07 W203 - twisted Body Shell ??

[Muppetz]

I bought my W203 C200 CDI on March 1st (when the 07 plate's came out).

A couple of days after buying it I noticed that the passenger door looked slightly misaligned, I mentioned this to the sales chap when he did his follow up call and since it wasn't important said that we would get it looked at when the car went in for its first service (18k miles) (which was a couple of weeks ago now).

So the car went in for service, and they said that they needed to book it into the bodyshop to have those boys re-align the door (as they do it all the time, where as the tech's at the dealership rarely do it.).

Since the car also needed a new diff, this was all rebooked for Thursday and Friday last week.

Come Friday PM the Diff has been replaced but they have not sorted the door - apparently the bodyshop have said that the Body Shell of the car is "twisted" and so they cannot just re-align the door !

My dealer is now arranging for a MB warranty chap to come and see the car in person, as they don't think photos will do it justice.

Anyone have any advice at this stage ? I obviously want to make sure it gets sorted as I don't want to be stuck with a car with a problem when I come to dispose of it, also the idea of the shell being twisted is a bit of a worry !!

 

[fredfloggle]

GET RID OF IT.
New diff , twisted shell ? has it been dropped off the transporter or something like that?
This sort of damage is often never recorded as it is not the subject of a payout -

 

[fredfloggle]

"The goods I have purchased are not fit for the purpose therefore I reject them"

 

[grober]

If the body shell is as "twisted" as the bodyshop guys say then you have a very strong case for rejecting the car. A misaligned core body shell will never be right IMHO There are specific reference points on the body shell which must fall within certain measurement tolerances. To straighten the body involves dismantling most of the suspension ,removal of the engine and gearbox,doors and front and rear screens which are normally glued in to act as additional structural elements and placing it on body jig set up with correct dimensions. Large hydraulic actuators can then bend/ stretch the sheet metal back to the specified dimensions HOWEVER working metal like this can weaken it and spring seams etc and is never a good idea except as a limited repair for accident damage. For these reasons and because the car is so new don't accept they can "realign the shell "or "rebuild the car with a new bodyshell". I might even go so far as to employ the services of a good accident/repair specialist to "sit in" on the assessment by MB UK Warranty assessor to show you mean business altho in fairness your dealer seems to be on your side on this one.

 

[glojo]

Am I correct in thinking you bought the car in March? I hope you have a very friendly dealer as they can very easily suggest the damage was done after you took delivery? The INSTANT you noticed this mis alignment then the car should have been returned. I'm sorry for being out of step with everyone else and I am NOT saying TOUGH, I am NOT saying you caused the damage.

I am merely pointing out we are now in November and you are driving this vehicle, rejecting it MIGHT not be as easy as is being suggested.

I sincerely wish you all the luck you need to get rid of this twisted piece of .......................................... car .

Regards
John

 

[television]

A photo is worth more than all of the words

 

[Muppetz]

Thanks for all the advice so far

It's too dark now to take any pictures but I will take some tomorrow and post them up.

It is true to say that the door is only millimetres out, but the Dealer obviously must agree that it is out in order to have progressed this far with it.

I understand the comments about it being so long since I bought the car, but I did mention it (not in writing) within days of collection and of course had no inclination that it would require anything other than a minor adjustment of the door hinge or some such other - hence not having treated it with any degree of urgency.

I think I will call up the warranty chap at the Dealership tomorrow and ask him to explain exactly what he perceives as the problem and what he is proposing, and then I will make sure I am present when the man from MB attends and get his views. If they propose a repair then I will ask for written details of the repair and try and run it past some 3rd partys to ensure that I am not getting a raw deal !

Pics to follow tomorrow

 

[crockers]

Am I correct in thinking you bought the car in March? I hope you have a very friendly dealer as they can very easily suggest the damage was done after you took delivery? The INSTANT you noticed this mis alignment then the car should have been returned. I'm sorry for being out of step with everyone else and I am NOT saying TOUGH, I am NOT saying you caused the damage.

I am merely pointing out we are now in November and you are driving this vehicle, rejecting it MIGHT not be as easy as is being suggested.

I sincerely wish you all the luck you need to get rid of this twisted piece of .......................................... car .

Regards
John

John - re-read post 1....

A couple of days after buying it I noticed that the passenger door looked slightly misaligned, I mentioned this to the sales chap when he did his follow up call and since it wasn't important said that we would get it looked at when the car went in for its first service (18k miles)

he did report it a few days after receiving it. BUT...If it had been me that car would have been back on their site the next day -- if not sooner.

