Repairs for 2006 smart Cabrio?

[Joanmh]

I have a much-loved grey-market Cabrio. Have had it since the beginning of 2006. Where can I take it for future repair?? The new dealerships won't touch it. I live in the Akron/Cleveland area.

[PlainCityVWBug]

Try any regular professional body shop. I wish you luck.

[goldseekur]

I have a 2006 Passion and I have found the same response from the dealership in Columbus Ohio! I was just told that they would not work on my car. I just posted a thread about it on the forum about 450 models.

I was not given any reason for them not working on the car. Is this how the Mercedes dealerships treat any customer that did not buy their car from them directly!? Not so great customer service!

Goldseekur

[PeteInLongBeach]

It has nothing to do with that. The 450 is very different from the 451, and the current new smart dealers do not have parts, tools or training to work on the 450.

There are some independent shops referenced elsewhere that can work on a 450.

[goldseekur]

Originally Posted by PeteInLongBeach

It has nothing to do with that. The 450 is very different from the 451, and the current new smart dealers do not have parts, tools or training to work on the 450.

There are some independent shops referenced elsewhere that can work on a 450.

Pete,

If there are Independents who can work on them and they can get parts and they have the "know how" to work on the car then why can't the company that manufactures the car do the same???!!!

How many times do auto manufactures change models and engines throughout the course of time. They still work on the other models, not just the most current design, don't they?

My car has a Mercedes turbo engine, say so right on the engine block, so why can't Mercedes work on it?

Goldseekur

[jwight]

Just my .02, but the grey market smarts were not imported by Mercedes, modified by Mercedes or sold by Mercedes. As far as Mercedes is concerned, those cars went "off the books" when they were sold to the US importer by certain EU Mercedes dealers. It may be part of Penske's deal with Mercedes requires smart USA dealers to not service the grey market cars, or it may be solely a PAG decision. Either way, complaining to the dealer won't change anything. Best thing to do IMHO is as many grey market owners have already done - find an independent shop to do the work and help them locate parts as needed.

[sk8ndad]

Originally Posted by jwight

Just my .02, but the grey market smarts were not imported by Mercedes, modified by Mercedes or sold by Mercedes. As far as Mercedes is concerned, those cars went "off the books" when they were sold to the US importer by certain EU Mercedes dealers. It may be part of Penske's deal with Mercedes requires smart USA dealers to not service the grey market cars, or it may be solely a PAG decision. Either way, complaining to the dealer won't change anything. Best thing to do IMHO is as many grey market owners have already done - find an independent shop to do the work and help them locate parts as needed.

Probably be cheaper too