Do not buy a Mercedes-Benz.

I bought a brand new Mercedes-Benz c220d in 2017 (I think its a w205 if I'm not mistaken). Since then my life has been turned upside down with engine warning lights. I had my first issue with the car at 5900 KM of mileage. Took the car into the Umhlanga branch (which will be the mercedes dealership I will be refering to in this post) was told everything will be sorted. I gave the dealership the benefit of the doubt, obviously I was furious that a brand new car was giving an engine warning light. They "fixed" the vehicle and returned to me assuring me that everything is ok. Now before I move on with my issue its important to note the car was giving and engine management light (EML) and a glowplug warning light, this will be the same issue I refer to about in this post (to this day I still have no idea what it is and neither does mercedes).

Come to 8000km (few months later) and guess what the fault is back. So I take the car into the dealership again. This time they keep the car for a very long time if memory serves me right more than two weeks. I should also mention at this point Mercedes fought to issue a courtesy car to me claiming they didnt have one and if they provided one I would be responsible for insuring the vehicle. I proceeded to contact Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) and nothing reasonable came from that. I had then decided to phone the dealer principal, and after explaining that this is not good customer service and I should not be responsible for their vehicle as the poor workmanship from the last "repair" has put me into this position. Eventually after a good couple of phone calls and headaches, they agree and I got a courtesy car (something that I should not have to fight for). After that long duration I get the car back and Mercedes assures me the problem is solved.

fast forward 12000km the seats jam in the coupe. So Back I go. Mind you the seat is rarely in use to gain access to the back.

Come to 38000km the USB fails for the infotainment system. So back to mercedes they replace it and to this day it still does not work properly (it stops detecting the USB randomly) I've given up on this one.

So now I had a little bit of a good time with my merc, finally the first time since I bought it and guess what ? My glowplug and EML comes on at 58000km. So I already know what is going to happen. I phone mercedes umhlanga and they claim they cannot take the car as they are fully booked for the week and give me a date the next week. I explain to the bookinig department staff that the EML is on and you have to tend to this vehicle to which the staff says its not possible. So I call MBSA roadside assistance. The operator for MBSA hears my story and tells me that the dealership must have a bay allocated for "walk-ins" for emergency repairs and that the EML being on qualifies for that. I explain how the dealership refused so MBSA gets a technician out to look at the car. The guy comes to my house tells me its the glowplug and it needs to be booked in. So the next day I take the car in with the paperwork they book my vehicle in. Without even looking at the car I'm told the car will not be back on the same day (this tells me the dealership is over booking and pushing too many services). At this point I'm so fed up with the dealership and Mercedes as a whole I say fine as no punitive or corrective action as ever been taken by MBSA towards the dealership.

Now rinse and repeat this weekly for three more times. So this week was the 4th week in the last 2 months I've taken this car in. I have been very patient with MB umhlanga. I take the car in on monday (7th September) and I tell them you have till friday to fix this problem properly as friday im goinig back to work. Mind you through out this ordeal I've had to phone the dealership to get answers and only when I started getting irate did they begin to return my phone calls and keep me informed. Once again I ask for a courtesy vehicle and again im told I must pay for the insurance. I get told this at 430pm thursday. Obviously I refuse to drive without insurance and obviously I refuse to pay insurance on their vehicle especially when the same fault as occured 5 times in this cars 3 year life span.

When the time comes for you to depend on your motor plan its a headache. "Mercedes qualified" technicians cannot fix this vehicle and the dealership has left me with a pay as you go option on a car thats not mine (a courtesy Toyota Yaris which I must insure). I contacted MBSA telephonically and they were not interested in assisting me saying some dealerships do that you have to insure the vehicle (and that was the end of the discussion not even bothered to assist me or investigate why or hear my reasons). I had also sent a message to MBSA on facebook (that same monday) and they said they will contact me ASAP and I'm still waiting for them to contact me 4 days later.

Mercedes-Benz - the best or nothing .... well looking in my garage I can tell you all thats there is nothing there.

Do yourself a favour stay away from Mercedes-Benz. Their aggressive marketing campaign will have you fooled but after sales service is riddled with flaws and poor service and incompetence and the head office has no teeth to deal with these dealerships so they can get away with sub-standard service. There is no peace of mind owning this mercedes, something you expect from the brand.

Its probably safe to assume when the car comes back it will come back with the fault (like the last four times). If you thinking of buying a new mercedes do yourself a favour and dont. Get something else. Never again after this vehicle will I ever purchase a Mercedes-Benz and I will make it my mission to make sure everyone I know does not either. This car is simply NOT WORTH IT

well thats my experience ...