Smart Fortwo DCT Mechanical Problem

It was deep and I went through it at about 30mph which caused rapid deceleration and a big splash. Immediately afterwards I heard a rough sound so that’s obviously when the damage was done. Never encountered such a puddle on that stretch of road before but it must have been raining heavily shortly before.
 
Last edited:
Car is telling me it’s due a service in 6 days, new replacement parts not arrived yet, they will call me to re book me in when they do and will carry out the first service under my new service plan at the same time.

I only do about 1100 miles a year so is not going to hurt if it doesn’t get serviced for a few weeks past it’s official due date.
 
Armageus said:
Service A or Service B?
Also how much is this service plan costing?

For 1100 miles a year, it's probably cheaper to get a taxi than actually own a car and pay main dealer prices :D
Click to expand...

It’ll be an A service probably. The three year service plan cost £793.80. I don’t own a car for economical reasons, I just enjoy owning and driving a car.
 
dLockers said:
Especially as that'll be 1100 miles of granny driving and totally abusing the engine and mechanicals.
Click to expand...
Nah I only drive once a week and do 23 miles each week nonstop, it’s not lots of short journeys so does the car no harm. I live in Jersey and the maximum speed limit is 40mph on some roads the rest are 30mph. Having a powerful car would be a waste here but some do but each to their own.
 
jpaul said:
the new ev smart zero though, probably will be popular their ? too early to get one as a loaner.
Click to expand...
I can’t charge an electric car at home as I live in a block of flats otherwise I’d be interested in one, did drive a Smart Forfour electric car as a loan car when mine went in for a service and enjoyed driving it.
 
nlel1975 said:
I can’t charge an electric car at home as I live in a block of flats otherwise I’d be interested in one, did drive a Smart Forfour electric car as a loan car when mine went in for a service and enjoyed driving it.
Click to expand...
Also prices of electric Smarts are super expensive, there’s a 2022 Cabrio model with 1300 mileage at the Smart dealer advertised for £21,995. I paid £15,000 for my ICE Cabrio model brand new with delivery mileage in 2019. I wouldn’t have been able to afford an electric model back then as that purchase took virtually all of my savings.

I plan to keep mine for at least 15 years, and will only go electric when I’m forced too as I don’t fancy going to a public charging point and waiting for it to charge. I doubt my block of flats will ever have the infrastructure to support the charging of multiple electric cars either.
 
Been in contact with the Smart main dealer today as they still haven't got all the parts to repair my car. They have the front undertray part number A453 684 08 00 costing £95.50 and the Combi-Self Tapping screws part number A415 990 54 00 costing £7.55 each which I need 10 of so £75.50.

But they don't have the rear undertray part number A453 684 11 00 costing £103. So the parts cost £274 and the labour charge is £86 so £360 in total. They've quoted me £371.70 so might be slightly more.
 
Gaygle said:
Seriously, you need to stop bending over for your local Smart dealer - this is absolutely mental.
Click to expand...
It’s just the price of the parts, all Smart dealers charge the same. I wouldn’t know what type of screws I need anyway and who else am I supposed to go to, to get the job done. The price of the other parts are quite reasonable if you follow my links above.
 
Armageus said:
Aside from actually getting hold of the new undertray, it's nothing that requires a main dealer for.
Click to expand...
Even the main dealer seems to be having trouble getting hold of the rear under tray. They are going chase the supplier for an ETA. So if they can’t get them what hope for an independent.
 
dLockers said:
An independent will ring a local breakers and get the part for 50 quid.

The reason they don't have any available is nobody would be mad enough to pay £400 quid for a bit of trim on such a car.
Click to expand...
I’m in Jersey there are no local breakers besides why look down on my car just because it’s a Smart. Even if we did have a local breaker whose to say they’d have the parts available anyway.

The rear under tray is £103 anyway not £400.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: NVP
dLockers said:
I'm not "looking down" on your car. I am not just not placing it on a pedestal. At the end of the day, it isn't a "future classic" and it will do nothing but depreciate to £0 (or just above scrap). You're just adding cost in to your total cost of ownership with no way to recoup it. And just because "you can afford it" doesn't mean it is a sensible thing to do.
Click to expand...
It’s still my car and relatively new 2019. I paid £15000 for it brand new which for me is a considerable amount, therefore I want to look after it. It’s not some old banger I picked up for £1000.
 
dLockers said:
And no-one is saying "don't look after it". What we are saying is that only an absolute lunatic would accept £75 for 10 screws as a valid answer.
Click to expand...
I haven’t really got much choice they’ve already got hold of the screws and wouldn’t look kindly on me for offering to supply my own assuming the ones that were linked to earlier were they correct type and even those are £4.34 each from China.

Theres not a whole lot of difference between £7.50 a piece then waiting 4 weeks to get some for £4.34 each from China and they don’t post to Jersey either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom