Warranty is good only in shop where you buy the bike

Crockers

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 19, 2014
821
689
71
Well that is very funny because when my new one had a problem the Mercedes dealer told me that they could not switch it there and then as they only had a 200 watt in stock, Mercedes sent a 250 watt the following day. Maybe I was lied to but speaking with the technician they could not have been more helpful, I would be interested to know where you got this information, including the source and your experience of using/riding them because the technicians don't know about this!

Oh and the technician plugged in both and he could see a difference in the software on both bikes, mine having a higher something or other, not sure but he found it fascinating as well as he hadn't seen a 250 watt one.
I see they do an orange one.

Did your price include German VAT?
 

Smart eBiker

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 15, 2015
404
123
73
I see they do an orange one.

Did your price include German VAT?
Orange are impossible to find, I went for grey as it looks stunning on the back of my grey car, not that I even thought of that until I put it on :) But green and white would have looked odd. Yes all included VAT so its a cycle away price, no customs duty as in Europe, all EU brothers/family together and all that :) Don't hesitate, get one, I was going to buy a third for spares for hen the warranty ran out. I did my costings over 2 years as it has a warranty and its a steal and will have more than paid for itself by then, after that I will use it until it gives up then just buy something else, I may even be dead by then so not a problem :)
 
Last edited:

JohnCade

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 16, 2014
1,486
736
Well that is very funny because when my new one had a problem the Mercedes dealer told me that they could not switch it there and then as they only had a 200 watt in stock, Mercedes sent a 250 watt the following day. Maybe I was lied to but speaking with the technician they could not have been more helpful, I would be interested to know where you got this information, including the source and your experience of using/riding them because the technicians don't know about this!

Oh and the technician plugged in both and he could see a difference in the software on both bikes, mine having a higher something or other, not sure but he found it fascinating as well as he hadn't seen a 250 watt one.

You could search here there was a thread running when the UK government officially ratified the EU treaty in April. Which they were supposed to do over ten years ago when the EU law changed but didn’t get around to. A google search will also show the changes, and I think the GovUK sites have been changed now. Some people like some insurance companies still don’t seem to know even now.

But almost all pedelecs sold in the UK apart from very cheap ones have been rated as 250W nominal for years in line with EU law, and after a meeting with the DTI which was attended by flecc a member here, among other pedelec interests, it was agreed that no action should be taken against riders of 250W bikes in the time it took to finally bring UK law into line with the rest of the EU. This was after an over zealous policeman wanted to prosecute and was backed by his force. My bike is German and it and all the other German and Austrian and Dutch bikes have been 250W for ages and being sold here. Which is why I was surprised that this Smart wasn’t.
 

Smart eBiker

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 15, 2015
404
123
73
You could search here there was a thread running when the UK government officially ratified the EU treaty in April. Which they were supposed to do over ten years ago when the EU law changed but didn’t get around to. A google search will also show the changes, and I think the GovUK sites have been changed now. Some people like some insurance companies still don’t seem to know even now.

But almost all pedelecs sold in the UK apart from very cheap ones have been rated as 250W nominal for years in line with EU law and after a meeting with the DTI which was attended by flecc, a member here, among other pedelec interests it was agreed that no action should be taken against riders of 250W bikes in the time it took to finally ratify bring UK law into line with the EU. This was after an over zealous policeman wanted to prosecute and was backed by his force. My bike is German and it and all the other German and Austrian and Dutch bikes have been 250W for ages and being sold here. Which is why I was surprised that this Smart wasn’t.
You said that there were no 200 watt Smart eBikes they were all 250 watt, so from what you are saying above, and from what you said in your previous post, you have no clue what Mercedes Smart are doing and just made it all up because of an old post. I think me owning one and having been at the dealership in the last couple of weeks and seen the technician plugging in the computer, plus their parts computer showing two different product numbers for both a 200 watt and a 250 watt version is a bit more credible! Be careful, people may read and believe what you post, that can be dangerous especially if its just all made up nonsense!
 

