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

[Dieselman]

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

Apparently, they strengthen them with masking tape.

 

[trapperjohn]

Cooking on gas tonight DM.

 

[ringway]

Apparently, they strengthen them with masking tape.

Took me hours to get that one.

Don't let Corned see it.

 

[corned]

Apparently, they strengthen them with masking tape.

Took me hours to get that one.

Don't let Corned see it.

I missed it first time around too.

Can't fault his reasoning though...

 

[ringway]

I spoke with Mercedes customer service department earlier this week about the rejection of my warranty claim.

They called me today to confirm that they will not entertain the claim.

The customer service guy even tried to get the selling/servicing dealership (Enza) and head office to at least contibute to the costs as a goodwill gesture, but both flatly refused to help in any way whatsoever.

In light of this development, I can't really see what benefit can be gained by using main dealership servicing.

Even if you play by the Mercedes-Benz rules, it seems that it counts for nothing.


So, if you are thinking of spending upwards of £35,000 on a Vito dualiner or Viano, I would say think carefully before parting with your money.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Even if you play by the Mercedes-Benz rules, it seems that it counts for nothing.


So, if you are thinking of spending upwards of £35,000 on a Vito dualiner or Viano, I would say think carefully before parting with your money.

Or save £20,000 and buy a top of the range Vauxhall Vivaro......

I'm sorry to hear this palava Paul, I really am.

 

[trapperjohn]

What a crying shame Mercedes do not know how to treat and respect returning customers. Obviously brand loyalty means nothing to them.

I shall retain that knowledge when it comes to buying spares. Do Mercedes not realise each and every Mercedes driver is a "Brand Ambassador" and our opinions and experiences count. Especially when it comes to recommending or not Mercedes to our motoring buddies.

Sorry for your grief Paul. Just let the bugger rust and put a big sign on it saying Mercedes don't give a sh1te about rusty new vehicles.

 

[Ted]

That is disgraceful treatment from mercedes. Bad enough for the rust, but to take that stance adds insult to injury.

 

[John]

Just let the bugger rust and put a big sign on it saying Mercedes don't give a sh1te about rusty new vehicles.

Then park it outside their HQ...

 

[corned]

That is disgraceful treatment from mercedes. Bad enough for the rust, but to take that stance adds insult to injury.

You would like to think it was an unfortunate one-off. Even more unfortunately, it isn't. That call is almost verbatim what they told me.

It must be part of the standard customer service phone script now, which is a worrying development. They can rot in hell. Which, coincidentally, is what their products are good at as well.

 

[BTB 500]

So, if you are thinking of spending upwards of £35,000 on a Vito dualiner or Viano, I would say think carefully before parting with your money.

But as you're clearly talking about the V6 version, what would you buy instead? There is simply nothing else comparable on the market.

The top spec. Vivaro has a 4-pot with 113 bhp - almost exactly half the power output of a Vito 122.

 

[LTD]

I spoke with Mercedes customer service department earlier this week about the rejection of my warranty claim.

They called me today to confirm that they will not entertain the claim.

The customer service guy even tried to get the selling/servicing dealership (Enza) and head office to at least contibute to the costs as a goodwill gesture, but both flatly refused to help in any way whatsoever.

Did you follow my advice ? (Post 12)

Get your MEP to boot them squarely in the plums.

 

[BTB 500]

Or save £20,000 and buy a top of the range Vauxhall Vivaro......

Suggest you have a look at the Vauxhall price list! A top spec. Vivaro is rather more than £10-15k

 

[ringway]

But as you're clearly talking about the V6 version, what would you buy instead? There is simply nothing else comparable on the market. a 4-pot with 113 bhp - almost exactly half the power output of a Vito 122.

I agree, Bill. Mercedes will be well aware of that, too.

Of course, that isn't anything to do with rejecting my corrosion claim, though.
From what I've read and been told, they'll try to wriggle out of any claim these days, so much has it cost them over the years.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Suggest you have a look at the Vauxhall price list! A top spec. Vivaro is rather more than £10-15k

My friend has just bought a 2012 registered Metallic Silver 6 Seat Vivaro Sportive Dual-Liner with Top Spec A/C, Sat Nav etc for £15,700+VAT.

