Current rust warranties

[GordonTarling]

I'm looking to change my present E320cdi Estate convertible (converting to iron oxide!) for something newer. I'm really tempted to go for a W211 E320cdi around a year old, but I'm very bothered about what it's going to look like in 10 years time. Will it be dissolving into iron/aluminium oxide like my current car? Is the 'rust' warranty still 30 years? More to the point, will Mercedes actually honour any warranty, or will they wriggle out of it like they did with my present car?

 

[crockers]

I think you will find that it will be pretty rust free going forward - I think MB have learned from their mistake of listening too closely to short sighted bean counters..

 

[goldestate]

Very hard to predict the future, MB's demonstrable history must have left the same question in many peoples mind, they certainly have with me.

 

[prm]

Out of interest, whats the black stuff under the paintwork, a sealant of some kind?

 

[greggster]

I believe their 30 year warranty is for rust that starts from the inside of a panel and works its way out only, not surface rust - how the hell they tell this from just looking lord only knows, but then maybe someone here can explain in laymans to me. I don't believe that MB are out of the rust issues just yet. The only models that i havn't heard about rust are the new e class, new c class and the SLR!! As you can tell i am currently disheartened by MB. :-(

 

[Mavster]

I bought a 2005 E320 last week, and have noticed that there is some "bubbling up" of rust under the black metallic type trim which is between the roof and the top of the doors/ sides of windscreen. (it is the trim that incorporates the mountings for the roof rack). The rust hasn't broken through the trim paintwork just yet.

I am not sure if this is a common problem of corrosion ? would this be covered by the Mercedes paint warranty?

I got the car from MBUK.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[zenman63]

My 2005 vito is unmarked, it had a new tailgate under warrantee early this year because rust had started around the wiper arm.
MB service should inspect every service and report a problem, if it's missed as mine was you should go back.
My tailgate with paint was 1K.
There is no rust anywhere to be found inc bonnet stone chips but my 2004 was rusting all over.
My 2004 c270cdi after 100k was still rust free.

 

[Ibb1982]

I'm guessing I have no chance of warranty with my 1999 reg MB CLK 200 avantgarde?

 

[steve333]

Unfortunately you guessed correctly,mb's policy is up to 7 years old with full mb service history,what issues do you have with your car/

 

[aka$h]

I bought a 2005 E320 last week, and have noticed that there is some "bubbling up" of rust under the black metallic type trim which is between the roof and the top of the doors/ sides of windscreen. (it is the trim that incorporates the mountings for the roof rack). The rust hasn't broken through the trim paintwork just yet.

I am not sure if this is a common problem of corrosion ? would this be covered by the Mercedes paint warranty?

I got the car from MBUK.

Thanks,

Steve

The strips do suffer from this, usually near the roof rack covers. Im not sure if they will be covered, as they are plastic so cannot rust. Would be interesting to see the response from MB.

Cars after mid 2003 had galvanised bodies, so rust shouldnt be too much of an issue.

 

[Ibb1982]

Unfortunately you guessed correctly,mb's policy is up to 7 years old with full mb service history,what issues do you have with your car/

Thanks for replying Steve
Basically my CLK has rust on all four arches, all bubling away but haven't broken through the paint just yet, the rear 2 arches are the worst and I'm worried if I prss the paint it will crack through
.
The bonnet has rust spots all over (not noticeable unless you look up close). The previous own had a little bump, and I think the car will need to have the bonnet replaced as the bottom lip (under grill) is rusty and I'm sure it will break if I press hard enough.

There are tiny tiny specs showing on the roof, again not very noticeable, but I know its there and its annoying me

The paint is black, which I guess kind helps (rust doesn't show as blatantly as say a silver car).

I had the car serviced yesterday at Autospec in Bristol (MB Specialists and very helpful) and asked the mechanic about the rust, he called up a good body shop and they gave a rough quote of £800 for the whole 2 sides of the car (front wings, doors, rear wings).

Now I'm debating whether I should sell the car and get another which doesn't have rust.

I've only just got it, but upset with the rust issue (which didn't really bother me initially cos the price I got the car for).

 

[nullogik]

... and get another which doesn't have rust.

All I can say is good luck. I know someone who was looking for a W210 CLK recently and gave up after viewing several cars. Every example he went to see had rust to varying degrees.

 

[steve333]

w210 clk

 

[steve333]

Thanks for replying Steve
Basically my CLK has rust on all four arches, all bubling away but haven't broken through the paint just yet, the rear 2 arches are the worst and I'm worried if I prss the paint it will crack through
.
The bonnet has rust spots all over (not noticeable unless you look up close). The previous own had a little bump, and I think the car will need to have the bonnet replaced as the bottom lip (under grill) is rusty and I'm sure it will break if I press hard enough.

There are tiny tiny specs showing on the roof, again not very noticeable, but I know its there and its annoying me

The paint is black, which I guess kind helps (rust doesn't show as blatantly as say a silver car).

I had the car serviced yesterday at Autospec in Bristol (MB Specialists and very helpful) and asked the mechanic about the rust, he called up a good body shop and they gave a rough quote of £800 for the whole 2 sides of the car (front wings, doors, rear wings).

Now I'm debating whether I should sell the car and get another which doesn't have rust.

I've only just got it, but upset with the rust issue (which didn't really bother me initially cos the price I got the car for).

It's a shame you didn't notice how much rust the car had when you viewed it(i would have walked then)so you are left with 2 choices,either spend another £800 on the paint/rust & no other issues come up or bite the bullet & sell the car & look for a clean example,good luck hope

 

[nullogik]

w210 clk

Its called a typo. W208 clk is what I meant.

 

[Ibb1982]

It's a shame you didn't notice how much rust the car had when you viewed it(i would have walked then)so you are left with 2 choices,either spend another £800 on the paint/rust & no other issues come up or bite the bullet & sell the car & look for a clean example,good luck hope

Yeah you're right I should've walked, but I didn't because I really wanted it.
Part of the learning process I guess (expensive one!)

I got a corrosion fix quote from MB today, they said £4000 for the whole car, replace front and rear wings, bonnet and to repaint most of the car. OUCH!

The guys I got the CLK serviced at said the car should be fine for another 2yrs max, at which point the rust will definitely need to be looked at. So I might just drive the car for a year and see what happens. Drives soo nice compared to my past 2 cars

 

[Smiley]

Dont bother spending money on it. The rust will return if it is as bad as you say and the car will not be worth any more money. Better to use it and sell it on later at a reasonable price to reflect the bodywork. Get an MOT to check out the structural soundness of the car though.

 

[Ibb1982]

Cheers Smiley, I was thinkg the same thing, just going to enjoy the car for however long it may be and see how much I get for it later.

Cheers again to everyone for their responses.

 

[Andi968]

Unfortunately you guessed correctly,mb's policy is up to 7 years old with full mb service history,what issues do you have with your car/

I have a issue with the lacquer on my 03 w163 and on my data card is listed SA code 524 paintwork-preservation. I think it maybe a call to MB and see if I am still "protected"

 

[Andi968]

I have a issue with the lacquer on my 03 w163 and on my data card is listed SA code 524 paintwork-preservation. I think it maybe a call to MB and see if I am still "protected"

Just off the phone to my local MB dealer who was again very helpful, they are arranging an appointment with their body-shop specialist from MB who visits the dealers 2 afternoons a week to inspect "claims under warranty" who will then go round the car inspect the paintwork complete a form for any work that needs doing this is then sent off to MBs warranty department and they decide if the work needed is covered or not. In the case of it not been covered a discount will be offered.....