JohnCade

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 16, 2014
1,486
736
You said that there were no 200 watt Smart eBikes they were all 250 watt, so from what you are saying above, and from what you said in your previous post, you have no clue what Mercedes Smart are doing and just made it all up because of an old post. I think me owning one and having been at the dealership in the last couple of weeks and seen the technician plugging in the computer, plus their parts computer showing two different product numbers for both a 200 watt and a 250 watt version is a bit more credible! Be careful, people may read and believe what you post, that can be dangerous especially if its just all made up nonsense!
I didn’t write anything of the sort, you plank.

I have no idea what Smart bikes sell or if they are still selling 200W bikes here because they don’t know the law. I’m just telling you what the law is. But if they are so incompetent that they think it’s illegal to sell 250W bikes here they obviously know SFA about pedelecs.

My advice to you is to by a Kalkhoff or some other real ebike. When you’ve owned one for more than five minutes you might start to know what you’re talking about, and in the meantime do some research.
 

Alan Quay

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 4, 2012
2,351
1,076
Devon
You said that there were no 200 watt Smart eBikes they were all 250 watt, so from what you are saying above, and from what you said in your previous post, you have no clue what Mercedes Smart are doing and just made it all up because of an old post. I think me owning one and having been at the dealership in the last couple of weeks and seen the technician plugging in the computer, plus their parts computer showing two different product numbers for both a 200 watt and a 250 watt version is a bit more credible! Be careful, people may read and believe what you post, that can be dangerous especially if its just all made up nonsense!
If you want to stick around this forum I suggest you wind your neck in a bit, and read what people actually write.

JohnCade has not said that there are no 200w Smart Ebikes. He said he was surprised that they make a 200w because (no other) major manufacturer has been making them. He then goes on to summarise the situation with the April change, and the previous waiver accurately.

I think an apology and fewer exclamation marks would be advised.

(Sorry, crossed with Johns post)
 

Smart eBiker

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 15, 2015
404
123
73
If you want to stick around this forum I suggest you wind your neck in a bit, and read what people actually write.

JohnCade has not said that there are no 200w Smart Ebikes. He said he was surprised that they make a 200w because (no other) major manufacturer has been making them. He then goes on to summarise the situation with the April change, and the previous waiver accurately.

I think an apology and fewer exclamation marks would be advised.

(Sorry, crossed with Johns post)
Maybe big noses should not get stuck in and post things in threads they have no clue about. From what I have seen in other posts on this forum there is more than one person who thinks they can say what they want and if they shout loud enough people will believe them, but it may well come back to bite them. You young kids need to learn a bit if respect, if you think you can bully everyone and be abusive then I can assure you that you will be in for a huge surprise!
 

Emo Rider

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 10, 2014
659
414
Maybe big noses should not get stuck in and post things in threads they have no clue about. From what I have seen in other posts on this forum there is more than one person who thinks they can say what they want and if they shout loud enough people will believe them, but it may well come back to bite them. You young kids need to learn a bit if respect, if you think you can bully everyone and be abusive then I can assure you that you will be in for a huge surprise!
Firstly, I do not know or have any relationship personally or professionally with any of the people whom you seem to be at odds with. I agree that you have misinterpreted what John said as what he said is accurate and common knowledge. I do not believe he was doing anything but trying to clarify the situation. I do not believe anyone was trying to disrespect you, mislead you, or speak any false infomation. I am a bit confused myself over what wattage smart bikes sold in the UK were or are now. I believe John was only trying to (correctly) explain why only 200 watt bikes were sold in the past if that were the case. To be fair, most of us have rarely seen smart bikes and do not know a lot about them. Glad you have one, are happy with it and that a warranty issue went well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alan Quay and D C

JohnCade

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 16, 2014
1,486
736
Maybe big noses should not get stuck in and post things in threads they have no clue about. From what I have seen in other posts on this forum there is more than one person who thinks they can say what they want and if they shout loud enough people will believe them, but it may well come back to bite them. You young kids need to learn a bit if respect, if you think you can bully everyone and be abusive then I can assure you that you will be in for a huge surprise!
Most people here are anything but kids, and quite a few including me I would guess are older than you. I don’t know what your beef with Alan is since he only gave you good advice. When I join a new forum I have a look around first and get a feel for it, then when I post I don’t start by off by telling the existing members that they don’t know what they’re talking about.