HTH

It may not be as powerful as the V6 Vito, but at least it won't rust like one.

I really can't see why this keeps happening and why the commercials seem to be more prone than every other Mercedes. I'm onto my fifth W211, the oldest being a 52/2003 reg and not one of them had a spot of rust, yet here we are discussing a three year old Vito with it.

 

[BTB 500]

My friend has just bought a 2012 registered Metallic Silver 6 Seat Vivaro Sportive Dual-Liner with Top Spec A/C, Sat Nat etc for £15,700+VAT.

List price for a Vivaro Doublecab Sportive SWB 115ps auto (Euro 5) is £23,243.33 plus VAT = £27,891. That's without any extras at all.

So either your friend's van is 'pre-registered' or similar, or Vauxhall are desperate to shift them?!

 

[ringway]

Many thanks indeed, for all the support and advice everyone.


The issue of having the rust eradicated (for as long as that can last) is not so important. The principal here is very much a matter of fair play, to loyal, paying, Mercedes-Benz customers.

I'm very good friends with the guys and girls at HANSTONS (Mercedes Approved) Bodyshop in Altrincham, and there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that they could carry out the works to a better standard than a Mercedes sub-contracted bodyshop (who are paid Fiat/Vauxhall/Ford rates to work on our beloved brand).
Whenever I visit Hanstons, their bodyshop is full of top-line MB's. I whinced when I saw that vandalised red, SLS Coup'e, but smiled when I saw it a week later.

Hanstons are the company that are sent very high-end damaged and vandalised vehicles for that "special job" when only the very best will do.
They are NOT interested in warranty work from Mercedes-Benz or anyone else - Their book is full. When I showed them the rust on my Vito, they said it was a dead-cert warranty claim. (They said it would cost circa £350 to strip, paint and reassemble the tailgate).

Given that a highly respected bodyshop could carry out the repair for £350, what on earh were Mercedes-Benz thinking when they refused the claim?
How on earth can they expect any further custom after rejecting a such a small claim when they could reap many times that amount from future sales, servicing and recommendations?

Also, on hearing of my troubles, unprompted, Nick at EUROMERC kindly offered to send me a brand new tailgate at a fraction of the dealer price if I so wanted. Thank you, Nick!

My point (or mission if you like) is to make any unsuspecting member of the public or forums, aware of the "We have had your money, we continually mess up with our paint and bodywork processes through bean-counting, so fc*k you, attitude of Mercedes-Benz). That IS, undeniably, their policy.




In the good old days...

I bought a 6, year old S210. Nice car and I still have it - It is, a dobber!
I'd already owned a couple of Sprinter vans, but this was the car that lured me to becoming a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast.
With its first owner, it spent its first 5, years having many "B" services. Overkill some might say.
The car was then sold to a private individual who didn't maintain the MB service history (he owned the car for 10, months).

I bought the car (was £8995) for £6995 with rusty front wings.

I went to Mercedes at Macclesfield and booked in for a service.

The rust issues were mentioned.

I was directed to visit MB bodyshop at Manchester, who after some gentle persuasion (I argued that I couldn't maintain the FMBSH when I didn't own the car) (at the point of my visit, I had owned the car for just a few weeks) agreed to replace both front wings free-of-charge. They even spotted a tiny speck of rust on the tailgate and said they would also replace the whole thing if I contributed £52 for the 3rd brake light (apparantly the light always breaks when removed). What a result!

The warranty approval on my S210 was very much appreciated - What a brand!
This is what made me plough money into my S210 (there won't be many in the UK in better fettle) and purchase subsequent Mercedes vehicles.
I even have a lovely 21 year old 124 230TE, which has just a little rust on one of the front wings... that's all!



However, the worm has turned.. And so has my opinion of Mercedes-Benz. Great vehicles to drive, but...


I do have a plan though. Whether the plan bears fruit or not, only time will tell.

The one thing Mercedes-Benz have on their side, is that I don't have a lot of time to spare, but let's see what transpires.


Thanks once again for the support and advice.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I like plans.

Especially cunning ones...

 

[Igurisu]

Good luck with the plan Paul, looking forward to seeing what happens.

 

[BTB 500]

Yup good luck with this, and I really hope you get a result.