One big lemon? Dealer sues Mercedes-Benz over defective $1.7M roadster
Normally, a single owner suing an automaker over a 'lemon' car would hardly qualify as a newsworthy item. But when the person in question is a car dealership owner, and the four-wheeled bit of citrus is one of five Mercedes Benz AMG CLK-GTR Roadsters, well, things get a little more interesting.
Mark Johnston of Grand Prix Motors of Los Angeles, California, is suing DaimlerChrysler and its Mercedes-Benz arm. The plaintiff maintans he bought the uber-Benz to sell in his dealership, but the car had issues beginning with its very first test drive, tripping the oil lamp within ten blocks. Johnston's complaint further alleges assorted transmission problems, hydraulic jack system failure, and 'unglued' windows. The vehicle was later diagnosed with total engine failure, a result of the oil-pressure issue.
Grand Prix Motors alleges that they area aware of other roadsters with similar problems. It has not been repaired.
No word on the damages Johnston seeks to recover, but figure on at least $1.7 million, plus whatever expenses were incurred for the repairs.
[Source: Auto Spectator]
(Top tip, anonymous!)
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
summs1 4:12PM (6/16/2006)
1) MBZ made this car in the late 90's and early 2000's as a coupe and a roadster...which of both meet all regulations nationwide and even if he imported the car from germany, the people at mercedes have to build the car to American regulations. There were around 150 coupes made and 5 roadsters, none of which were used as race cars, because this car wasnt used to launch a new MBZ race car, but it was based off a MBZ race car that already exsisted, the only made this car to draw attention to their name. Sure his car may have problems, but its MBZ responsibility to make sure that when someone buys a car for 1.5 mil, it should work properly and MBZ should service it regularly. I own a SLR MacLaren and MBZ services it regularly, and takes car of me like i am a god or something, and thats only with a cars that equals around 450,000 so imagine how MBZ should treat him with its rarest and most expensive car ever made....
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Andre 1:48AM (6/17/2006)
I don't think any of the articles out there mentioned that the car was bought used and not new. If that's the case, the previous owner got rid of it in the nick of time. Judging from the description of gear shifts shaking the car, both the trans and the engine are likely FUBAR.
"engine failure was his own stupid fault for continuing to drive it after the oil light came on"
With hyper engines like that, he may have had only a few seconds to figure out that the light indicated low oil pressure, pull over, and shut down the engine before it got trashed.
The proud new owner probably took on quite a bit of debt in hopes of flipping the car. It would hurt a lot if he gets stuck with it.
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Andrew Carson 4:50PM (6/18/2006)
Lemon laws for cars were never intended to protect highly speculative investments in high-priced racing cars. They're there to protect the little guys against shoddy workmanship. Big dealers speculating on high-ticket racing cars clearly have other recourse than lemon laws. If the dealer had a contract to cover this issue with Mercedes-Benz, then it would not need to air its case in the court of public opinion. It seems to me that the dealer is engaged in a form of extortion: "Pay up, Mercedes, or I'll make you look like a rotten corporation." But it strikes me from reviewing the posts that the dealer cannot take Mercedes to court on the basis of reasonable contract law. If I were Mercedes, I'd say, "see you in court." Any dealer that buys a $1.7M car on spec takes its own chances and sures as heck better understand what it takes to keep the vehicle in proper repair. It also ought to take out proper insurance. Caveat emptor.
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drkadakiasc 7:14PM (6/18/2006)
DM has a history of not standing behind their products. I own an E 320. It has 60K miles. There are numerous problems with this car that MB dealer is unable to fix. Just to give one example, from day 1, the AM on the radio has not worked. The outside temp recorded by the car is several degrees off the mark from day 1. The fuel gauge sensor falls to nearly empty sign soon after filling the tank. There are other numerous problems that have occurred that should have never occurred which required several hundred dollars to fix. Many of my friends have had the same lousy experience with E 320-E 420. A car that I paid over 55K should perform better and if MB has any proud on its product, why in the hell doesn't it give a 100,000K and 10 year warranty like the Kia does for 20K car. I thnik MB wants to sell only one lemon to each customer per their lifetime. I will be heading to Lexus dealer soon.
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mark 3:14PM (6/21/2006)
Just so you all know it was bought new and came with a warranty,not tomention do race cars have navigation systems from the factory like this car does.O yea AC also with Multi Disc....MBZ will PAY WATCH!!!!!!!! Mark Johnston
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Bruce 1:23AM (7/10/2006)
Question: When I purchase one of other four AMG-CLK-GTR's in existence, where can I go to buy Low-Cost Insurance ??
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