Rear Subframe for a W204???

[Graham W]

I have a W204 C280 2007 4 door saloon. The rear subframe has rotted through, no other rust on the car, yet There are no new ones available from Merc in the UK. I was looking on e-bay, they have a number available etc. But which ones fit my car. The old one has the following 2043503804 as the 10 didgit number.
Withe 204 3804 as the large numbers top right of the label.
My querry is which other numbered subframes will fit, as none of the ones I can find have this exact sequence. Help please as vehicle off the road it not good at the moment.
Live Long & Prosper Graham W

 

[grober]

There are several versions of the rear subframe for the W204 from that era differing in the dimensions of the subframe mounts. I suspect your part no may well refer to a part that's unobtainable i.e. a "naked " subframe. For example MB may only supply replacement subframes complete with mounts which will have a different part no.? your best bet is your local MB parts counter with your chassis number . I am surprised MB dont have any replacements
ps the closest number to 2043503804 appears to refer to the differential?

 

[MancMike]

Strange, there's not a dot of rust anywhere on mine, car or subframe. Mine's a 57 plate, what's the difference? :/

 

[noogieman]

I have a W204 C280 2007 4 door saloon. The rear subframe has rotted through, no other rust on the car, yet There are no new ones available from Merc in the UK. I was looking on e-bay, they have a number available etc. But which ones fit my car. The old one has the following 2043503804 as the 10 didgit number.
Withe 204 3804 as the large numbers top right of the label.
My querry is which other numbered subframes will fit, as none of the ones I can find have this exact sequence. Help please as vehicle off the road it not good at the moment.
Live Long & Prosper Graham W

haven't you undercoated your car?
find it very strange that only your subframe rotted to death and the rest is undamaged?
maybe factory skimped wax oil treatment?

 

[Graham W]

It looks like the subframe has a water trap where the drain hole is blocked and it collected crud and stuff and hence rotted inside out
Of to collect a second hand one off a later W204. fingers crossed that it is the same bare subframe.
Live Long & Prosper

 

[renault12ts]

Rust...who'd have thought.

 

[MancMike]

So I've got to eat my words on this one, as my rear subframe has also failed now.

It seems while the chassis is galvanised and not rusted, the subframe is only painted for protection.

How did you get on?

subframe

 

[pembssurf]

Is

So I've got to eat my words on this one, as my rear subframe has also failed now.

It seems while the chassis is galvanised and not rusted, the subframe is only painted for protection.

How did you get on?

any of this covered under the 30 year rust warranty? Or does that it exclude subframea?

 

[MancMike]

I've just been on the phone getting passed around from pillar to post, but the guy said the corrosion warranty is 12 years.

He said there are caveats, i.e it must have been inspected by them, etc, but I have MOTed the car with them the last few years, including the middle of May this year and they didn't spot it then!

I didn't get anywhere with that phone call, going to have to change tac and call again at some point...

 

[grober]

Series of pictures from another forum about a w204 350 rear subframe failure
MBWorld.org Forums - 2009 C350 - Crack in Rear Subframe



here's a wider view of a rear subframe not sure exactly which suspension arm bracket's involved

 

[merc85]

That is bad Not what you would expect really is it?

 

[daveenty]

There was a thread last month on the other forum by a W204 owner. He ended up getting it replaced for free by Mercedes, but not before a fight.

Thread HERE

 

[Josonic]

Thanks everyone. My 2008 C-class W204 rear subframe was found to be rotted out this week. Phoned local Poole Mercedes dealership and asked for the after sales manager in regard to this ‘serious safety issue’. He claimed to have never seen/heard of this issue, said that as it was over 8 years old, he could not see that Mercedes would be interested, but that if I got car to them he would inspect it. I called my breakdown provider (auto-aid) and they transported it for me (free). They inspected it, said it was unsafe to drive and that they would contact Mercedes corporate. A few hours later, I got a call to say that Mercedes had agree to pay for subframe, including labour. Manager pointed out that I also had an issue with ‘break fluid lines’ and that they need to be replaced as it’s usually very expensive as it requires the subframe to be removed. I am obviously very happy with the outcome, and hope that if you have the same issue, have the same response.

 

[zipdip]

What a result,I have never known MB to roll over so quickly.

 

[Hatch]

I've just found this thread as my rear subframe is in tatters, it was lucky it was discovered when it was (in the last few days).
It seems Mercedes might cover some / all of the cost of the replacement at the moment...I see there are some good news stories on this front already, how many people managed to get Mercedes to commit to this?

Below are some horrible images of the state of the metal.
My W204 C Class has only just ticked over 70,000 miles and is an '07 reg

 

[AndrewOl]

Goodness that is truly horrific corrosion and consequential structural failure of a stressed member. 12years is not that old and unless the environment was really severe this seems poor. My concern is personal as I drive a 2006. Need to squirt more waxoyl in there but you tend not to get to the extreme areas where corrosion lives.

 

[Hatch]

My thoughts exactly. I'm taking it to Mercedes-Benz in Colchester tomorrow for them to take some photos to confirm how much (hopefully all) of the replacement cost they'll cover.

I'll keep this page updated.

 

[Hatch]

It transpires that the rust is the last of my worries, looking from the underside, there's a crack all around the subframe "arm". It looks like a weak / dodgy weld has broken... More sure if the corrosion was pre or post the break though.

Not really sure what's holding everything together right now other than hope. Waiting for Mercedes to come back to me next week.

I've just found this thread as my rear subframe is in tatters, it was lucky it was discovered when it was (in the last few days).
It seems Mercedes might cover some / all of the cost of the replacement at the moment...I see there are some good news stories on this front already, how many people managed to get Mercedes to commit to this?

Below are some horrible images of the state of the metal.
My W204 C Class has only just ticked over 70,000 miles and is an '07 reg

 

[IKnowAGuy]

2011 C300. 55k miles. Both rear control arms ripped right off from the rust today. My kids in the car. How does this happen after 55k!?! Or at all! About to play the warranty game. They are gonna say the dealer missed this during inspection and not pay for it. I can feel it. Anyone know about how much (pounds or USD) these repairs are?

 

[noogieman]

Sorry about your mishap.
This is dangerous.
Now you know why wax oiling the under carriage is so very much important!
Recycled or inferior steel Q. used for manufacturing suspension arms causes stress on material, stuff won't last long, not even the thin paint protects anything from salt.
You can prolong the life on the components if you wax oil these components.
Dinitrol is a good treatment avoiding future metal cancer.