Body Work Corrosion

[tikw2124]

Whilst washing car yesterday i noticed a patch of corrosion (size of Thumb nail) on edge of front wheel arch, not caused by stone chip. Last MB service 02/02/2006, subsequent 2 servicings carried out by Indie. Car Reg 31 Mar 2002. Question is, what are my chances of getting this sorted out for free?

 

[vijilants]

Whilst washing car yesterday i noticed a patch of corrosion (size of Thumb nail) on edge of front wheel arch, not caused by stone chip. Last MB service 02/02/2006, subsequent 2 servicings carried out by Indie. Car Reg 31 Mar 2002. Question is, what are my chances of getting this sorted out for free?

Suggest you take it to the dealer and give it a go. I think you will be OK.

 

[tromppost]

You will need to give them a photo copy of your service book so do not forget to take it with you. also get them to check the other three wheel arches while your at it.

 

[salesac1]

Suggest you take your V5 too, but I agree you should be fine with this - I believe MB will honour claims of this type up to 8 years. I can understand your worry about non-MBSH - although this should be totally irrelevant to bodywork corrosion, as people have pointed out before.

I was in a similar position to you last year - 7 year-old vehicle, no MBSH since 2003, but there was absolutely no problem about that and I got all 4 wheel arches repaired. Will need to test out the 8-year limit myself very soon as I now have corrosion blisters behind the side skirt where the offside rear door opens .

Good luck with your claim.

 

[tikw2124]

Suggest you take your V5 too, but I agree you should be fine with this - I believe MB will honour claims of this type up to 8 years. I can understand your worry about non-MBSH - although this should be totally irrelevant to bodywork corrosion, as people have pointed out before.

I was in a similar position to you last year - 7 year-old vehicle, no MBSH since 2003, but there was absolutely no problem about that and I got all 4 wheel arches repaired. Will need to test out the 8-year limit myself very soon as I now have corrosion blisters behind the side skirt where the offside rear door opens .

Good luck with your claim.

Many thanks for the info. Sorry to hear you have other corrosion issues. I will be talking to the MB paint specialist on Wed so will let you know the outcome.

 

[ddentrec]

Please let me know how you get on with your claim.

My 2003 C-Class has corrosion inside the inner front wings (found hidden behind the wheelarch liner). I owned the car from new, it has a full MBSH, has never been in an accident and never repaired.

The dealer refused the claim under MobiloLie (sic) as the corrosion 'was not from the inside'.

If you are succesful in persuing a corrosion claim under MobiloLie with an incomplete MB service history I will be furious as it just goes to show what a load of cobblers it really is.

 

[Flash]

Whilst washing car yesterday i noticed a patch of corrosion (size of Thumb nail) on edge of front wheel arch, not caused by stone chip. Last MB service 02/02/2006, subsequent 2 servicings carried out by Indie. Car Reg 31 Mar 2002. Question is, what are my chances of getting this sorted out for free?

You should be fine mate!

 

[Flash]

Please let me know how you get on with your claim.

My 2003 C-Class has corrosion inside the inner front wings (found hidden behind the wheelarch liner). I owned the car from new, it has a full MBSH, has never been in an accident and never repaired.

The dealer refused the claim under MobiloLie (sic) as the corrosion 'was not from the inside'.

If you are succesful in persuing a corrosion claim under MobiloLie with an incomplete MB service history I will be furious as it just goes to show what a load of cobblers it really is.

Try another body shop/dealer.

 

[salesac1]

Try another body shop/dealer.

Seconded (must use an approved MB body shop) - and keep on until you find one who will pursue the claim. Enough people have been successful with these claims, I am sure you will get some joy before long - I hope so.

How did you discover the corrosion?

IIRC this issue seems to have been corrected from 2004 onwards with fully-galvanised panels.

 

[Will]

The car isn't even six years old, Mobilo cover or not, that should be covered under a normal body warranty (IIRC 6 or 8 years?)

Will

 

[vijilants]

Please let me know how you get on with your claim.

My 2003 C-Class has corrosion inside the inner front wings (found hidden behind the wheelarch liner). I owned the car from new, it has a full MBSH, has never been in an accident and never repaired.

The dealer refused the claim under MobiloLie (sic) as the corrosion 'was not from the inside'.

If you are succesful in persuing a corrosion claim under MobiloLie with an incomplete MB service history I will be furious as it just goes to show what a load of cobblers it really is.

I went through hell with MB to get my car repaired, but I was persistent and didn't give up. Eventually they agreed to repair it.

I would advise you not to give up and take this all the way to the top if required.

