Mercedes Vito Rust Warranty. This is what you get..

[zenman63]

They like to rust around the mouldings one the front doors too.

It's madness that almost all other brands of van don't rust, yet MB still have not worked out how to build them properly.

Not after 05, only early one had this, unless it's crash repair.

My old 04 did this badly, my 05 was fine and my 06 fine and my 07 fine.

 

[Dieselman]

Thinking about this, isn't it that Mercedes offer a corrosion guarantee.


Seems it lives up to the guarantee to me...

 

[Deleted member 37751]

A sign of things to come? This was a 2004 115 that I had....

My friends firm has owned a 56 plate Vito 111 CDi from new and it's riddled with rot and that's never been in an accident etc.

 

[zenman63]

Yep all early one really bad, no excuse there.

I have had mine almost stripped to a shell and no rust anywhere inside or out.

 

[BTB 500]

As mentioned the early ones did not have galvanised panels, and were as bad as the 638 Vitos (and W210 etc. for that matter).

 

[wavydave13]

I want to change my van for something newer and really wanted the 120 xlwb,for all the options i required it was £31k inc. vat.
what bothered me the most was build quality and the fact it's an ugly looking van(imo).
looks like i'm going to have to keep the T5 for another year, not that that's any hardship 97k miles and it been faultless,if VW hadn't discontinued the 2.5 motor i'd have another VW.

 

[BTB 500]

Most people have Vitos that don't rust. Ditto Vianos (I don't recall ever hearing of rust issues on those, and they are physically the same vehicle). Half the black cabs in London seem to be Vitos now, and they are widely used for 'executive transport' and airport / hotel shuttle business.

I do like the VW T5 but it was the 3.0 V6 with auto gearbox that got me into the Vito (when I was looking in 2007 you couldn't have auto with the 174 bhp version of the VW 2.5). No regrets yet, as you say the biggest VW is now a 1.9 and the other van makers seem to be going the same way I guess for economy / emissions reasons.

 

[BIG UN]

Have to agree with zenman63, I've had my 06 vito stripped well down to the shell whilst done wiring ect & i've not seen anything(as yet anyway) I've been thinking of taking it to my mates garage to have him waxoil it just to make sure, cause my 638 was rotting like a b*****d when i got rid!!

 

[nick mercedes]

Most people have Vitos that don't rust.

I can't help thinking that you're one one the lucky ones, as the vast majority of Vitos/Vianos and Sprinters have very serious rust problems, and it seems that despite later models being galvanised the problem has not gone away.

You only really have to look at the ones you see on the roads to see quite how many have rusty panels, and rust that has clearly not been the result of any damage or misuse (eg Pauls van) but just simply a case of poor manufacturing/materials.

 

[zenman63]

I look for this all the time and I have not seen a later Vito with any rust at all, or Sprinters.

 

[BTB 500]

I can't help thinking that you're one one the lucky ones, as the vast majority of Vitos/Vianos and Sprinters have very serious rust problems, and it seems that despite later models being galvanised the problem has not gone away.

You only really have to look at the ones you see on the roads to see quite how many have rusty panels, and rust that has clearly not been the result of any damage or misuse (eg Pauls van) but just simply a case of poor manufacturing/materials.

I'm parked in a field with 500+ vans of all ages most weekends over the summer; probably 25% of those are Vitos and many of my local dog training friends own them (several are on their 2nd or even 3rd 639 now). Per Zenman I also look at ones I see on the roads - I work in central London and Vito taxis and 'executive' Vianos are all over the place (plus the usual commercial Vito vans), and I don't think I've ever seen one with any visible rust.

I have certainly seen plenty of rusty 638s though (both Vito and V Class).

Re. the Sprinter, isn't this the same van as the VW LT / Crafter (produced in the same factory)? Do they also have 'very serious rust problems'?

 

[nick mercedes]

I look for this all the time and I have not seen a later Vito with any rust at all, or Sprinters.

Typical Vito:

Mercedes Vito 109 cdi **WHITE**LEZ COMPLIANT & 12 MONTH M.O.T**NEW SHAPE 2004 | eBay

Typical Sprinter:

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315CDI MWB | eBay

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I think to be fair, the Vitos/Sprinters post 2004 that I see with rust are always white, that's why I'm surprised at rust coming through on a metallic colour.

 

[nick mercedes]

I don't think I've ever seen one with any visible rust.

We can pretend they don't rust if you'd rather?

 

[nick mercedes]

I think to be fair, the Vitos/Sprinters post 2004 that I see with rust are always white, that's why I'm surprised at rust coming through on a metallic colour.

I saw a 56 plate vito on the way to work today with rust on all its panels, and a 09 plate Sprinter absolutly covered in rust.

Am I really the only one who has noticed all these rusty MB vans?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I saw a 56 plate vito on the way to work today with rust on all its panels, and a 09 plate Sprinter absolutly covered in rust.

Am I really the only one who has noticed all these rusty MB vans?

No, I do as well.

My point is that every rusty van I see is in white and I *don't* recall ever seeing, for example, a rusty silver one. And I'm talking about 2 and 3 year old Mercedes vans as well.

 

[zenman63]

My 04 was silver and rust all over.
Before I got my last 120 I looked a 10 or more, no rust but plenty with damage and new panels.

 

[BTB 500]

09 plate Sprinter absolutly covered in rust.

So I will repeat my question - do the VW versions built in the same factory have the same problem?

 

[ringway]

Typical Vito:

Mercedes Vito 109 cdi **WHITE**LEZ COMPLIANT & 12 MONTH M.O.T**NEW SHAPE 2004 | eBay

Typical Sprinter:

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315CDI MWB | eBay

They are unacceptably ropey for a premium brand motor. Considering its age, that Sprinter is a disgrace.

 

[finisterre]

I bought a new 638
It went rusty.

I didn't buy the new SLK
I bought a BMW Z4.

That is the way it goes, MB lost my custom.
It will never see another penny of mine.

They are not my friends, there is no good will on my side.
They have ripped me off and I wish them ill.