E-Class rust review?

[Jack Snare]

I'm in the process of buying an E-Class diesel estate (E300TD 1999/T).
Mileage is 120000 with a full MB service history.
Having read various reports on the rust issue, I'm not sure if this affects saloons or estates or both. Please could someone confirm which bodyparts to check before I part with the cash.

-front wings

-front subframe

-underneath wheel arches front/back

-headlamp trims

-front wing indicators

-door frames

-under the interior headlining

-rear quarter panels

-around the remote central locking transponder (bootlid)

-rear axle/rear seat area

-tailgate boot latch & license plate area

PS on a cursory inspection, I saw masking tape on the r/h/s tailgate doorframe rubber and red paint/hammerite? around the tailgate latch (it wasn't rust).

PPS the seller is not a trader/dealer. Will there be any issue if I find rust later in the car's life? I want to keep it until it's 500,000 miles are up!

PPPS Which cars are covered by the "Mobilo Life 30" guarantee?

 

[Shude]

This should have been posted in the bodywork section, moving...

 

[Dieselman]

Technically the car should be covered under Mobilo Life as that came into force November 98.

It would be advisable to have the car paint checked by an MB dealer, because if there are any resprayed panels on the car, where the work wasn't performed at an MB approved bodyshop, then those areas won't be covered by the corrosion warranty.

You appear to have most of the corrosion areas covered, so should be able to find a good car.

 

[230K]

Jack

Good choice of car we have a 98 E300TD bought in Feb with 165K and full history by one owner. Great car.
Check the air con is working and check the rear diff is not leaking and as dieselman says as long as the car has not been repaired by anyone other than an MB bodyshop any rust should be sorted out.

Economy expect low 30's

230K

 

[DrNick]

One of the main areas for rust is under the rubber seals at the top of the door. This is the seal that is attached to the door itself. Peel it back and check along the whole length on all 4 doors. Mine was worst by the drivers mirror (99 E300TD est) bur all 4 doors were showing signs. Also around the bootlock above the number plate.

Merc have a tool that measures paint thickness and they use this to claim that panels have been repaired before and are not therefore covered. Its probably worth getting them to check the paint thickness (someone else has suggested this?) before buying to say its all in spec. What actually is the spec is debatable.

Mine had all 4 doors and a tailgate replaced under warranty with 400k miles and no service history at all to speak of.

Nick

 

[Branko]

400,000 miles on an E300TD - that's a great figure! Mine (Oct 97 R reg) has just got to 100,000! So what has had to be replaced over those miles then?

 

[glojo]

PPPS Which cars are covered by the "Mobilo Life 30" guarantee?

You are going to get some excellent advice regarding the points to look out for when looking at the vehicle. Mobilo Life is an excellent warranty which will indeed cover the car for its working life (which is deemed to be 30 years) Now the bad news. This warranty is renewed each year when the vehicle is serviced at an authorised Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.

This is sometimes a very contentious issue on this forum, so I have dragged out the MobiloLife bible.

**MobiloLife is valid for the new vehicle for an initial period of 2 years from the date of first registration. Thereafter, MobiloLife is renewed everytime 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.**

I have heard reports of people getting their vehicles serviced by so called 'specialists' and still make claims, BUT do not rely on it. If you need an expensive body repair and the service book does not show a full main dealer service history you cannot expect the claim to be honoured.

This applies to vehicles manufactured I believe after November '98

Down here in the South-West Dealer rates are not excessive and they provide a nice piece of mind.

Good luck with your car,
John

 

[C240Sport97]

Mobilo Life is breakdown cover, it is not a warranty.

 

[glojo]

Mobilo Life is breakdown cover, it is not a warranty.

Oh dear!!!
I can only assume that you have different information to me and would be very grateful if you could satisfy my curiosity.

***** The warranty against rusting through from the inside is valid for an initial period of 2 years from the date of first registration. Thereafter, this warranty is renewed every time a service is carried out at a Mercedes-Benz Centre and is valid until the next service is due, up to a maximum of 30 years.*****

I have not cheated and copied my previous post. This is an exact extract from MobiloLife Warranty. (Page 8 of the very latest copy of MobiloLife Warranty)

Please, please feel free to disagree and show me I am wrong because people that do not comply with these terms are up the proverbial.

Take care,
John

Nice speaking to you.

 

[Shude]

This is an exact extract from MobiloLife Warranty.

Yeah, warranty for rust, that's it.

 

[C240Sport97]

Agree that rust from the inside is covered for up to 30 years.

