E Class Rust

[big x]

Here's the mobilo-life document dated 09/98.
You might need to download and enlarge to read the conditions page.
It seems to me that MB would have to prove damage had been caused by a non-MB authorized service for any corrosion claim to be turned down as long as the car had had an MB inspection every 2 years.
Bill,if you let me have your email I'll send a better scan.

adam

 

[GRAV888]

That is exactly the same booklet I have and what I quoted from to DCUK to help resolve my issues with them.

I like the bit "but we don't want to rest on our laurels".
More like: We'll make you ring up every few days for 6 months, to see how your claim is not doing, so that the MD has enough money from your phone calls to have a 2 week holiday in the Bahamas every year

 

[Bill G]

Adam (Big X)

Not sure if you got my private reply or not - let me know please.

Ta

Bill

 

[Bill G]

No reply received from MB at Milton Keynes to letter sent beginning of month - have decided to escalate matters and send a copy of the letter and enclose a copy of the Mobilo Life Policy, kindly passed on by Adam, to Wilfred Steffan CEO (if he is still in post).

We will see what happens and I will post result.

Bill (rusting by the minute)G

 

[tonyw]

This won't be covered under Mobilo unfortunately

I had rust appear on the doors /front wings of my 97R E300TD full MB service history. Took it in to my local dealers (MB Boston Lincs) who have there own bodyshop, they took some photo's submitted my claim, 2 weeks later dealer phoned me to say MB had approved the repairs 2 front wings/4doors.
The whole job completed within 2 months from submitting my claim and the dealer doing a 1st class job.

 

[GRAV888]

Guess you were lucky then.
Mobilo didn't come in until 24th Oct 1998

 

[tonyw]

Guess you were lucky then.
Mobilo didn't come in until 24th Oct 1998

Yes very lucky, bodyshop manager very helpfull chap nothing 2 much trouble for him.

 

[glojo]

2 weeks later dealer phoned me to say MB had approved the repairs 2 front wings/4doors.
The whole job completed within 2 months from submitting my claim and the dealer doing a 1st class job.

Not only a first class job, but a first class public relations exercise.

It saddens me though to read of other members that have Mobilio warranties and are fighting for what they believe to be justice.

I am not saying what is right or what is wrong, but your example clearly highlights the benefits of having a complete, uninterrupted full Mercedes-Benz service history and an understanding dealership. Although the repair was still approved by Mercedes-Benz UK.

I also note you had new panels and doors, this is something I have publically advocated, 'bodging' rust repairs are sometimes quite labour intensive and not always permanant.

John

 

[Ian B Walker]

As written by John
I also note you had new panels and doors, this is something I have publically advocated, 'bodging' rust repairs are sometimes quite labour intensive and not always permanant.


I think I wrote this before and if I am repeating myself then I will apologise. Years ago I was in charge of the repair to Mercedes Bodywork on a large fleet of cars. During a cost cutting excersize the main man told us to use non standard panels to the vehicles when required. At the end of the month when a financial review was beeing conducted I was dragged over the coals at the costs involved in repair. I was asked if I had adheared too the last directive, re non OEM panels. My reply was, yes I had done as I was told but the amount of fettling and stretching that had to be conducted was both time and cost prohibitive. It worked out that we were spending up to 10% more in labour etc than the cost of an OEM panel repair. Plus the materials never sounded right, thinner steel, sharp edges etc.

 

[Dieselman]

Guess you were lucky then.
Mobilo didn't come in until 24th Oct 1998

MB will cover any car that has adhered to the rules for a period of eight years.

 

[Bill G]

Dear All

Keep fingers crossed - I got a letter back yesterday from MB high command saying how sorry they were at my disappointment at the service and response ...blah! Blah! blah! and they were looking into it all and would be back in touch within 5 working days.

Just now I got a call from the Dealership Bodycare Centre asking me to bring the car back in as they have been informed by MB that they are taking a new look at the warranty claims like mine.

OOooh I am fair excited as we say in these parts - but in the back of my head I am hearing "whoa boy you have been at this trough before and there has been nothing for you!".

Will keep you posted.

Bill

 

[Dieselman]

Wehey it looks like you might be getting somewhere.

The call from the dealer is probably just a cover story but if you get your car repaired who cares.

You have cornered MB and they have nowhere to run. Well done.

It will be interesting to see if consumer pressure is at last going to make MB stand by their product claims.

 

[uumode]

As written by John
I also note you had new panels and doors, this is something I have publically advocated, 'bodging' rust repairs are sometimes quite labour intensive and not always permanant.

MB made the false economy of cost cutting on corrosion protection / manufacturing methods and it's come back in more expensive corrosion claims. It seems this false economy is rearing it's head again in the repair stage, i.e. repair it as cheaply as possible which surely as you have implied it is not always permanant and the repair will probably cost more than one original proper repair.

