Paint issues

[BenzedUP]

Hi Guys,

Just after some advice.

I bought my C204 C350 AMG Sport from MB as an approved used, it had covered around 12K miles, the previous owner were an elderly couple I believe.

I've had the car for about 8 months I think? and I've just noticed last month the rear bumper colour has a different shade white to the rest of the car, I thought it might be the light as the car changes colour sometimes, it's 'Diamond white', pearl white.

Rang the dealer, they said to go to their other branch and speak to chap who deals with paint issues.

I took my car yesterday and he agreed with me, he took some images and said he will go back to the dealers I bought the car from to try to get them to pay for a re-spray.

Now I've already had some issues with this dealer when I bought my other half's new A class, different story and I won't go into it, yet.

What d you guys suggest I should do If they come back saying No?

Many thanks.

 

[M11GUL]

Not in the same league but I have had a similar issue with Fiat when I brought our 500. But I had a conversation with the dealer principle who agreed that a car brought as "approved" should either have a clean bill of health or any issues pointed out before sale completion.

This is even more important if you are on a PCP deal and will be handing back the car, the last thing you want is to be held responsible for problems that were there at the point of sale.

I would say to persist with your current path, just remember to maintain your stance and hopefully you should be looked after. If not I would send Simon Oldfield (I think that's his name!) the MB MD an email. He got back to me very quickly when I had a problem and he made (or should I say the executive complaints department) sure it was sorted.

Let us know how you get on

 

[KennyN]

I had an issue with the paint on the N/S rear quarter of my recently purchased CLS and I took it back to the dealer where they rectified the paint with no issues.

If the colour is different then it should be rectified , without question.

Kenny

 

[Wheelsnuts]

I had a similar problem a few years ago and I can confirm that an email to the Mercedes top brass works very well. Problem sorted in double quick time after that. The dealers suddenly fell over themselves to be helpful and I even got a free lunch!

 

[BenzedUP]

Not in the same league but I have had a similar issue with Fiat when I brought our 500. But I had a conversation with the dealer principle who agreed that a car brought as "approved" should either have a clean bill of health or any issues pointed out before sale completion.

This is even more important if you are on a PCP deal and will be handing back the car, the last thing you want is to be held responsible for problems that were there at the point of sale.

I would say to persist with your current path, just remember to maintain your stance and hopefully you should be looked after. If not I would send Simon Oldfield (I think that's his name!) the MB MD an email. He got back to me very quickly when I had a problem and he made (or should I say the executive complaints department) sure it was sorted.

Let us know how you get on

Many thanks mate, appreciate the information you've given me.

I'll wait to see what they say, I don't trust the dealer so I'm sure they will try to wiggle out of it.

 

[jotter22]

I would also be concerned that you never spotted it for 8 months..... I bet you would on the red car

Tony.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

If the dealer is as slippery as you say, looking at it from their point of view, they might try and say that you've had the paint job done and are now trying to get them to remedy a bad job.

 

[BenzedUP]

I would also be concerned that you never spotted it for 8 months..... I bet you would on the red car

Tony.

If I am honest I did notice a difference a couple of months ago but I thought it was due to the shade of light as the colour does change slightly when the sun hits it but the more I looked at it the more I noticed it....

Even the dealer who I took the car to yesterday said it is very hard to spot and they wouldn't of expected me to spot it when I bought the car.

I am a bit silly for thinking it's 'approved' used so it would have gone through a lot of checks before it went for sale, obviously I am very wrong.

 

[BenzedUP]

If the dealer is as slippery as you say, looking at it from their point of view, they might try and say that you've had the paint job done and are now trying to get them to remedy a bad job.

Yes, that's what I was thinking too Lee but if I did get the rear bumper resprayed I would just go back to who ever did it to correct the paint... surely

I bought two cars from them and they've treated me crap, so I wouldn't put that past them, especially the pair I am dealing with, bunch of..... hmmm lets just stay calm, lol.

 

[Deane x]

I would be more concerned why its a Diffrent colour , have you had the bumper off to look behind it ?

 

[BenzedUP]

I would be more concerned why its a Diffrent colour , have you had the bumper off to look behind it ?

Not had the bumper off and I'm not sure why mate but I've had the car checked out by my local MB dealer a couple of times now and it all came good.

I don't hear knocking or anything, tail pipes look in the right place, to be fair the car drives perfectly but I am no expert.

I'm guessing it might of had a respray before by the previous owner? or it just came like that from factory? which I doubt.

 

[BenzedUP]

I just phoned the dealer to chase up and the guy hasn't even sent the report yet.

Should hear back late next week he said.

I hear that this issue is a 'Diamond White' problem... :|

 

[Deane x]

I just phoned the dealer to chase up and the guy hasn't even sent the report yet.

Should hear back late next week he said.

I hear that this issue is a 'Diamond White' problem... :|

That's good if it is just a colour thing but check boot floor and back panal for damage ,,don't mean to put a downer on things it's just I was a professional panal beater for years and seen some things in my time that dealers have missed good luck

 

[J LAD]

Hi - I have exactly the same problem on My C63 that I purchased from MB of LIncoln, same colour Diamond Pearl White, the rear bumper is slightly darker than the rest of the car, but heres some info for you.
When spray painted modern plastics, eg bumpers, can come out a slightly different shade than the rest of the car which is of course metal.
Take a walk into any show room, especially Range Rover and have a look, in some lights and direction the bumper will nearly always look darker.
NOW! I have just spent a great deal of money having the complete front valance re sprayed at Sytners of Sheffield, and guess what, there is a slight difference in shade, but only in some lights and angles, mine appears lighter in shade!
I took the car back the next day and they explained that as they do not mix the paint, they could re spray it a thousand times all with a different outcome in colour!
I have even asked random people in the street for their opinion, most said they did not notice until I pointed it out, so!!!!
Took the car to MB of Wakefield - there body shop guy agreed, this paint is a cow to match, so they always " blow" into the next panel to try and blend in the colour.
Its up to you, but I am now leaving mine well alone, hopefully in a years time the paint will have darkened slightly so it suits the rest of the car

 

[Dieselman]

What d you guys suggest I should do If they come back saying No?

Many thanks.

I'll wait to see what they say,

You have given the only sensible answer in the thread, so far...which begs the question...why did you ask?

There is nothing anyone here can do about the dealer either way...especially as they haven't responded yet.

 

[BenzedUP]

Hey Will, I was trying to prepare myself in case they come back saying No..

If they do say no then I'll take it to the MB MD, like M11 GUL suggested.

 

[markjay]

I did notice that bumpers and other plastic parts can often have a slightly different hue even on new cars, as others have said.

Might be worth looking at another car with the same paint colour and see what it looks like.

But it's good that you posted it here - someone with similar colour paint might be able to advise.

 

[BenzedUP]

I did notice that bumpers and other plastic parts can often have a slightly different hue even on new cars, as others have said.

Might be worth looking at another car with the same paint colour and see what it looks like.

But it's good that you posted it here - someone with similar colour paint might be able to advise.

Hi Mate,

Thanks, we did compare it to a Diamond pearl white C63 and it was the similar but we agreed that mine stood out more, so it needs correcting, only the rear bumper.

I've had a few guys on here say to me they have similar issues with their Diamond white MB's.