2 year old C Class Coupe paint problem!

[dean321]

E Cab with microblister after 18 months

Hi all this is my first post so be gentle...

I bought my E Cab (new) 18 months ago and its been a nightmare from day 3 when the roof stuck open 90 degrees from its normal open / closed position and had to be recovered in a covered vehicle.

It is looked after like a baby and polished using the best polish / cloths / shampoo etc... I washed it (again!!) on Sunday and noticed some 'bubbles' on the boot lid...thinking it was tree sap (although I never park it under trees) i gave it a light polish....After buffing off the bubbles are still there. A neighbour who used to be a professional body shop sprayer said its micro blisters and then told me the reason they occur and the cure. Thinking I was paranoid I went over the whole car a noticed these tiny blisters on at least 6 body panels.

Having read through these posts I have noticed that this is common in the Red (Fire Opal) colour and was asking advice from anybody how I should approached MB with this issue. I don't want a complete respray on a 'new' car as it wont be the same.

 

[MancMike]

I don't want a complete respray on a 'new' car as it wont be the same.

It'll be better.

Honestly, my full respray was like glass, like a red mirror, no factory orange peel which seems to be standard these days.

Think of it, you'll have an 18 month old car with 0 month old paint job. It'll be the newest paint of any 18 month old E Class around.

If it is Fire Opal Red, then you're going to have to follow the same process we all have. If afterwards you've fallen out of love with it, it'll be much easier to sell with perfect paint rather than peeling blistery paint.

 

[grober]

Hi all this is my first post so be gentle...

I bought my E Cab (new) 18 months ago and its been a nightmare from day 3 when the roof stuck open 90 degrees from its normal open / closed position and had to be recovered in a covered vehicle.

It is looked after like a baby and polished using the best polish / cloths / shampoo etc... I washed it (again!!) on Sunday and noticed some 'bubbles' on the boot lid...thinking it was tree sap (although I never park it under trees) i gave it a light polish....After buffing off the bubbles are still there. A neighbour who used to be a professional body shop sprayer said its micro blisters and then told me the reason they occur and the cure. Thinking I was paranoid I went over the whole car a noticed these tiny blisters on at least 6 body panels.

Having read through these posts I have noticed that this is common in the Red (Fire Opal) colour and was asking advice from anybody how I should approached MB with this issue. I don't want a complete respray on a 'new' car as it wont be the same.

If the car is 18 months old and you bought it new its still under warranty so you should have no problems. The best advice I can give is to approach this problem in as professional manner as possible. First do your research online [ this forum for one] and get informed as much as possible about the problem and the likely response of any MB dealer. You are best going back to your supplying dealer in the first instance. Your first meeting is important. You need to speak to someone in senior management with authority to initiate action on your behalf. Schedule an appointment- take the car with you and preferably a witness. The purpose of this first meeting is to establish a paintwork problem exists- they may wish to assess this further-- that's fine. Try to establish the next course of action which should be for them to contact MB UK to authorise a full body respray. Any sign of trying to dodge the issue or prevaricate take the car to another dealer. Now comes the important bit which I can't emphasise enough- while the discussion is fresh in your mind write to the dealership manager involved detailing what went on in the meeting what you said/what they said/ any action agreed. Establishing a paper record of what went on is important. Try to avoid negotiating by telephone- you would be amazed how many phone calls suddenly don't exist or their content is questioned later. Try to encourage them to contact you by email= written record. Be firm but civil when dealing with the Dealership staff- after all they didn't manufacture a car with faulty paintwork and you want them on your side if at all possible.

 

[SomebodyCalledJ]

Great advice!

 

[dean321]

Great advice grober......

I visited my local MB dealer today and spoke to the General Manager. He was understanding a very helpful. He said it is a known problem with the 'Red' colour as they had an SLK in recently that had to have a complete respray which was done and looked better than the factory job.

He ask me to give MB the opportunity to put it right and if after that I wasn't happy with the finished article we could discuss other options open to us. Have agreed to let them respray at a cost (to MB)of Approx £8k and see where we go from there. Am meeting the MB paint specialist tomorrow for him to take pictures and send the report to MB (he covers S of UK) and is a busy guy!! Will post updates when I have any.

 

[SomebodyCalledJ]

I'm in the same boat, had my inspection and awaiting some feedback from both MB UK and Germany will be interesting to see if there are any differences in feedback...

 

[dean321]

Hi All just an update......

I took my E Cab to MB dealer where a nice man took photos of all body panels that are showing signs of imperfections (which was all of them! ). He did say that MB will only spray the affected panels He then told me the process....he writes a report for the dealer who adds any comments necessary then it gets sent directly to MB Germany who make a decision to see if it is covered under the warranty?!? I should get a reply with 7 days and then if successful a date is arranged with me / the dealer to get my car taken away for up to 5 weeks for a complete bodywork respray . The body shop is located in Newbury and I have asked for updates / Pictures of the process throughout which he said they were happy to do. To be fair the dealer (once I spoke to the GM) are being very helpful and supportive and understand my concerns about this whole process. They said if I wasn't happy with any part of the finished product they would work with me to get it resolved. So my only question is should MB Germany show some goodwill for all the hassle and stress I am having to go through after buying a premium brand product? I have had so many issues with this car from new and am seriously disillusioned with MB.

