1997 SLK Corrosion - My options?

[Pumpy]

Hi,

I recently purchased a 1997 R Reg SLK230 form a local dealer. My lack of experience in car inspections seems to have bit me on my bum a bit as I am not entirely happy with the car.

On the drivers side front wheel arch there is some rust which was not very noticeable at all on the day I bought the car. Maybe the dealer dabbed on some paint to cover it, maybe it was my ignorance to see any wrong with a car I love, I dont know.

Basically I would like some advice on what my options are.
Do I contact the dealer? I have a 3 month warranty but not sure if this is covered.
Should I go to my local MB dealer and see if there is a chance for them to repair it?

I would appreciate any advice on the issue.

I have a photo but not sure how to post it yet....

 

[jonnyboy]

Bearing in mind the car is fourteen years old you have little comeback at all. MB corrosion warranty is 8 years with FSH or thereabouts.
If you do suspect the supplying dealer of being shoddy in terms of hiding it, then that's a different story altogether. With probably similar outcomes.

 

[mercnewby]

Hi

You are like many many people here.

One gets seduced into buying on the strength
of Merc build etc etc, I can easily see why this happens.

I made the same error on a clk cabriolet in November on a seemingly
outstanding car. I actually was aware of rust issues having been a guest
on here for a while and I checked thorougly all the suspect areas which affect
slk, clk and e class and others I now believe.

5 months of hard winter and salt and yes I have rust in 2 arches and bootlid.
Not bad mind and catchable now if I do something now!

I do not feel wrong changed by my selling dealer, not his fault, he described the car
as beautiful and it was errr is. All other aspects, engine etc are brilliant.

I think you have 2 options

1.
You could go back to your dealer and ask for a good will figure,
however there is likely to be a "no" from them.

2.
Go to an independent body shop and take it on the nose.
Every car rusts and a 97 you say? slk will have rust.

I have been down the Merc paint warranty route and they
just will not entertain it, mine is a 2 owner, full history car and under
60,000 miles on a w 2000 year, owned prior to me by the head of
Barclays investment arm.


I am pretty miffed and now await the price quoted by my bodyshop.

The thing is... if you think as I do, that by keeping the thing as mint as poss,
it will in future still be covetted and wanted by people.. then the price has to be worth paying.

Sorry for your issues, I was given the same sort of reply by the sage and worthy
people on here when I moaned on the rust about a month ago.

Ian

 

[GP801]

I would be very surprised if MB were interested and the dealer will just say it was there but you did not notice it. If you like the car find a reliable body shop and have it done properly. Where abouts are you?

 

[Pumpy]

I am in Manchester.

I may just look at selling it on. I am finding it all a bit depressing to be honest, and not getting a good feeling from the car.

I might pop into a bodyshop, but what kind of price would I be looking at? As far as I am aware, it is just one of the arches.

It definately was not as visible as this when we looked at the car. It looks like the dealer touched it up by hand, but after washing the car it appears to have come off.

Cutting my losses now and selling it on or p/ex it for something else is what I am currently thinking. the stress of finding a reputable bodyshop and paying my hard-earned on fixing it up is not appealing to me at this time.

 

[jonnyboy]

What is to say that the same won't happen again.
Sadly, it is a well known fact that late nineties and early noughties Mercs rust. It's what stops them being truly great cars in my opinion.
I would rather see one with a couple of marks than one that's factory-fresh at that age. It'd only be factory fresh for a few weeks....
Its a rusty wheel arch. Not the end of the world. Enjoy the car for a bit, suss it out, then put a few quid into putting it right.
Better than putting another few quid into the "second-hand-car-purchase-gamble-scheme"

 

[nick mercedes]

Should I go to my local MB dealer and see if there is a chance for them to repair it?

I would appreciate any advice on the issue.....

It's a 14 year old car from a brand prone to rust.

I doubt anyone is going to paint your car for free.