 

[tikw2124]

Whilst washing car yesterday i noticed a patch of corrosion (size of Thumb nail) on edge of front wheel arch, not caused by stone chip. Last MB service 02/02/2006, subsequent 2 servicings carried out by Indie. Car Reg 31 Mar 2002. Question is, what are my chances of getting this sorted out for free?

Took car in today, the body work specialist did a full body work inspection and found other corrosion spots (which i wasn't aware of). He took loads of photos, copied V5 and service book and said he would get back to me in a week ish.

Just have to wait and see. I will keep you informed.

 

[LeighW]

I went through hell with MB to get my car repaired, but I was persistent and didn't give up. Eventually they agreed to repair it.

I would advise you not to give up and take this all the way to the top if required.

I agree. I took my CLK in to MB Leicester before Christmas, they copied my service book (I have full MB history), took pics and submitted my claim. I got a call back at the end of January to say my claim had been authorised. It's booked in for 31st March, so judging by the eight+ week wait, there must be lots of rusty Mercs being repaired!

 

[tikw2124]

Whilst washing car yesterday i noticed a patch of corrosion (size of Thumb nail) on edge of front wheel arch, not caused by stone chip. Last MB service 02/02/2006, subsequent 2 servicings carried out by Indie. Car Reg 31 Mar 2002. Question is, what are my chances of getting this sorted out for free?

GOOD NEWS - Phone call from bodyshop manager yesterday. MB have authorised the repairs, except one small area which seems to have had an unauthorised repaired in the past, diagnosed by paint thickness( bummer). However, there is a 2 month waiting list (how many rusty MBs are there out there?) as not enough spare courtesy cars, can be done quicker if i don't need one (unfortunately, i do). Just hope the quality of final job is good!

Hope every one else in thread gets a positive result.

Keith

 

[GregM]

Suggest you take your V5 too, but I agree you should be fine with this - I believe MB will honour claims of this type up to 8 years. I can understand your worry about non-MBSH - although this should be totally irrelevant to bodywork corrosion, as people have pointed out before.

I was in a similar position to you last year - 7 year-old vehicle, no MBSH since 2003, but there was absolutely no problem about that and I got all 4 wheel arches repaired. Will need to test out the 8-year limit myself very soon as I now have corrosion blisters behind the side skirt where the offside rear door opens .

Good luck with your claim.

Would you go to a dealership first or direct to a bodyshop?

 

[salesac1]

GOOD NEWS - Phone call from bodyshop manager yesterday. MB have authorised the repairs, except one small area which seems to have had an unauthorised repaired in the past, diagnosed by paint thickness( bummer). However, there is a 2 month waiting list (how many rusty MBs are there out there?) as not enough spare courtesy cars, can be done quicker if i don't need one (unfortunately, i do). Just hope the quality of final job is good!

Hope every one else in thread gets a positive result.

Keith

Excellent news, hope you are pleased with the work when it is eventually done. From my own experience, when you get the car back make sure you check the work thoroughly before you sign it off. Helps a lot if it is dry, so if they tell you it is ready on a wet day I would ask them to keep it.

 

[salesac1]

Would you go to a dealership first or direct to a bodyshop?

In the first instance, whichever is nearer to you. To go direct to the bodyshop, you'll need to find out first if they are MB-approved. If you go to the dealer and they fob you off, then you could go direct to the bodyshop and keep trying until you make progress.

What I found was that my local dealer (Greenoaks in Reading) uses a bodyshop about 20 miles away in Slough for all repairs, but someone from the bodyshop comes over to the dealership once a week to do an initial assessment of all work/claims. So it was easy to take the car in to the dealership when he was there. Conversely, the dealership in Newbury uses a bodyshop in Reading but - rather than me taking the car to that bodyshop for assessment - the dealership Service Manager wanted me to take it over to him.

Once you find out what your local arrangements are, you should be able to progress this - good luck.

 

[Flash]

However, there is a 2 month waiting list (how many rusty MBs are there out there?) as not enough spare courtesy cars, can be done quicker if i don't need one (unfortunately, i do). Just hope the quality of final job is good!

Hope every one else in thread gets a positive result.

Keith

Not all the courtesy cars are designated for MB warranty repairs – a lot of the work at the body shop will also be for accidentally damaged vehicles as well as private work! There may not be many warranty jobs on at all.

 

[WLeg]

Try Hertford MB - mine went in today for a full respray + 2 new wings....all at 4 weeks ownership (but was booked in during the first week), 23 months since the last MB service (2 indies since) and the 8 year warrenty runs out 1 April...... But they took in it with no hassle, and today I'm in a Smart fourfour - which iis surprisingly good and fun (it corners like a rollerskate).

 

[tikw2124]

Car going in on 7 May for 2 1/2 weeks!!, courtesy car will be a SMARTforfour, i was hoping for a merc but this isn't the case.

Just hope quality is good.