Check your W202 for RUST !

[ngenius1]

Evening all.
Just had both sills, floor sections, inner wheel arches, boot floor and various other places repaired on my C43.
A very good job was done on getting rid of the tin worm.
The next day i was driving over some speed humps and i heard a loud
bang, thinking i had driven over something that hit the underside of the car
i pulled ober to have a look, front suspension spring mount had collapsed.
Please check your suspension, as this could have happened on one of my
motorway drives and it could of been a completely different outcome.

 

[Parisien]

So what has your MOT guy being doing to not notice this??!!!


P

 

[ngenius1]

Passed the Mot just recently, The only reason i took it in to get checked in the first place was for the jacking point, as it started creaking when i tried ti change the wheel.

 

[andy27168]

I also had similar problem with my 43 and she continued to pass the MOT as all the rust was hidden I knew I had issues with my front N/S jacking point (creaking for months then collapse) and a big rust blister in the rear N/S door shut disappearing under the side skirt.
Never had the front suspension collapse as the O/P though.
You can see the state of my car here many photos of the repair process.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/mbclub-projects/135085-w202-rust-word-warning.html

 

[grober]

Unusual failure in that its usually where the perch attaches to the body via spot welds that fails due to corrosion- in this case it appears the actual perch body itself has failed. Wonder if it was an original MB perch? That said Mercedes bodywork resistance to rust was pretty appalling at that time and was only improved around 2003-2004.

 

[ngenius1]

Andy, i have seen you post regarding your sill repair.
I sent my repairer a link to it and asked him if it was worse than yours.
He laughed ! thought yours wasn't bad at all.
I also had the creaking from the jacking point, which led me to get it looked at.

 

[ngenius1]

Unusual failure in that its usually where the perch attaches to the body via spot welds that fails due to corrosion- in this case it appears the actual perch body itself has failed. Wonder if it was an original MB perch? That said Mercedes bodywork resistance to rust was pretty appalling at that time and was only improved around 2003-2004.

My repairer has never seen a failure like that, it had rusted through and the regular travelling over speed humps didn't help.
It was original, i'm surprised because its not somewhere where water can really settle.
Changed both sides, seeing as mercedes had the parts in stock maybe not as uncommon as i thought.

 

[andy27168]

My repairer has never seen a failure like that, it had rusted through and the regular travelling over speed humps didn't help.
It was original, i'm surprised because its not somewhere where water can really settle.
Changed both sides, seeing as mercedes had the parts in stock maybe not as uncommon as i thought.

I believe the part is shared with the 210 E class which replacing is not uncommon.
Surprisingly mine were or seemed completely rust free as I did get a bit paranoid and checked there at every opportunity.

 

[Feeble]

Same thing happened on my C43 on the second day I drove it. Glad it didn't happen on the motorway also. The spring popped out and was MIA for a few days until I was riding past the spot where it happened and saw it in the gutter. Returned the spring to the garage and they had it all sorted rather quickly and only cost £300. It's fairly common on the w202 now they are getting on a bit apparently. Sure made me jump when it happened though!