2001 w220 RUST in several places..........

[aka$h]

I noticed a bubble on the bottom of the drivers door a few days ago when polishing the car and took it to my local dealership today.
They were helpful and went all over the car checking for rust. It seems I wasnt looking closely enough when polishing it, there is rust on the bottom of the drivers door, drivers side front wing, both rear wheel arches, and a spot on the passanger side rear door.

They then went all over the car measuring the thickness of the paint, and to my suprise I was told the front wing and drivers door had been painted. As a result they my not honour the claim. I purchsed the car as a Mercedes Signature Approved vehicle, and they claim to inspect bodywork as part of the approval process.

I askled the dealership to look at work they had carried out for me since my purchase, they had they car in 4 times for the drivers door not lining up correctly and wind noise. The fault was never addressed, today the inspector said "that door doesnt look right either".

Im now awaiting approval for the work, if they dispute the claim I will pursue the matter as best I can. I have had a very bad expirence buying this Signature car, ranging from being delivered with poor tyres (later paid for by MB), one of the door closure aids not working, no nav cd, an intermittant power problem and even a broken mirror! It leads one to ask the question, do they really check anything?

Will keep this thread updated.

 

[glojo]

Hi Aka$h,
Sorry to hear about the problem, you must try to find out the full history of this vehicle. It sounds very much like it has a story to tell, and one which you might not have been told about.

When purchasing the vehicle did you ask if it had been involved in an accident? (A must when buying second-hand, it is always preferrable to have this question documented)

This quote from Mercedes-Benz might be of some use:

A used car has to work particularly hard to get our seal of approval. Mechanics, electrics, bodywork, interior, tyres, wheels, vehicle history and mileage - all are checked and double-checked before the car even gets close to the showroom. So you enjoy the kind of reliability you´d expect from a new car.

Find out more about the programme from the links on the left, or from your preferred Retailer.

To locate the page simply click here By clicking on the numerous links on the left-hand side of the page you will find information like:

Every care is taken to ensure that the car you buy is what we say it is.

Independent companies verify there are no outstanding finance charges and that the car isn’t registered as a stolen vehicle or an insurance write-off. We also ensure the registration number is the same as recorded by the DVLA. In addition, an independent check on the vehicle´s mileage record is carried out for your peace of mind.

As a customer you will receive a certificate to confirm this*.

* Excludes those one owner cars where the first owner is either DaimlerChrysler UK Limited or the selling Retailer.

I don't suppose for one minute your car was an insurance write-off, but has the dealer complied with their requirements?

Good luck with your claim, and remember:

Softly, softly catchee monkey.

Regards,
John

 

[aka$h]

Thanks for that John, Ill wait and see what the outcome is and take it from there. Im very dissappointed with the both buy buying expirence and the after sales support, will I be buying another MB-maybe, will I buy from an MB dealer and pay 20% more for the support-I think not!

 

[grober]

As John says the key factor is "Mercedes Signature Approved vehicle". This is the exact situation why you pay dealers inflated prices . Insist on your rights under their quality scheme. If they get awkward ask politely for the documented paint thickness measurements they took when assessing the car for its "signature approved" status. That ought to shut them up! More often than we might like NEW cars have paintwork "freshened up" due to minor damage in storage, transit or predelivery so this could be present from new.

 

[Flash]

I feel for your mate and am keeping my fingers crossed that you get the right result. Try another bodyshop. When my Sprinter was assessed by the MB Passenger Car Bodyshop very recetnly for the rust warranty claims (one claim has been approved so far and the second claim is still pending...) they did not measure the paint thickness even though the vehcile has not been resprayed but were only interested in the Service History. They did not give the vehicle the once over either to check for other rust spots.

 

[Flash]

More often than we might like NEW cars have paintwork "freshened up" due to minor damage in storage, transit or predelivery so this could be present from new.

That is soo true....

When I was at the MB bodyshop earlier during the week for the second panel to photographed and claim submitted I saw brand new MBs (one of which was a CLS 55 AMG and a M Class with "temporary" number plates on used for road tests parked up outside that had just come over from a Stealership...).

 

[500E]

Im disappointed with Mercedes for making such bad quality vehicles and providing bad after sales support!

 

[glojo]

More often than we might like NEW cars have paintwork "freshened up" due to minor damage in storage, transit or predelivery so this could be present from new.

Totally agree. I was reading that a full 80% of the time it takes to build a new vehicle is taken up in the paint shop. More water based paint is applied than the older oil based paints. This is clearly NOT a benefit, and Mercedes-Benz are struggling with a huge corrosion problem.

The dealership experience is a seperate issue. They should be spoiling you and bending over backwards helping you with this claim, there is no excuse, no excuse whatsoever for them not doing this.

