Hi all, first post here from a new member having joined specifically for some advice on my mum's car.
I recommended she buy a Fortwo a few yers ago after hearing great things about them. She's in her 80s but still very active and relies on her car daily, driving a mixture of local trips and longer dual carriageway every week or so. She has meticulously maintained the car throughout her ownership with the car having covered 43500 miles.
Whilst doing 70 in the outside lane just before Christmas, the car stutted to splutter, lose power and finally cut out while she was overtaking a large lorry in less than clement weather! This was very stressful for her and she managed tio limp to the hard shoulder where the car refused to start.
Anyway to cut a long story short, it was diagnosed that the oil control rings on cylinder 3 had gummed up leading to burnt valves and subsequent engine failure and was advised a new engine was the only cost effective way to go and she spent a shade under £1500 on a reconditioned one.
My questions are, firstly is this normal? I've heard rumours and read forums where people say ' oh they all do this' !! Are Smart engines designed only to last 40-50000 miles.
This has destroyed my mum's confidence in driving any distance and left her much more housebound than normal.
I want to write to Smart/Mercedes or whoever makes the engines and make a complaint as I feel this is totally unacceptable in this day and age.
Has anyone had a similar experience and anyone pursued this further?
regards,
Steve
I recommended she buy a Fortwo a few yers ago after hearing great things about them. She's in her 80s but still very active and relies on her car daily, driving a mixture of local trips and longer dual carriageway every week or so. She has meticulously maintained the car throughout her ownership with the car having covered 43500 miles.
Whilst doing 70 in the outside lane just before Christmas, the car stutted to splutter, lose power and finally cut out while she was overtaking a large lorry in less than clement weather! This was very stressful for her and she managed tio limp to the hard shoulder where the car refused to start.
Anyway to cut a long story short, it was diagnosed that the oil control rings on cylinder 3 had gummed up leading to burnt valves and subsequent engine failure and was advised a new engine was the only cost effective way to go and she spent a shade under £1500 on a reconditioned one.
My questions are, firstly is this normal? I've heard rumours and read forums where people say ' oh they all do this' !! Are Smart engines designed only to last 40-50000 miles.
This has destroyed my mum's confidence in driving any distance and left her much more housebound than normal.
I want to write to Smart/Mercedes or whoever makes the engines and make a complaint as I feel this is totally unacceptable in this day and age.
Has anyone had a similar experience and anyone pursued this further?
regards,
Steve
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