have even driven.

Now if Mercedes would wake up and make all their dealers service Sprinters I will be a happy camper.

[OrioN]

What??!! No free conversion...like I got??!! I'd never go back...

[gary 32]

Kendall,
There really are some quality dealerships both Mercedes and Chrysler out there that know everything counts for brand loyalty. All this dealer bashing is overdone.

[kendall69]

Originally Posted by gary 32

Kendall, There really are some quality dealerships both Mercedes and Chrysler out there that know everything counts for brand loyalty. All this dealer bashing is overdone.

I certainly hope you don't think I was Dodge/Chrysler bashing, because I wasn't. The Dodge dealer left me with no alternative but to move over to Mercedes. I did it kicking and screaming. But, now that I did it it, I couldn't be happier.

For me it was easy as my Dodge dealer, rightly so, is moving farther and farther away from Sprinters. I had my tranny fluid changed at 50K at the Dodge dealer and the tranny ran a little funny afterwards. I think they just dumped in some non spec tranny fluid because they had it on hand, and stopped stocking Mercedes spec fluids because of costs.

So, I had the Mercedes dealer do it all over again now at 75K. I'll just feel better knowing the real deal fluid is in it.

So again, NOT BASHING, only stating simple facts. For Dodge/Chrysler, it's no longer profitable for dealers to stock spec. items, - I now know this. I think Dodge/Chrysler should make some sort of clean break from Sprinter Service.

[gary 32]

Originally Posted by kendall69

I certainly hope you don't think I was Dodge/Chrysler bashing, because I wasn't. The Dodge dealer left me with no alternative but to move over to Mercedes. I did it kicking and screaming. But, now that I did it it, I couldn't be happier.

For me it was easy as my Dodge dealer, rightly so, is moving farther and farther away from Sprinters. I had my tranny fluid changed at 50K at the Dodge dealer and the tranny ran a little funny afterwards. I think they just dumped in some non spec tranny fluid because they had it on hand, and stopped stocking Mercedes spec fluids because of costs.

So, I had the Mercedes dealer do it all over again now at 75K. I'll just feel better knowing the real deal fluid is in it.

So again, NOT BASHING, only stating simple facts. For Dodge/Chrysler, it's no longer profitable for dealers to stock spec. items, - I now know this. I think Dodge/Chrysler should make some sort of clean break from Sprinter Service.

Profitable or not, the state of CA forces both Chrysler and consumers into sold as a Dodge serviced as a Dodge. Many of us with extended warranties can only go to Dodge. For me Dependable Dodge in Canoga Park is a class act and dealer by dealer is the current state of affairs.

[72chevy4x4]

I took mine work van in for an expected EGR issue two weeks ago and asked for a courtesy vehicle while they were working on it. Dropped it off at 9am and was soon shown to my courtesy C300. That was a fun day driving around

[hkpierce]

If he treated you so well, why not mention the dealer's name and add your comments to that thread?

[kendall69]

I also have extended warranty from Dodge, and will be also forced to do warranty work there, but for routine service I will never ever go there.

Update:
I went to pick the Sprinter up today as I was waiting for the part to come in from NY for the last few days.

I drove up with the loaner, and went to the waiting room. OK now this is getting SICK. The waiting room had several flavored coffees, apples & bananas, in a bowl, chocolate chip cookies, on tray, ice cold bottles water in a mini fridge, newspapers, all free to enjoy while waiting for my Sprinter to be pulled up. When I say free - yes I know in the long run I'm paying for these things, as nothing is fee. Just beats two vending machines at the Dodger dealership.

I'm now really convinced the Dodge dealership put in something other than recommended tranny fluid at 50K miles, because driving home with this tranny change it ran completely different. The tranny used to grab too abruptly and sort of shutter. Never happened before the change and now with this new change it's GONE. It shifts smoother, and no grabbing and shutter when I slow down. Drives like a new vehicle.

From what I can remember also the Dodge dealer didn't actually change the tranny filter, they just dumped and pumped. The Mercedes dealer dropped the pan, changed the tranny filter, and refilled.

I was expecting to get raped because my sliding door took a dump and the chain unraveled so I couldn't close the door. Price to repair the door including parts around $150.00. Tranny Service was $300.00

Dealership is Walters Mercedes in Riverside Ca.