[vinaydas]

maybe the localization is the culprit here? (im not sure if the c220 is a CKD or a CBU)
so MB might be using substandard parts on some of its variants to save on costs? Compared to the CBU's which are relatively reliable?

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by GTO

I don't buy that, Mpower. If you sell your car here, make sure it performs just as well. Also, I've seen harsher driving conditions (road + weather) in a place like Boston.

Originally Posted by carboy

- MB's AC's are designed for German weather, hence fail in India.
- MB's Suspensions are designed for Autobahns, hence they fail in India.
- MB's Fuel Pumps are designed for German fuel, hence they fail in India.

They should either design for the place they are selling the car or stop selling it in that place.

Anyway, I absolutely don't believe the fact that AC fails because it's designed for German weather.

Hey, dont shoot the messenger. Usually A/C compressors etc are upsized and ruggedized for tropical markets by many OEMs. Even suspensions/GC is modified for India along with engine tuning for local fuel. Never heard of Merc doing anything like that.

Generally Merc does not do whole lot of local tuning because they feel customers like the 'Germaness' of their cars even though their top markets are China, USA, Germany, Middle-east

I recall a friend with a W140 in the late 90s also had repeated AC failures.

[r_subbiah]

As usual an excellent thread by GTO. I regret my self about the desiciion I took to sell my Ikon 1.6 a year back.

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by vid6639

Immortalz, I've seen those corner shops which are not really corner shops.

They have all the diagnostic tools to plug into the ECU for every car model. From there they program the new blank key and test it out. They even give a warranty with the new key.

The place is near mission road in bangalore and the Skoda/Honda/Toyota keys were costing Rs.2,000.

The keys are branded from an italian company Electronic Keys

Can anyone recommend a similar corner shop in Bbay. We just bought a second hand accord and are facing the same issue. I've only got one key (owner seems to have lost other 2). Anywhere I can get the duplicates made reliably? This does not have autocop - simple manual operation key is what I have at my disposal.

Any inputs would be much appreciated.

[Zappo]

Many moons back I witnessed a SBK owner addressing a crowd at a local auto rally and display (had all sorts of vintage, new, 4-wheeled, 2-wheeled kinds) that one is not supposed to ask about the maintenance cost of such vehicles. They are owned for style, verve and substance that they carry. It is understandable that ordinary people can not maintain them and hence the exclusivity that arises from it. He even sneered "CD100 kharido bhai".

I found that to be a strange line at that time and gave a shrug and walked off thinking 'talk about walking on the clouds'! Now I wonder whether these luxury brands do try to exploit this warped thinking amongst the owners of such luxury vehicles to milk them and line their pockets?

Its time they started facing the music. And that will happen when owners start asking why I should really have to keep paying for the inferior parts in my luxury vehicle which keep breaking down ever so often when similar parts in a vehicle far down the ranks keep performing flawlessly year after year.

[GTO]

Umm, turns out it wasn't the evaporator after all . My Merc independent specialist - Ajay Parekh - merely took out two sockets (one of which led to the compressor), cleaned the residue and put it back. Voila! Aircons back to its chilly days.

Cost = Zero.

My earlier criticism was probably a tad too harsh. But then, there have been numerous other part replacements too.

[issigonis]

GTO,

You jumped the gun, it seems.
The brand value and image of Daimler Benz lives on to fight another day!

Regards

[Jaggu]

Phew that was a close shave! May you have a trouble free merc

[GTO]

What kind of residue would cause this? Sulphur? How did it get there?

Originally Posted by issigonis

The brand value and image of Daimler Benz lives on to fight another day!

[lancer_rit]

Originally Posted by GTO

Umm, turns out it wasn't the evaporator after all . My Merc independent specialist - Ajay Parekh - merely took out two sockets (one of which led to the compressor), cleaned the residue and put it back. Voila! Aircons back to its chilly days.

Cost = Zero.

So, maybe every two years, this cleaning of sockets is required instead of changing the evaporator ? The dealer, in all probability, will change the evaporator and do the cleaning ??

[GTO]

The dealer, in all probability, will change the evaporator and do the cleaning ??

Well, I've had a superb experience with Auto Hangar since day one and would not doubt their business practices.

[jkdas]

Peace of might is what one would want. Proactive repair/replacement and swift work is what any car owner would want be it Swift or Merc.

GTO's Merc is 5 year. Newer Merc's are better right? That is, they dont have this rate of part failure ? Merc of Germany = Tata of India

Correct me here. Resale value of C/3/A4 is better than of Camry/Accord/Teana.

[ImmortalZ]

Uhh, the Camry and Teana have no resale value at all when you consider the prices they are sold at.

[GTO]

Sighhhhhhhhhhh.....the air-con has conked off yet again. Evaluation pending, but I'm back to my suspicion of the evaporator conking off.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by GTO

Sighhhhhhhhhhh.....the air-con has conked off yet again. Evaluation pending, but I'm back to my suspicion of the evaporator conking off.

Again! you sure have nerves of steel bro,
this new year hasn't been kind on your Car's a/c, its the second time, (the goa drive back and now) phew!

i know you don't change cars often but just maybe the upcoming 5 series is calling you