This Smart bike came out a couple of years ago from memory and was thought generally to be overpriced for what it was. Mercedes wasn’t the only one to try to do it and Ford brought one out too. It’s a branding exercise really. In the case of the Smart I would guess that a large part of the reason they haven’t sold, leaving the price aside, is the 200W motor. I didn’t know that until you wrote here about it. But why would anyone want to pay £2500 for something like that? When they could buy a very sophisticated near top of the range European e bike with high end components and proven 250W nominal motors which peak at around 700Ws for the same money?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alan Quay and D C

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,163
30,580
Be careful, people may read and believe what you post, that can be dangerous especially if its just all made up nonsense!
Well here's the facts for you from this very elderly bully.

On the 9th May 2003 the EU passed an order to all member countries to adopt in law the 2002/24/EC Two and Three Wheeler Type Approval legislation. In section 1.2. (h) 250 watt pedelecs were exempted from being considered as motor vehicles, remaining as bicycles. All members including the UK adopted that, in our case on 10th November 2003, but unfortunately the old UK 200 watt law was not rescinded, leaving to a decade of confusion. Since in transport matters the EU law has primacy, most manufacturers supplied 250 watt e-bikes from then on.

On 13th April 2013 to deal with the confusion over the dual law existence, the DfT issued an order to all UK Chief Police Officers not to act against any 250 wat e-bike on grounds of that rating.

Finally on 6th April 2015 an amendment to the 1983 EAPC regulations was passed into law by parliament, changing the power rating to 250 watts to align with the EU legislation.

As for Mercedes, shortly after the turn of the millennium they produced a rear hub motor e-bike rated at 200 watts which ran for a few years, selling through their car showrooms. That not only suited the old UK law but also the Australian market where 200 watts remained the limit until fairly recently.

Therefore I would guess that with the Smart pedelec design they were failing to keep their eye on the ball and were unaware of the worldwide legal changes which have left no country with a 200 watts limit.
.
 
Last edited:

Smart eBiker

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 15, 2015
404
123
73
Well here's the facts for you from this very elderly bully.

On the 9th May 2003 the EU passed an order to all member countries to adopt in law the 2002/24/EC Two and Three Wheeler Type Approval legislation. In section 1.2. (h) 250 watt pedelecs were exempted from being considered as motor vehicles, remaining as bicycles. All members including the UK adopted that, in our case on 10th November 2003, but unfortunately the old UK 200 watt law was not rescinded, leaving to a decade of confusion. Since in transport matters the EU law has primacy, most manufacturers supplied 250 watt e-bikes from then on.

On 13th April 2013 to deal with the confusion over the dual law existence, the DfT issued an order to all UK Chief Police Officers not to act against any 250 wat e-bike on grounds of that rating.

Finally on 6th April 2015 an amendment to the 1983 EAPC regulations was passed into law by parliament, changing the power rating to 250 watts to align with the EU legislation.

As for Mercedes, shortly after the turn of the millennium they produced a rear hub motor e-bike rated at 200 watts which ran a for a few years, selling through their car showrooms. That not only suited the old UK law but also the Australian market where 200 watts remained the limit until fairly recently.

Therefore I would guess that with the Smart pedelec design they were failing to keep their eye on the ball and were unaware of the worldwide legal changes which have left no country with a 200 watts limit.
.
See you can be pleasant if you try!

