Do all C32s rust?

[breeze247]

As above. I was thinking that the latest cars would have been sold after Mercedes started galvanising them...

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Bloomin right they do. Just ask @clk320x about his C32, it’s a right mess.

 

[rf065]

the latest cars would have been sold after Mercedes started galvanising them...

Not sure that has anything to do with it, My CLK was fully galvanised and started rusting at 4 years old.

 

[clk320x]

Bloomin right they do. Just ask @clk320x about his C32, it’s a right mess.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

As above. I was thinking that the latest cars would have been sold after Mercedes started galvanising them...

All C32 AMG are pre-facelift W/S203 and so don’t have the same level of rust prevention as later post-facelift cars.

Unfortunately the majority (but maybe not quite all) will have signs of corrosion or will have had remedial repairs at some point.

Don’t let it put you off though, they’re fantastic cars, with incredible performance, and offer outrageous value for money - both to buy and run.

 

[clk320x]

Don’t let it put you off though, they’re fantastic cars, with incredible performance, and offer outrageous value for money - both to buy and run.

I agree - I had to do a fair bit of bodywork on mine but it was worth every penny!

 

[optimusprime]

All prone to the rust bug ,some more than others and Mercedes is no exception .

 

[John]

It's only cold-galvanised so just a tenuous coating really.

It helps but doesn't stop it.

I had rusty wheels arches and a patch on my rear door of my W211 E55 and that was definitely galvanised.

 

[E55BOF]

I've had only two rust-free W211s; a 2003 and a 2008, and possibly the 2003 I've just bought. All the others (one each 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) had some rust. The quality of MB's galvanising seems to have been patchy, to say the least, and no doubt the W203 is the same.

 

[DavidL]

I was told the 203s had a type of felt underarch liner at the rear not plastic. This was great at sound deadening but not so good at not absorbing water and keeping it in contact with the metal...
My 211 is fine but the 203 has had some rear arch attention and I've seen a couple of tiny blisters appear of late which I will be watching very closely.