@antp: Mercedes has a good reputation indeed, but it can happen, that they are producing junk, even in Germany. A colleague had a brand new C-Klasse, which was broken for electrical reasons more than a dozen times in 4 months.

And a friend from Northern France has told me, that just a few years ago there was a man (around Lille, I think), who had worst problems with his E-Klasse. He also get in trouble with his Mercedes-garage, si at least he was so pissed, that he has stored his car on the biggest parking of a shopping mall, badged over and over with stickers of all defects he had (and with copies of the letters).
It was a big discussion - but finally Mercedes France gave him a new car.


Such actions can be impressive for a long long time, even with bad results for the company.
So in Germany all people, who still know the Matra Simca Bagheera from the 70ies, know also a similar story.
In 1974/75 one man in Berlin had problems over and over with his Bagheera, also angry arguments with Simca Germany. He also covered his car with stickers and copied letters and has placed it directly in the middle of Berlin, in front of the "Gedächtniskirche" at the Kurfürstendamm.
This scene was printed in a plenty of newspapers and car-magazines in 1975.

And finally it has really destroyed the (even not really high before) reputation of Chrysler Simca in Germany.
The selling of the Bagheera was broken down, also the successor Murena wasn't sold well, because this story was still in the mind of the people.