E55 Rust Pics

[Robbo]

Grav,

This state of affairs is absolutely appauling and you have my complete sympathy. This must be causing you an enormous amount of stress and I really hope it can be resolved in a satisfactory way.

I'd like to make a point in response to glojos point above regarding mobilolofe. I do agree in theory it is worth keeping it valid, but if gravs example is typical of the level of repairs that one can expect from a mobilolife claim, then my personal advice for W210 owners advice is to not worry about mobilolife. Simply get rid of the W210 and buy another car which will not rust. Unfortunately this will probably mean a non MB car.

It is simply not worth the potential hassle and heartache to own one of these cars IMO, they are not worthy of the MB brand.

 

[glojo]

It is simply not worth the potential hassle and heartache to own one of these cars IMO, they are not worthy of the MB brand.

Hi Robbo,
Please do not misunderstand me, I totally agree with your very valid points, the car is not worthy.........

It has been mentioned elsewhere that other models suffer from rust problems, but surely none of them comes close to this terrible model?

We on this forum will usually hear more complaints than compliments, that is simply how it is. We always complain louder than we commend.

Folks quite rightly complain when they CLEARLY have EVERY right to do so. Grav's car has been repaired by a main dealer!!!! (I would expect a quality body shop to do a better repair, but I do accept that some main dealers have excellent facilities and employ highly qualified staff) To me though if a main dealer treats customers vehicles the way they have handled Grav' situation then this is indeed a major red flag and if Flash has ordered his C55 through this dealership then I owe him a huge apology.

I would not go near that dealership.

The quality of that repair would not do justice to my son's twelve year old Ford Escort. Grav's car is NOT a twelve year old Ford Escort!!!!

My comments about buying the 210 clearly were meant only for those folks who are determined to buy this flawed vehicle. I was wonder though........

How long can Mercedes-Benz keep on paying out for repairs?

How much have they paid out on Grav's car and what is the next (certainly not final) bill going to be?

I suppose on the plus side, workshops are being kept busy repairing rust damaged Mercede's yet there are only a couple of horrible complaints on this excellent forum?

John

 

[Dieselman]

My comments about buying the 210 clearly were meant only for those folks who are determined to buy this flawed vehicle. I was wonder though........

How long can Mercedes-Benz keep on paying out for repairs?

How much have they paid out on Grav's car and what is the next (certainly not final) bill going to be?

I suppose on the plus side, workshops are being kept busy repairing rust damaged Mercede's yet there are only a couple of horrible complaints on this excellent forum?

John

Unfortunately the problem isn't only associated with the 210 E-class. It affects all models in the range upto build date mid 2004.
Some of the newer cars use aluminium which helps but is still corroding due to lack of protection.

The 210 recieves most publicity because this was the first model to suffer and there are large quantities of them on the road.


The dealers are generally doing a reasonable job but they don't get paid enough by MB to spend long on the car. I believe a door is timed at about 3 hours all in. That includes stripping, blasting, primer, paint, rebuild.

MB have no intention of covering all the costs so look for loopholes to avoid paying out.

It is only public pressure that has brought about covering the rust at all. MB cars came with one year paint warranty and no corrosion warranty prior to Mobilo life. The cars haven't changed, just the warranty, hence MB look for as many getouts as they can.

I'ts sad really that such a respected manufacturer should put short term profit before long term brand reputuaion.

Look what happened to the reputuations of manufacturers like Austin-Rover, Fiat/Lancia, Ford, Vauxhall.
The cars were rot boxes and so became worthless quickly. That reputuation has reduced demand long term even though the cars were mechanically capable, except the Fords.
None of the above brands now has corrosion problems but the reputation still sticks.

It would be sad to see MB go the same way just because of rust issues.

 

[big x]

A 12 year anti-perforation warranty seems quite widespread in the industry these days both Mazda and Toyota have them for example.
As far as I'm aware neither of them use totally galvanized bodies and the EU made Toyotas use water based paint so the anti-corrosion methods seem to be based on care of construction and design.German car magazines do check such things and long term test cars are dismantled and cavities checked with endoscopes for rust protecton.

adam

 

[GRAV888]

Car booked in to be re done on 5th September.
They say they want it for 1 week.
Last time, they said 7 - 10 days and had it 5 weeks

Kicked up a fuss about the astra and will be getting an E-class this time :bannana:

 

[Flash]

Did u ask about refurbing ur alloys/respraying the bumper FOC at all?