 

[grober]

They should give you a decent substitute Mercedes [ not necessarily the same model but an adequate replacement ] for the period your car is in the bodyshop. Make sure they do a full body respray since its important all the panels match and just because some panels don't show the fault at present rest assured they will in future. [ pretty sure they will do this anyway as it makes the most sense for them also] Provided they honour their warranty which they are doing and don't deprive you of the use of a Mercedes while its being repaired that's the most you can reasonably expect in terms of your purchase warranty however upsetting and inconvenient this may have proven.

 

[SomebodyCalledJ]

Any update Dean? I had my inspection on the 7th December and nothing back yet, wasn't expecting a speedy reply considering xmas was not far off, but may make a small enquiry on Monday...

 

[riders]

Red Class Coupe Paint Problem Back 2 years after being resprayed under warranty!

Hi I have just noticed my 2 year old Red C Class Coupe 220CDI AMG the paint on the boot lid has started to like pit up!
It looks like someone has got a pin and perforated the whole of the boot lid if you know what I mean.
Tried to take pictures but it doesn't show up, but run your finger or hand over the boot lid and it feels likes loads of pimples underneath!
Looking for some advice please?
Basically the best way to deal with this with Mercedes without going in all guns blazing because as you could guess I'm a bit ****** off by it!

Thanks!!!

Roughly 2 years ago i posted on here regarding a paint problem on my Mercedes C Class Coupe 220CDI AMG.
Well Mercedes took the car back and totally resprayed it without any hassle, the trouble is now, 2 years to the day it went into Mercedes to be resprayed the paint blistering is back.
Been in contact with the dealer and this time they have admitted that they have had problems with the red cars.
Trouble is where do i stand now? Yes they will have it back, respray it again, it will look like new, but does this mean in another 2 years time we are in the same situation?
I dunno whether i should be pushing Mercedes UK for a replacement car, as the one i was originally sold obviously is defective, has to be a problem with the paint reacting to the shell of the car, because they stripped it back to bare metal to respray it 2 years ago.
I'm not a happy chappy at the moment, to say the least. The car is only 4 years old and has 20k on the clock.

 

[grober]

Two words of encouragement. One they are willing to take it back for another total respray. This doesn't always happen once a car is out of warranty. Two a couple of years have passed since your last respray and in the meantime valuable lessons may have been learned in how this remedial work is carried out meaning that this time the paint may not break down.

 

[MancMike]

I don't know about other people, but as you said, it'll be like new again, no swirls, scratches, nothing.

I'd be happy with a free brand new paint job every 2 years with a nice new courtesy car while they do it.

 

[SmartMAC]

I don't know about other people, but as you said, it'll be like new again, no swirls, scratches, nothing.

I'd be happy with a free brand new paint job every 2 years with a nice new courtesy car while they do it.

I would agree with that. As long as they are prepared to put it right, the car will look like new after and you should get a courtesy car while they do it. When they did mine, it was painless.

 

[Tejib]

C63 amg

Hello Folks

Just joined this forum after spending all afternoon going through this whole thread lol. I have a C63 AMG performance pack edition 2012 in Opal fire red.

I was thinking about selling so had it up for sale. I had a buyer that came to view it today. In the sunlight he noticed what appeared to be blisters on the rear boot lid, which I had never noticed. I thought it was tree sap at first and on closer inspection its actually under the paint.

He decided not to buy it as a result, GUTTED isn't even the word as the sale was nearly final. Anyway had a look on here and having read the thread I feel a bit more relaxed now knowing that it sounds like a manufacturing issue and one they will have to fork out for.

Spoke to Mercedes Manchester, they said bring it into the body'shop any time weekday. They would take pics and send it to Germany for mercedes to look at and advise.

It's shocking that a £60k car could have such an issue. I'll take it on Wednesday as that's when I'm next off and will update you guys and let you know how I get on.

 

[sssammm]

I think this is a Virus picked up when reading this thread.....Do Not Read!

 

[Tejib]

Been to work shop

So just got back from Mercedes in Manchester, said they are aware of the issue and will tool photographs to send to Mercedes in Germany to authorise the repair. What they said was that Germany Mercedes will only authorise re paint on the affected areas such as doors, bonnet, boot lid, however mercedes here will foot the bill for the wings so it all matches nicely for the customer which was nice of them. However my concern was the front bumper, it's got a few stone chips and marks which they said they won't paint which I am not happy with as there will be a a big difference with the rest of the car which will look brand new but the bumper will look poor. They said I could pay the bill for the front bumper respray but that's not my fault the other areas needed respraying.

I feel like putting in a complaint. I'm sure I read somewhere someone managed to sell Mercedes their car instead. Anyone know who?

 

[grober]

Seriously ----snap up the deal you are being offered. The chips /marks on the bumper are not down to a manufacturing defect ---its fair wear and tear. In all likelyhood the paint colour match body/old bumper will be good.

 

[SmartMAC]

I agree. I got the wings painted too and it all matches.

 

[Tejib]

Yeah I might just end paying for the bumper myself so it all matches perfectly because that way no marks or chips anywhere on the car. Just got to wait for them to send pics and then wait for a reply from Germany giving the go ahead.

 

[SmartMAC]

Yeah I might just end paying for the bumper myself so it all matches perfectly because that way no marks or chips anywhere on the car. Just got to wait for them to send pics and then wait for a reply from Germany giving the go ahead.

Mine was done at Manchester and they were exceptional.