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How serious is Mercedes C class subframe failure?

Niro06 said:
Well looks like i have the problem! was driving to work applied the brakes and car was dangerously swerving all over the road, limped it back to local garage who have just called to say that the subframe has excessive corrosion and has snapped in half!. no hint of a problem before and passed MOT in september last year. Called mercedes and played hell! upshot is they are collecting the car in the next 2 days to inspect and see if its covered under warranty! which i hope it is as i could have had a serious accident. Car is a W204 2007 C320 with 112000 miles. will report back when i hear from them.
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DSM10000 said:
"Played hell"

I am sure that works as a tactic.

Your dealer didn't design this part, they didnt specify the materials and finish. These are the people you need on side and not alienate before you se if MB will contribute to the
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DSM10000 said:
"Played hell"

I am sure that works as a tactic.

Your dealer didn't design this part, they didnt specify the materials and finish. These are the people you need on side and not alienate before you se if MB will contribute to the costs.
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Figure of speech wasn’t ranting at them , thanks anyway.
 
Niro06 said:
Well looks like i have the problem! was driving to work applied the brakes and car was dangerously swerving all over the road, limped it back to local garage who have just called to say that the subframe has excessive corrosion and has snapped in half!. no hint of a problem before and passed MOT in september last year. Called mercedes and played hell! upshot is they are collecting the car in the next 2 days to inspect and see if its covered under warranty! which i hope it is as i could have had a serious accident. Car is a W204 2007 C320 with 112000 miles. will report back when i hear from them.
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Sorry to hear that . But as I have said on here before , until someone in the USA is hurt or killed it seems MB is doing Jack $hit about the S204 subframe problem . They are replacing them FOC all over the place , but it seems a bit 'hit and miss' . My 2006 S203 is subject of (in my opinion) a pretty pointless sunroof recall effecting three quarters of a MILLION Mercedes Benz cars .

From what I can see there is one example of the sunroof cassette coming off a car and landing on the road behind ....in the USA . IMHO the rear subframe thing is way more serious.
 
Update on my rear subframe, I recovered the car to the dealer as requested the inspection has been carried out and the subframe replacement has been authorized by MB and all FOC.
Must say the dealers were very helpful and the car is with them awaiting the arrival of the parts which could be a few weeks but it is what it is and im grateful just to have MB covering the cost.
On the full health inspection the brake pipes were showing signs of corrosion so i am having these done at my own cost as it makes sense to do it whilst subframe is out, MB are charging no Labour for the job.
So all in all im very happy with the whole process and how MB have handled it.
 
Does the subframe issue also affect the CLS Mk1 and Mk2?
 
Niro06 said:
On the full health inspection the brake pipes were showing signs of corrosion so i am having these done at my own cost as it makes sense to do it whilst subframe is out, MB are charging no Labour for the job.
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I would add to it any bushes etc, 'while they're in there'. If you intend to keep the car for the longer term, that is.
 
Hi All
Final update on my subframe replacement, collected the car from the dealers yesterday 8 weeks after dropping it off, new frame fitted , a couple of arms and all new bolts. this was all done F.O.C my only bill was for replacement rear brake pipes and one front brake pipe as agreed after inspection the cost i feel was very reasonable. so all in all very happy and a great outcome.
 
Out of interest, as much as I understand that a failed rear subframe in one of the affected models COULD be dangerous....has anyone heard of it actually being dangerous to health....or has anyone heard of anyone being the slightest bit injured, let alone killed, as a result of this frame failure. I can't find an instant online and having seen the point that they tend to fail I can't see that it could so much more than give very wobbly handling.
 
ALFAitalia said:
Out of interest, as much as I understand that a failed rear subframe in one of the affected models COULD be dangerous....has anyone heard of it actually being dangerous to health....or has anyone heard of anyone being the slightest bit injured, let alone killed, as a result of this frame failure. I can't find an instant online and having seen the point that they tend to fail I can't see that it could so much more than give very wobbly handling.
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In a total subframe failure, while hitting the brakes hard the sedan can lose control.
 
DSM10000 said:
Does the subframe issue also affect the CLS Mk1 and Mk2?
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It certainly affects W212s. Is the MK 2 based on one of them?

MB Bristol recently replaced the subframe on Biglips's. I took mine in to MB Colindale. They had a look and gave it a clean bill of health and said it was covered for 20 years.

The also showed me a couple that had rusted through. Not sure what they were from though.

I might look into getting mine rustproofed. I was looking at XK's the other day and came across one that had had that done to it. It's not just an MB problem. And they so the same thing; rust from the inside out.
 
My '04 W203 had an advisory on its recent MOT; rear subframe mount corrosion, not serious (yet). Given it'll cost more than the car's worth to have it fixed I'll run it until it fails a test, then the local fire station can have fun cutting it up.

I'll not even ask MB if they'll fix it for free, I wouldn't want to feel responsible for injuries caused by excessive laughing.
 
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