Purchased a CPO Benz with a Mileage Blocker Installed

[RoyalOac]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

You’re rather defensive and clearly didn’t understand my post.

Possibly couldve been lost in translation if you care to elaborate. I apologize in advance if my defense may have come out prematurely; just a stressful situation right now. thanks

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by RoyalOac

I clearly don't want the vehicle anymore since you never know what kind of problems I can run into later and the 'CPO' already left a bad taste in my mouth as a BS way to sell a used car. Do you think the dealership should offer me a full refund? Any advice and thoughts are welcome. Thank you

I would return the vehicle and take it up with Mercedes Benz USA

[Art 1]

I have never heard of these. Are they legal to sell them? I would think not. If not it seems like it would be easy to stop the sale of them. In this case would the dealer go back on who sold them the car?

[Watchflair]

A few things:

No CPO vehicle checklist would call for a check to see if there is a mileage blocker on the vehicle.

Have you reached out to the GM of the dealership? If so, what was the response?

There's two outcomes here:
They buy the car back and return your money.
They offer a agreed upon value compensation to offset the inconvenience and mileage discrepancy.

On their part I would doubt that this was done with knowledge or malice. The dealership would not have searched for a mileage blocker. The small amount of miles driven in a year would not necessarily raise a flag - example customer could have had a house in NY and in Florida and spent most of the year in Florida so the car didn't get used.

Personally, I wouldn't be opposed to keeping the car if the compensation made it worth while.

[Watchflair]

Originally Posted by Art 1

I have never heard of these. Are they legal to sell them? I would think not. If not it seems like it would be easy to stop the sale of them. In this case would the dealer go back on who sold them the car?

No any tampering with an odometer is a federal crime. At the time of delivery an Odometer Statement is signed which is a federal form.

I've heard of them before. You see guys with exotic cars that seem to drive them all over the place - in my opinion the majority of these vehicles have mileage blockers installed.

[SDRider]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

A Mercedes-Benz with fault codes and engine lights?

In all seriousness, they admitted a fault but I personally don’t see how 7k kills a car or how a mileage “blocker” on the cluster() proves anything.

You have grounds to take the car back but I think there’s more to the story.

I bought my CPO E550 Coupe 3 years ago and have had relatively little trouble with it despite putting over 40,000 miles on it during that time. One minor problem with the TPMS but that was fixed under warranty.

[RoyalOac]

Originally Posted by Watchflair

A few things:

No CPO vehicle checklist would call for a check to see if there is a mileage blocker on the vehicle.

Have you reached out to the GM of the dealership? If so, what was the response?

There's two outcomes here:
They buy the car back and return your money.
They offer a agreed upon value compensation to offset the inconvenience and mileage discrepancy.

On their part I would doubt that this was done with knowledge or malice. The dealership would not have searched for a mileage blocker. The small amount of miles driven in a year would not necessarily raise a flag - example customer could have had a house in NY and in Florida and spent most of the year in Florida so the car didn't get used.

Personally, I wouldn't be opposed to keeping the car if the compensation made it worth while.

I dont doubt it either that the dealership knew nothing about this. I am under the strong impression tht the original leasee put this on so as to not clock extra miles over his lease contract.

I would only agree to one outcome in which i get a full refund. No amount of money would compensate for the CPO warranty to be rescinded and a TMU record on the carfax.

[Watchflair]

Shouldn’t affect the CPO warranty or result in a true mileage unknown as the main computer / brain of the car retains the mileage. The blocker just blocks it from showing up on odometer.


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[RoyalOac]

Originally Posted by Watchflair

Shouldn’t affect the CPO warranty or result in a true mileage unknown as the main computer / brain of the car retains the mileage. The blocker just blocks it from showing up on odometer.


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At this point, my mindset is at the point that the manner this car was treated with tampering, that this vehicle is already bad luck. My wife is somewhat superstitious and she already wants nothing to do with the vehicle, especially when we use it to transport our two toddlers. It may or may not be a coincidence that the CEL came on due to the device malfunctioning, but the host of problems is a bad sign for us. We have gone through 4 vehicles at this dealership in the past 20 yrs and I hope they will make things right.

[CamSLC]

Originally Posted by beshannon

I would return the vehicle and take it up with Mercedes Benz USA

Same.

I didn't even know something like this existed for new vehicles.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by RoyalOac

At this point, my mindset is at the point that the manner this car was treated with tampering, that this vehicle is already bad luck. My wife is somewhat superstitious and she already wants nothing to do with the vehicle, especially when we use it to transport our two toddlers. It may or may not be a coincidence that the CEL came on due to the device malfunctioning, but the host of problems is a bad sign for us. We have gone through 4 vehicles at this dealership in the past 20 yrs and I hope they will make things right.

I agree. I wouldn't want that car. My guess is that you will be given a refund.

[Old Geezer]

I would push for a full refund. I wouldn’t doubt there is a whole industry devoted to selling gadgets to block mileage on lease vehicles when their owners run over before the lease term is up.

[520Matt]

Never heard of a mileage blocker. If the person who lease it prior put a n the blocker why wouldn’t they take it off right before turning it in? Is it because once it’s off the true mileage would show?

[swils8610]

The dealer needs to take it back. Period. It’s now a vehicle that is deemed true mileage unknown. A TMU vehicle is worth substantially less...thousands if not 10’s of thousands less. I run 2 dealerships. Get it bought back. The other issue is if whoever put the mileage blocker in spliced or cut into the factory wiring harness. Accept nothing less than a full refund.

[nello]

Originally Posted by Watchflair

Shouldn’t affect the CPO warranty or result in a true mileage unknown as the main computer / brain of the car retains the mileage. The blocker just blocks it from showing up on odometer.


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^This
AND-any mercedes mechanic worth a crap would have hooked up the Bosch to scan the entire system while he was physically looking over the car. It is the first thing you do on a used car check. Either the dealership is dishonest or they have crappy mechanics. Or both. Get a refund.

[OCPaladin]

Originally Posted by 520Matt

Never heard of a mileage blocker. If the person who lease it prior put a n the blocker why wouldn’t they take it off right before turning it in? Is it because once it’s off the true mileage would show?

Yup.. the piece of filth who leased the car new put the blocker on to make sure they didnt have to pay any over mileage charges. When the blocker comes off, it clearly shows the true mileage as the OP discovered.

[RoyalOac]

Originally Posted by OCPaladin

Yup.. the piece of filth who leased the car new put the blocker on to make sure they didnt have to pay any over mileage charges. When the blocker comes off, it clearly shows the true mileage as the OP discovered.

That’s correct. The head shop tech explained how when he removed that device which was essentially a plug n play, the odometer jumped up 7,000 miles. That’s probably why the previous leasee left it in there.

[michaelodonnell123]

Originally Posted by Daveh3196

I see you listed location as NY. You shouldn’t have any issues getting this resolved. The DMV should be able to help you if the dealer will not.


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The NY DMV can't even help themselves much less anybody else.

[Etschell]

Probably bought the car AS-IS. what people dont realize is you are entitled to inspect the car yourself. the dealer should do the right thing and refund your $. something tells me they wont. Shocking I know.

[crew]

Originally Posted by RoyalOac

That’s correct. The head shop tech explained how when he removed that device which was essentially a plug n play, the odometer jumped up 7,000 miles. That’s probably why the previous leasee left it in there.

Interesting that the car is a 2015 and, under most common leases, is well under the standard allowable mileage, even with the extra 7000 figured in.
Now I suppose it’s possible that this was an “ultra low mileage” lease allowing only 5000 miles/year. But I wouldn’t think that would be common.

[Pix]

My 2 cents, like a car, my opinion depreciates...You have the dealer at your mercy, keep the car if you like it, have them due full warranty work as long as you own it, get a check from them for the difference in mileage, sort of like diminished value when you deal with insurance. Good Luck!

