Rust on Mobilio covered cars

[glojo]

Dieselman has raised a very interesting and very valid point about rust on ALL the recent range of Mercedes-Benz. This has now got my complete attention.

How many of us that own vehicles that are still COVERED BY MOBILIO have experienced corrosion problems and have now made a claim to get the vehicle repaired?

Was it a satisfactory repair?

Did they replace panels?

Has the problem re-appeared and have you made another claim.

On a different forum (US based, so no Mobilio) I had asked 30 (Thirty) W210 owners if they had experienced corrosion problems and I believe it was something like 80% had!!! Now I haven't surveyed any other models, but if they have anything like that then surely Mercedes-Benz will have problems that would cause major, major financial problems?.

I think my poll merely highlights that on a forum you will get an awful lot of members that are there purely to complain about an issue so the 80% figure is not indicitive of four out of five 210's having problems.

I still find it difficult to accept that the C, CL, S, SLK, CLK and ML are experiencing problems that are equal to the horrobile 210's.

I am NOT doubting Dieselman's statement, like everyone here, I hold this persons knowledge in the very highest of regard. I am merely doing my usual quest for more information and educating myself about the extent of this issue.

I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the beautiful 124's that came to Torquay and I am disgusted that Mercedes-Benz has allowed this terrible situation to develop. The 124's will be around long after some models are a mere pile of iron oxide

I totally agree with Dieselman's observation about long term damage to the marque. Rust killed the Vauxhall Victor and the Ford Anglia, the names of both models were removed from the range, such was the damage to their reputations.

Thanks for any contributions,

John
A sunny hot afternoon in Torquay

 

[Robbo]

Perhaps we could make it a poll?

No corrosion probs here on my very early W203, mine is an August 2000 build so should be one of the first to show up any problems.

 

[GRAV888]

A poll such as:
1) Have you had any corrosion on your vehicle and had it repaired free of charge to a satisfactory standard and no re-occurence of rust?

2) Have you had any corrosion on your vehicle and had to pay a percentage of the cost and it was carried out to a satisfactory standard and no re-occurence of rust?

3) Have you had any corrosion on your vehicle and had it repaired free of charge to a satisfactory standard, but rust has re-appeared?

4) Have you had any corrosion on your vehicle and had to pay a percentage of the cost, but rust has re-appeared.

5) have you had no corrosion on your vehicle?

6) Have you had corrosion on your vehicle and it was repaired to an un-satisfactory standard?

Something along these lines anyway.

 

[glojo]

I had thought the answers might not be straightforward, but it is certainly a good idea.

I am particularly interested to see how this problem has manifested itself in other models and would appreciate suggestions on how to formulate the poll to show what model the owner had?

I suppose another question worth asking is was the repair carried out by the dealer or their agent?

Is it possible to have a good old moan and then collate the information?

Regards,
John

 

[Robbo]

How about using Gravs options and have separate threads for each model with the same poll options.

Will be a lot of threads, but if we want comprehensive information...

 

[glojo]

How about using Gravs options and have separate threads for each model with the same poll options.

Will be a lot of threads, but if we want comprehensive information...

Certainly worthy of consideration but I don't think we have the members to warrant hte threads. I know of one CL that qualifies but is it worth creating a thread for one car?

I suppose I could start two threads, one for hte C, and another for hte E, but there are a number of CLK's and of course SLK's.... heck, how many threads should I create?

I think perhaps if everyone with a car that qualifies simply responds it might be the easiest option, but should I sart a poll to sort this conundrum out?

Take care,
John

 

[Ian B Walker]

W124's excluded naturally John. :bannana:

 

[GRAV888]

W124's excluded naturally John. :bannana:

They can't be included if the poll is for Mobilo covered cars
I seem to remember a large hole in the front wing of a certain person's 124 though

 

[Ian B Walker]

They can't be included if the poll is for Mobilo covered cars
I seem to remember a large hole in the front wing of a certain person's 124 though

Absolutley right (hangs head in shame) But if I remember right a certain person was going to get a price of a wing for me. As for mobilo cover, point taken. I apologise for being foolish

 

[GRAV888]

Absolutley right (hangs head in shame) But if I remember right a certain person was going to get a price of a wing for me.