I was trying to make the point (and forgetting that this is a rust thread, sorry) that it's not a warranty in the sense one which, for example, gives you a new gearbox if it went. I should have been more explicit and careful. Apologies.

 

[glojo]

Agree that rust from the inside is covered for up to 30 years.

I was trying to make the point (and forgetting that this is a rust thread, sorry) that it's not a warranty in the sense one which, for example, gives you a new gearbox if it went. I should have been more explicit and careful. Apologies.

The written word is a pesky nuisance at times, and you are 100% correct it is really a break down service although they sometimes talk of 'goodwill repairs'.

Having seen some horrible photographs of the underside of some E-class I personally would try to keep the 'warranty' valid, but it is very much a personal decision and one that is to be respected either way.

Sorry if I worded the MobiloLife in an unclear fashion.
Good luck with your decision,

John

 

[DrNick]

400,000 miles on an E300TD - that's a great figure! Mine (Oct 97 R reg) has just got to 100,000! So what has had to be replaced over those miles then?

Before I got it, it had eaten at least 2 sets of discs all round, had a new radiator, a new turbocharger and an autogearbox overhaul (unspecified what this actually entailed), plus all usual service items/filters

Since I've had it (1 year) I've replaced the glowplugs and a heater valve and had an issue with non-starting fixed (diesel flowing back into the tank). It failed the MOT on a lower balljoint which was easily fixed.

And all the doors have been replaced!

Now its looking like the MAF sensor is failing. Quite a lot has needed doing when you look back, but only the diesel problem has actually stopped it moving. If it only lasts another year before major expense/being scrapped I'll be happy considering the price I paid. Obviously the longer it goes the happier I'll be.

It still doesn't use any oil between changes

 

[johnmc]

Folks,
A note of caution on the Mobilolife. The maximum allowed period between services is two years, even if your mileage is low. But, for rust perforation claims the warranty states that each panel or chassis part affected will be replaced ONCE free of charge. Given that most W210s are getting this done at 3-5 years old, what's the chances of the 30 year warranty being worth anything!

John

 

[big x]

Johns right,I've seen figures that show the vast majority of cars have changed hands 3 or 4 times in the first 10 years and once you get to that age few still have an unbroken FMBSH and Mercedes know it.
The thing I find amazing is that 7 years after the model was introduced you can still find the very last of the line year 2000 W202 C-classes with rust coming through.Normally the runout models are good deals because they have been debugged over the years.This seems to work in reverse with Mercedes , the 1994 seem better corrosion wise. I saw a 2000 c-class rear cross member with rust in the boot area.You need to remove the rear boot platic trim and lining to see it.Sure enough on checking my own 97 model it had the same thing ! Seems strange that the internal rust policy came into force before any improved anti-rust measures where taken.Reminds when I was a student in 1980's and a friend had a 4 year old Alfasud where every panel was rusting through due to crap quality steel and no anti-rust measures at all.It took Alfa 20 years to shrug that bad reputation off and Lancia never recovered in northern Europe after engines started falling out of some of their cars due to front crossmembers rusting.To be honest all makers know the boot is a risk area due to condensation and do a better job than MB in corrosion measures circa 95-2000.

adam

<<<<Folks,
A note of caution on the Mobilolife. The maximum allowed period between services is two years, even if your mileage is low. But, for rust perforation claims the warranty states that each panel or chassis part affected will be replaced ONCE free of charge. Given that most W210s are getting this done at 3-5 years old, what's the chances of the 30 year warranty being worth anything!

John>>>

 

[C240Sport97]

can you post a pic of the area we should be looking at please.

I saw a 2000 c-class rear cross member with rust in the boot area.You need to remove the rear boot platic trim and lining to see it.Sure enough on checking my own 97 model it had the same thing

 

[uumode]

I have heard reports of people getting their vehicles serviced by so called 'specialists' and still make claims, BUT do not rely on it. If you need an expensive body repair and the service book does not show a full main dealer service history you cannot expect the claim to be honoured.
John

Agreed, they have honoured some cases up to now, but in the light of the numerous claims and the heavy hit MBUK are taking, they are tightening up and have recently re-evaluated on how they handle and treat repair work. One can only speculate that a method to limit the losses they are sustaining is to not honour claims which fall out of the terms and conditions. So as glojo has suggested, don't rely on that fact.

 

[Dieselman]

If it only lasts another year before major expense/being scrapped I'll be happy considering the price I paid.

Not often we hear you swear Dr Nick.