[Nikosmart]

Hello all,


Just a week before the 2018 NAIAS in Detroit, and I was wondering how much longer will the Mercedes Benz dealership network service the gasoline powered smart cars? Has anyone heard any news on this?

 

[Oddpod2]

I was told by my local Mercedes dealer (in San Francisco) that there is no plan to discontinue servicing the gasoline Smarts. And, of course, if you bought a warranty, they are obligated to service them. It would be nice if a service manual was made available so that other shops could easily work on these cars. In Europe, the gas smarts sell well so I would assume that, eventually, a service manual will appear.

 

[smark]

It’s up to the MB dealership, who sold the smart brand. If they want to continue to pay a service technician. I know our dealership. Aristocrat Motors, will continue to service them. Their done selling the brand. I would just call around your nearest MB dealership, and ask in they will service your car. For years, after warranty work was though. We took our smart car. To a independent service center. Christain Brothers Automotive. Their pretty much nation wide. Software updates, that a different issue, with any modern vehicle. I don’t know if a independent can perform them. If a sensor fails, that independent can read the code. Fix the issue. Reset the code. Just like any vehicle today.

 

[Jo e Lefors]

Hello all,
Just a week before the 2018 NAIAS in Detroit, and I was wondering how much longer will the Mercedes Benz dealership network service the gasoline powered smart cars? Has anyone heard any news on this?

I would think after 10 years from production date of of your car, service can be refused at a MB Dealership.

---------------
'Christain Brothers Automotive nationwide', if you live in the Midwest or East part of the country.
Only a short 270 miles from Las Vegas to the closest Christain Brothers Automotive.
Luckily, I have Fletcher Jones Mercedes, only 5 miles away and their $225 a hour labor rate.
My experience working with Auto Zone and O'Reilly's "Good Honest" independent mechanics are very rare breed here.
But hey, that's only my experience, yours may differ.
Heck, I'm sure you can find almost any mechanic who is willing to hack around on your smart fortwo if they see dollars signs.
If you're lucky one may even find one who will watch a YouTube video to see how something is done.

 

[Tony Margulis]

The service departments paid a great deal of money for all the extra equipment and diagnostic tools etc, they're not just going to throw it all out. They will gladly take your money for many many years. I know the local Cadillac dealer still services Pontiacs because my dad's Vibe had a recall and that's where he ended up taking it to get the work done. How long ago did Pontiac go under?

 

[Optimist]

The "Contract" agreed to by the 60 smart Centers, who chose not to sell the New all electric smart 453, was from April 2017, for 4 years which would be until April 2021. The 27 Centers that are selling the 453, are assuming warranty service for the cars they sell and we assume will therefore continue to provide servicing to all smart cars, until,
the END comes? e.g. Until they are more trouble than they are worth!

 

[Jo e Lefors]

The service departments paid a great deal of money for all the extra equipment and diagnostic tools etc, they're not just going to throw it all out. They will gladly take your money for many many years. I know the local Cadillac dealer still services Pontiacs because my dad's Vibe had a recall and that's where he ended up taking it to get the work done. How long ago did Pontiac go under?

Not necessarily true.
In 2005 I took my 1993 Ford Ranger to Team Ford for a check engine light for an emissions code and was told that they didn't work on anything older than 10 years old.
Ford Corporate had no interest in the matter.
We have two families that own the four Ford dealership's in Las Vegas so you're at their mercy when they mirror each others policy.

As far as your dads Vibe. Not only can he take it most any GM dealer (as long as they work on older vehicles) but most TOYOTA Dealer's will work on it too.

Footnote: https://mobile.guideautoweb.com/en/...-matrix-six-of-one-a-half-dozen-of-the-other/
PONTIAC VIBE VS. TOYOTA MATRIX: SIX OF ONE, A HALF-DOZEN OF THE OTHER?
Let's get something out of the way right now: the Vibe and the Matrix are two non-identical twins whose only differences, their bodies aside, are in the details of their equipment. The majority of their mechanical and structural components come from Toyota........

 

[fredp]

I believe that the uniform commercial code requires at least ten years of support from the manufacturer.

 

[Optimist]

And the Official start date of the Required 10 years, would begin When?

 

[10470]

And the Official start date of the Required 10 years, would begin When?

From the date of the final unit off the production line.

 

[Jo e Lefors]

From the date of the final unit off the production line.

I believe it will be a rolling date. A 2008 smart COULD lose dealer service after 2018 and so forth.
We soon find out.

 

[10470]

I believe it will be a rolling date. A 2008 smart COULD lose dealer service after 2018 and so forth.

Yes, agreed. Based on CY model, not production dates of each VIN. But let’s say that some MY 2008 items were to cease production in 2017/8, there’s an excellent chance that later MY year items would still fit/work, and remain available until the 10-year anniversary of the US-market 451 ending production. That’s my best guess, anyhoo.

 

[smark]

I believe it will be a rolling date. A 2008 smart COULD lose dealer service after 2018 and so forth.
We soon find out.

The MB service department will still be able to service a 2008 vehicle. Plenty parts for that year, smart. All you need is lots money.

The only interior part, that’s different between 08, 09 and above. Door pocket holder. Smart went to a mesh, one. mechanically, smart cars are pretty much the same. When their unable to get new parts. Their are plenty salvage ones out there.

 

[hafwrite]

My closest MB dealer won't service because the smart is too small for their lifts. I'll be calling around to figure out the closest - hoping that's the one 45 miles away rather than 60+. I'm also going to look into as much self service as I can. I just got a used 2014 with 10 months of warranty left. MB has to honor the warranty, period.

 

[jwight]

My closest MB dealer won't service because the smart is too small for their lifts. I'll be calling around to figure out the closest - hoping that's the one 45 miles away rather than 60+. I'm also going to look into as much self service as I can. I just got a used 2014 with 10 months of warranty left. MB has to honor the warranty, period.

FWIW, "any" M-B dealer is not what you're looking for. You need to find a dealer that previously sold and serviced smarts. or one that currently does. M-B dealers that never carried the smart brand won't have the necessary tools, parts or trained technicians.

 

[hafwrite]

Agreed - thus the calling around to ask. It's the only way to figure it out. That said, if the car is under warranty, and there is a warranty-covered problem, then MB has to deal with it. Even if that means shipping it hundreds of miles to a dealer who can fix it.

 

[sokoloff]

Agreed - thus the calling around to ask. It's the only way to figure it out. That said, if the car is under warranty, and there is a warranty-covered problem, then MB has to deal with it. Even if that means shipping it hundreds of miles to a dealer who can fix it.

Therein lies the big question and concern. If there is warranty work that is needed or if there is a safety recall, how will Smart/Mercedes handle that adequately? It really seems to be pretty classless to expect an owner to get his car hundreds of miles to the nearest dealer when the nearest dealer used to be much closer. It almost makes sense to have a traveling trained service unit go to a Mercedes dealer to perform such service or pay for a pickup and delivery to an authorized service facility.

Will that happen? Doubtful.

Len
2014 EV Coupe 13,000 miles
2014 EV Cabriolet 3,000 miles

 

[MB DNA]

. . . if the car is under warranty, and there is a warranty-covered problem, then MB has to deal with it. Even if that means shipping it hundreds of miles to a dealer who can fix it.

After 9ish years living in a shrinking "smart" world all I can say is good luck with that my friend . . .