Rust!

[steve333]

As there have been a number of threads recently on rust & the way mb do/don't(as the case may be) deal with it i thought i'd give my take & wondered what other peoples views we're, i would imagine that most 1st registered keepers are leasers,companys or if private,people that keep the car up to 3 years before changing it.With this in mind, i was thinking that by time mb's start showing early signs of rust they're going to be 5+ years old & with the 2nd/3rd/4th keeper & mb would know this & the original purchasers/leases wouldn't be put off by stories of mb's rusting as they are shifting them before the warrantys end or rust issues appear-hope i'm getting my point accross ok,thoughts?

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I hear what you're saying Steve.

Actually I don't fall into any of the categories you mentioned because I bought new for personal use and without finance, and I intend to keep the car about 10 years. So yes, I'm a little worried about rust. BUT, because I agree with you that easily the majority of new car buyers fall into those categories you listed, not only are they immune to MB rust horror stories, they also don't make any attempt to limit or prevent future problems. For instance, how many of them would take the trouble, as I do, to carefully clean behind the wheel arch lips every week or so? This is where most rust starts because of the gap between the plastic liner and the metal arch that gathers mud and therefore stores moisture. I hope and believe that similar attention to the other likely rust spot areas will keep my bodywork pristine (well, the car's anyway!).

 

[steve333]

Spot on-i guess what i was trying to say was that the people that end up trying to make claims for rust issues with mb generally have never bought an mb from knew & if are not happy with the answer they get when trying to make a claim for rust repairs will make no difference to mb as they are unlikely to be in jeopardy of losing a new car customer,i as you do go to great lengths in doing my utmost to make sure i've taken every precaution to make sure my pride & joy doesn't rust (clean/polish car in/out/alloys/arches/sills every 2 weeks)as i intend keeping it until it's 10 years old(coming up to 5 years old now with no signs of any rust forming-fingers crossed!)

 

[Dryce]

would know this & the original purchasers/leases wouldn't be put off by stories of mb's rusting as they are shifting them before the warrantys end or rust issues appear-hope i'm getting my point accross ok,thoughts?

Epidemics of rust at say 5 years old would still impact residuals on a model part way through its lifecycle. And those residuals are important to those leasing or financing a car over those first three years.

 

[John]

I was expecting a post about 70's and 80's Fords and Austins from a bygone era.

I did look for rust on mine before I bought it, but I took a gamble that as it was galvanised, it would be unlikely to suffer from rust.

If I spotted any, I would get it sort it out.

In terms of what you are asking, whilst it might not put off the owner(s) of the first 5 years, MB are damaging their brand as stories about rust get out as well as the young vehicles displaying so obviously.

This will have an impact but what the maths is from what their actually losing - who knows.

However, because their attitude and whole approach stinks, any designs I had on buying a newer or new one have dwindled, which is a shame, because my first experience of an MB product is second to none.

 

[Dieselman]

My first rust claim was when the car was 2.5 years old. It's my car so I was bothered about it.
The rust is caused by poor painting, nothing else.

 

[steve333]

My first rust claim was when the car was 2.5 years old. It's my car so I was bothered about it.
The rust is caused by poor painting, nothing else.

Shocking-what model?

 

[Dieselman]

W210. Needed the front end off to paint the radiator support panel and both sides painted for door top channel rust.

 

[steve333]

W210. Needed the front end off to paint the radiator support panel and both sides painted for door top channel rust.

I would be shocked to find rust on any 21/2 year old car let alone a german marque!

 

[Dieselman]

I would be shocked to find rust on any 21/2 year old car let alone a german marque!

German cars are the worst for rust.

 

[steve333]

German cars are the worst for rust.

Unfortunately seems to be the case!

 

[o2drive]

I think Italian comes close to the worst for rust

 

[Dieselman]

I think Italian comes close to the worst for rust

The old ones are always the best. Do you do a Friday night spot in some seedy club?

 

[janner]

The rust is caused by poor painting, nothing else.

Mmmmm....not sure about that DM.
What about the non-existent underseal, dissolving subframes and exploding spring cups?

 

[Dieselman]

Mmmmm....not sure about that DM.
What about the non-existent underseal, dissolving subframes and exploding spring cups?

If you check, all the areas these cars rust has either very little or no paint applied at build stage.
The cars in question do not suffer with structural rust, other than the undertray causing the subframe to remain wet, they suffer with raw edge corrosion.
The spring perches get water into the joint and the spot welds rust.

 

[janner]

No structural rust? Don't make me post pictures of my W210 again.
It wasn't just paint, was it? It was also underseal, seam seal and the 'f+&* it, that'll save us 5p' attitude at MB at the time.

 

[Dieselman]

Did it actually have any structural rust, or was it just that all the exterior panels were hanging off?

 

[janner]

Right, you've asked for it.....

 

[Dieselman]

If you will use it for launching boats and keep fish in it.


That's just a light dusting...

 

[janner]

By now it's a couple of hundred baked bean tins...