CL 600 Corrosion

[Geoffstilwell]

Hi i am new to this site. I have a fab CL 600 with full AMG kit...i was staggered to find corrosion coming through on the C posts and the bottom of the drivers door...the car has done 28000..Mercedes say its going to take a min of 4 weeks to repair..plus the dealer tells me they have real problems with these...does anyone else have these problems...also..they only have so many specialist dealers in the UK authorised to totally dismantle my 600 from the doors back..the nearest being 50 miles away..

 

[Dieselman]

This is a common problem on CL cars.
The reason why there are only a few dealers able to do the repair is the aluminium panels.

 

[Geoffstilwell]

Thanks but i find it staggering that the money i paid for this and it seems to be always going wrong. I have had total hydraulic failure on the motorway..brake failure...some plug or other in the gearbox keeps coming loose ...now they want dismantle it..it shouldn't be happening!!!

 

[glojo]

..it shouldn't be happening!!!

It certainly should not. How old is the car and what are the dealers saying?

I would be spitting bullets.

Hopefully they will be giving you a comparable courtesy car for the duration of this repair.

It should indeed not be happening.

Good luck,
John

 

[Dieselman]

Hopefully they will be giving you a comparable courtesy car for the duration of this repair.

Probably an A140.

 

[Geoffstilwell]

its 3 years old. the dealer has been really helpful...but everything has to go through Merc head office. ..i have complained but it like hitting your head on a brick wall....but i am with Merc this weekend at Goodwood so they are going to get a rocket from me.

 

[ddentrec]

its 3 years old. the dealer has been really helpful...but everything has to go through Merc head office. ..i have complained but it like hitting your head on a brick wall....but i am with Merc this weekend at Goodwood so they are going to get a rocket from me.

A 3 year old CL with corrosion. Customer's concerns ignored. MB Head Office needed to authorise (possibly smart) repairs.

Thanks but i find it staggering that the money i paid for this and it seems to be always going wrong. I have had total hydraulic failure on the motorway..brake failure...some plug or other in the gearbox keeps coming loose ...now they want dismantle it..it shouldn't be happening!!!

I agree.

Oh, the joys of Mercedes ownership

 

[Satch]

That is depressing given the big roll of drums the CL got:

Because it will be produced in low volumes Mercedes can afford to implement some innovative materials strategies, including a hybrid body construction that incorporates not only high-strength steel and aluminum but magnesium and plastic as well.

The car's construction is so unique that it actually now has to be built on its own separate production line where aerospace assembly techniques, such as riveting and adhesive bonding, are used along with more conventional welding. Mercedes dedicated an area of its Sindelfingen to accommodate this new process.

The bonnet, rear wings, roof and other major exterior parts are aluminum. So is the roof frame, the support structure for the engine and transmission, and front suspension components. The front fenders and trunk lid are made of thermoplastic. The door inner panels are made of magnesium.

Steel is used in zones that are highly stressed in a crash, such as roof pillars, side members, crossmembers, and bulkheads as well as the front underbody, front-end structure and rear floor.

Mercedes claims to be the first in the world to use die-cast magnesium for large shaped products such as the inner shells of the Coupe's doors.

Compared with conventional steel door inners, this method permits the numerous brackets and fixing points for the window lift, door lock and other components to be integrated into a single process with much better formability. Subsequent welding no longer is required.

A special powder coating is used for corrosion protection and at the same time meets the requirements for adhesively bonding the magnesium inner shells with the aluminum sheet of the outer door.
The aluminum/magnesium construction of the doors creduces weight whilst meeting strict safety requirements.

Is part the problem with the CL the long understood issue of galvanic corrosion? If so that is utterly pathetic engineering blunder given the very real danger of magnesium/aluminium reactivty. If all MB were relying on to keep the two apart was a bit of powder coating in an area prone to water exposure that is pathetic:

Galvanic corrosion occurs when there is a dissimilar metal in contact with the magnesium casting and there is an electrolyte present (such as salt water). There is no issue with interior components but for body, chassis or power-train castings there is a likelihood that galvanic corrosion protection will be required. The approach is to isolate the dissimilar metals either by coating one of the components or using an isolating material as a washer to eliminate the galvanic effect

 

[glojo]

its 3 years old. the dealer has been really helpful...but everything has to go through Merc head office. ..i have complained but it like hitting your head on a brick wall....but i am with Merc this weekend at Goodwood so they are going to get a rocket from me.

Hi Geoff,
You are going to receive numerous posts all outlining negative experiences when owners have problems that take time to resolve.

I am surprised, no very surprised that Mercedes-BenzUK have not contacted you. When we had problems the office was based in the Netherlands but we still had an English person that was extremely helpful, and very supportive in relation to what was happening. They arranged for my local dealership to deliver flowers to my wife and a favourite 'tipple' for myself. This did not happen just once either. The dealership in turn done everything to keep us happy and onside. I don't think there was a model Mercedes that we never had as a courtesy car whilst our problems were investigated.

Mercedes-Benz were unable to resolve the problem with our vehicle and eventually made me a very attractive offer that I could not refuse hence I suppose my loyalty to the marque (I have been bought). The person that dealt with my case has since moved with the rest of the office staff to Milton Keynes and we still remain in touch to this day, although sadly she has recently been made redundant. (I wonder why? ) Seriously though she wanted a change in career, was highly regarded by her peers and held a senior position.

