Rust Claim

[bobby]

Hi,

Need your advice.

My 1999 C43 just passed it's 10th birthday 3 months ago.

The car has minor rust at the 4 wheel arches and on the boot lid.

The car has FMBSH. £1000's of £'s worth of bills, all done at MB.

Having spoken to a couple of dealers, they have told me there is a 10 year cut-off for bodywork claims, thus there's no point. MB customer services also said this.

My question is - does anyone have any experience of claiming at this age? How long is the mobilolife corrosion warranty? Is it worth trying to claim anyway?

TIA

 

[Sonny Burnett]

it wont happen and i thaught the cut off was 8 years... the only way you can get it pushed to 10 years i thought was if you owned the car from new.. alos that 30 year warreenty only applies to rust intruding into the cabin of the car?????... its pretty lame.. and Benz really dropped the ball on the paint..

 

[mr. shr]

Yes, I too have been told the cut off is 8 years.
However, I think some people here have been lucky enough to have good will work done after this period on cars witout full MB history.

Dealers are very hit and miss. (More miss than hit in my experiences.)

 

[Will]

Hi Bobby,

It's worth trying (if you don't ask, you don't get etc), but realistically you'll be better off finding an excellent local paintshop who'll do it for you privately at a realistic price. Even if MB agree to look into this for you, I suspect the best they'll offer would be a part-settlement (say 50% of the costs) but at main-dealer rates, so you'll still end up paying £££s - hence you'll be better off going private IMHO At least that way you'll get to choose who does the work, quality can vary greatly it seems.

There's a great place near Sunbury who specialises in MB bodywork. His name is Andy and his work is first class - he knows how to make a really nice job out of any repair and doesn't cut corners. Knows how MBs come apart and go back together nicely, etc.

http://www.andysautobarn.com

Will

 

[tromppost]

I got a goodwill offer of a 20% contribution. You may get more because of your full merc history.

 

[clk208]

When my claim was turned down by MB Stratford last year they sent me a quote to do the work at their bodyshop in case I wanted to pay to have it done privately there. Cost was >£3000 I seem to recall and this was for localised repairs to the arches only. I went to a local frim that specialises in body work on classic cars and he did a great job for <£250 (that's two hundred and fifty)! Repair is holding up well but there is a small amount of rust appearing in other places - I will probably have this attended to at the same place in 6 months time or so.

Not really what I expected to have to attend to on a modernish prestige car but I figure a couple of hundred quid every couple of years to keep it looking nice is wortth it.

 

[EDZ649]

Goodwill cutoff is eight years and you have to have owned the car for at least 6 months prior to making a claim.

 

[A210AMG]

Does the car have to have a Full Mercedes History?

Mine has a Full service histor, last two done at a Mercedes indy.

Very small spot under one arch and a tiny blister under the rear boot handle (common on the ML i think)

 

[EDZ649]

Does the car have to have a Full Mercedes History?

Mine has a Full service histor, last two done at a Mercedes indy.

Very small spot under one arch and a tiny blister under the rear boot handle (common on the ML i think)

Not 100% sure, my car does have full MB history, I guess it depends on the dealers discretion....

 

[bobby]

Thanks all. I'm thinking on next steps. having spent £1900 on the last service, 4 new tyres, £2k ICE, blah blah the car stands me in at nearly £20K! I'm mulling over moving to an SL55 or maybe it's G55 time. I'll let you know...

 

[skymastor]

I would go see the MB body shop and ask them to inspect the work and process a claim. After reluctantly wanting to, I did it on my 8yr old C Class and good job I did because they did the paint work and replaced panels free of charge through warranty!

Your car shouldn't go the way it has over that period of time same as mine did! A lot of production faults were made during the time our vehicles were produced. Top tip too, check inside the boot panels and doors to see if waxoil has been used. In my case it hadn't and MB had no choice but to quickly do the work because it was their error from the factory and didn't want me pursuing a claim against them I presume!

Don't ask don't get... Go for it...

 

[skymastor]

Oh, BTW, your car only has to be serviced by a MB dealer over the period the standard parts and labour warranty runs, in my case this was 3 years and the remainder of the servicing was carried out by cheaper independents..

Worked for me with MB...

 

[bobby]

Thanks - I will do that regardless

 

[C43AMG]

My C43 was picked up this morning from home and taken to MB Brentford for the third time in three years and left me a new C 180 Kompressor which is something i suppose.

In 2006 i noticed a small amount of rust on the corner of the Sunroof n/s, had it inspected at Brentford and it was done under goodwill, last October it came back in the same place took it to Brooklands had photo's taken they came back, no sorry out of warranty.

I sent letter's with photo's of the C43 my old 560 SEC my old S-Class W220 and the new W221 to CEO, Managing Director of Customer Services and a lady, can't remember her title to show them how i look after my cars etc etc. Two days later i received a phone call from the body shop Manager asking me when it would be convenient to book the car in.

Last week noticed it's back again same place. Phoned Brentford spoke to the Manager, i will arrange a courtesy car and have the C43 picked up Sir.

Perseverance perseverance that's the key. Good luck Bobby i know how much you like your C43.

 

[bobby]

Thanks Peter.

To be honest I'm gonna put it up for sale.

I LOVE my C43 but unfrotunately can only have one car at a time living where I do.

I know I've got a C63/ G55/ SL55 in my future, so SL55 is the next target - let's see what interest is generated!

Worst case I keep a car I love.

 

[bobby]

Toe in the water advert posted here: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/classifieds-sale/73265-1999-t-c43-sale.html#post813209

 

[C43AMG]

£10,000 very ambitious Bobby.

 

[C240Sport97]

£10,000 very ambitious Bobby.

agree ..

 

[EDZ649]

agree ..

Me too!

 

[bobby]

One must aspire! I'm open to offers. As I'm in no rush at the moment and I have £6,000+ of receipts this really is just a toe in the water. Any ideas on improving the ad (apart from lowering the price?!)