Rust? What is going on with Mercedes?

[glojo]

Hi John,

The assistance was with the move to a post block-exemption environment, not 30 year rust warranties........

I don't know of any other manufacturer that does this (I've not checked Rolls Royce or other mega-prestige marques) so MB must have some confidence in their product going forward.

Simon's comment regarding the specialist he has in mind should be correct - if they can stamp the book as a certified supplier then that should suffice and would assume it applied for the body work too.

Thanks very much for the speedy response. Neither Rolls Royce, nor Bentley offer this lifetime warranty.

I totallyagree with what you are saying about the specialist. If Mercedes-Benz have authorised them then that is all that is required.

Our previous dealer had no bodyshop facilities and all repairs were carried out by an authorised agent. The agent was quite proud of the authorising 'warrant' and the work was excellent and competively priced. (they obviously worked on various marques from the cheapest to the dearest and the hourly rate was the same, no matter the manufacturer)

Thanks again,
John

 

[Birdman]

My 99c220cdi estate has all the usual rust. My local dealer was very good and got a reply from MB in 2 weeks. Because the car had 2 services by an indi they would pay 65%.
i wrote back to MB Uk and recieved a letter today again stating that they will not increase their offer, because the mobilo contract states having the vehicle serviced by a MB dealership.

This is all very strange. I understood from reading the national press that from March this year manufacturers can't require vehicles be serviced by their franchise as a condition of warranty (unless they can demonstrate that shoddy workmanship caused the problem). Obviously, poor paintwork is down to the manufacture. Perhaps M-B needs to be more accountable to the law.

 

[Mr E]

This is all very strange. I understood from reading the national press that from March this year manufacturers can't require vehicles be serviced by their franchise as a condition of warranty (unless they can demonstrate that shoddy workmanship caused the problem). Obviously, poor paintwork is down to the manufacture. Perhaps M-B needs to be more accountable to the law.

Hi - correct in the first instance.......maybe the independants used are/were not accredited (the phrase I was trying to remember y'day). If this is the case, the standard of work cannot be verified and the manufacturer is correct in the stance of reducing the liability under the warranty.

To reiterate - the manufacturer cannot insist that they (or their direct agent) carries out work to maintain warrenty BUT they can insist on a level of competence, usually through an authorised/accredited service/repair centre scheme. Similar to what bodyshops have been doing with manufacturers for a number of years.

 

[Birdman]

To reiterate - the manufacturer cannot insist that they (or their direct agent) carries out work to maintain warrenty BUT they can insist on a level of competence, usually through an authorised/accredited service/repair centre scheme.

Where can we get the complete list of Mercedes Authorised Service Centres? I asked the Norwich dealership about age discounts (the car, the car) and got, 'Not before five years old'. So where to go without losing the anti-rust mobilo lifetime guarantee that isn't, and without paying £100+ per hour for the privilege?
Btw is the inspection relating to the mobilo rust warranty carried out bi-annually? If so it would perhaps explain anecdotal evidence that you need to have a dealer stamp in the book at least every two years for a claim to be considered.

 

[glojo]

Where can we get the complete list of Mercedes Authorised Service Centres? I asked the Norwich dealership about age discounts (the car, the car)

In reality I would be surprised if there were any actual 'service' centres. To keep up todate with all the modern technology and have the correct specialist equipment to work on the very latest technology would be mind bogglingly expensive. (apart from all the courses) It is bad enough finding a technician at a main dealer that is conversant with say, the operation of the active headlights!!! I dread to think about solving problems with the SBC braking system. To be a service centre they would not be able to cherry pick what vehicles to service.

I am of the opinion that if any court decided that the rules regarding Mobilio are unlawful. then Mercedes-Benz will simply not offer it. They are the only manufacturer that does offer this warranty and they have set rules which we are all aware of. I still say it is our choice if we want to comply to the conditions. Sorry to be a sucker on this issue.

If however you comply with the conditions and Mercedes-Benz fail to honour them, I would not rest until I got FULL satisfaction and FULL renumeration of ALL my expenses, inconvienance and anything else my legal representatives can think of.

Regards,
John

 

[Pietre]

I was told by my dealer after having a new boot lid fitted due to rust, that the other rusting on my W210 was down to stone chips and was not covered by the warranty. M Peugeot did more miles and not one stone chip with consequential rust was evident. To think I waited years for a Merc to get more rust than a Peugeot.