Oops.
100% forgot.
Sorry

 

[glojo]

Absolutley right (hangs head in shame) But if I remember right a certain person was going to get a price of a wing for me. As for mobilo cover, point taken. I apologise for being foolish

Shame on you for ruining my perception that the 124 was the last 'proper' perfect Mercedes-Benz

Still, if nothing else, this thread might get a decent repair carried out on a certain car!!

Good luck,
John

 

[Hammerhead]

Crikey I've only had my W209 CLK a week and then find out it might dissolve Lancia stylee Fingers crossed it doesn't!

Steve

 

[Dieselman]

Crikey I've only had my W209 CLK a week and then find out it might dissolve Lancia stylee Fingers crossed it doesn't!

Steve

Your car won't corrode anything like a Lancia Beta. They looked ok from the outside but the chassis rails disintegrated.
Yours will look bad from the outside long before the chassis rails go.

 

[Hammerhead]

Well that's comforting to know...

 

[Lazarus]

Your car won't corrode anything like a Lancia Beta. They looked ok from the outside but the chassis rails disintegrated.
Yours will look bad from the outside long before the chassis rails go.

I've had four Lancias, including a Beta, (which didn't rust BTW), the worst was my Delta, which rotted pretty badly, but my Dedra and Thema didn't have a spot of rust on them.... Look at an equivalent Ford/Vauxhall from the 70/80s terrible. It's a shame that Lancia got such a bad rep really, as they solved their problems pretty quickly... I'd drive a new Lancia if I could get one in RHD, the build quality is as good as Mercedes IMHO.

Laz.
--

 

[Dieselman]

I've had four Lancias, including a Beta, (which didn't rust BTW), the worst was my Delta, which rotted pretty badly, but my Dedra and Thema didn't have a spot of rust on them.... Look at an equivalent Ford/Vauxhall from the 70/80s terrible. It's a shame that Lancia got such a bad rep really, as they solved their problems pretty quickly... I'd drive a new Lancia if I could get one in RHD, the build quality is as good as Mercedes IMHO.

Laz.
--

All Fiat brand cars since 1988 have been galvanised and rust is not an issue other than floor pans which haven't all been galvanised. Dedra is a Fiat Tipo in disguise and Thema is a Croma, also the same car as Alfa 164, Saab 9000.

I disagree about fit and finish but on the whole a Thema was a cracking motor, especially the 16v turbo and the Ferarri 8.32 version.

 

[Brian WH]

All Fiat brand cars since 1988 have been galvanised and rust is not an issue other than floor pans which haven't all been galvanised. Dedra is a Fiat Tipo in disguise and Thema is a Croma, also the same car as Alfa 164, Saab 9000.

I disagree about fit and finish but on the whole a Thema was a cracking motor, especially the 16v turbo and the Ferarri 8.32 version.

The modern W211 has a lot of aluminium panels too.

 

[Dieselman]

The modern W211 has a lot of aluminium panels too.

Bonnet, front wings, bootlid.

 

[KLP 92]

Mercedes A Class owners better watch out too, my cousin has a 3 year old A140 with 2 rusted rear wheel arches! Well the front ones would be rusted if they weren't made from plastic.

 

[uumode]

'99 W210 corrosion in it's fourth year

Repair work involved:
4 new doors, 2 new front wings, repairs to 3 wheel arches, respray whole front bonnet. Work was extremely satisfactory ('invisible' and no electrical faults, no loose trim or wrong hanging / ill shutting doors)

Heavy corrosion underneath the vehicle which was unrepresentive of a vehicle of it's age, this was not repaired but was waxoyl'ed but only as a gesture of goodwill not strictly under the Mobilolife premise. Work was 'OK' but not up to the standards of the professional waxoyl guys. (I guess because waxoyl'ing is not within the normal competence of a bodyshop and is an art in itself). I wanted to take it to a waxoyl specialist and pay half contribution, but MB offered to do it through their channel, so who was I to argue

Rust re-appeared on one arch (the rear 'old' wing) which was fixed under warranty. Work was satisfactory ('invisible')