Help! My 1998 C280 Estate (station wagon) engine cut out in traffic. No power, no power steering, no servo brakes! If this had been at speed on a crowded highway, we could have been killed (and killed others). Anyone else had this happen? Our local (suburb of London, UK) MB garage couldn't give a damn. Expressed no concern whatsoever. Told me apparently 3 (yes 3!) sensors had failed - crank, air intake and exhaust O2. Quote £826 ($1200?). I'm deeply suspicious - 3 sensors don't fail at once, unless they've recieved a 50 volt spike or something, and then the control box would be toast... MB said I was lucky the sensors had lasted this long! What? 5 years?!!! This is a Mercedes Benz for crissakes!!! Any ideas anyone?</P>


John</P>


This is just the latest problem we've had with this jinxed car, which we've owned from new. We never should have switched from (trouble free) BMWs!

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where in london are you?</P>


if you can get to east london, go see Prestige car Specialists 07831348015</P>


they do all the work on my car and will be able to diagnose your problem without the dealer price!</P>


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ThanksAlps. Unfortunately East London's a bit far. And the car's undrivable at the moment. But thanks for the suggestion.

 

I see my post didn't exactly set you folks on fire with comments or suggestions! I only hope thisbreakdown never happens to you - it was frightening and potentially lethal. </P>


Anyway, in case anyone's interested, the story concluded as follows: I challenged the MB report that 3 sensors had failed simultaneously. I said I just didn't believe it, and refused to agree to their ordering the parts they wanted. I asked them to re-consider and re-evaluate what they think had happened. Guess what? Three days later they said it now looked like it was just the crankshaft sensor which was faulty and that it was this which was causing the other two to give wrong readings! The final cost was a fraction of the earlier quote. They expected me to be happy about it! I paid, but will NEVER take the car anywhere near them again (this is a MB main dealer, owned directly by MB!) and have located a private MB specialist workshop not too far away, which was recommended to me. The car runs fine. I tell anyone who'll listen about this experience (and our numerous previous problems with the car) and in return have heard many stories of how MB reliability (at least in the C-Class) and after-sales service (at least here in the UK) leaves much to be desired. What a disappointment. (Why did we switch from the ultra-reliable BMW?!) I wish you all better luck with yours.

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