Thanks Lawrence I really like the car just want to be comfortable with serviceability since the local roanoke va MB dealer won't touch Smarts. I wonder if there's a Smart service class that I could take since I can't find a service manual. I suppose I could put it on a flatbed trailer and tow to NC or wash DC when it burps but I would do any basic maintenance on it by necessity I wonder why they don't have a 100k 8 year warranty like the Leaf or iMiev Maybe they figure half a warranty for half a car.... Best regards Mark
Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 27, 2016, at 2:54 PM, Lawrence Harris <[email protected]> wrote: > > Yes, the warrantee is 4 years with no special mention of the HV battery. I > have had no issues to date and the two closest MB dealers both service the > car no questions asked. I have not asked the cost of a replacement battery > but there is apparently a Gen II and Gen III and one blog post commented the > Gen II’s were hand assembled and the cost was ridiculous, the 2013 is a Gen > III. They noted in the US the MSRP on the Gen III’s was reduced by about > $5000 if you leased the battery so they figured that’s roughly what the > replacement would cost would be and is about 6 years of rental at $80/month. > I’ll have to ask the next time it’s in for service though I do hope mine will > last at least 10 years. Maybe I should be putting $80/month away for that > day. > > Lawrence > >> On Oct 26, 2016, at 18:46, Mark Hanson <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Thanks Lawrence >> That's good to know. So you have the 4 year 50k mile warranty I assume. >> That's good you can use the standard Obd2 reader. I have to get something >> special for the Leaf. I'd feel more comfortable if I could get a shop >> manual since the local Mercedes dealer said they refuse to work on the Smart >> cars want the higher profit margin of the pricey Mercedes line. I'm also >> concerned that you can't get a battery for a reasonable price quoted $29k >> from the parts dept in Winston Salem NC and Germantown Md so you'd have to >> throw the car away after 50k miles of the battery poops out. I also >> couldn't find individual cells on the net like the Leaf to repair a pack. >> Best regards >> Msrk >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Oct 26, 2016, at 7:46 PM, Lawrence Harris <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> As far as I know there is no option to rent the battery in Canada so no I >>> don’t pay monthly. I have not tried to read the fault codes or such, it’s >>> on my list of todo’s someday but it’s a standard ODB2 connector so basic >>> code reading is not a problem, i have had codes read on my old smart car by >>> third parties no problem. Monitoring the battery would be a useful option, >>> I have not deeply investigated that yet. Once I get an ODB2 reader I’ll >>> probably see what I can find out. Most of the other data for basic kw/km >>> etc is on the dash display so I have not really felt the need to read the >>> low lever data. I really like the leaf spy but don’t immediately see >>> something similar for other cars. I bought it new in Dec 2013. >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Lawrence >>> >>>> On Oct 26, 2016, at 13:54, Mark Hanson <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> Thanks Lawrence >>>> Do you have to pay $80 per month for battery rental? Or did you pay more >>>> to own the battery? Can you read the individual cell voltages? Can you >>>> read the fault codes through the Obd connector or do you need a special >>>> reader? Did you buy it used or new? >>>> Best regards >>>> Mark >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>>> On Oct 26, 2016, at 1:55 PM, Lawrence Harris <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Just to add my own view here. I have had a smartED 2013 for three years >>>>> and it’s been a great car. I drive it pretty much daily and it’s been a >>>>> dream to drive, fast and agile, tons of space to carry stuff. Basically >>>>> perfectly suited to city driving. As for service my local MB dealer has >>>>> been good and the basic service costs are very much on par with anything >>>>> I have ever owned (mainly Nissan’s) except they are overall cheaper than >>>>> my gas cars without all the parts that need to be replaced and oil >>>>> changes etc. I too would like to own the service manuals but in reality >>>>> I won’t ever be digging that deeply into self service. I gave that up >>>>> many years back when the cars became mostly electronically controlled. >>>>> The mechanics I can get serviced anywhere as the base car is the same as >>>>> the gas and diesel versions. After three years my battery seems to >>>>> holding up just fine, my range is the same or even slightly more than >>>>> when I bought it - might be just the estimator learning my driving style. >>>>> >>>>> That said, if I had kids I would have probably bought a leaf at the time >>>>> and today I would consider the iMev or the KEA Soul EV which looks really >>>>> nice if I need a bigger car any time soon. For now I am waiting for the >>>>> 400+ km car with fast charger for my next one. >>>>> >>>>> As for conversions I did look into this some years back when I had my >>>>> diesel smart but for many reasons including cost and performance it just >>>>> didn’t seem like a good option. I think with all the good EV’s on the >>>>> market today the only vehicle worth converting would be a truck as there >>>>> is nothing yet in that category though I expect that too will change >>>>> fairly soon. >>>>> >>>>> Lawrence >>>>> >>>>>> On Oct 25, 2016, at 18:24, Mark Hanson via EV <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks Cor, Dave etc for the thoughtful Smart, iMiEV and Leaf info. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Since I already have a Leaf (like it very much but my son latched onto it >>>>>> and would like a smaller commuter car) when I replace my Karmann Ghia EV >>>>>> next month I'll probably buy a iMiEV since I see online service manuals >>>>>> available, individual battery monitoring and the same 100K 8 year battery >>>>>> warranty like the Leaf has (also saw a few Chevy Spark compliance cars >>>>>> but >>>>>> little support). It looks like according to www.batteryuniversity.com >>>>>> that >>>>>> both vehicles(Leaf & iMiEV) use the NMC nickel- manganese- cobalt cathode >>>>>> with lithium substrate and carbon anode by LG Chem? I think the 2016 >>>>>> Smart >>>>>> will too. So the iMiEV should have similar life and both air cooled not >>>>>> complicated water cooled like the Smart ED. I drove a Smart ED and >>>>>> really >>>>>> liked the car but if I can't service it (or get it serviced for a >>>>>> reasonable >>>>>> price) then it's a no-go. I wish Swatch kept it or sold through another >>>>>> company other than Mercedes Benz (most MB wheeler-dealers hate the car - >>>>>> low >>>>>> profits), rather sell $70K foo-foo Mercedes (like the dealer here in >>>>>> Roanoke, VA). I'd take the Smart (convert) plunge if someone made a >>>>>> motor >>>>>> adapter and had a manual transmission but the one's I've seen (ICE) have >>>>>> a >>>>>> crappy auto tranny. I saw an 05' conversion on www.evalbum.com but looks >>>>>> like he spent considerable time and money on it (like my conversion >>>>>> $25K). >>>>>> I'm looking at a iMiEV 2014 5K miles for $9K ... Still hard to sell my >>>>>> conversion - since it'll probably be the last car I'll convert, doesn't >>>>>> make >>>>>> sense to convert anymore though. >>>>>> >>>>>> Mark >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------- >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi folks (original message) >>>>>> >>>>>> I was wondering if it makes sense to convert a Smart Car and does anyone >>>>>> know of a good conversion kit? The problem with the Smart ED as I was >>>>>> looking at a used 2014 is they want a $80 monthly battery rental fee for >>>>>> ten >>>>>> years or $9600 on top of the car price. Also there is *no* service manual >>>>>> available from Mercedes. I called several Smart dealers and they said >>>>>> their >>>>>> service department can't even get a service manual. Also I can't find >>>>>> any >>>>>> way to monitor the individual cells like my Leaf or iMiev And If you >>>>>> buy >>>>>> the battery for an additional $5k the warranty is only 4 years and 50k >>>>>> miles. Battery replacement cost is $29k verified at several dealers. The >>>>>> Leaf and iMiev are 100k 8 year warranty and the Leaf is $5.5k to replace >>>>>> and >>>>>> the iMiev is about $12k a dealer said. I'm thinking of selling my Ghia >>>>>> www.evalbum.com/4346 and buying a used iMiev or Smart ED. I already have >>>>>> a >>>>>> Leaf that my son drives mostly and both EVs are charged from the sun. >>>>>> >>>>>> Have a renewable energy day >>>>>> >>>>>> Mark >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Message: 3 >>>>>> >>>>>> Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2016 14:08:47 -0700 >>>>>> >>>>>> From: Cor van de Water via EV <[email protected]> >>>>>> >>>>>> To: "Electric Vehicle Discussion List" <[email protected]> >>>>>> >>>>>> Subject: Re: [EVDL] Smart Car Conversion Kits? >>>>>> >>>>>> Message-ID: >>>>>> >>>>>> <a73bc4b8b3218642a56a2c9eb01b44e002aed...@exchange.corp.proxim.com> >>>>>> >>>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Everything screams to me that the Smart is a nice car for Leasing but >>>>>> stay >>>>>> away if you want to buy! Every car is going to be an orphan as soon as >>>>>> you >>>>>> buy it and it has very limited space so unless you are lucky with the car >>>>>> and the battery and nothing breaks - it appears that you are on your own >>>>>> or >>>>>> have to fork over whatever ransom Mercedes asks to work on the car for >>>>>> you. >>>>>> >>>>>> For proof, look at the unrealistic battery price, it is several times >>>>>> more >>>>>> than the cost of the battery, so why bother if there are so many better >>>>>> alternatives? >>>>>> >>>>>> I love my Leaf so much, I now have two. Since I need space to work on my >>>>>> electric truck, I am going to sell one. It has some damage but hardly >>>>>> noticeable and does not affect the operation at all. Good battery, still >>>>>> has >>>>>> 12 bars though I suspect will lose bar 12 soon. Car is a 2011 Leaf SV, >>>>>> battery has lived in Washington until 3 months ago when it moved to >>>>>> California, that is why it still has good capacity. Send me an email if >>>>>> you >>>>>> are interested. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Cor van de Water >>>>>> >>>>>> Chief Scientist >>>>>> >>>>>> Proxim Wireless >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> office +1 408 383 7626 Skype: cor_van_de_water >>>>>> >>>>>> XoIP +31 87 784 1130 private: cvandewater.info >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Have a renewable energy day, >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Mark >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Mark E. Hanson >>>>>> >>>>>> 184 Vista Lane >>>>>> >>>>>> Fincastle, VA 24090 >>>>>> >>>>>> 540-473-1248 phone & FAX, 540-816-0812 cell >>>>>> >>>>>> REEVA: community service RE & EV project club >>>>>> >>>>>> Website: www.REEVAdiy.org (See Project Gallery) >>>>>> >>>>>> UL Certified PV Installer >>>>>> >>>>>> My RE&EV Circuits: www.EVDL.org/lib/mh >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -------------- next part -------------- >>>>>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>>>> URL: >>>>>> <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20161025/a1c5539b/attachment.htm> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub >>>>>> http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org >>>>>> Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ >>>>>> Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA >>>>>> (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
