Just Got Back From MB Service...report.

[EpicSmartHere]

My left front signal light stopped working (not the bulb) and the rear left doubled it's flicker speed. Took it in and they said I have a bad fuse box and it will take a week for the part. They said I can continue to drive the car until then.

Anyone else have this happen (420 miles on the car)?

Pretty random. I wonder if it (the bad fuse box) has anything to do with my poor mpg (28 after first 2 tanks...). But that is probably just me (drive the Hollywood hills everyday).

Anyways...look out for it.

[smartette]

Thanks for the heads up. Haven't had that issue, just over 1000 mi now. Here's hoping the new fuses help with the mileage (though mine has gotten progressively better, so yours should, too). Glad you can still drive your smartie 'til the part gets there.

[EpicSmartHere]

UPDATE:

They have had my car for three days... was supposed to have car back in half a day. Could not get a straight answer until today. They replaced the fuse box and it did not fix the problem so they took the whole car apart (looking for a bad cable) and realized the new fuse box was also faulty. They want me to wait until Monday! I have a road trip to Phoenix tonight to show off the Smart!!! I told them to put my car back together (they said it is in pieces) I do not need the turn signal for the weekend and they are blowing my plans. They said they will call me back in 30mins (an hour ago) to see if they could. I called them back and got sent to the voicemail (it is near impossible to get a human to talk to). Needless to say I AM PISSED.

Mercedes of Beverly Hills service = the suck

[EpicSmartHere]

UPDATE PART DEUX:

They are putting the car back together, not even so much as a sorry (I was polite the whole time). Now I have to go through all of this again next week.

What's the deal? How well trained are these "Smart Technicians" and why aren't they stocking parts?

[jwight]

Ah, that (in)famous M-B service experience.

[John_H]

Originally Posted by EpicSmartHere

What's the deal? How well trained are these "Smart Technicians" and why aren't they stocking parts?

More important (to me) perhaps: Why doesn't Smart USA have a central stocking location of ALL Smart car parts down to the last nut rather than relying on overseas shipping to get parts that are critical to the operation of our cars? Expecting each Smart Center to stock all the parts is inappropriate. Expecting to have parts available next-day from somewhere in the US is valid.

[EpicSmartHere]

Originally Posted by John_H

More important (to me) perhaps: Why doesn't Smart USA have a central stocking location of ALL Smart car parts down to the last nut rather than relying on overseas shipping to get parts that are critical to the operation of our cars? Expecting each Smart Center to stock all the parts is inappropriate. Expecting to have parts available next-day from somewhere in the US is valid.

yeah that's what I meant, it took a week to get the first (broken) part. I am more upset because it took 3 days to get the truth from the service department.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by John_H

More important (to me) perhaps: Why doesn't Smart USA have a central stocking location of ALL Smart car parts down to the last nut rather than relying on overseas shipping to get parts that are critical to the operation of our cars? Expecting each Smart Center to stock all the parts is inappropriate. Expecting to have parts available next-day from somewhere in the US is valid.

They do, at Tulsa, OK.

[timhood]

Originally Posted by EpicSmartHere

UPDATE PART DEUX:

They are putting the car back together, not even so much as a sorry (I was polite the whole time). Now I have to go through all of this again next week.

What's the deal? How well trained are these "Smart Technicians" and why aren't they stocking parts?

I would have just asked for a loaner. They likely would give you one, since it is a big time-waster for them to take things apart and put them back together only to take them apart again later...

[LDGsmart]

Originally Posted by Smartech2105

Please stop trying to fix the cars on your own. The scan tools everyone is buying are junk, they do not do half the functions that the ones of the dealers. Please if you have problems with your smart car just bring it in to the dealer, they are trained professionals and will do what they do best. FIX THE CAR. Its quite annoying to have a car come in and have the customer tell the mechanic whats wrong with it. So please everyone your cars are under warrenty TAKE THEM IN for work. Thanks.

Famous last words.

An order of patience is called for by non DIYs until non-dealer mechanincs get their hands on a few Smarts. These cars are truly easy to work on. Once that happens, the tyranny of the dealerships will be broken. Its going to tak a couple years though

EpicSmart: did you notice a difference in how activation of the turn signal sounded, or was displayed on the dash? You should get some kind of feedback from a bad light (think I'll go experiment).

Fuse box sounds wrong; it's more likely a short in the wiring which can be VERY hard to find (hence the torn-apart car). You were probably told it was the fusebox bc such can be easy to replace, and they were hoping for an easy fix.