I notice that Mobilolife's 30 year warranty ONLY applies to factory panels i.e. repaired parts are not covered under the 30 year warranty anymore, which is an escape clause I guess.

 

[glojo]

I notice that Mobilolife's 30 year warranty ONLY applies to factory panels i.e. repaired parts are not covered under the 30 year warranty anymore, which is an escape clause I guess.

Hi uumode,
We have discussed this paragraph in great detail and in my lay person's opinion it is simply legal 'speak' for saying that Mercedes-Benz will pay for the claim, but you cannot get two bites of the compensation thing. They pay the repair but you cannot make a secondary claim for incidentals.

If the repaired wing corrodes from the inside out, then providing you have complided with ALL the requirements of Mobilio then you have get it repaired for as long as the vehicle is covered.

It is interesting to note that the warranty is for thirty years as that is what the legal pods have decided is the recognized life of a car?? (It was always called Mobilio-Life)

My old 210 had a new front wing and two doors replaced following accident damage. I queried whether they were still covered by the Mobilio scheme and was assured they were providing they were fitted by an authorised agent and I kept the vehicle serviced in compliance with the scheme.

Regards,
John

 

[uumode]

Hi uumode,

My old 210 had a new front wing and two doors replaced following accident damage. I queried whether they were still covered by the Mobilio scheme and was assured they were providing they were fitted by an authorised agent and I kept the vehicle serviced in compliance with the scheme.

hmmm MB are sending different signals (not a good sign either)

I originally phoned the MobiloLife line to try to ascertain what type of corrosion was covered (the fact that no one appeared to know off the top of their head was disconcerting too)

Anyway, it was pointed out to me that you could only claim once for a repaired area. e.g. if your drivers door sill rusted and was repaired under MobiloLife, then if it rusted again after say 4 years, it wouldn't be covered for a second claim. But if the near side front door started rusting then that would be covered as the first claim on that section of the car.

/EDIT maybe accident damage isn't classified as a 'first corrosion claim'
i.e. it is an accident incident claimed against an insurance company, and not MBUK.. so maybe you can have as many accident repairs with authorised MB bodyshops as you like, leaving the 30 year MobiloLife option 'unclaimed' and intact.

Reading my earlier post 'ONLY applies to factory panels' is misleading, what I actually meant was 'no corrosion repaired panels' - I automatically assumed factory fresh, I can see I lead you up the wrong path a bit.. sorry!

 

[Bill G]

Update

Just back from Bodycare centre and I am told that the car will be repaired without contribution - sense at last - I even have a date for the car to go in.

But wait - they have to send the details back to MB and I have little faith after previous responses. I will hear formally in next day or so - fingers, toes and eyes crossed that this might all be over soon.

I have re-thought my position and I would have another MB car - I would be sure to keep proper records and meet all conditions fully and unequivocally - 'cos I like the car and if it operates as it should the warranty is second to none.

If I get knocked back of course I might well review the above.

Will post update.

Bill

 

[Dieselman]

Update

Just back from Bodycare centre and I am told that the car will be repaired without contribution - sense at last - I even have a date for the car to go in.

But wait - they have to send the details back to MB and I have little faith after previous responses. I will hear formally in next day or so - fingers, toes and eyes crossed that this might all be over soon.

I have re-thought my position and I would have another MB car - I would be sure to keep proper records and meet all conditions fully and unequivocally - 'cos I like the car and if it operates as it should the warranty is second to none.

If I get knocked back of course I might well review the above.

Will post update.

Bill

Bill, Given that your car has been serviced outside the dealer network, does this mean that MB are now covering such vehicles or are you a special case?

 

[Bill G]

Bill, Given that your car has been serviced outside the dealer network, does this mean that MB are now covering such vehicles or are you a special case?

Unsure - and will wait until the Dealership has been formally OK'd to carry out the repairs before I am fully confident that all is well.

He did indicate that he was sure it was all to be approved this time and that MB were looking at claims such as mine differently. He had said that he was reluctant to survey the car again as he had done this on 3 occasions and he knew that it would be knocked back on the last two occasions. MB indicated that things would be different this time therefore he agreed to survey again.

It sounds good I am loathe to leap around however until I have official word.

I will let you know.

 

[Dieselman]

WOW.

When the floodgates open MB are going to be right in the doo doo.

 

[Satch]

It is the new management team trying to wash away the quality problems and rebuild their brand image and customer loyalty.

Now that Schremp has gone he can be blamed for everything (including destroying Euro80Bn of shareholder value) so they can justify take a big bath on warranty claims to correct the errors of the past.

My spies tell me that next on the task list is sorting out the bad Dealer image and behaviours, especially in the US.