MOT fail on subframe - from despair to delight

[firstmercedes]

I took my W204 to a local Mercedes ‘specialist’ (not authorised) for an MOT. It failed on a hole in the subframe. I was advised to get this welded elsewhere (they don’t do welding) although there was some doubt if this could be successfully done. I found another garage that could weld and took car for initial inspection. After a thorough inspection I was told that the subframe was fine and the hole ‘is supposed to be there’ as a pre drilled hole matching the other side. Needless to say, I booked my car in for another MOT here which has just been completed successfully. So within 5 days I’ve gone from the anxiety of possibly scrapping my car to the delight of another 12 months motoring. I wonder how many others have been misled at this garage. Will probably ask for a refund of my initial MOT bill.

 

[vijilants]

Thing is it was unfairly failed initially and it will come up on the records as a hole in the subframe I presume. The pass will then look like you welded it up and repaired it or had the subframe replaced.

 

[firstmercedes]

Thing is it was unfairly failed initially and it will come up on the records as a hole in the subframe I presume. The pass will then look like you welded it up and repaired it or had the subframe replaced.

Yeah, I thought of that. Not sure what to do. I’m guessing they will still say it’s corrosion although I’ve seen it myself from under the ramp and it looks okay to me but I’m not a mechanic.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Hi . as you are on here you must be aware of the whole W204 'rotting subframe' debacle that has been going on for more than a year. ?

Take it to MB for a new subframe ,supplied and fitted free.

 

[whitegold]

W204 C220 MY2012 just went in for the recent Passenger Air-bag Safety Recall in UK. The MB Main franchise identified a large defect in the upper surface of the rear subframe, which was almost impossible to see from below.
This was rectified FOC - it comes under the MB Anti-Perforation Warranty. My Service history is MB for the 1st 3 years, and I've been looking after it myself for the remaining time. According to the MB Dealer, he has done something like a hundred of these replacements. They were happy to rectify FOC with the proviso that I would have to pay the cost of additional parts needed, if any of the link arms or their bushes broke during disassembly,

On annual MOT inspection earlier this year, my regular test station had mentioned this issue as a regular known problem with the 204 chassis, but assured me that mine was not affected.

 

[baxlin]

Any further update, ‘firstmercedes’, in view of the last few posts?