Advice Please!

[sicandar]

Hi all

I am new to the Mercedes club so go easy if I sound stupid please

I just bough a c180 (w202). When I was buying I noted some rust partucularly on one rear panel. Now I read here about the rust warranty of 30 years, but apparantley this is only valid if you have a full MB service history which this car does not.

On reading the MB car book though it seems that you only need to service it after 5 year to be elligible (the car was first registered in march 2000). So my question is should I get it serviced first (and if so how much will this cost roughly) or should I just go and ask them to repair the rust (some advice about what to say would be helpful too please!)?

All advice much appreciated, thanks!

 

[Dieselman]

Depending on the type of rust will dictate what happens.

If the rust is a result of external paint damage then you haven't got a chance of MB paying. If the rust is coming from the inside of the panel or round the wheelarch then you should be in with a good chance of a repair.

The car needs to have been serviced with an approved service agent within two years for the Mobilo life to be in existance.

Go to see the bodyshop Manager at your local dealer, they will advise you.
If the rust is in one of the common places then tell them that you are aware these cars rust and that MB are repairing affected cars.

Have them check the whole car over right from front to back. They are not allowed to report rust to MB but ask them to perform a check as you believe there may be other areas affected.
Check:
Radiator support panel, front spring hangers, front wings, door tops where the seal fits, rear wings, boot around the pushbutton, bonnet frame to skin area, boot floor.

Be polite but firm. It's not the dealers fault, they will try to help you.

GOOD LUCK.

 

[sicandar]

Thank you very much for your useful reply,

I noted the rust on the passenger side rear panel - at first I thought it was very little then I saw the reflection in the chrome of the bumper and the whole under side of that panel is rusted.

I suppose I will ask them to service it first and like you say ask the bodyshop manager to inspect the whole car.

What did you mean by saying they can not report it to MB btw - do I have to ask him to tell me then report it to MB myself?

 

[Dieselman]

What did you mean by saying they can not report it to MB btw - do I have to ask him to tell me then report it to MB myself?

The dealer is not supposed to point out corrosion to you so you can claim. You need to go to the dealer complaining of rust first.
You are complaining so it would now be reasonable to have the whole car inspected.
Pull back the door seals and check underneath.

 

[glojo]

On reading the MB car book though it seems that you only need to service it after 5 year to be elligible (the car was first registered in march 2000).

The most important question really though is quite simply.. Has your car got a complete Mercedes-Benz service history?

Some folks on this forum have been very lucky and had rust repaired even though the car has not complied with the conditions laid down by the warranty and the service history is less than 'sketchy'. Others have had claims rejected merely because the service was a month outside of the TWO year limitation.

I am very interested to know where your FIVE year service interval comes from?

Good luck with the claim,
John

 

[sicandar]

Thanks for the replies

I will be sure to check the car thoroughly before I go to the garage

The Mercedes handbook services section says the following

In the rust warranty bit it says

"from the fifth year onwards the car should have been serviced by an authorised MB workshop within the last 2 years prior to the damage being repaired"

 

[glojo]

"from the fifth year onwards the car should have been serviced by an authorised MB workshop within the last 2 years prior to the damage being repaired"

Hi sicander,
Thanks very much for taking the time to post the quote, the wording changes each year. Now it states:

MobilioLife is valid for the new vehicle for an initial period of 2 years from the date of first registration. Thereafter, Mobiliolife is renewed every time a service is carried out at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre and is valid until the next service is due, up to a maximum of 30 years.

Now in my booklet there is no mention of the service having to be carried out within a two year period, but I have read that they try to wriggle out of claims on that very specific statement??

I accept your definition and I suppose that hints at the three year manufacturers warranty, then having a service before the fifth year?

Good luck with your claim,
John

 

[sicandar]

Thanks John - sounds as though my car was one of the first few years to have the 30 year warranty and since then they have obviously tried to tighten it up!

We'll see what happens!

 

[SimonsMerc]

The Mercedes handbook services section says the following

In the rust warranty bit it says

"from the fifth year onwards the car should have been serviced by an authorised MB workshop within the last 2 years prior to the damage being repaired"

This is exactly what it says in my handbook too (E320cdi from 2000).

-simon

 

[sicandar]

How did you intepret it's meaning, Simon?