Mercedes-Benz of Modesto

I recently purchased a 2000, E430 MB from my business partner, with 51K miles on it. He had purchased this car new from Modesto European and said that all service had been performed by Modesto European. partner, with 51K miles on it. He had purchased this car new from Modesto European and said that all service had been performed by Modesto European. After driving the car for two weeks, I took it in to be serviced and asked them to check three things: the noise made while turning, the broken cup holder and the AM radio, which could not get even the strongest of stations clearly, and to advise me on other service that should be done. I was helped by Jason Downing (whom I later learned is the service manager.) The first call I received from Jason was to inform me that Mercedes’ made noise turning as a rule and that the radios were not very good. (This from the dealer of “luxury autos”). I told Jason that we had a problem if he thought that the noise made by my car while turning was “normal”. I asked him to drive it again before pursuing any other work on the car. They indeed found a problem and fixed it. They also did maintenance and repairs that they said would bring the car up to Mercedes specifications for a total bill of $5235.00 (including $342.00 to connect some wires in my rear window to fix my radio). They had the car for one week ($3803.00 in labor). I asked if the former owner had been notified by the dealership of possible maintenance requirements before his 50K warranty was up and he said he did not know. (It is my contention that a good service oriented dealership would not have let this happen in the first place, but that’s irrelevant.) I picked the car up from Modesto European and was told that the repairs were taken care of. They obviously did not listen to my radio as it was no better than before. (My invoice states “repaired AM antenna amplifier wiring, all OK at this time”. Several weeks later I discovered that if I turned the key on and then off the radio was clear, but when the car was started the radio returned to its staticky ways. I called Jason, and again took my car to Modesto European (which is a 40 minute one way drive from my house). They kept it from Tuesday until Friday and for $245.00 more, I received my car with a working radio. In summation, I paid $342 not to have my radio fixed, then 3 days without my car and another $245 for Modesto European to learn how to repair what I was told was fixed the first time. I’ve owned my own pharmacy, dealing with the public for the past 20 years. Before that I managed the place. If I offered the kind of “service” to my customers that I received from Modesto European I would not have seen year two. Needless to say Modesto European will get the “credit it deserves” when I’m talking with my customers and friends. Sincerely, Jim Biedenweg More