2007 Mercedes Benz R320

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER IN WILSONVILLE OREGON, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE R320 CDI IS THE WORST CAR MERCEDES-BENZ EVER BUILT, AND THEY KEPT CHARGING FOR REPAIRS EACH TIME WITH A NEW PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE BRAKE LAMP IN THE REAR NEEDS A SOFTWARE UPDATE OTHER WISE MY LIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. DO YOU THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IF MY TAIL LAMP AND MY BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I UPDATE THE SOFTWARE FOR 150 DOLLARS?

ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. UPON TAKEOFF VEHICLE WENT INTO "LOW POWER" MODE. VEHICLE THEN BECAME A HAZARD DUE TO SLOW ACCELERATION AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY IN A SAFE MANNER DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HAS HAD A NEW TURBO/WASTE GATE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BUT STILL GOES INTO LOW POWER MODE WITHOUT WARNING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IN MOST CASES IF THE VEHICLE CAN BE GOTTEN OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS MAY LAST FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VEHICLES WITH THE 3.0 TURBO DIESEL INCLUDING SPRINTER VANS. *TR

ENGINE 'DIED' (VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER) WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I HAD TO PULL VEHICLE OVER ON SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER ASSISTANCE STEERING OR BRAKING. BROUGH IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE 8/8/12, STALLED TWO MORE TIMES WHILE ENROUTE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A FAILED CAMSHAFT SENSOR. I LOOKED UP ALL SAFETY RECALLS ON VEHICLE, AND FOUND ONE FOR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IN 2008. I WAS TOLD THAT MY FAILED CAMSHAFT SENSOR IS DIFFERENT AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER, EVEN THOUGH IT PRODUCES THE SAME SYMPTOM/RESULT AS A FAILED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. BOTH ITEMS PERFORM SIMARLARLY IN THAT THEY ASSURE CORRECT ENGINE TIMING, DISABLING THE ENGINE IF A FAILURE IS DETECTED IN EITHER PART! I SUBMIT THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD AT LEAST BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER! *TR