Wonky table leg

[GeorgeG]

Has anyone had problem with their drop down table leg? Mine is becoming detached from one side. It’s a very poor design as it relies on sticky pads for attachment to avoid screws.
I think the problem arises because my MP was in the showroom for about 3 months. I previously owned a California which had been on displa in the showroom and I subsequently had a number of items replaced under warranty because of ‘customer abuse’.

 

[Gazthediver]

I had a the same problem when I bought my x-demo , it will need replacing and my leg was not covered by warranty luckily the dealership I bought it from payed the bill , in my honest opinion the table leg is not fit for purpose

 

[GeorgeG]

Hi Gaz, do you know what it cost? I don’t imagine it’s cheap as Westfalia stuff is ludicrously expensive for what it is - I know as this is my second Westfalia vehicle.

 

[Gazthediver]

Hi Gaz, do you know what it cost? I don’t imagine it’s cheap as Westfalia stuff is ludicrously expensive for what it is - I know as this is my second Westfalia vehicle.

it was around £650 for a new table and leg , but I am sure you can just by the leg on it’s own

 

[GeorgeG]

I have a contact at the Westfalia factory who I’ve met in Rheda-Weidenbrück (for warranty work on a Columbus), and at the annual show at the NEC. He has been very helpful to me and has sourced parts for me. I’ll see what he can come up with, as £650 is quite ludicrous. I modified the table in my Columbus by fitting a different sized table - a proper campervan table from a specialist motorhohome supplier for just over £40. The supplier even had folding table legs for less than £20. It seems to me that £100 would be a more realistic price.

 

[jimbo73]

yes, my leg is the same ! id be interested in seeing how you do. I intend to take mine back to MB to fix as ive just noticed it during lockdown and not raised it with them yet - I only got the van in Jan

 

[GeorgeG]

yes, my leg is the same ! id be interested in seeing how you do. I intend to take mine back to MB to fix as ive just noticed it during lockdown and not raised it with them yet - I only got the van in Jan

I’m sure you’ll be ok with a warranty claim as it is pretty new and limited use presumably because of Covid. I’ve had my MP 2 years so may be a problem as they can use wear and tear excuse.

 

[GeorgeG]

Just found out that you can message the Mercedes support team through the Mercedes me app. I’ve done this and sensibly you can add photos of the problem. I think this may be preferable to phoning my local dealer who knows nothing about the MP and will no doubt have to contact the Mercedes support team themselves. I may as well cut out the middleman!

 

[SteveR]

it was around £650 for a new table and leg , but I am sure you can just by the leg on it’s own

Surely if this is not a warranty item, the easiest way will be to replace the double sided tape rather than the whole table and leg assembly?
3M do some incredibly strong double sided tape

 

[GeorgeG]

Surely if this is not a warranty item, the easiest way will be to replace the double sided tape rather than the whole table and leg assembly?
3M do some incredibly strong double sided tape

Good point. However, if I can get a new table and leg under warranty I see that as a better option. The fixings seem to be pads rather than tape and I’d rather not waste my time experimenting with different fixing solutions unless i have to. I have contacted my mole in the factory for info on fixings as he was the main man in the warranty department until about a year ago at the Rheda-Wiedenbrück factory which now only converts OEM Mercedes and Ford Vehicles; so he has plenty of knowledge of the MP, certainly far more than uk dealers! Fiats are now converted in Gotha and the parent company, Rapido‘s budget brand Fleurette produce the less than convincing Kepler and Jules Verne, which are vastly overpriced, in France. Apologies for the digression. I’ll report back.

 

[SteveR]

....Good point. However, if I can get a new table and leg under warranty I see that as a better option....

I agree. New table and leg under warranty is the better option. However, for those that no longer have warranty cover I would suggest they look at this. I spent many years in a previous life working in the car body repair industry and you would perhaps be surprised by the quality and strength of industrial tapes and adhesives (ever seen body panels or patches just glued on?)
Good luck with the claim George

 

[GeorgeG]

Thanks Steve.
I’m waiting to find out from my Westfalia contact exactly the type of fixings they use. I’m glad to hear that they may well be up to the job after all. I suspect my table and leg suffered abuse while it was in the showroom. I mentioned my previous VW California in an earlier post. I bought that in 2007 when they hadn’t been around for long and were in very short supply. Literally the only one I could source (I seem to remember there were only 6 Van Centres then that we’re able to sell the California!) was in the showroom at the Exeter dealer and I was able to do a reasonable deal. We had a number of issues resulting from damage caused whilst it had been on display and to be fair to the sales manager, he happily replaced the items. He told me that you wouldn’t believe the abuse vehicles, particularly campervans, get in the showroom, with families crawling all over them. This leads to levels of damage you woul never get in normal use, largely due to ignorance of how the various fixtures and fittings work. Unfortunately, whilst I was aware the leg was a bit wonky when the van had its first outing, I didn’t think to mention it to the dealer, perhaps because I got a very good deal, buying it on the first day advertised as a pre reg vehicle.