Good luck with the claim and tell your dealer I said to pull their finger out

Regards,
John the cheeky

 

[Dieselman]

The dealership experience is a seperate issue. They should be spoiling you and bending over backwards helping you with this claim, there is no excuse, no excuse whatsoever for them not doing this.

Good luck with the claim and tell your dealer I said to pull their finger out

Regards,
John the cheeky

What can the dealer do other than submit the claim to MB?

I am not suprised that dealers are becoming weary of dealing with and taking the flack for MB poor build quality and bad after sales service to it's customers.

Your intimation is that somehow the dealer can make the decision, or even expediate the claim from MB. This isn't the case, MB make the decision and leave the dealer to face the music.

 

[glojo]

Your intimation is that somehow the dealer can make the decision, or even expediate the claim from MB. This isn't the case, MB make the decision and leave the dealer to face the music.

As usual you are taking my posts the wrong way. Try to read them from a nuetral point instead of fault finding.

I am simply saying that when a loyal customer goes into the dealership, the customer should be treated in a polite respectful manner. The dealer should look at the problem, and be supportive of the customer.

"Come into the office sir and have a cup of coffee whilst we fill out the claim form" Then the dealer can help, or advise the customer on any further documentation.

This would be good public relations and I'm sorry that you disagree, but in all honesty I'm used to it

Where in my post do I say, or indeed even suggest that the dealer can make the decision?

I'm looking out the window and it's daylight! (3-10pm)

 

[Dieselman]

As usual you are taking my posts the wrong way. Try to read them from a nuetral point instead of fault finding.

I am simply saying that when a loyal customer goes into the dealership, the customer should be treated in a polite respectful manner. The dealer should look at the problem, and be supportive of the customer.

"Come into the office sir and have a cup of coffee whilst we fill out the claim form" Then the dealer can help, or advise the customer on any further documentation.

This would be good public relations and I'm sorry that you disagree, but in all honesty I'm used to it

Where in my post do I say, or indeed even suggest that the dealer can make the decision?

That's because as usual you are laying the blame at the dealer’s door, not MB. The dealer is powerless in corrosion claims and can be left high and dry by MB.
If MB made cars that were better built this thread, like many others, wouldn't exist, there is nothing the dealer can do about that.
I appreciate that your local dealer is good, and so is mine, but corrosion claims are a whole different ball game to regular servicing and breakdown issues. They are at the discretion of MB due to being "goodwill" claims and MB really mess both the dealer and owners around.

Where in Aksha’s posts does it say he hasn't been looked after by the dealer, or that they have been disrespectful or unsupportive? In fact how do we know that the scenario you suggest should happen, hasn't?
They have inspected the car and measured the paint, and are submitting a claim. They really can't do any more at this stage, they can't for example say that they believe the claim will or won't be successful because they don't know.

I sincerely hope you never have to make a corrosion claim, but if you do can assure you that the dealer can and will do nothing more than has so far been done for Akash. The car is not broken down so he is left to carry on driving it.

I don't want this to be a personal dig, or become an argument but think that the blame should be fairly laid at MB door rather than the dealer.

Have a nice day.

Regards

 

[glojo]

I don't want this to be a personal dig, or become an argument but think that the blame should be fairly laid at MB door rather than the dealer.

Have a nice day.

Regards

Your at it again???? The blame is solely and wholly down to the manufacturer. FULL STOP Absolutely no disagreement. No where but no where do I suggest anything other than that.

It is wrong for us to pick on one individuals post, but if I buy a nearly new car from a main dealer then:

I expect to pay a premium.

I expect to get peace of mind for that premium.

I expect any problem that I might find with the vehicle to be attended to straight away (within the terms and conditions of the warranty)

With corrosion problems we are witnessing:

I expect the dealer to treat me as the aggrieved, they buy the car from Mercedes-Benz, then sell it on to me. They are the link that liaises between the owner and the manufacturer, and it is here where they sink or swim. I am a loyal Mercedes-Benz customer simply because of the exemplary service I get from my dealer. Is Aka$h happy about the service he has received from the dealer? Possibly.

Has the dealer given Aka$h value for money and is he happy about paying the extra premium for his vehicle??

So to sum up once more.

I am merely suggesting that ALL Mercedes-Benz dealerships should be both helpful and supportive to anyone that has fully complied with all the terms and conditions of a warranty and are faced with making a claim against DaimlerChrysler for ANY defect which is covered by the policy.

Wheww I am NOT blaming dealers for the corrosion, NEVER HAVE DONE and will never do so.