The rear hub Smart eBike is as it was, there has been no new model brought out, the UK ones as you rightly point out were and are still 200Watt, the rest of Europe has the same bike but with 250 Watt, and in the US the same bike but with 350 Watt! It may be now with a change in the law that they will start to sell the 250 watt bikes here in the UK, when I had a problem with the one I bought in Germany, a UK dealer had a 250 watt one available for me the very next day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: flecc

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,163
30,580
and in the US the same bike but with 350 Watt!
That 350 watts for the USA is pretty much standard now with outside manufacturers. Basically it's been as far as most e-bike motor designs can be pushed commensurate with high reliability.

The US limits are far higher of course, 700 watts Federal law but individual states can make their own rules and some permit 1000 or even 1500 watts. The downside is that some are far stricter and two states have total bans on e-bikes.
.
 

Yamdude

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 20, 2013
842
639
Somerset
Most (not all) Mercedes dealers are owned by Mercedes UK. Therefore when you bought the bike your contract was with the dealer or in this case MBUK. Not sure how you would fare if you went to a MB franchise. But I'm sure MB would honour it as I've always found them to go above and beyond their warranty.

For a "quality" bike manufacturer not honouring a product warrant unless via the providing seller.....I would love to hear from manufacturers why!!
So an open question to
Haibike
KTM
Riuse &Muller
Scott
Cube

And all others........what us your warranty position... And why??
Seeing as this thread was originally about warranties, i was rather hoping that any dealers on here would answer this question.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Smart eBiker

Smart eBiker

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 15, 2015
404
123
73
Seeing as this thread was originally about warranties, i was rather hoping that any dealers on here would answer this question.
Please may I apologise on behalf of the purported bullies, who if they put their mind to it can actually be quite pleasant as can be seen from their apologetic last posts.

I can only give information on my Mercedes Smart experience, but I am looking for another bike so will look with great interest at the replies from other manufacturers. Warranty is a big concern for me as being retired I can't go throwing my hard earned pension money about and like to budget, unlike some of the young rich kids on here who can buy these flashy machines and cover any costs that may turn up, good luck to them as I used to be like that, but my days are nearly up, and I have to be grateful my heart is still beating every morning I wake up :)
 

JohnCade

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 16, 2014
1,486
736
Please may I apologise on behalf of the purported bullies, who if they put their mind to it can actually be quite pleasant as can be seen from their apologetic last posts.

I can only give information on my Mercedes Smart experience, but I am looking for another bike so will look with great interest at the replies from other manufacturers. Warranty is a big concern for me as being retired I can't go throwing my hard earned pension money about and like to budget, unlike some of the young rich kids on here who can buy these flashy machines and cover any costs that may turn up, good luck to them as I used to be like that, but my days are nearly up, and I have to be grateful my heart is still beating every morning I wake up :)
Unless you have a most unusual sense of humour and are having a laugh - what you are on about.
 

Crockers

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 19, 2014
821
689
71
Seeing as this thread was originally about warranties, i was rather hoping that any dealers on here would answer this question.
I was wondering when we were going to get back to the original subject...

So I will repeat my question. ........

For a "quality" bike manufacturer not honouring a product warrant unless via the providing seller.....I would love to hear from manufacturers WHY!!
So an open question to
Haibike
KTM
Riuse &Muller
Scott
Cube

And all others........what IS your warranty position... And why??
 

trex

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 15, 2011
7,703
2,671
woosh warranty is transferrable and the company is the sole warranty handler, even when the bike is sold by their agents. That's the only way to solve rapidly any issue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Crockers

Wander

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 8, 2013
586
429
For a "quality" bike manufacturer not honouring a product warrant unless via the providing seller.....I would love to hear from manufacturers WHY!!
Turn your question around.

There are some excellent e-bike dealers in the UK, those that really know their products & have invested in tools, equipment & training.

There are some rubbish e-bike dealers in the UK who know next to nothing about e-bikes but are more than willing to make a profit on the ones they sell.

Why should the excellent e-bike dealer pick up the warranty work for the rubbish ones? Particularly when they don't get paid labour costs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Emo Rider