Gone off track Mercedes build quality - 2019 edition

[Keyonte]

Love the company, work culture and it's nice having race car drivers hanging around, but Mercedes put some quality back into the vehicles please. Ride quality, build quality in everything you build, not just the favorite products. The brand equity is priceless and it must be treated as such in everything they build.

M

I totally agree I think because the C class among the SUVs is built in Alabama and we know Americans are lazy. Also the use of aluminum as opposed to steel like on my W204. Mercedes please bring back that vault-like feeling

 

[Merc1]

I totally agree I think because the C class among the SUVs is built in Alabama and we know Americans are lazy. Also the use of aluminum as opposed to steel like on my W204. Mercedes please bring back that vault-like feeling

No. What I said has nothing to do with where or who is building the vehicle.

M

 

[Serpens]

I totally agree I think because the C class among the SUVs is built in Alabama and we know Americans are lazy. Also the use of aluminum as opposed to steel like on my W204. Mercedes please bring back that vault-like feeling

I wouldn’t blame this on Americans as a whole, BMW hasn’t been having nearly as many issues with body panel fit and such.

 

[Keyonte]

No. What I said has nothing to do with where or who is building the vehicle.

M

It does tho. Compare Tesla, Chrysler and GM (all American)quality control and consumer reports to that of German and especially Japanese brands you’ll understand. Yes the parts come from Germany but they are poorly assembled by my pals in Tuscaloosa. Case and point know of 2 GLS63 owners whom have had their cars returned due to computer issues with the wiring harness within the first 2 years of ownership, one of which had under 15,000 miles. And after being in a W205 loaner I can say my German made W204 is a lot more sound.

 

[Keyonte]

I wouldn’t blame this on Americans as a whole, BMW hasn’t been having nearly as many issues with body panel fit and such.

I wouldn’t blame this on Americans as a whole, BMW hasn’t been having nearly as many issues with body panel fit and such.

I won’t specifically pinpoint America as a whole but imo it’s more regional. Tesla’s are made in California where weed has been legal for nearly a decade and they have body panel issus, electrical etc you name it. The MBUSI plant is located in the state ranked 50th in education mind you there are only 50 states in America

 

[Merc1]

It does tho. Compare Tesla, Chrysler and GM (all American)quality control and consumer reports to that of German and especially Japanese brands you’ll understand. Yes the parts come from Germany but they are poorly assembled by my pals in Tuscaloosa. Case and point know of 2 GLS63 owners whom have had their cars returned due to computer issues with t...

No it doesn't. Tolerances for how something is assembled are set in Germany, not America. Dude, a wiring harness' reliability doesn't depend on where it was assembled or who installed it, if it's a bad component doesn't matter. Cars from Germany have many problems also. Case in point my own BMW. A wiring issue is NOT a fit and finish or assembly issue. Care to venture over to MBWorld and look at the MB's from GERMANY that have fit and finish issues? Tesla's are put together like shite, doesn't have anything to do with Mercedes, its a poorly designed car in that respect. This blanketing of all American assembly as being inferior is BS and it's ignorant. MB and BMW's factories here put out quality products, but no factory is perfect, Germany, China, America etc.

M

 

[PHYBENZ]

I have so far owned/leased a CLA and now a C43. I will say that my C43 on the driver's side, whoever assembled it was sloppy and the door lock plastic was scratched up as if someone was using pliers on it without any protection, the A pillar fabric was a little beat up at the joint, and the tweeter speaker plastic was also scratched. All on delivery. Seems like the person assembling the door parts on that day, was not having a good day.

Didn't notice anything like that on my CLA.

Also on my C, the rear bumper was not aligned properly with the wheel well, and the front driver's door isn't perfectly flush with the rear door because you can see how dirt accumulates. Didn't have any of these issues on my CLA, but can't say for sure why.

 

[Deleted member 53471]

Tolerances for how something is assembled are set in Germany, not America.

Tolerances can be changed outside of Germany depending on the local parts supply. Yes, no plant is perfect, but the Tuscaloosa plant is infamous for having noticeable quality issues. The Tuscaloosa plant won't be producing W206.

 

[sl123]

Right now, production quality in Tuscaloosa is a mess.
Thousands of Tusca-produced Mercedes cars are stored in Bremerhaven due to quality issues. Mostly GLE.

Same holds true for GLB from Mexico.
It’s a huge scandal here in Germany.

Warum lagern brandneue Mercedes-Autos auf diesem Flugplatz?

 

[Merc1]

Tolerances can be changed outside of Germany depending on the local parts supply. Yes, no plant is perfect, but the Tuscaloosa plant is infamous for having noticeable quality issues. The Tuscaloosa plant won't be producing W206.

