[iacas]

So, long story short… and without blaming the wife… 0 My snowblower met up with the charging cable for my Smart car. It's a leased Smart, with the lease coming to a close at the end of this coming April, so I'm not all that worried about using the car much in the meantime (it should basically be fully charged right now), but I'm wondering what my options are to repair or replace the cable.

The repair will go one of two ways. First, if they're unable to detach the cable from the plug and the "box" part, they can simply splice the cable together and maybe put a box around it or something to help it remain together. If I'm lucky - and both parts are lightly assembled (the plug seems to have two hex screws so it may be like this - I haven't looked at the "box" end yet) - they can just replace the length of cable with a new one.

Worst case, I'll just have to buy an entirely new charging cable/plug/box… but where? I haven't seen many places. I'm assuming they'd want the official one back, not a third-party cable.

Any ideas, or thoughts? Help?

P.S. I searched for similar threads but didn't see any.

 

[sokoloff]

Here is one option. Most others I've seen were at or over a grand. Hope you can rebuilt it somehow.

https://www.partrequest.com/auto-pa...ging-cable-b-class-charger-oem-1-231975410124

Len
2-14 EV

 

[iacas]

None Available

Here is one option. Most others I've seen were at or over a grand. Hope you can rebuilt it somehow.

https://www.partrequest.com/auto-pa...ging-cable-b-class-charger-oem-1-231975410124

Len
2-14 EV

Thanks. Unfortunately they have none available.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-B-...HARGER-PLUG-IN-BRAND-NEW-SEALED-/222418929300

That one is $395. I'll see what they have to say tomorrow at the electrician's.

 

[SuperSmartie]

My factory brick-cable has been sitting unused in the garage for the past couple years. Ever since I bought the brick-free and universal 120V/240V Charge-Amps cable. I'd be easily convinced to let it go for less than said ebay offer if your electrician passes as I suspect he might. PM me.

 

[iacas]

PM me.

I'll do that. Thanks.

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

If it's a lease return, please make sure you return an undamaged and oem charger. Those who don't will be sorry that they did (return it with a damaged or non-oem charger).

 

[Bryan Fuqua]

I've taken my factory charger apart - just for fun. The shell CANNOT be re-assembled as you basically destroy it getting it apart. It is glued together and was never designed to be taken apart and fixed without a new shell. I have two other chargers, a Duocida 120/240V charger to keep in car and a Clipper Creek charger in garage so I just wanted to see what was inside (and I have a crazy project in mind for the remnants of the factory charger). EV West (evwest.com) lists a Lear Level 1 charger on their site for $299 if you cant find one else where.

 

[Yinzer]

"I've taken my factory charger apart - just for fun."

As a point of clarification that has been made before but bears repeating for any newcomers, the things being described here are not "chargers." They are only safety boxes between the AC electric service and the car's charger - which is mounted on-board in the car - commonly called electric vehicle service equipment or EVSE's. All they do is keep the AC power to the charging cable and plug shut off until the charging plug is fully and safely inserted and the car signals "feed me"/"stop feeding me" and also provide a signal telling the car how much current it can safely draw from the AC circuit the EVSE is connected to.

 

[Blaine]

You may have to buy a new one from MB. I just had my lease inspection (all good) and one of the things the guy checked was the OEM evse.

Maybe check with a wrecker ?

 

[iacas]

You may have to buy a new one from MB. I just had my lease inspection (all good) and one of the things the guy checked was the OEM evse.

I imagine that's probably true.

FWIW, they've never even taken the EVSE with them when they've done the yearly maintenance in the past. Two years.

 

[MB DNA]

I imagine that's probably true.

FWIW, they've never even taken the EVSE with them when they've done the yearly maintenance in the past.

Annual maintenance and lease turn-in INSPECTION - hardly the same.

At turn-in the MBFS inspector is looking for anything that might detract from the resale of their vehicle that you "borrowed" and agreed to care for as if it was your own. A safe, fully functional OEM EVSE is a pretty key component of any smart ED.

An EVSE that shows damage beyond normal wear and tear would likely cause a chargeback just like worn tires, curb rash etc. :shrug:

Note - to jbjinturner's comment, the turn-in inspection will always be more friendly to those who are picking up a new replacement vehicle.

 

[jbjinturner]

When I turned my 451 in at lease end and picked up my 453 the inspection was to look out the window to see if it was there.

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

When I turned my 451 in at lease end and picked up my 453 the inspection was to look out the window to see if it was there.

That may have worked up until around 6 months ago. Things have changed, the lease end inspections are much more thorough, as MB has hired an independent contractor to perform the inspections. No more sales departments and dealership lease return departments pretending like every lease returned car is in cherry condition...

those who stick with MB and buy another smart or MB vehicle will have a loyalty advantage...

 

[Yinzer]

This is drifting off-topic - but do they look for maintenance records and charge for un-perfomed annual maintenance items upon lease returns? This brings up another question - what happens if you do some or all the maintenance items yourself?

 

[OliverB]

When I turned my 451 in at lease end and picked up my 453 the inspection was to look out the window to see if it was there.

Yep, and to ask if both keys and manuals were there.

 

[OliverB]

This is drifting off-topic - but do they look for maintenance records and charge for un-perfomed annual maintenance items upon lease returns? This brings up another question - what happens if you do some or all the maintenance items yourself?

In 30K my lease didn't go back to the dealer once. I did all service but dealer never asked for service history. I did, however, purchase a new 2016 at turn in.