 

[Mambo]

Car booked in to be re done on 5th September.
They say they want it for 1 week.
Last time, they said 7 - 10 days and had it 5 weeks

Kicked up a fuss about the astra and will be getting an E-class this time :bannana:

Good luck mate, hopefully they will sort it out PROPERLY this time. I am still waiting for a decision on mine, its been about 6 weeks. Have been pestering twice a week but have had no confirmation yet....

 

[glojo]

Car booked in to be re done on 5th September.
They say they want it for 1 week.
Last time, they said 7 - 10 days and had it 5 weeks

Kicked up a fuss about the astra and will be getting an E-class this time :bannana:

I am at least pleased they have finally given you a decent courtesy car. Are you going to monitor what they intend doing?

Regards,
John

 

[GRAV888]

I am at least pleased they have finally given you a decent courtesy car. Are you going to monitor what they intend doing?

Regards,
John

Certainly am.
I want the car back in showroom condition this time.
Told him about the alloys and he said they would get sorted out.

 

[glojo]

Certainly am.
I want the car back in showroom condition this time.
Told him about the alloys and he said they would get sorted out.

I have just had a dastardly thought....

They are loaning you a 'decent' vehicle which hopefully is yours for the duration of the repair...... Are you seeing where I'm heading here?

Are you returning the courtesy car before being 100% satisfied with the quality of the repairs to your car?

Thanks for the reply,
John

 

[GRAV888]

I have just had a dastardly thought....

They are loaning you a 'decent' vehicle which hopefully is yours for the duration of the repair...... Are you seeing where I'm heading here?

Are you returning the courtesy car before being 100% satisfied with the quality of the repairs to your car?

Thanks for the reply,
John

Nope. Gonna hide it round the corner. LOL

Saw 2 CLS 55 AMG's there today too

 

[Dieselman]

A 12 year anti-perforation warranty seems quite widespread in the industry these days both Mazda and Toyota have them for example.
As far as I'm aware neither of them use totally galvanized bodies and the EU made Toyotas use water based paint so the anti-corrosion methods seem to be based on care of construction and design.German car magazines do check such things and long term test cars are dismantled and cavities checked with endoscopes for rust protecton.

adam

Last I knew Toyota used to use Gavaneling on their bodies. This is better than Galvanising.

Also most manufacturers used to phosphate dip their bodies for total protection.

 

[Mambo]

Had a rather interesting call from MB Stratford. Seems they now have the go ahead to get the arches fixed but they won't be supplying me with a courtesy car.

I told them to go and check and call me back with a proper answer, lets see where this goes. Also, they say the new boot rust patch would have to be submitted seperately as the arches have taken 3 months to get approved.

If I could swear on this forum I would.................

 

[glojo]

If I could swear on this forum I would.................

I swore for you!!!

This type of service is not doing them any favours. If Mercedes-Benz have authorized the repair then I would be looking at a courtesy car. It is easy to be critical when I am not the one being given the offer. I feel for you and can fully understand the need for blaspheme!!! (spelt it wrong the first time)

Good luck,
John

 

[Flyer]

Mambo, that's out of order. Mine is going back at the end of October for bodywork warranty work; it's taking so long as that's the first time when they have a courtesy car available. No problem with the delay.

It's strange how your decision takes 3 months, but the decision on mine was made immediately

 

[KillerHERTZ]

3 Months? Robinsons of Cambridge (worst dealers on earth) only took 3 weeks to reply.

Although, they did order the wrong wings for the car even though they have the VIN etc

 

[GRAV888]

They've had mine for nearly 2 weeks now.

 

[glojo]

Hi Grav,
I was wondering how your car is progressing?

Mercedes-Benz are silver because I believe it represents there first racing cars that were overweight and had to have the paint removed to save weight!!

Your car will weigh an extra 'tonne' with so many extra coats of silver..

Fingers are still crossed waiting for the good news (or otherwise)

Regards,
John

 

[Mambo]

Just had a call back, A170 is what I will be getting but it wont be till 24th October!

Did you guys have to get your own cover on the car or did they sort you out?

 

[GRAV888]

Just had a call back, A170 is what I will be getting but it wont be till 24th October!

Did you guys have to get your own cover on the car or did they sort you out?

They insured the Astra and the E200 for me, but there was a £500 excess on both, so they advised me to switch my insurance over from my car (as it is fully comp under their policy whilst in their care), but my excess is £500 too.
So I left it on theirs