This Mercedes came in for servicing, with an active bonnet malfunction message that popped up now and then. When our team checked the car, they also found a cracked front lower arm leaking oil, and worn brake pads and discs front and rear. The owner approved the quote, and we did everything in one visit.
Job completed: June 2026
| Car | Mercedes GLC |
|---|---|
| Symptom | Active bonnet malfunction message popping up now and then; car booked in for servicing |
| Fault found | Front lower arm cracked and leaking oil; front brake pads at 15% and rear at 20%, with the discs worn out front and rear; front bonnet lock advised for the active bonnet message |
| Repair done | Both front lower arms replaced with ball joints, wheel alignment, brake pads, discs and wear sensors replaced front and rear, front bonnet lock with switch replaced, engine oil and filter service |
| Parts | Original parts, as quoted: lower arms, brake pads, discs and sensors, bonnet lock with switch |
| Time taken | Timeline confirmed when you book |
| Cost | We quote transparently before any work starts. WhatsApp us for a diagnosis first. |
| Warranty | No warranty term stated for this job; every item quoted and approved first |
The owner booked the car in for routine servicing. Before the visit, he sent us a photo of a message that popped up on the dashboard now and then: Active bonnet malfunction. He asked us to fix it while the car was in.
The lower arm and brake problems came up when our team checked the car during the service.
The job record gives no year, engine or mileage for this car, so we leave them out.
The front lower arms hold each front wheel in place and carry the bushes that soak up road shocks. A cracked or leaking lower arm should be replaced, because it is part of what keeps the wheel where it should be.
An active bonnet is a pedestrian safety system. In certain collisions it lifts the bonnet slightly to cushion the impact. When the car sees a problem with the system, it shows a malfunction message on the dashboard.
The car came in for servicing, and our team checked it over. They found:
For the active bonnet message, our team advised replacing the front bonnet lock, as the message could be related to the lock.
We quoted each item before any work started.
The job record does not say why the lower arm cracked or what set off the bonnet message, so we will not guess. Our team advised the bonnet lock because the message could be related to it.
Brake pads and discs wear with use. With the pads at 15% and 20% and the discs worn out, it was time to replace them front and rear.
The owner approved the quote, and we did everything in one visit:
All parts were original, as quoted. The next day, the owner told us the bonnet message had not come back and the ride felt smoother.
The cost of a repair like this depends on what the inspection finds. Front lower arm replacement, brake pads and discs, and a bonnet lock replacement are each priced separately and quoted clearly before any work starts.
We do not bundle repairs to inflate the invoice, and we do not start work until you have agreed to the quote. WhatsApp us your model and what you are experiencing and we will let you know what to expect.
Front suspension bushings and brake components both give advance warning before they reach the point of failure. On the suspension side, a knocking or clunking from the front end when you go over bumps is an early sign worth checking. On brakes, the wear sensor warning on the dashboard is the car telling you the pads are at the limit.
Getting an inspection when the first signs appear is always cheaper than waiting for the component to fail completely. Both brake wear and lower arm wear are predictable, and fixing them at the right time avoids secondary damage.
This Mercedes-Benz GLC (Front lower arm, brake pad and disc, and bonnet lock replacement) was handled at 1 Car Service, an independent workshop in Sin Ming AutoCity, Singapore. For Mercedes-Benz, we use dealer-level XENTRY diagnostics. We hold a 4.9★ rating from 1,836+ Google reviews.
WhatsApp us your car model and what you are experiencing. We diagnose the root cause honestly, give you a clear quote before anything is touched, and handle everything in one visit where we can.
The cost depends on what is found on inspection and whether one or both lower arms need replacing. We give you a clear quote before work starts. WhatsApp us your model and mileage and we will let you know what to expect.
If both sides show similar wear, replacing both at the same visit makes sense. Worn bushings wear at similar rates because they experience the same loads over the same mileage. Doing one side now and the other a few months later usually costs more overall and means a second alignment job. We inspect both and advise you honestly on what is actually worn.
A full brake overhaul covering pads, discs and wear sensors front and rear varies depending on the model and the parts needed. We quote before work begins. If only the fronts or rears are due, we will tell you that too and not push you to replace what does not need doing.
Yes. We diagnose Mercedes-Benz with XENTRY, the dealer-level diagnostic system, and check the parts linked to the warning. On this car, our team advised replacing the front bonnet lock with its switch, and the next day the owner told us the message had not come back.
A knock from the front suspension is usually a lower arm bushing or a worn ball joint. These affect how the wheel stays aligned under load, which affects braking and stability in an emergency. It is worth getting it checked soon rather than leaving it, because the longer worn bushings run, the more uneven the tyre wear becomes, and the more the geometry drifts from where it should be.
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