Turbocharger failed Mercedes A class
Discussion
Hi, looking for advice. Have a Mercedes A class 67 plate. Currently done 54,000 miles. Owned the car since June 2023 and have done 14,000 miles since owning. Have extended warranty until June 2025.
Long story short, noticed before Christmas engine was making a whirring noise when accelerating and loss of speed when accelerating. Took it back to the garage where I purchased car from, they had it for a week and upon arrival, was advised there was nothing wrong with the car. Asked for a technician to come for a test drive with me before I left as was confident there was an issue. Within 30 seconds, technician confirmed engine noise and advised car needs to go back in. Car wasn’t booked back in until 28th Jan, voiced my concerns on the length of time and that I fear the car will deteriorate etc again called Sunday 18th advising car was getting worse with whirring noise and lack of acceleration. Garage returned my call on the Monday 19th, advised unable to provide courtesy car until 28th and to keep original appointment. Stressed the cars condition and I believe the turbo Is going. Lo and behold the Tuesday, car breaks down and engine won’t turn on, gets towed to garage.
Garage have been in contact and advised turbocharger needs replacing (shock) and warranty have rejected claims to cover it due to ‘general wear and tear’ which is not included in warranty.
My concerns, the car has done 54000 miles, I believe average miles before replacement is between 100,000-150,000? Car was fully serviced and MOT in June 2024 and passed with no concerns.
Please can I have thoughts on this? I am fighting my corner but would like some thoughts?
Long story short, noticed before Christmas engine was making a whirring noise when accelerating and loss of speed when accelerating. Took it back to the garage where I purchased car from, they had it for a week and upon arrival, was advised there was nothing wrong with the car. Asked for a technician to come for a test drive with me before I left as was confident there was an issue. Within 30 seconds, technician confirmed engine noise and advised car needs to go back in. Car wasn’t booked back in until 28th Jan, voiced my concerns on the length of time and that I fear the car will deteriorate etc again called Sunday 18th advising car was getting worse with whirring noise and lack of acceleration. Garage returned my call on the Monday 19th, advised unable to provide courtesy car until 28th and to keep original appointment. Stressed the cars condition and I believe the turbo Is going. Lo and behold the Tuesday, car breaks down and engine won’t turn on, gets towed to garage.
Garage have been in contact and advised turbocharger needs replacing (shock) and warranty have rejected claims to cover it due to ‘general wear and tear’ which is not included in warranty.
My concerns, the car has done 54000 miles, I believe average miles before replacement is between 100,000-150,000? Car was fully serviced and MOT in June 2024 and passed with no concerns.
Please can I have thoughts on this? I am fighting my corner but would like some thoughts?
normalbloke said:
Why did you keep using the car?Aftermarket warranty, means you’re in for a bunfight.
It was used minimally, literally a few miles. the garage had the car for a week and said there were no issues with it.I also had no choice as I had medical appointments to attend for myself and my son.
I think ‘general wear and tear’ is pretty far fetched, understand if the car was clocking on 100,000 miles, nowhere near it
stevieturbo said:
you may look at getting solicitors involved then. But they did give you an appointment, you did drive the car knowingly with problems.
Are they under any obligation to give you a courtesy car ?
Playing devils advocate though, if I took their word for it and believed them when they said they couldn’t find any issues and went on my way, who’s fault would it be then?Are they under any obligation to give you a courtesy car ?
It just baffles me that a 32 year old female with NO experience with cars can diagnosis this problem early on, however a garage full of mechanics can not after having the car for a week…blows my mind
From worjing in a garage ....
No its not normal wear and tear, however turbos can and do fail at any point
For a warranty to cover it (some do have exclusions) normally the turbo has to fail, being a bit noisy isn't a failed turbo
With a turbo you really shouldn't use them if they are loud, if they do fail they can go throught the engine taking that with it, that usually means leaving it where it is and walking, there is never the automatic right to a free loan car, if you need transport hire (yes I inderstand not everyone wants one or can afford one)
Warranties, pointless unless they are manufacture ones, pretty much anything aftermarket is only suitable for toilet paper
We refuse to deal with warranty companies
Just because it was serviced last year and an MOT has no impact on the turbo, that was nearly 7 months ago.
Is it the Renault engine 1.5 or the Merc engine 2.1 ?
You need to look at the waranty, the small print, make sure all services were on time and within the manufacturers intervals, not 3 months or 2000 miles overdue
Fingers crossed by not running its not taken the engine with it and be prepared to stump up for the turbo itself
No its not normal wear and tear, however turbos can and do fail at any point
For a warranty to cover it (some do have exclusions) normally the turbo has to fail, being a bit noisy isn't a failed turbo
With a turbo you really shouldn't use them if they are loud, if they do fail they can go throught the engine taking that with it, that usually means leaving it where it is and walking, there is never the automatic right to a free loan car, if you need transport hire (yes I inderstand not everyone wants one or can afford one)
Warranties, pointless unless they are manufacture ones, pretty much anything aftermarket is only suitable for toilet paper
We refuse to deal with warranty companies
Just because it was serviced last year and an MOT has no impact on the turbo, that was nearly 7 months ago.