 

[SteveR]

Yep - we've all seen them. Jumping in and out of expensive vehicles with a complete lack of respect. Parents letting their kids treat a nice car like a playground.....
That is why I tend to stay clear of ex-demo or showroom cars unless a ridiculously good deal too good to refuse

 

[GeorgeG]

It was a good deal. Over 20% off (75 miles on the clock) and a free towbar.

 

[GeorgeG]

I’ve heard from my contact at the Westfalia factory. He tells me they use Tesa ACX Plus 7078 Tape to fix the table leg. He says “it sticks like mad” and he knows of”no other case like mine”. However, it could be because Mercedes will always replace the table and leg and not attempt a repair.
I’ve not googled the tape yet as I’ve just got the email and wanted to share the advice so others may look for themselves.

 

[jimbo73]

cracking. .I will be raising this with MB for sure. But failing that.. Ill go for the sticking like mad tape

 

[GeorgeG]

Unfortunately, so far I’ve only found the tape in quantities of at least 20 rolls! Which will cost £100’s!
I’ve gone back to my contact as the tape is available in 6 thicknesses and different widths, so I’ve asked him for the product code. He can probably find the bin it’s kept in as he’s done this sort of thing for me before. I may not hear from him today as he finishes work at 3pm.

 

[Gazthediver]

I’ve heard from my contact at the Westfalia factory. He tells me they use Tesa ACX Plus 7078 Tape to fix the table leg. He says “it sticks like mad” and he knows of”no other case like mine”. However, it could be because Mercedes will always replace the table and leg and not attempt a repair.
I’ve not googled the tape yet as I’ve just got the email and wanted to share the advice so others may look for themselves.

not sure what’s going on but Mercedes has to contact Westfalia for all warranty claims and it was Westfalia who refused the warranty claim and this was done by Mercedes of Teesside my local dealership, unfortunately I purchased my vehicle from Mercedes of Dorchester and when I bought there x-demo the table leg was perfect but when I collected it a week later it was broken my vehicle was 3 months old with only 950 miles , my local dealership claimed the cost from Mercedes of Dorchester and I think the reason for the table replacement was because there was slight damage to the table because when the leg cant be placed right in its holder the table catches the table holder on the floor . When I asked about using tape Mercedes where told by Westfalia NO and it need to be replaced and took 8 week for a replacement

 

[GeorgeG]

not sure what’s going on but Mercedes has to contact Westfalia for all warranty claims and it was Westfalia who refused the warranty claim and this was done by Mercedes of Teesside my local dealership, unfortunately I purchased my vehicle from Mercedes of Dorchester and when I bought there x-demo the table leg was perfect but when I collected it a week later it was broken my vehicle was 3 months old with only 950 miles , my local dealership claimed the cost from Mercedes of Dorchester and I think the reason for the table replacement was because there was slight damage to the table because when the leg cant be placed right in its holder the table catches the table holder on the floor . When I asked about using tape Mercedes where told by Westfalia NO and it need to be replaced and took 8 week for a replacement

I’ve heard back from my contact at the factory. He doesn’t have the manufacturers code, presumably because they buy in bulk and use their own codes. He says any strong double sided tape would work.
From what you say, I don’t hold out much hope of a warranty claim after 2 years. Ironically I live in Dorchester and bought my MP in Southampton and as in your case, this adds another level of complication.
Also, I chose not to buy my Prius plug-in at my local dealer and traveled the opposite way to you and bought from the Newcastle dealer!

 

[GeorgeG]

I raised the question of my wonky table leg - adhesive pads on LHS have come adrift - when I took the MP on for its first service. They told me they no longer take photos and submit them to Mercedes in Germany. They are tasked with deciding if the repair is a warranty issue themselves. My local dealer has never had to fix a wonky table leg as they only have 4 MP’s on their system. However, their group comprises six dealers and they are making enquiries amongst them as to whether it could reasonably be considered a warranty claim after 2 years. I don’t hold out much hope as they are aware I bought the van pre-reg. Although it had only had 75 miles on the clock and I bought it just a few days after registration, it had been in the showroom. Dealers are very aware that vehicles on display, and particularly camper vans, get a lot of abuse from punters and their children who play with the fittings and cause damage. Some years ago I bought a new VW California which had also been in the showroom. The sales manager was very fair and replaced a number of items that had been damaged, including some where I was not aware of any damage. I realise now that although the table leg at the time of purchase was only slightly wonky I should have raised it as a warranty issue. Perhaps the generous 20% off rrp made me less inclined to press for that.
I’ll report back when I get a decision. I agree with Gazthediver that it’s not fit for purpose and I’m not spending £650 of my hardearned on a new one.