Not impresses with Merc customer service so far...

[st4]

And u think the dealers are better?! Our local one is terrible..

The cars are though

 

[steve333]

Personally I think it has made a difference. Compared with 70s and 80s the amount of visible rust on cars is very low.



I suspect that the *cadmium* is the reason.

Also if it's expensive then the likes of MOD run on a different set of cost criteria for specialist kit compared with us cheapskate consumer mortals.

I find it hard to accept a premium brand marque can show signs of rusting on a 4 year old car(re the ml i refered to),cadmium plating isn't an expensive process & i would be happy to pay the cost involved on any future mb purchase.

 

[st4]

I find it hard to accept a premium brand marque can show signs of rusting on a 4 year old car(re the ml i refered to),cadmium plating isn't an expensive process & i would be happy to pay the cost involved on any future mb purchase.

Even a Kia doesn't rust after four years. Mercedes bodywork is diablocial for a budget car, but for a posh car its a pisstake.

See that thread of SPX's and the X Reg van. Other vans take abuse and don't look like that, its as if Mercedes makes them deliberately rubbish for a laugh

 

[steve333]

Even a Kia doesn't rust after four years. Mercedes bodywork is diablocial for a budget car, but for a posh car its a pisstake.

See that thread of SPX's and the X Reg van. Other vans take abuse and don't look like that, its as if Mercedes makes them deliberately rubbish for a laugh

A guy i know had a 2004(54) vito from new until last year,when he parted company with it there was hardly a panel/area that hadn't rusted(the tailgate was unbelievable) the most shocking thing is that it seems quite normal for vitos to rust after 3 or 4 years.

 

[st4]

A guy i know had a 2004(54) vito from new until last year,when he parted company with it there was hardly a panel/area that hadn't rusted(the tailgate was unbelievable) the most shocking thing is that it seems quite normal for vitos to rust after 3 or 4 years.

My mates 2004/54 BMW 545i hasn't a spec of rust on it

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I find it hard to accept a premium brand marque can show signs of rusting on a 4 year old car(re the ml i refered to),cadmium plating isn't an expensive process & i would be happy to pay the cost involved on any future mb purchase.

Mercedes are a strange company when it comes to rust, for some reason unbeknown to anyone, the Sprinters & Vito's (95% of the white ones) of any age seem prone to rust. Yet of all the Mercedes cars I've owned, I've not seen a spot! And I've owned five W211's (from a 52 plate to the current 57 plate), one W220 (52 plate) and a W638 V-Class (which must have had paint before I bought it).

If they seem to struggle so much with white paint, why aren't all these cars that are 'calcium white' etc showing signs of rust?

I think that where the commercials are concerned, if you're using them for light duties ie not for graft, then they seem all right. As soon as you show them a bit of hard work, they start to crumble...

 

[John]

I had an issue with my steering column (rubbing), the car was 3 months old. I was told by Mercedes Doncaster that if the issue was not a warranty issue I would have to pay for the insurance of the courtesy car that they sort (£10 a day I seem to remember), if it was a warranty issue then there would be no charge. On a 3 month old car it's definitely warranty!

If I was in your shoes, I would refuse to pay!

I'm sure not 2 weeks ago someone posted something from one of the top people at MB at how he'd changed the brand image from what it was...

It's really working wonders now it has filtered down hasn't it... You're completely happy now aren't you...

Personally I think it has made a difference. Compared with 70s and 80s the amount of visible rust on cars is very low.

MB excepted of course...

 

[Dieselman]

I suspect that the *cadmium* is the reason.

cadmium plating isn't an expensive process & i would be happy to pay the cost involved on any future mb purchase.

But Dryce has already told you the reason why it won't be happening, it's not about cost...

 

[Dieselman]

I think that where the commercials are concerned, if you're using them for light duties ie not for graft, then they seem all right. As soon as you show them a bit of hard work, they start to crumble...

Not really so. A neighbour had a Vito dualiner and looked after it very well, regular washing and waxing...