Is it the Renault engine 1.5 or the Merc engine 2.1 ?
You need to look at the waranty, the small print, make sure all services were on time and within the manufacturers intervals, not 3 months or 2000 miles overdue
Fingers crossed by not running its not taken the engine with it and be prepared to stump up for the turbo itself
stevemcs said:
From worjing in a garage ....
No its not normal wear and tear, however turbos can and do fail at any point
For a warranty to cover it (some do have exclusions) normally the turbo has to fail, being a bit noisy isn't a failed turbo
With a turbo you really shouldn't use them if they are loud, if they do fail they can go throught the engine taking that with it, that usually means leaving it where it is and walking, there is never the automatic right to a free loan car, if you need transport hire (yes I inderstand not everyone wants one or can afford one)
Warranties, pointless unless they are manufacture ones, pretty much anything aftermarket is only suitable for toilet paper
We refuse to deal with warranty companies
Just because it was serviced last year and an MOT has no impact on the turbo, that was nearly 7 months ago.
Is it the Renault engine 1.5 or the Merc engine 2.1 ?
You need to look at the waranty, the small print, make sure all services were on time and within the manufacturers intervals, not 3 months or 2000 miles overdue
Fingers crossed by not running its not taken the engine with it and be prepared to stump up for the turbo itself
Thanks for advice! I initially took the car in because every time I accelerated it made a whining/whistling noise and really struggled to get any sort of speed or stay there. This is what confused me most, because when I picked the car and went on a test drive, the mechanic heard the noise straight away so to be told literally 5 minutes before no fault was found is confusing? No its not normal wear and tear, however turbos can and do fail at any point
For a warranty to cover it (some do have exclusions) normally the turbo has to fail, being a bit noisy isn't a failed turbo
With a turbo you really shouldn't use them if they are loud, if they do fail they can go throught the engine taking that with it, that usually means leaving it where it is and walking, there is never the automatic right to a free loan car, if you need transport hire (yes I inderstand not everyone wants one or can afford one)
Warranties, pointless unless they are manufacture ones, pretty much anything aftermarket is only suitable for toilet paper
We refuse to deal with warranty companies
Just because it was serviced last year and an MOT has no impact on the turbo, that was nearly 7 months ago.
Is it the Renault engine 1.5 or the Merc engine 2.1 ?
You need to look at the waranty, the small print, make sure all services were on time and within the manufacturers intervals, not 3 months or 2000 miles overdue
Fingers crossed by not running its not taken the engine with it and be prepared to stump up for the turbo itself
I bought the car June 2023 and have done 14,000 miles in it, overall has done 54,000 miles. I had it serviced and MOT June 2024 and that was at 49000 miles.
The garage sent me the proposed bill and it states ‘turbo bearing worn’ overall price they’ve quoted is £2110.
I’m just really angry cause had they picked up on the fault when I first brought it in, I imagine the bill would be a lot less? I picked the car up on the 17th and for the week it still made me whining noise but on the Sunday it ramped up a gear and had to park up on side of street and leave it. I did call and say this car really needs to be brought in but nothing came from that. My partner attempted to bring it back home on the Tuesday evening as didn’t want to leave it abandoned and that’s when it broke down.
It’s Mercedes 1.6 automatic, it’s not even like I could ‘rag it around’ I also have a baby and basically live village to village so nowhere I could rag it 😂
I did ring the warranty company on Saturday and explain the situation, again he said no because classed as wear and tear but gave him the whole story (mileage of car and the fact the garage said initially nothing wrong with it) he seemed surprised by this and told me to ask for the decision to be reconsidered and give all evidence I have, I’m holding out this may be positive.
I’ve been in talks with the finance company to as since I’ve had the car there’s been constant problems so there’s a few things I want to raise.
I don't think it would have made a difference to the overall cost, Turbos tend to start around £1000 and go upwards, you would normally take the pipework off and just feel the impeller to see if its bearings (rough when turned) ot if its genrall falling apart in which case it would score the outer housing and chip the turbine, realistically it wouldn't be normall wear and teat, had the car covered 100k then yes it would have been worn and more likely to fail - unless its a land rover in which case they fail at anytime !
I would still want the warranty company to show me where in the small print it excludes turbochargers, your finance company might be your only hope but knowing dealers and warranty companies you are not going to get this fixed quickly.
I would still want the warranty company to show me where in the small print it excludes turbochargers, your finance company might be your only hope but knowing dealers and warranty companies you are not going to get this fixed quickly.
stevemcs said:
I don't think it would have made a difference to the overall cost, Turbos tend to start around £1000 and go upwards, you would normally take the pipework off and just feel the impeller to see if its bearings (rough when turned) ot if its genrall falling apart in which case it would score the outer housing and chip the turbine, realistically it wouldn't be normall wear and teat, had the car covered 100k then yes it would have been worn and more likely to fail - unless its a land rover in which case they fail at anytime !