How body panels fit wouldn't be changed by someone at the factory as far as I know. That is something that comes from the lead factory in Germany for a car like the C-Class. They aren't going to just change that on the fly in the U.S. I'm sure they won't as the SUV demand is much greater now.

M

 

[fortuner]

Right now, production quality in Tuscaloosa is a mess.
Thousands of Tusca-produced Mercedes cars are stored in Bremerhaven due to quality issues. Mostly GLE.

Same holds true for GLB from Mexico.
It’s a huge scandal here in Germany.

Warum lagern brandneue Mercedes-Autos auf diesem Flugplatz?

Can you share a link to your story Because I was led to belive these cares standing are due to some kind of part shortages.

 

[sako97]

Right now, production quality in Tuscaloosa is a mess.
Thousands of Tusca-produced Mercedes cars are stored in Bremerhaven due to quality issues. Mostly GLE.

Same holds true for GLB from Mexico.
It’s a huge scandal here in Germany.

Warum lagern brandneue Mercedes-Autos auf diesem Flugplatz?

Can you share a link to your story Because I was led to belive these cares standing are due to some kind of part shortages.

Sorry, but this is fake news. The article is clearly from August 21st and the hold up for those GLEs was due to a missing part for EU market, as @fortuner mentioned.

Not saying there isn’t a quality issue with AL build quality, but please don’t feed us with false info.

 

[Keyonte]

No it doesn't. Tolerances for how something is assembled are set in Germany, not America. Dude, a wiring harness' reliability doesn't depend on where it was assembled or who installed it, if it's a bad component doesn't matter. Cars from Germany have many problems also. Case in point my own BMW. A wiring issue is NOT a fit and finish or assembly issue....

I think you’re missing my point the overall quality of the vehicle is the same no matter where the Benz is built. As for the overall reliability I can say and can vouch as a factory worker in AL myself in the past that some employees just simply don’t take pride in their work. Yes the car is built nice but can 133k GLS63 start without a computer issue trying the ignition coil, maybe if they took more time.

 

[sl123]

A friend of mine is a Mercedes sales person - he confirmed it also. They are holding GLE customers mobil due to heavy delays. Go to German Motor talk: nearly 5000 posts ! about that issue.
Wartezimmer GLE/GLS

„missing parts“ is the „official version“

Mercedes lagert Neuwagen auf Flugplatz Ahlhorn: Gründe unklar - autobild.de

believe it or not.

 

[Merc1]

I think you’re missing my point the overall quality of the vehicle is the same no matter where the Benz is built. As for the overall reliability I can say and can vouch as a factory worker in AL myself in the past that some employees just simply don’t take pride in their work. Yes the car is built nice but can 133k GLS63 start without a computer is...

Then what the hell are you going on about then? Again what you have mentioned has NOTHING to do with where the car is built. You don’t know what you’re talking about. My German made BMW has had numerous issues.


M

 

[tristatez28lt1]

A friend of mine is a Mercedes sales person - he confirmed it also. They are holding GLE customers mobil due to heavy delays. Go to German Motor talk: nearly 5000 posts ! about that issue.
Wartezimmer GLE/GLS

„missing parts“ is the „official version“

Mercedes lagert Neuwagen auf Flugplatz Ahlhorn: Gründe unklar - autobild.de

believe it or not...

Agreed. I have heard from confidential sources that the GLE QC is the problem NOT the MB story of part shortages. If you've been in some of the GLEs, you'll understand.
Even worse, if you've driven the GLE Hybrid with the big battery, you'll feel how unstable that thing is not being engineered for the battery weight.

 

[sl123]

@Merc1: your German made BMW had numerous issues?
Great argumentation my friend - and an excellent eminence-based extrapolation originating from an anecdotal quality issue from one person.
Let’s talk about evidence, and a huge problem affecting thousands of cars clearly linked to the factory.
As always - better think twice

 

[Merc1]

@Merc1: your German made BMW had numerous issues?
Great argumentation my friend - and an excellent eminence-based extrapolation originating from an anecdotal quality issue from one person.
Let’s talk about evidence, and a huge problem affecting thousands of cars clearly linked to the factory.
As always - better think twice

Are you just not able to follow the conversation?

M

 

[sl123]

Respect Merc1,
great fact-based argumentation chain.
;-)
Please feel free to respond.
I won‘t reply because the abysmal level of conversation you started with is not what I am used to.
Have a wonderful day
Bye

 

[fortuner]

I think this GLE subject should be moved and also maybe we could get some facts or link to the delay being due to poor quality or fitting or manufacture issues.