John

 

[trevlacm]

This sounds very similar to the problems I have been experiencing. I took my 2000 W210 320 CDI in last October for 3 weeks worth of warranty rust rpairs. Last week I finally received the vehicle back in a reasonable/acceptable state from the bodyshop. The longest I have had it before taking it back in has been 3 weeks over Christmas.

I bought the vehicle from an independant last August, and to date, the dealers' bodyshop have had it in the shop longer than I have had it in my garage. I still have rust in the spare wheel well which they will not entertain.

Last mont I wrote personally to the Customer Relations Manager at DCUK and to the JCT600 Customer Relations Director at Bradford. Not surprisingly they both got back to me within 24hrs. All they have offered me up to now is a free service, which is another story.

However, when I picked up my car from the bodyshop, one of their staff had saved me an article from the Times or Telegraph about MB "catching a falling Star". In it they interview the Director of Customer Relations from DC UK. His quotes make interesting reading, as they have an Action Response Team to deal with customer problems quickley. Apparently these people are authorised to have payments made for repairs/compensation up to and including vehicle buy back. I am currently concocting my letter to him in which I will paraphrase some of his boastful quotes. Needless to say I will inform the forum of how I get on.

Regards

Mark

 

[Birdman]

However, when I picked up my car from the bodyshop, one of their staff had saved me an article from the Times or Telegraph about MB "catching a falling Star". In it they interview the Director of Customer Relations from DC UK. His quotes make interesting reading, as they have an Action Response Team to deal with customer problems quickley.
Mark

This is the article. It's one of a number of linked articles including the one on their Rapid Reaction Group.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/04/01/mfmerc01.xml

You may need to log in to access it - not sure.

 

[glojo]

You may need to log in to access it - not sure.

I accessed it without a problem. Is this article referring though to the teething problems with the electronic options of the 211?

The 211 had problems with unreliable electrics, but speaking from lots of experience, dealers were extremely helpful in rectifying all the numerous issues.

The corrosion issue is one that is going to cost DaimlerChrysler a staggering amount of money, plus of course long term damage to its reputation.

John

 

[andy_k]

apart from the recent well documented problems you have to ask just when did Mercedes make cars that didn't rust prematurely?

find a W124 with no rust (particulartly on the front wings) and you are doing well

find any W123 that hasn't needed major welding or rust repairs to keep it roadworthy

In fact find any Mercedes over five years old with no rust and you are looking at an exception rather than the rule. The engines may last forever but the bodywork is pretty poor on anything built since the 1980s.

We have a 1992 Mondeo that has spent it's whole life on the South Coast (the original owner who had the car for 12 years lived on the seafront) and it hasn't got a spot of rust antwhere on the bodywork - we parked it next to a 1993 W124 coupe the other day with holes in the front wings !!!!

It's seldom the dealers fault but they should try to soften the blow and be as helpful as possible. they are our only real contact with MB themselves and it's nice to feel that they are on your side in the negotiations.

Andy

 

[Birdman]

These are all the links to Telegraph journalist Andrew English's recent Articles:

His first article investigates the scale of the problem facing DC including some devastating comments from Head of Passenger Car strategic project management Dr Hermann-Joseph Storp and incoming boss of DaimlerChrysler, Dieter Zetsche:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2005/10/22/mfmerc22.xml

DC's plan of action to put to rights the spate of problems affecting the UK network:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...BQYIV0?xml=/motoring/2006/04/01/mfmerc101.xml

Milton Keynes dealer's story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/04/01/mfmerc301.xml

Two customers' experiences:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/04/01/mfmerc401.xml

The Rapid Reaction Group
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/04/01/mfmerc201.xml

The conclusions English draws:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/04/01/mfmerc501.xml

I remember teaching AE at uni many years ago. By far the cleverest one in the class (and the most uberconfident too).
He came to motorcycling late in life and writes about it with gusto so there's more to him than just his bright journo mind.

 

[aka$h]

Got a call from my local dealership, they want me to take the car into them again on friday, an inspector is coming over from Milton Keynes to have a look at the car. Not sure if this is normal practice, but we'll soon find out.

 

[Carlos Fandango]

I have just purchased a '99 C240 Sport estate, I was the original keeper back in late 1999 (it was my company car for three years and 90,000 miles) I have bought it back and it has very bad rust on the tailgate and small rust bubbles on the front wing.

I have been to see the dealer he recons the tailgate is the worse he has ever seen, however I have to be the registered keeper for a minium of 6 months before MB will consider a claim.

So I will wait 6 months and then make their life a misery

Shame as it is a lovely car and mechanically it is perfect

 

[PeterE320Cdi]

Rust Claim

I have recently submitted a claim for my 2000 E320 CDi. The dealer did not mention the rule about ownership length, I only bought the car in February. I have not heard back yet, will let you all know what happens.