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

[trapperjohn]

Good Luck from me too Paul.

 

[Dieselman]

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!

You did well, but by then Mercedes were being innundated with claims from "Savvy" owners.
My first claim was when the car was 2.5 years old...yes you read that right...and Mercedes declined the claim.
I had to fight hard to get them to deal with it and had to make £100 contribution, which was peanuts compared to the value of the claim.

 

[ringway]

You did well, but by then Mercedes were being innundated with claims from "Savvy" owners.


Yes, I suspect the reason for the car dropping £2K was because of the rust and I suspect the previous owner didn't know about the possibility of claiming.


My first claim was when the car was 2.5 years old...yes you read that right...and Mercedes declined the claim.



I had to fight hard to get them to deal with it and had to make £100 contribution, which was peanuts compared to the value of the claim.

I didn't really have to fight too hard with the 210. Maybe I had longer eyelashes than you and was better at flickerinng them?

 

[Dieselman]

I didn't really have to fight too hard with the 210. Maybe I had longer eyelashes than you and was better at flickerinng them?

I've seen the pictures of you at Blue Oyster...

Mine was one of the first claims, so they were relying on owner ignorance...Shame...

 

[ringway]

I've seen the pictures of you at Blue Oyster...

LOL! I went in there for some water for my radiator. Ended up dancing the night away.

[YOUTUBE]tdbt-sx5MDc[/YOUTUBE]



Mine was one of the first claims, so they were relying on owner ignorance...Shame...

Glad to hear it.

I won't be accepting a repair now. I want a new tailgate.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Glad to hear it.

I won't be accepting a repair now. I wan't a new tailgate.

It's really got up my nose this debacle and I can't get it out of my head.

Do Mercedes understand how much they are thought of in the same breath as rust? Some of my friends take the piss out for me for owning a Mercedes calling them rust buckets and because none of my W211's have had it, I've always kept them quiet.

But stories like this go to prove that they still haven't sorted rust-proofing and this is what I was alluding to in earlier posts about the Vivaro; if you're spending £35-40k+ on a VAN, every wish that you desire should be catered for when there is a problem with it.

It almost *almost* makes me want to buy a BMW

 

[corned]

It's like a bad joke, isn't it?

Q. What's German for 'rust'? A. 'Mercedes-Benz'.

I note my challenge from post #46 has received no replies.

We all know why.

 

[John]

I replied in post #48 albeit not the same extent...

 

[nick mercedes]

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?!

Best selling vans in their class?

 

[neilz]

Sorry to hear of your issues with it, and good luck - appaling workmanship in the newer Mercedes. It's most likely too big, but Mercedes Varios don't seem to rust as much and are very cheap (Mercedes-Benz Vario 53 REG 25.11.2003 FRIDGE FREEZE | eBay for example)

 

[neilz]

It's like a bad joke, isn't it?

Q. What's German for 'rust'? A. 'Mercedes-Benz'.

I note my challenge from post #46 has received no replies.

We all know why.

LDV (Convoy/400)? Ford (Transit)? Can't think of a car with such issues, though?

 

[ringway]

Sorry to hear of your issues with it, and good luck - appaling workmanship in the newer Mercedes. It's most likely too big, but Mercedes Varios don't seem to rust as much and are very cheap (Mercedes-Benz Vario 53 REG 25.11.2003 FRIDGE FREEZE | eBay for example)

LDV (Convoy/400)? Ford (Transit)? Can't think of a car with such issues, though?

Thanks Neil.

I need the Vito or something similar. I have sold the Sprinter and am more than likely going to sell my 210 estate if I ever pluck up the courage to let it go - I know I'll regret that.

The Sprinter was a grand servant but I'd had it over 7yrs. When travelling a fair distance I'd try to use my 210 estate, but there was always the chance that I'd forget a vital piece of equipment, (the Sprinter housed everything I could possilbly need) so I needed a happy medium and the Vito provides just that - Speed, some refinement and load-lugging capability.
I sometimes travel around 500, miles in a day with a days installing thrown in for good measure, so I need something that's reasonably comfortable and quick if it necessary.

The Vito is a great all rounder, but unfortunately, nothing else really ticks all the boxes in the same way, for now.

It's a great shame about the corrosion issues.

 

[nick mercedes]

Sorry to hear of your issues with it, and good luck - appaling workmanship in the newer Mercedes. It's most likely too big, but Mercedes Varios don't seem to rust as much and are very cheap (Mercedes-Benz Vario 53 REG 25.11.2003 FRIDGE FREEZE | eBay for example)

That Vario is covered in rust, and you need an o licence to run one - which is why they are cheap.

 

[nick mercedes]

The Vito is a great all rounder, but unfortunately, nothing else really ticks all the boxes in the same way, for now.

Test drive a Vivaro, great vans.

 

[BTB 500]

Test drive a Vivaro

Test drive a V6 Vito, then tell me they are comparable.

 

[nick mercedes]

Test drive a V6 Vito, then tell me they are comparable.

One's made in Spain, is known for being badly built and rusty, and one is made in Luton and known for being the van to have.

I see your point, not really comparable....

 

[BTB 500]

If I only wanted 4 cylinders and half the power (which I don't) then I'd probably buy a VW.

 

[ringway]

To add insult to injury, the sw4nky chrome side bars (apologies for not cleaning the bars before photgraphing) don't seem to be as durable as one would expect.

What a shame, because the Vito 120 Sport is a fabulous van to drive.

 

[grant74]

rust issues

Well, I think MB should sort their act out and bloody quickly. I have a 2003 c class coupe, which looks lovely, are rather it would if it had 2 new wings and the rear arches resprayed. Come on Mercedes - sort your **** out NOW! - ok, so I was willing to let it slide a little on my car as it is 9 years old now (although I also have a 2002 Suzuki Ignis with ZERO rust on it) - but now I am reading a thread in which a 2008 MB van has a rusty tailgate? WTF?
I was going to eventually trade my MB in for a much newer one, but ya know what? - NO EFFING WAY MB! you have totally lost my custom - along with a lot of others on here I am sure - and yes we bloody DO make a difference. A reputation takes years to build and moments to destroy.
As customers we aint asking for miracles - but come on - RUST? on a modern car? how come? I'd perhaps expect it on a Vauxhall chevette but not on a Mercedes - what kind of mickey mouse metal or processes are you using? - If an official from MB is reading these threads - give us some answers please - In the meantime I am planning to sell my car and take my custom elsewhere.

 

[John]

I don't even think they give a toss.

If they did, they would be putting right this kind of thing ex-gratis, where the rust has not been caused by accident damage etc.

The fact that they wont even proceed under the 'rusty car guarantee(d) within 30 years' policy - is laughable.

The sad thing is - I love my car and it would have pursuaded me to buy another - but I wont be risking buying something that will rust after 3 years so they've lost my custom as well.

I wonder how many others feel the same - but even if it a large number, I imagine they find it hilarious to hear about....