New C200 - exhaust rust?

[hutch789]

Hi

Not been on here a while, please be gentle!

Yesterday I picked up a brand new C200 sport estate. Today I took a closer look around and noticed what appears to be rust on the exhaust bracket - please see the pic below.

Am I imagining things? Is this normal? Do you think I have a valid reason to go back to the dealership?

Many thanks

 

[kianok]

I’m pretty sure it shouldn’t look like that.

Not a big issue but I’d also mention the ding in the end of the tailpipe also.

 

[hutch789]

Thanks for your response kianok.

Yes, I noticed the ding too. Didn't realise that I needed to get the new car up on a ramp before collecting it to check for such things!?!

I am gutted to say the least. Do you have any ideas what might have caused this or whether it is a common issue?

 

[hutch789]

PS - also makes me concerned that there are items awry elsewhere underneath the car

 

[kianok]

My guess is that it’s been repaired at some point, badly.

 

[hutch789]

Repaired? As though the box has been ripped off the bracket/tailpipe?

 

[kianok]

Repaired? As though the box has been ripped off the bracket/tailpipe?

Possibly.

I’d expect the join to look the same as the one above it.

Either way it’s clearly been damaged and I’m sure the dealer will just replace that section.

 

[hutch789]

Cheers for you input, kianok

 

[kianok]

Cheers for you input, kianok

You’re welcome, let us know how you get on.

 

[grober]

From the factory many cars are equipped with what is called aluminized steel exhaust tube, this type of tubing is much better than mild steel tubing because the infused aluminum helps resist corrosion and rust from forming. The tubes themselves do an “ok” job of resisting rust but more often than not the welds joining the aluminized pipes to mufflers, resonators, flanges, etc. are done with mild steel welding wire and are not treated to resist corrosion. The exposed steel welds become much more susceptible to rusting once they come in contact with water, salt, mud, or anything else you may drive your car through. These welds can hold for years but eventually, like all steel does, it will rust out.
I think this is what you are seeing-- corrosion localised to the welds. Its unsightly and I sympathise but I expect Mercedes will argue the exhaust is fully functional. You might strengthen your case by looking at other new cars exhausts in the dealer's compound and compare them to yours but I suspect they may all look like that. When brand spanking new on the production line they may have been coated with with aluminium paint but that may burn off pretty quickly as soon as that exhaust gets heated up

PS still worth querying this with your supplying dealer mind.

 

[hutch789]

Thanks for your input.

Do you think that, as per kianok's suggestion, it looks damaged?

If this is "normal" or typical, then fine - I can live with it. My concern is that this photo was taken less than 24 hours after collection and it looked as though the rust/weld is excessive.

 

[clk320x]

Thanks for your input.

Do you think that, as per kianok's suggestion, it looks damaged?

If this is "normal" or typical, then fine - I can live with it. My concern is that this photo was taken less than 24 hours after collection and it looked as though the rust/weld is excessive.

id take it back anyway, the tailpape shouldnt be damaged (left), they need to put that right. not acceptable on a brand new car.
as for the rust, i'd ask them but I imagine they'd say its not causing any functional issue?

 

[Deleted member 126969]

I still find it shocking that all cars don't come with stainless exhaust systems. Lexus have had them for years and there is no technical reason whatsoever why they couldn't be used on all vehicles. Cost though, and the missed opportunity to sell replacements at inflated prices, that's another matter.

FWIW, pretty sure the welds looked similar on our C350e when we got it.

The 'ding' though, that shouldn't be there so why not try for a new replacement.

 

[grober]

At the assembly line stage if you look closely at the point where they mate the "chassis "jig holding -engine gearbox propshaft differential front and rear suspension to the body you will see the exhaust is already there also. IRRC the factory exhaust assembly usually comes "all of one piece" when fitted on the production line in particular where it loops over the rear axle. Its only later at replacement time that it becomes "sectional" Not fullproof but if there is eveidence that that the rear section has been replaced there would be a join possibly just before the rear axle line . This might be further proof that its been refurbed/part replaced prior to hand over. Again its only possible to ascertain this up on a ramp and compared to other similar cars . Its obvious the exhaust has had a minor "ding" sometime in the past- maybe on the transporter lorry to the dealership? Question is do you want to make an issue of it?

 

[kianok]

The damage although not detrimental might

At the assembly line stage if you look closely at the point where they mate the "chassis "jig holding -engine gearbox propshaft differential front and rear suspension to the body you will see the exhaust is already there also. IRRC the factory exhaust assembly usually comes "all of one piece" when fitted on the production line in particular where it loops over the rear axle. Its only later at replacement time that it becomes "sectional" Not fullproof but if there is eveidence that that the rear section has been replaced there would be a join possibly just before the rear axle line . This might be further proof that its been refurbed/part replaced prior to hand over. Again its only possible to ascertain this up on a ramp and compared to other similar cars . Its obvious the exhaust has had a minor "ding" sometime in the past- maybe on the transporter lorry to the dealership? Question is do you want to make an issue of it?

i would.

If it was a used car no, but given that it’s brand new and there is a question mark with regards to the rest of the box I’d be pushing for a replacement.

 

[Wolfie1]

Manufacturers should be using better quality stuff when building cars! Copper brake pipes instead of mild steel, stainless steel fittings/ends of braided brake pipe, stainless steel exhausts and they should def be greasing bolts that adjust camber/caster and toe bolts where they adjust eccentric washers, polyurethane bushes as opposed to rubber, fully undersealing cars. Its not rocket science but they just dont do it and the only reason i can see why they dont is to extract more of your hard earned cash from you!

 

[GeeJayW]

The OEMs will shave costs wherever they can. When you're making thousands and thousands of units per year, even a small saving per unit adds up to millions in savings. Fitting a stainless steel exhaust and copper brake lines would add significantly to the build cost, which when scaled by markup factors would add substantially to the retail cost. In a very competitive market, this is not helpful to sales.

If the majority of your cars are sold to rental firms, businesses and PCP clients, all of whom shift cars on before they need an MoT, how many of these customers give a rat's about whether the exhaust and brake lines will last as long as the car itself? Simple answer is, none of them.

Rust on the exhaust bracket welds and shape of the tailpipes (that are not really on show) may not be pretty, but my guess is that the overwhelming majority of customers won't notice or care. I also doubt that a replacement exhaust will look any different a few months down the road.

I sincerely hope that this is the most significant issue you find with your new car. I also really hope that it doesn't spoil your enjoyment of what is otherwise a pretty decent motor car.

 

[JBD]

My guess is that it’s been repaired at some point, badly.

Are you joking? It doesn’t look like anything has been done to it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[merc85]

All new exhausts come looking like that. Thats totally normal and aluminised steel is what you are seeing

 

[Andyfkettle]

I’d a agree nothing wrong with it. Agree with the small dent but won’t have any effect on it anyway. I wouldn’t worry about it myself.