I have always believed that if you treat others how you would want to be treated it will stand you in good stead. Never, ever be walked over, but never, ever be rude. I have seen a pattern on this forum and there are customers who have had a very raw deal indeed, and I feel for them. but there are those that treat 'stealerships' as just that and then wonder why they do not get there own way?? Some folks think I must be exaggerating, or my dealership is a one off, neither is right, there are a number of members that have had good experiences but do not like to post them simply because of the verbal assault from the 'stealer brigade'

You deserve to be pampered, you deserve to be looked after, there are a lot of Mercedes-Benz corporate events taking place and you should be on DaimlerChrysler or Mercedes-BenzUK list for some 'customer relations' perks.

I feel for you, the car is a disgrace and you DESERVE better.

Probably an A140.

I like it, many a true word!!

Take care,
John the saint

 

[Flash]

Thanks but i find it staggering that the money i paid for this and it seems to be always going wrong. I have had total hydraulic failure on the motorway..brake failure...some plug or other in the gearbox keeps coming loose ...now they want dismantle it..it shouldn't be happening!!!

Welcome to the world of "MB Ownership"....

I know how you must be feeling as I have been there to and msyelf/father shall be submitting another claim to on our cars which are no more than 2 years old.

DC Customer Services are dreadful...

Good luck anyway and I hope that it all works out for you.

 

[Flash]

Hopefully they will be giving you a comparable courtesy car for the duration of this repair.

He will be lucky to get an A Class at the most otherwise a Smart For Four or something in the same league such as a Corsa/Fiesta.

 

[Vips]

Thanks but i find it staggering that the money i paid for this and it seems to be always going wrong. I have had total hydraulic failure on the motorway..brake failure...some plug or other in the gearbox keeps coming loose ...now they want dismantle it..it shouldn't be happening!!!

Sorry to hear of this. You are right it is totally shocking and bloody frustrating, when you've spent tens of thousands on the car and you can't drive it. Lets hope MB get their act together soon. Hope they resolve all your issues.

 

[Satch]

Hope it gets sorted.

Whilst they are at it might care to tell you if you are to be included in this:

2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Recall
Vehicle Component: INTERIOR LIGHTING
Estimated Vehicles Affected: 36911
2004 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Defect Summary:
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINS GAUGES AND INDICATORS THAT MUST BE ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.
Defect Consequence:
DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION, THE DRIVER WILL BE UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JULY 2006

 

[ddentrec]

He will be lucky to get an A Class at the most otherwise a Smart For Four or something in the same league such as a Cosra/Fiesta.

..and charged £12.50 per day + VAT as they do at MB Cambridge (and others) even when having warranty repair work??

 

[Flash]

PLUS insurance costs and £30 for every stone chip/blemish mark on the paintwork/bodywork as the bodyshop "fully" inspect the loan car and this is what happeneded with my Sprinter few weeks back and it went into a MB Passenger Car bodyshop!!! Providing loan cars for Mobilo Bodywork/Corrosion claims is a good will gesture by the bodyshop carrying out the repairs and DC UK do NOT provide them or cover the cost (s)!!! Therefore, under the Mobilo terms and conditions you are NOT entitled to a courtesy car!!!

 

[SG CL500]

..and charged £12.50 per day + VAT as they do at MB Cambridge (and others) even when having warranty repair work??

Cambs didn't charge me for the hire car and I wasn't having anything done under warranty - lucky i guess!!!

 

[ddentrec]

Cambs didn't charge me for the hire car and I wasn't having anything done under warranty - lucky i guess!!!

Good to hear: When I was using MB Cambs for warranty work on my C-Class a few years back, I told them I was insulted of being charged for a courtesy car: have never ever paid for one in my life.

They still refused to waiver the charge.

So, I went back to their salesman, cancelled my order for a new replacement E-Class estate (got my £1000 back), and asked my wife to collect me in her VW Golf. All the while the salesman and service manager were grovelling apologetically when they realiased their mistake.

Tis a true story. Never set foot in MB Cambs again after that. Now I go to Sytner Group in Bedford: fully insured shiny new E-Classes that are completely free of charge.

 

[pineer35]

i dont have any problems with my Mercedes Benz,nothing has fallen off or rusted,it never breaks down,or has it required extensive body work.
Having said that it is a proper Mercedes.without all the whistles and bells??.
It is pre. 1995, and one of many i have owned since 1996. o/k i maybe a grandad and a silly old F..t, but my Mercedes driving experience,is how it should be relaxed.
Happy motoring Folks

 

[pineer35]

Error 1956

 

[glojo]

Tis a true story. Never set foot in MB Cambs again after that. Now I go to Sytner Group in Bedford: fully insured shiny new E-Classes that are completely free of charge.

Well done and if only more people done this, the penny might eventually drop!! If one dealership can give good service then they all can!!!!

Oh, and when ordering your very nice vehicle make sure you order the electric tailgate option

I suppose we ought to have a, 'Must have' thread for options when ordering a new car, it might help prevent the 'if only I knew before ordering' remark.

Well done,
John