New member intro & query.

[Cabra]

Hi all, new member intro & query. I have just aquired a 2012 220 cdi W212 saloon, one owner from new with a FMDSH. Drives & preforms just as it should despite 147k miles on the clock "nicely run in" I have been assured! Now the query ... the car is in remarkably good condition with only the odd, very minor, blemish in keeping with it's mileage. I had been made aware of rear sub-frame issues with some of these cars and checked it out accordingly with no "apparent" signs of rot. However I did notice that the surround to the spare wheel well that the plastic floor bolts to has extensive flaking rust .. solid enough for now but ...........
I was wondering if this is a "oh yes, they all do that Sir" or not. Has anyone experienced this? 20 warranty on the sub-frame wouldn't include boot rot I assume?

 

[AMGeed]

I never had a rust issue in the spare wheel well of my previous W212.
It does suggest at some point its been leaking water, probably through the rubber boot seals.
A good clean up to remove the rust and a liberal coating of black Hammerite paint should keep the rust at bay providing there aren't any leaks.
I doubt very much the goodwill sub frame replacement offer would cover any damage inside the boot.

 

[Cabra]

I never had a rust issue in the spare wheel well of my previous W212.
It does suggest at some point its been leaking water, probably through the rubber boot seals.
A good clean up to remove the rust and a liberal coating of black Hammerite paint should keep the rust at bay providing there aren't any leaks.
I doubt very much the goodwill sub frame replacement offer would cover any damage inside the boot.

The inside of the boot/spare wheel well is bone dry and totally rust free giving no clues whatsoever as to what is going on on the outside .... weird

 

[AMGeed]

The inside of the boot/spare wheel well is bone dry and totally rust free giving no clues whatsoever as to what is going on on the outside .... weird

Ah, it's the spare wheel well under the car, not inside. I read your post incorrectly
It does seem strange that has rusted so badly.

 

[pioneercollector]

Greetings and welcome to the group - I have never owned that model but it does sound odd to have so much rust, although saying that last year i had to use the spare wheel from under one of the vans for the first time, I had to cut the bolt off as it was so corroded ..... Salt i assume ?

 

[Cabra]

Greetings and welcome to the group - I have never owned that model but it does sound odd to have so much rust, although saying that last year i had to use the spare wheel from under one of the vans for the first time, I had to cut the bolt off as it was so corroded ..... Salt i assume ?

Very little paint & NO underseal more like

 

[Cabra]

I thought I would share by way of clarifying exactly what I am on about. The following are the underneath of the spare wheel well, followed by a shot of the inside of the wheel well. Lastly I included a couple of shots of the rear subframe .. the "yes, they all do that Sir" ... which as can be seen, are perfect. The ONLY rust on this car, anywhere, is what can be seen in the photo shots. A mystery

 

[pioneercollector]

Woah! That is really odd and very rusty .... Looks like that particular part was dredged up from the Bristol Channel

 

[Cabra]

Following on from pioneercollector: Indeed, one could (almost) understand it if that particular area was somewhere that the wheel was firing road crud at it all the time .. but it ain't in fact it's kinda sheltered up in there .. oh well. Actually it's not (quite) as bad as I thought and as it looks, I attacked it with a chipping hammer & stiff wire buff on my angle grinder which cleaned it up pretty well. It has been liberally coated in "Rust Converter" and once that has had a chance to dry off and do it's thing I will spray it with rust inhibiting stone chip underseal paint finishing off with an underseal wax spray in through all the books & crannies .. subframe included.
Still odd though .. especially coming from a supposedly "premium" manufacturer Hey-Ho.