FAO ADP1963

No direct experience of your make of car as I'm a Land Rover user, but since the vehicle manufacturers are all in it together and just assemble common components from outside suppliers there is probably a lot in common. 

The sinking suspension seems to have various causes from a cracked manifold in the electric compressor, to faulty air pipes (especially on the release side) and even sticking arms that operate the level sensor. Quite a few of these faults do not show up anything on the electronic fault systems on the computer screen so the highly trained (to work a laptop) staff cannot find the real fault.

Perhaps the old guy in the workshop under the railway arch who has no computer is the sort of real engineer you need here.

No direct experience of your make of car as I'm a Land Rover user, but since the vehicle manufacturers are all in it together and just assemble common components from outside suppliers there is probably a lot in common. 

The sinking suspension seems to have various causes from a cracked manifold in the electric compressor, to faulty air pipes (especially on the release side) and even sticking arms that operate the level sensor. Quite a few of these faults do not show up anything on the electronic fault systems on the computer screen so the highly trained (to work a laptop) staff cannot find the real fault.

Perhaps the old guy in the workshop under the railway arch who has no computer is the sort of real engineer you need here.

And therein lies the problem. Airmatic isn't that dissimilar to the air suspension on Range Rovers. As you say, the tech needs to get off his bum & swap his STAR (Mercs diagnostic gismo) for a bottle of soapy water. My money is still on a leaky strut's airbag .... as I told the dealer a month ago.

It's still at the body shop .....  Getting really cheesed off now 

So ........ 

apparently it was back from the body shop yesterday at close of play, they fitted the new strut this morning, gave it a 'dance test' followed by a road test and all A OK. 

I'd asked them to deliver it to my house ... I'm working all day over the weekend & couldn't get to collect it before next Thursday ..... they got half way to my house and ..............   the ESP came on!!!!!!! Obviously done something to the ABS sensor or its wiring/plug 

You really couldn't make it up. So much for a premuium car manufacturer's dealership 

to be continued ............ 

Like I said very early on, - You really did aught to report this sorry saga to MB UK.

TF

Like I said very early on, - You really did aught to report this sorry saga to MB UK.

TF

Mercedes Customer Services in Europe know about it .... I raised a complaint with them after they'd damaged my doors. I did get a follow up call the other day though i didn't have much more to tell them.

We wouldn't believe it if we didn't kow you, MM. Can't be doing much for your BP!!

Find a Merc specialist . If you ask on http://www.mbclub.co.uk/ the members will reccommend a good one in your area. The ones in my area all have Merc trained engineers and will do a better job cheaper and better than Main Stealers, sorry I meant dealers.                                                                                     There is no way that I would trust any car of mine to  main dealers of any manufacturers . All their good mechanics leave and start up on their own and their overheads are a hell of a lot lower so their prices are a lot friendlier  

Find a Merc specialist . If you ask on http://www.mbclub.co.uk/ the members will reccommend a good one in your area. The ones in my area all have Merc trained engineers and will do a better job cheaper and better than Main Stealers, sorry I meant dealers.                                                                                     There is no way that I would trust any car of mine to  main dealers of any manufacturers . All their good mechanics leave and start up on their own and their overheads are a hell of a lot lower so their prices are a lot friendlier  

 

I know of a few Merc 'specialists in my area. One of them diagnosed a failed fuel pump in my Smart & replaced it. They charged me four hours for the job & left a fuel leak that they denied was there despite the smell (I replaced the seal myself), Mercedes' charge 1.4 hrs to do the job. It would have been cheaper to take itto MB in the first place.

My Merc's suspension leg is listed as taking 2 hours and as all the local 'specialists' will only use MB parts, I took it to MB as I was only paying the difference of 2 hours labour rates ...... and assumed they'd know what they were doing and if they didn't, they had access to as much info as they needed from the Varterland. 

I distrust most garages too, but the options were taking my car to someone or mauling on my drive in the wet & cold and doing it myself ..... I choose the former.

For a garage that are Mercedes dealers they are performing like idiots. You must be really peed off by now,especially as you could have done the job yourself,albeit at some discomfort. When is your first trip away in the caravan? Is this inconvenience cramping your style.