Thread: My SLS woes... are not getting better!

I'll try to keep it simple...

We purchased a 2012 SLS on November 7th 2011 it arrived to the dealership a few days before. Picked it up with 36 miles. Over the course of the first week it had about 400 miles on it.

On Wednesday November 16th the car locked its transmission in park with the ebrake on and wouldnt let it disengage. After speaking to the dealership they had to send a tech to my house to put a hub-bearing on the wheel to get the car to roll. We had to push it down my drive (since the design of my garage wouldn't let a tow truck get to it.

They stated this has happened to a few people from 2011 model year; cars called for a new transmission, I wasn't happy about this, then they came back and said the control unit was bad and replaced it. Picked up the car on November 18th everything seemed fine.

Fast forward a week car was driven once since its trip to the dealership. I noticed the front grill had been pushed in and the tow hook cover kept coming lose. ZIP TIED it in place and drove to the dealership today the 28th.

November 28th drove to the dealership, they fixed the clips on the grill and sent me on my way. When I got home I noticed smoke bellowing out of the passenger side front end. Oil leak was hitting oil cooler and burning off.

Also noticed both headlights were flooded with water, (very heavy condensation). I am driving the car back to the dealership tomorrow.

Now here is my issue the dealership is 65 miles away from my house. In the first 3 weeks of ownership the car has had to be returned to the dealership 3 times. So out of the 700 miles on my car now 260 of them have been spent driving it to the dealership.

I understand its a low production car, but most of these bugs should have been handled in the 2011 models.

I'm keeping my cool but just want some feedback on what you guys think its fair.

Small update. You guys and ts are my place to vent and at this point who knows when the venting will end.

Spoke to my SA today, he mentioned that Charlie H. a regional service advisor stated that smoking from the passenger brake duct was normal. Since it was just some water splashing up and steaming off of the oil cooler. Here is a picture... of what I saw after 1.5 hours driving!



I have spoken to MB USA today they are forwarding me to rep tomorrow. The car is getting a new windshield because of the pitting (at 700 miles) and supposedly there is a bulletin on the headlights.

Then they came and took my sweet E class loaner and gave me a C class. lol I took my 08 Cayenne to a new dealership that I've never been too nor did I purchase the car from them and they gave me a 2011 Cayman as a loaner.

I know you guys are telling me to keep my cool, and I am (trying to) but I've kind of had it, I am going to see what MB USA and the AMG rep have to say. If I don't get some hella compensation for the troubles. I dont know what I am going to do.

Lemon law in Florida is 30 days in service within 2 years. I'm at 6 days in 3 weeks! Going to count down the days...

I haven't heard from my dealer since Tuesday except to get there loaner car back and give me a C class.

I contacted MB USA on Wednesday at 6 pm. They told me they will forward the info to a case rep and contact me within 24 hours. Its now Saturday with no word from them.

So I'm completely in the dark. This thread started as information for me, but proved to be a great tool. An AMG rep mentioned to another member who has been helping me in the shadows to stop posting negativity. (but I'd comply but no one wants to tell me whats going on)

Good news we are at 8 days out of the necessary 30 days to Lemon law the car with 23 months to go.

that sucks! hope it all works out for you! you should let them know you're upset by demanding certain things...like a better loaner. its a damn SLS!

I would also request that they send out a flatbed to you to pick up your car, and drop off a loaner. The fact that you must keep driving out there sounds ridiculous.

that is shitty that you have to drive there! My jeep dealer will come get the car, and leave me the loaner.

And its a jeep! Not a mercedes. I have yet to take my mercedes in for service though.

I believe you should be treated with much more compensation and service with what you had to go through. The amount of miles you've thrown on the car alone to handle this is outrageous. Personally, I'd be pissed as fuuu. I respect your cool in this but enough is enough sometimes. It's a freakin' SLS!

Its time to bring in the internet for support....

Its amazing what can happen

Odd, there's another SLS lemon on Ebay. It's pretty brutal.

I was going to buy one, I think I'm going to wait.

Ya sometimes that's the crappy part about buying limited production cars. Things go wrong, the manufacturer isn't as motivated to actually fix issues since I'm sure profit margin is very minimal on those. Stay persistent though. If the dealer wants you to quit posting "negativity" then they need to make sure their techs are working their ass off to get you what you paid for. Keep us posted and good luck!