 

[DansSlk]

I've never seen that before on any standard MB its happened on modded one's but normally only a slight twist.

Sounds like its either been driven in situations 1000 times worse than it was designed for or its had a bit of an excursion at some point probably in transport, you don't sound like the sort of guy who would use his MB as a tank so I'm gonna go with option 2.

I have seen transport damage covered up before now that i have brought to the owners attention so i can't say I'm surprised.

 

[glojo]

John - re-read post 1....

A couple of days after buying it I noticed that the passenger door looked slightly misaligned, I mentioned this to the sales chap when he did his follow up call and since it wasn't important said that we would get it looked at when the car went in for its first service (18k miles)

he did report it a few days after receiving it. BUT...If it had been me that car would have been back on their site the next day -- if not sooner.

Hi Crockers,
I have been really careful to try not to appear like a smart alec and have emphasised my reasons for the concern. We have read of threads where owners have returned hire cars and been in dispute over damaged bodywork that was seen at the garage, but not at handover. A gap in time of hours. I feel for Muppetz, I'm on his side, but he has to be aware of the possible arguments that might be put forward.

I buy a car from a dealer and at the time of purchase we are all perfectly happy about the condition of it. Two days later I go back to the dealer and complain of a twisted door! Some dealers may well thank you for pointing out the defect, but are you honestly telling me that there is not the chance of an odd dealer saying it was perfect two days ago! Friends should be able to discuss these issues and make each other aware of the two sides of any possible problem. To just say everything is rosey and the law is on your side, might be the best advice, but it might not? Having an all round picture and being prepared for obstacles is surely a better option rather than thinking the world is rosey?

I am NOT suggesting Muppetz is up the creek without a paddle, I am merely saying to a friend, "Be aware this might be said!" and hopefully that is the way the original post was taken.

REgards
John

 

[Muppetz]

Thanks Glojo and Crockers, I understand fully the point Glojo is making - and yes it's very important to think ahead as to what they might say etc - exactly why I asked on here for advice

Thanks again, pics to come tomorrow (although they may not really show it as it is very slightly off) and I will let you know what the chap at the dealership says.

 

[miro]

Body warp is a fault in the seam welding of the main components. It can not be seen when the car is not used. It only presents itself when the car is driven so it becomes more obvious with usage.

It it would have taken is for one of the major rail joins to be out of place and the body warps.

 

[Muppetz]

ok, here are some pics

 

[Muppetz]

I rang the warranty chap today, and he told me that actually he doesn't think the body is twisted, but that the door might be faulty as all the other doors line up. Either way he is arranging for a MB field visit to determine how to put it right.

I will insist on being at that visit, and if the body is twisted then I will be taking advice before any repair is carried out so I can determine if I'm happy to accept the repair or not.

Thanks again for the advice chaps

 

[Ted]

Muppetz
That is piss poor alignment - the last time I saw panels that badly aligned was on an Austin Allegro.
How did that get through factory QC or PDI?

 

[television]

To me the door just looks faulty and out of spec, its almost as though the door is too short, looking at the bottom gap the rear door bottom edge is lined up with the bottom of the wing, the front door is not is not long enough, it ends short of the bottom of the wing.
The trim on the A pillar is adjustable and it is not on the correct place, the back edge should be level with the rear edge of the wing.

looking at the side shot, the gap is not parallel,if the front was lowered a few mm, then the rub strip would be in line, that would also close the gap at the mirror

 

[glojo]

Would it be a good idea to get an independant assessment before you accept what Mercedes-Benz tell you, or are you happy with how things are progressing? They do sound supportive.

Good luck
Regards
John

 

[A210AMG]

Hello


Hope you get it sorted, have to say I guess if that was on the drivers side you would have done it sooner... That would catch my eye eveytime I walked up to the car. Whereas the Mrs wouldn't notice if the car was a different colour on one side

Cheers

 

[Benzowner]

If the body is twisted, your tyre wear should give some indications. From the pics, it would almost look as though the door has been replaced with a non MB replacement, its that bad. If your dealer is good, they will sort it, my local dealer always has for me in the past. Good luck

 

[Muppetz]

I agree with the comments, It may still just be the door needs re-aligning - its just that the bodyshop sent it back saying they couldn't do it and it was the shell - hence my post

Next step is to see what the MB chappie makes of it, and see what he says