Still rusted..

 

[steve333]

Mercedes are a strange company when it comes to rust, for some reason unbeknown to anyone, the Sprinters & Vito's (95% of the white ones) of any age seem prone to rust. Yet of all the Mercedes cars I've owned, I've not seen a spot! And I've owned five W211's (from a 52 plate to the current 57 plate), one W220 (52 plate) and a W638 V-Class (which must have had paint before I bought it).

If they seem to struggle so much with white paint, why aren't all these cars that are 'calcium white' etc showing signs of rust?

I think that where the commercials are concerned, if you're using them for light duties ie not for graft, then they seem all right. As soon as you show them a bit of hard work, they start to crumble...

I've personally had no signs of rust on any of the mb's i've owned either lee(the oldest was my previous 2002 clk320 cab) but having seen other mb's as young as 4 years old that have makes you wonder how long until i own one that will start to show signs of rust?,as far as colour,perhaps the fact that a majority of sprinters/vitos are white(white also shows rust more than any other colour)gives the impression that the paint colour is to blame?

 

[steve333]

But Dryce has already told you the reason why it won't be happening, it's not about cost...

^ Merely stating there is a solution & i for one would be happy to pay & not have to worry about rusting.

 

[Dryce]

^ Merely stating there is a solution & i for one would be happy to pay & not have to worry about rusting.

It's not about paying .....

Note the comment at the bottom.

Cadmium Plating metal finishing services Exeter Yeovil Chippenham Bristol NADCAP approved NDT AS9100

Cadmium is a controlled substance and can only be used in specific applications.

So it's not a practical solution.

 

[steve333]

It's not about paying .....

Note the comment at the bottom.

Cadmium Plating metal finishing services Exeter Yeovil Chippenham Bristol NADCAP approved NDT AS9100



So it's not a practical solution.

I wonder what exactly constitutes "specific applications" with reference to cadmium being a controlled substance,in my original post when i mentioned cadmium plating i was recalling the process from the early 80's when perhaps these guidelines wern't in place(?),the Md of the company i was working for at the time had his Rolls Royce completely stripped,cadmium plated then painted such was his confidence in the process.

 

[Dryce]

i was recalling the process from the early 80's when perhaps these guidelines wern't in place(?),the Md of the company i was working for at the time had his Rolls Royce completely stripped,cadmium plated then painted such was his confidence in the process.

Well we've had three decades for the EU to regulate it .....

They also don't like nickel in consumer goods.

 

[Dieselman]

Well we've had three decades for the EU to regulate it .....

They also don't like nickel in consumer goods.

You're wasting your time.

This is a Mercedes forum, therefore only money and status matter.

 

[st4]

This is a Mercedes forum, therefore only money and status matter.

No, monthly payments and low deposits matter.

The lack of real money is what makes this place flourish. Status is how to find the best lease deal, and real status is to get a COMAND for free.

 

[steve333]

Well we've had three decades for the EU to regulate it .....

They also don't like nickel in consumer goods.

Fair comment!

 

[nick mercedes]

Not really so. A neighbour had a Vito dualiner and looked after it very well, regular washing and waxing...

Still rusted..

The good news that future Mercedes will be based on Renaults and Nissans, which don't seem to rust, or have the appalling build and reliability problems Mercedes have.

 

[markjay]

The good news that future Mercedes will be based on Renaults and Nissans, which don't seem to rust, or have the appalling build and reliability problems Mercedes have.

Ahmm... I have a 2005 Renault... soft plastic body panels... cardboard (actually) interior trim... intermittent dashboard... moody electrics... brilliant design , very roomy and lots of storage space, and for the price I can't really complain, but if I paid Merc money for it I would be seriously ****ed-off.

 

[Dieselman]

I can't really complain, but if I paid Merc money for it I would be seriously ****ed-off.

Because it would have broken down a couple of times, needed new inlet manifold, engine bearings, cam chain gears and be showing rust..