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

[BTB 500]

The 639 Vito that Nick posted was (of course) an 04 plate ungalvanised one, now 8 years old.

I don't tend to look at Sprinters but as mentioned they are the same van as the VW LT/Crafter so presumably they both have 'very serious rust problems'?

 

[John]

I still find this whole topic mildly entertaining whilst I walk past an N reg Fiesta and F reg Orion now and again, where I work, neither of them with any rust.

 

[zenman63]

I still find this whole topic mildly entertaining whilst I walk past an N reg Fiesta and F reg Orion now and again, where I work, neither of them with any rust.

Funny there full of filler!
That sprinter has 250,000 miles on it, could easy had doors and panels replaced.
Back door is bad but is it the original.

 

[nick mercedes]

The 639 Vito that Nick posted was (of course) an 04 plate ungalvanised one, now 8 years old.

How come all the other makes of 8 year old vans aren't rusty?

And yes LTs and Crafters after them rust too.

They are, after all, Sprinter based.

 

[nick mercedes]

I still find this whole topic mildly entertaining whilst I walk past an N reg Fiesta and F reg Orion now and again, where I work, neither of them with any rust.

The guy a few units from me has an S reg Toyota Hiace, no rust at all...

 

[corned]

I've hired a few Crafters in recent months, but they were pretty new, so even then I would not expect to see any real problems in this department.

It is interesting what Sweetpea says though - about the white ones. Whether this just shows it up better than other colours, or if there is a problem where the white paint is little better than milk as a means of corrosion protection.

OK - here's a challenge: Name any road vehicle - brand and/or model - made in the last 15 years which has an endemic (and inherent) rust problem, other than Mercedes-Benz?

 

[John]

Funny there full of filler!

Given the fact both cars are tatty, I doubt you'd go to the trouble of making a car look tatty rather than tatty and rusty...

 

[John]

I've hired a few Crafters in recent months, but they were pretty new, so even then I would not expect to see any real problems in this department.

It is interesting what Sweetpea says though - about the white ones. Whether this just shows it up better than other colours, or if there is a problem where the white paint is little better than milk as a means of corrosion protection.

OK - here's a challenge: Name any road vehicle - brand and/or model - made in the last 15 years which has an endemic (and inherent) rust problem, other than Mercedes-Benz?

I've known of a fair few rusty mid noughties 3 series BMWs (E46) which had not been crashed or had paintwork done - but certainly not endemic.

 

[BTB 500]

It's madness that almost all other brands of van don't rust

And yes LTs and Crafters after them rust too.

Vauxhall Vivaro sportive cdt1 2009

Absolutely c**p!!! overheated first week I had it with only 40 miles on clock. Spent more time in the garage than on the road, had a pot of rust, windscreen wiper clonking then after been repaired fell off on M25. Air con doesn’t work wind noise on drivers door the list is endless. Customerr care is s**t!! Trying to get money back now, avoid like the plague!!

Vauxhall Vivaro road test reports | Vauxhall Vivaro consumer car reviews | RoadTestReports.co.uk

I bought my Vivaro van (exactly the same as Renault Trafic) in 2003 and loved driving it. Comfortable, fast, good looking, pretty good gas milage but I got disappointed very quickly by facing repairs all the time. I had problems with breaks front ,back, alternator(generator) , turbo, electrical disorder,light bulbs all the time, steering. The body got rusty duts after 3 years.

Renault Trafic road test reports | Renault Trafic consumer car reviews | RoadTestReports.co.uk

etc.

 

[Deleted member 11979]

This is a really interesting thread, I've noticed rusty Mercedes Vans and cars, thought I saw an 07 reg ML thoe other day with a rusty tailgate but couldn't be sure.

I can "almost" forgive Mercedes for several failings on my recent cars that have cost me thousands in repairs including Glycol issue on a S211, electrical gremlins and blown turbo on a W210 etc, however, for rust there IS NO EXCUSE! Every car manufacturer knows how to prevent rust. Mercedes are (with the poss exception of E46 BMW 3 series) the only post year 2000 cars that show rust on their panels. The reason Mercedes rust must be down to cost cutting and not wishing to make their vehicles last. That makes me think they don't care about me as a customer. Thats why I shall not be buying another Mercedes until I am convinced they have it licked.

Is it a coincidence that the quality of Mercedes cars dropped tremendously when their sales volume transferred from the private well heeled buyer to the short term volume fleet market?

 

[markjay]

We have an R-reg Toyota Previa which was bought new in 1997... in spite of several panel repairs, still no rust. At all. And no faults, either. Ever. Pretty amazing when you think about it.

