Red Paintwork is peeling.....is this a recall problem??

[LJ50]

I bought a Mercedes slk 2014 just over 2 years ago.....suddenly it looks like the lacquer is peeling off!!! I have been told there was a recall notice for the Opal Red but no one seems to want to talk to me at MB?? Anyone else had this problem and how did you proceed? TIA

 

[grober]

PLENTY OF ADVICE here on the problem. Just do a search on fire opal red

 

[grober]

PLENTY OF ADVICE here on the problem. Just do a search on fire opal red

 

[23 Romeo Tango]

Duplicate post

 

[23 Romeo Tango]

A simple search produced these threads. I'm sure you'll find what you are looking for within them.

https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/search/2327264/?q=opal+red&o=date&c[node]=18#

 

[Chrishazle]

Not just Fire Opal Red, I had the same problem with my Carneol Red 2008 S204, MB not in the slightest interested so have just last week paid £600 to have the bonnet and roof resprayed.

 

[LJ50]

Not just Fire Opal Red, I had the same problem with my Carneol Red 2008 S204, MB not in the slightest interested so have just last week paid £600 to have the bonnet and roof resprayed.

I need the whole car needs doing

 

[Chrishazle]

First thing you need to do is book the car in with your local MB main dealer for a paintwork inspection and report to MB Customer Services. They will get their "specialist" to go over the car with a paint thickness tester to check that the paintwork is all original, not resprayed. They may also want the service history of the car, as if it's not been main dealer serviced according to MB ESS they will wriggle even more than if it has!

Do your homework on here, MBOA forum and Google so you have the facts and history clear before you speak to MB, they are notorious for doing everything they can to avoid having to correct a paintwork manufacturing defect, but there's so much history on Fire Opal (or Mars Red, as it's known in USA) they've had to completely respray loads of cars. However, they will only do the metal parts not the plastic (bumpers, side skirts) unless you pay for it!!

On my thread about lacquer peeling carneol red there's a link to a pdf from a long established German paint specialist company showing all the different paintwork problems, their causes and cures, peeling lacquer ison about page 64 IIRC.

Flakey Paintwork
Carneaol Red Lacquer Peeling, Let Battle Commence
https://www.spieshecker.com/content.../painter-tips/TSG-Painter-Tips_ENG-INT_ES.pdf

 

[LJ50]

Ive emailed my MB dealer so lets see what happens....Thank you for your advice

 

[grober]

During this process try to maintain written/eMail communication with your MB dealer. If they phone you immediately respond with a confirmatory eMail with names and dates and what was said. If the process is prolonged it serves as an "aide memoire " for both parties.

 

[Chrishazle]

Very good advice from Graeme - a paper trail is far better than notes about phone calls - or your memory of what was said in a phone call or on a visit to the dealer! Also take your own good photos of the problem areas!

 

[LJ50]

 

[LJ50]

This is just one patch. I’m scared to wash my car now x

 

[markjay]

View attachment 92715

Yup... that's what the Fire Opal Red does... sadly.

Back to bare metal respray under warranty... note that they won't respray the plastic bumpers under warranty, so if you want a perfect color match, you will need to pay for the bumpers to be painted at the same time. Up to you.

(All assuming that the car never had any body or paint repairs done by non-MB approved body shop, or it may prove an uphill struggle to get it done under warranty)

Good Luck!

 

[Chrishazle]

Never mind lacquer peel, I think I'm also seeing the microblistering that FORed is reknowned for - if I'm correct you have a strong case for a full bare metal respray under warranty - as MB have done for many others both here and in USA. Make sure they offer a suitable loan car as they'll have the car for possibly 2 weeks for the respray - and as said, they'll only do the metal parts unless you pay for the plastic bits to also be done. IIRC MB Birmingham have been mentioned before as a helpful main dealer for this problem - unlike MB Ashford with my car!