I would still want the warranty company to show me where in the small print it excludes turbochargers, your finance company might be your only hope but knowing dealers and warranty companies you are not going to get this fixed quickly.
I’ve just reread my warranty and it states ‘ The gradual reduction in operating performance of any part (fair wear and tear) dueI would still want the warranty company to show me where in the small print it excludes turbochargers, your finance company might be your only hope but knowing dealers and warranty companies you are not going to get this fixed quickly.
to the age of the vehicle and/ or the number of miles it has covered’ (this was the reason they were refusing to pay initially)
Now the car is a 17 plate and 54,000 miles, I wouldn’t say it was relatively old or high mileage?
No mention of turbochargers
The problem with turbo cars is, a lot of people dawdle around in them not really using the turbo and then all of a sudden somebody buys the car that uses the boost and the turbo goes holy s
t im not used to this.
manufacturers will do anything to get out of turbo claims, third party warranties even more so.
Pretty sure the third party warranty that came with my last car excluded turbos.
t im not used to this. manufacturers will do anything to get out of turbo claims, third party warranties even more so.
Pretty sure the third party warranty that came with my last car excluded turbos.
It's 'all about the oil' with turbos, remembering that oil has a cooling function as well as a lubricating one.
They don't take kindly to...
i) Dirty/tired/over-heated oil eg from missed oil changes
ii) Being revved on start-up (before sufficient oil is reaching the bearings at sufficient pressure)
iii) Having their oil supply turned off abruptly whilst still needing it (eg pulling off the motorway or after a climb)
The latter two are rarely if ever pointed out to new owners.
They don't take kindly to...
i) Dirty/tired/over-heated oil eg from missed oil changes
ii) Being revved on start-up (before sufficient oil is reaching the bearings at sufficient pressure)
iii) Having their oil supply turned off abruptly whilst still needing it (eg pulling off the motorway or after a climb)
The latter two are rarely if ever pointed out to new owners.
TwinKam said:
It's 'all about the oil' with turbos, remembering that oil has a cooling function as well as a lubricating one.
They don't take kindly to...
i) Dirty/tired/over-heated oil eg from missed oil changes
ii) Being revved on start-up (before sufficient oil is reaching the bearings at sufficient pressure)
iii) Having their oil supply turned off abruptly whilst still needing it (eg pulling off the motorway or after a climb)
The latter two are rarely if ever pointed out to new owners.
Yep,They don't take kindly to...
i) Dirty/tired/over-heated oil eg from missed oil changes
ii) Being revved on start-up (before sufficient oil is reaching the bearings at sufficient pressure)
iii) Having their oil supply turned off abruptly whilst still needing it (eg pulling off the motorway or after a climb)
The latter two are rarely if ever pointed out to new owners.
I was always told to let a turbo/engine warm up and cool down. And I have done it with all my cars.
The only car I had a turbo blow on was a MK2 Golf with a MK3 TDI engine fitted and MK4 TDI ECU and Turbo fitted.
Turns out the remap was requesting far too much boost and bang it went. replaced it with a MK5 TDI turbo and it went well.
TwinKam said:
It's 'all about the oil' with turbos, remembering that oil has a cooling function as well as a lubricating one.
They don't take kindly to...
Having their oil supply turned off abruptly whilst still needing it (eg pulling off the motorway or after a climb)
The latter two are rarely if ever pointed out to new owners.
Wish i'd been told some of that sooner, Beware going up Sutton Bank in Yorkshire with a turbo then !They don't take kindly to...
Having their oil supply turned off abruptly whilst still needing it (eg pulling off the motorway or after a climb)
The latter two are rarely if ever pointed out to new owners.
Did this last year and after a pit stop in Helmsley, Lady T told me we were "rattling"
I thought it was a heat shield or brake pad rattle ( my hearings not the greatest
) car wasn't smoking or running badly at all.so left it until it was due a service.( 3 months !!)
This is what the garage found
For reference , it's a 2016 car with about 43k on the clock at the time.
For most people, most of the time, with most cars, there really is no need to let the engine and turbo cool down by idling the engine once you’ve stopped the car, as more often than not, the last part of your journey will be quite gentle on the engine anyway. Even when stopping at a motorway services, it’s unlikely that you were driving on full boost on the motorway, let alone while navigating the convoluted route to the car park or filling station.
As long as you service the car as recommended, with the correct oil and filter, and don’t drive like Elfyn Evans through a Finnish forest, everything will be fine, unless you’re just plain unlucky.
As long as you service the car as recommended, with the correct oil and filter, and don’t drive like Elfyn Evans through a Finnish forest, everything will be fine, unless you’re just plain unlucky.
Edited by Tony1963 on Wednesday 29th January 23:08
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