 

[corned]

This is the thing - it's only amazing when you use M-B as a (low) benchmark!

 

[nick mercedes]

It is interesting what Sweetpea says though - about the white ones. Whether this just shows it up better than other colours, or if there is a problem where the white paint is little better than milk as a means of corrosion protection.

The vans in other colours could have been painted fleet colours by a bodyshop, while the white ones are in factory white?

The extra layer of paint could help things?

 

[BTB 500]

Most commercial Vitos I see are a standard factory colour with vinyl graphics/signwriting.

I see very few white ones though ... maybe they are more prone to rust?

Never seen (or heard of) a rusty 639 Viano, and I bet they don't sell many of those in white.

 

[nick mercedes]

etc.

"Vauxhall Vivaro 2007

This van is fantastic, best van I have owned. I travel from Suffolk to Newcastle and back every night 6 nights a week, 44 mpg no prob. Just fitted new clutch etc, tyres last 50k rears and 25k fronts, 100 per cent reliable after 264,000 miles. Just ordered my new one to replace this one. Brilliant vans!"

"Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9 CDTI 2005

I love these vans. This is now the second one I have owned. The first was an 03 plate 1.9dti. I ran this for 2 1/2 years (and 95000 miles) without a fault - just the servicing costs. The second is a 55 plate 1.9cdti which has now done 220000 miles. It ran perfectly upto 190k then blew the slave cylinder - £800 bill, but after that many miles, you have to expect something to go wrong. The only other faults I have had since have been a faulty MAF sensor (£39 from ebay including the postage) and the fuel pipe between the filter and the injector pump rubbed a hole in it - £5 from the local motor factors to fix that one. Over the 320000 miles I have done in these vans I have averaged 40MPG and I have a heavy right foot (love scaring porche owners who can’t drive!). It’s just been written off by the insurance company, so I am on the look out for another one."

"Paul Spence, Yorkshire"

"Mercedes-Benz Vito 109cdi 2007"

"This is my third Vito, you would have thought I’d learnt my lesson!!! Every one I’ve owned has failed over and over again. One set on fire due to a seized power steering pulley. I’ve experienced: appalling delivery condition, failed steering lock/ignition, faulty reversing lights, tyres wearing, problem tracking and warning lights on the dash to match a Christmas tree! Now I feel like I’ve been duped, no sooner has the van been serviced and passed its second mot than it breaks down again with the alternator, this time. This is despite the warning light being present during the last two years services and mots and me asking for it to be resolved. The bill for replacing the alternator £825. Yes, you’ve read that correctly £825!! I’ve never received an invoice for the work, but have been threatened with credit control by the dealership manager. I can’t wait for Monday morning’s telephone call."

"Neil, Durham

Mercedes-Benz Vito 115 dualiner 2008

The worst van I have ever owned. It has had about £7000 spent on it on warranty work and it’s still not right after 3 years. The regional dealer is an absolute joke. I paid £25,000 3 years ago and have been offered £7500 for part ex. Unfortunately Mercedes-Benz customer service back the dealer to the hilt. I have been told by the dealer to buy a VW. Enough said!"

"Paul the Blind, up north

Mercedes-Benz Vito V6 Pimpvan 2008

It's gone rusty and Mercedes don't care. Rust warrenty does not cover rust.

Should have brought a Vivaro like Nick said"

etc

 

[Dieselman]

A friend of mine has a Renault master which does a fair mileage with little maintenance and seems to be very reliable and even where it has a dent, it isn't rusting.

I worked on this van a few weeks ago after he thought the clutch master cylinder was faulty, which I'm sure it wasn't after fitting a new one for him.
A very easy van to work on.

 

[st4]

I'm sorry to hear of your issues with the Vito Paul. We've heard of 211's with rusty failgates on 2006, rusty ML's.

If Merc build it, it rusts.

I'd go the court route, or if you can't be ****d sell it in a few years and buy another one.

Out of MBs new relationship with nissan and renault, it would be nice to see non rusty cars.

I eyeball most parked up things, and the MB product is the rustiest I see. All the vans I see have rusty doors, wings. A 2002 Vito in Glasgow has a hole in the door from rust. Its 10 years old, rotten right through.

 

[Dieselman]

I'm sorry to hear of your issues with the Vito Paul. We've heard of 211's with rusty failgates on 2006,

Failgates...LOL...

About right..

 

[trapperjohn]

Failgates...LOL...

About right..

Perhaps even frailgates, as I read it first time round.

 

[st4]

Failgates...LOL...

About right..

How do like yours, leaky or rusty, or both?