A Mercedes-Benz automobile paraded on a downtown street in north China's Xi'an a few days ago to protest poor customer service.

Pulled by another car, the black Mercedes-Benz S350 went through Youyi Street in Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi province. The black sedan was covered with posters blaring "The engine died all of a sudden, driver's life was put in danger, so we ask for compensation!"

The car owner, Mr. Guo, said that the motor was bought in February for 1.2 million yuan, or 157,000 U.S. dollars. Two months later, while moving down the street, the car engine suddenly failed, and at the same time the brake and the steering wheel also stopped working. At the time of the incident, the car had traveled approximately 1800 miles.

"Fortunately there was not much traffic on the street," he said, "What would have happened had we been driving on a highway?"

The repair shop affiliated with Mercedes-Benz company told Mr. Guo a broken transducer caused the engine failure. His request for a vehicle exchange was denied though the repair shop eventually agreed to give the sedan free maintenance for 10 thousand miles' drive.

"Before long they called me to reduce the free service to ten maintenance jobs, and then three, but now I got nothing!" Mr. Guo flared out.

"I just want everybody to know that the luxurious Mercedes-Benz are of such poor quality," he said.