Alloy wheel corrosion out of warranty offered Mercedes goodwill??

[GordonTarling]

There's plenty of high quality wheel refurbishers out there who would do a cracking job and charge less than MB want to charge you. I had a set of wheels refurbed by Pristine Wheels of Milton Keynes - what gave me confidence in them was seeing an Aston Martin liveried van collecting a load of wheels from them when I arrived. Powder coating tends to be more durable than paint and there's many refurbishers who'll try to talk you out of a diamond-cut finish, as they know it won't last very long.

 

[redbaron]

I would just refurb them - but don't go for anything diamond cut... it doesnt last, never has and never will..

 

[developer]

Do you get to keep the old ones?

If so, take the offer and you have a spare three or three to sell on to recover some of the cost.

 

[b92753]

Do you get to keep the old ones?

If so, take the offer and you have a spare three or three to sell on to recover some of the cost.

they wont let me keep old ones! been tod have to be sent to germany to be assesed!

 

[C43AMG]

they wont let me keep old ones! been tod have to be sent to germany to be assesed!

Which will be refurbished and put on sale

 

[Ktustin]

C220 Alloy Corrosion

Hi

I have had a similar problem with my wheels on my 2008 C220. MB replaced the wheels in June 2011 under warranty. After no help from MB Oxford I went to MB Swindon and they were excellent, asking only £60 to cover the cost of one curbed wheel - I got 4 brand spanking new alloys and I was a happy chicken. The only problem now is that my wheels have corroded again! I have been super careful with them - one has a stone chp but that is not unexpected for something travelling close to the tarmac at speed. MB Swindon have gone back to Mercedes and they are now offering 50% replacement cost on three wheels - suggesting a total cost of £732 for me to replace 3.

It seems that the diamond cut wheels are not fit for purpose - how many others are facing a similar problem? Can we get together and tacke Merc as a group?

My husband had a problem with his BMW cltutch, BMW replaced that 3 times out of warranty no problem and then gave him a £2000 contirbution to a replacement car as they admitted a design error. Looks like a similar situation with these vey lovely but unsuitable wheels...

Anyone facing similar issues, please contact me.

 

[mct_cars]

As has been said before on this thread, "diamond cut" will never be suitable in the UK as there is only a coat of (water based) lacquer over the alloy, meaning a stone chip will cause the lacquer to lift and salty water to get behind and cause "milking".

Get them powder coated - perfectly safe process and a choice of colours. I use S.E.M in Sunderland who've been there for 20 years and have an excellent reputation. Last wheels I got done were my milking diamond cut 18" AMG's on the E500. £230 later they were powder coated in Brilliant Silver - the finish was excellent.

 

[sjmaxwell]

Diamond cut alloys are notoriously know for lacquer peel and corrosion. Basically the alloy is machine polished and lacquered. And say if you get a small chip in the finish then over time water would seep in and eventually corode the whole face of the alloy. Diamond cut finishes are asthetically pleasing but not very durable in comparison to a painted finish or powder coated.

Totally agree and have had this both on my 14 month old W207 and my 3 month old W212.

Interestingly Lepsons are now offering their warranty on diamond cut finishes as they have changed their paint process, something previosly they wouldn't guarantee at all

 

[davidjpowell]

Which will be refurbished and put on sale

All win for mb. I would tot surprised if the 'contribution' covers their costs, and then they get the original wheels back to refurb and do whatever (probably replace the next batch of corrodes wheels)...

I believe I made a contribution of 10% in similar circumstances after leaning on the executive office slightly when the initial claim was turned down. I believe I likened them to sharp suited insurance salesmen....

 

[bobclive]

Hi,

Just been to look at a c class amg coupe June 2013 reg with 18 inch alloys, all 4 wheels are corroding around center caps to some degree, tyres have never been changed, car has covered 14,000 miles, the wheels are perfect everywhere else so it must be something to do with the center caps or the fitting thereof. I intended to keep the car for many years, this puts me off buying the Merc. I have a Mk1 TT with 76000 miles other than a small kirb mark the wheels are perfect. Are Merg cutting corners like their plastic leather look seats that split at the seams.