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by Pix

My 2 cents, like a car, my opinion depreciates...You have the dealer at your mercy, keep the car if you like it, have them due full warranty work as long as you own it, get a check from them for the difference in mileage, sort of like diminished value when you deal with insurance. Good Luck!

how is that number even quantifiable.

[swils8610]

I run 2 dealerships in NY. Make the dealer take the car back. Nothing else should be acceptable. It’s true mileage unknown. I have no idea if you find financed it or not...virtually no bank will finance a TMU car. You really have no idea how many miles are on that car. It added 7k when they unhooked the blocker. Who is to say that’s accurate? We would NEVER sell a vehicle TMU. CPO or not CPO. Also with MB you can’t CPO a vehicle that is TMU. Who knows what else could have been done to the car. Run from that car. Google true mileage unknown vehicles and read what comes up. Get ahold of the GM or dealer owner. Mention the attorney general and dmv. I can assure you NO dealer wants an investigation from the AG or DMV.

[swils8610]

Originally Posted by Pix

My 2 cents, like a car, my opinion depreciates...You have the dealer at your mercy, keep the car if you like it, have them due full warranty work as long as you own it, get a check from them for the difference in mileage, sort of like diminished value when you deal with insurance. Good Luck!

The OP has the dealer at his mercy...not because of warranty work or anything else. The OP has the dealer at his mercy because the OP can report the dealership to the AG or DMV. If it was my store I’d be begging the customer to bring the car and refund his money and a little extra for his troubles. The OP has a vehicle that nobody really knows the actual miles on it. Why would anyone buy a vehicle that the actual miles are unknown unless it’s 1k beater. If the title comes back with TMU listed on it it’s worth less than half of a legit car. The fact it’s a MB will make TMU even worse. It’s not a Chevy. It’s a luxury vehicle. Run from that car. As a GM of 2 dealers I wouldn’t want to take it on trade being TMU. If I had I’d take it in for 25% off it’s actual value and hope I sell it at auction.

[Widows Son]

I would want a full refund. Since you've been a repeat customer, shouldn't be an issue. Unless you plan to keep the car forever, no amount of compensation would work. For the same reason you don't want a car with a questionable history, nobody else will either.

[swils8610]

[swils8610]

[ras47]

The first thing to ask yourself is if you truly like the car. Forget the mileage thing for a minute. How's the car? Do you enjoy it? Is it in the kind of shape you expect? If so, then a partial reimbursement for 7,000 miles is what you're after. That, and a darn good explanation for how this thing got installed and missed.

If this experience has soured you completely, then you fight for a full return & refund and move on. Maybe try a Subaru. :)

[droptopman]

Originally Posted by swils8610

I run 2 dealerships in NY. Make the dealer take the car back. Nothing else should be acceptable. It’s true mileage unknown. I have no idea if you find financed it or not...virtually no bank will finance a TMU car. You really have no idea how many miles are on that car. It added 7k when they unhooked the blocker. Who is to say that’s accurate? We would NEVER sell a vehicle TMU. CPO or not CPO. Also with MB you can’t CPO a vehicle that is TMU. Who knows what else could have been done to the car. Run from that car. Google true mileage unknown vehicles and read what comes up. Get ahold of the GM or dealer owner. Mention the attorney general and dmv. I can assure you NO dealer wants an investigation from the AG or DMV.

Good advice here from a reliable and credible source.

[Laszlo]

First, you’ll need to wait and see what HQ finds out. No one is at fault yet. For all they know, you installed the device. Second, and I’m sure you’re not at fault, Mercedes sold you a car they had no idea had this issue and will likely compensate you with a refund or new arrangement. Thirdly, Mercedes will likely want to avoid this in the future and will likely add this to their CPO inspection list. I’ve never heard of a mileage blocker and assume this is something new. I do know you can swap out digital clusters (especially on P-cars/996s) very easily, can get them on eBay for nothing. But likely would have never made it through CPO back in those days. But on the used private market yes. Any person to do this is scum of earth btw. Too many unethical and a-moral scumbags out there.