 

[Coalacre]

First thing you need to do is book the car in with your local MB main dealer for a paintwork inspection and report to MB Customer Services. They will get their "specialist" to go over the car with a paint thickness tester to check that the paintwork is all original, not resprayed. They may also want the service history of the car, as if it's not been main dealer serviced according to MB ESS they will wriggle even more than if it has!

Do your homework on here, MBOA forum and Google so you have the facts and history clear before you speak to MB, they are notorious for doing everything they can to avoid having to correct a paintwork manufacturing defect, but there's so much history on Fire Opal (or Mars Red, as it's known in USA) they've had to completely respray loads of cars. However, they will only do the metal parts not the plastic (bumpers, side skirts) unless you pay for it!!

On my thread about lacquer peeling carneol red there's a link to a pdf from a long established German paint specialist company showing all the different paintwork problems, their causes and cures, peeling lacquer ison about page 64 IIRC.

Flakey Paintwork
Carneaol Red Lacquer Peeling, Let Battle Commence
https://www.spieshecker.com/content/dam/EMEA/Spies Hecker/HQ/Public/Documents/painter-tips/TSG-Painter-Tips_ENG-INT_ES.pdf

I bought a Mercedes slk 2014 just over 2 years ago.....suddenly it looks like the lacquer is peeling off!!! I have been told there was a recall notice for the Opal Red but no one seems to want to talk to me at MB?? Anyone else had this problem and how did you proceed? TIA

I have red today that the Consumer Protection Act 2015 now affords more Protection it also leans towards “Class type action”...

Our car was bought 29 days ago and just st this weekend noticed the imperfection and delaminatingbefrect on the lacquer.

 

[glojo]

I have red today that the Consumer Protection Act 2015 now affords more Protection it also leans towards “Class type action”...

Our car was bought 29 days ago and just st this weekend noticed the imperfection and delaminatingbefrect on the lacquer.

I am guessing that you have absolutely no idea if your car has had any type of body repairs. It could be that 'Honest Joe' the car salesperson you bought the car from has assured you this vehicle has been owned by a nun and has been meticulously maintained, but has it? Or has it been resprayed by John Wayne or was it Clint Eastwood?

The car is 6 years old, well outside any type of manufacture type warranty and even if you have had it serviced by a main dealer, that damage is not covered by Mobilo.

Why are you trying to hit on the manufacturer who will have any number of lawyers who have nothing better than to fight this type of claim.

I would be very surprised if you can find a lawyer that will take on your case for a 'No win, no fee' type arrangement

 

[grober]

Lots of posts on this. A successful claim is dependent on many factors, MB ownership profile MB service history unmolested paintwork- no previous respray et cetera. A multi-owner MB car without an MB full-service history and possible previous remedial paintwork means very little hope of official respray costs being covered. Do the research on here and ask your local MB dealer but don't hold up your hopes for a six year old car.

 

[glojo]

Hi Grober
I am under the impression that our Mobilo is indeed for those of us that have our cars serviced regularly at our main dealer and most importantly, it covers corrosion from the inside out. Is this correct?

That awful paintwork in the imagesthe op has posted look like it is an issue with the paint and not down to a corrosion issue with the bodywork?

The op is instantly going for Mercedes Benz so they no doubt have proof that it is the manufacturers fault and well done to them for knowing that.

Do modern paints have a clear coat and is that what appears to be lifting? If it is then does it matter what the base colour is? Once the clear coat lifts, how quickly does the red base coat 'bleach'? For us oldies, can we remember the competiton I held for suggestions of a new colour for my stretched limo as its red paint had been bleached a shade of pink. I never dreamt of attempting to claim from Mercedes but should I have done?

 

[Chrishazle]

Glojo, the 3rd link I posted above shows the lacquer peeling and the reason for it. I sent the link to MBCS when I went after them for the lacquer peel on my s204, they weren't interested even though it's a manufacturing defect!

https://www.spieshecker.com/content/dam/EMEA/Spies%20Hecker/HQ/Public/Documents/painter-tips/TSG-Painter-Tips_ENG-INT_ES.pdf