S211 rust bubbles on tailgate

[nickiandboris]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any experience of this or know if it's a common problem?

My car is a 53 plate and i've noticed this weekend that there are a few rust bubbles popping up on the tailgate. One of them is quite big at about 5mm in diameter.

We've only had the car for two weeks so i'm not that thrilled. I didn't expect a 6 year old car to suddenly start rusting in random spots.

I know MB are supposed to guarantee the paintwork for 30 years but we don't have a full MB service history (first service was MB, but all since then have been with a MB specialist) and i'm concerned that they won't repair it.

Anyone have any advice?

 

[vincenz]

Which location on tailgate? Is there any damage/stone chips about the are?

You are at the end of the era where rust was an issue.

 

[corned]

Yeah - I have experience in this area!

 

[nickiandboris]

they are located to the right of the number plate, another by the lip of the tailgate & another to the right of the star emblem. im going to take it to mercedes dealer today and see what they say. If they cant fix under paint-work warranty can someone suggest a good bodyshop in Surrey that could fix this? Also how much would this cost?

 

[nickiandboris]

Any one please?

 

[B3ROO]

Click on Corned's link for his experiences.
It is a common problem which many of us have experienced. The fact that your car has not been serviced by MB, will be an issue. - It shouldn't be - but it will. Take your car along to your local MB dealer for inspection. They will look at it and take pics for MB. They will then check the car's history and most likely make you an offer to repair, where you contribute something to their costs. - Could be anywhere between 10 and 40% of the total.
I know it's not a great proposition, but probably the best you'll get - and usually the quality of repair is good and guaranteed.

regards

Bob

 

[BTB 500]

My car is a 53 plate and i've noticed this weekend that there are a few rust bubbles popping up on the tailgate. One of them is quite big at about 5mm in diameter.

All 211s had galvanised body panels from Q1 2003 production onwards, out of interest I wonder what the build date of yours is.

 

[nickiandboris]

Thanks guys appreciate the advice and reponses. how do i find out when my car was built?? Sorry im new to this game ;-(

 

[lynall]

Just google w211 rust doesnt stop at 2003 either.

Here http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/favorites/27571-enter-vin-get-car-details.html


Lynall

 

[BTB 500]

Let us know re. the build date ... useful to know of corrosion incidents on galvanised cars (if the case here).

 

[nickiandboris]

Hi guys used the tool that Lynall posted and entered the VIN number into the tool and it said that the delivery date is 06.08.03.

 

[BTB 500]

Interesting, should definitely be galvanised then.

 

[lynall]

Delivery date is not build date though ie it may have stood for some time before being sold?



Lynall

 

[KLP 92]

I have rust on the inside of my rear wheel arches on a 2003 W211. Will be going into MB at some point.

 

[Benzowner]

Click on Corned's link for his experiences.
It is a common problem which many of us have experienced. The fact that your car has not been serviced by MB, will be an issue. - It shouldn't be - but it will. Take your car along to your local MB dealer for inspection. They will look at it and take pics for MB. They will then check the car's history and most likely make you an offer to repair, where you contribute something to their costs. - Could be anywhere between 10 and 40% of the total.
I know it's not a great proposition, but probably the best you'll get - and usually the quality of repair is good and guaranteed.

regards

Bob

Have they dropped the 6 months(?) ownership bit now? The OP has only owned the car for 2 weeks.

 

[nickiandboris]

I took the car down to MB Redhill for a 45 point health check on Friday and they also looked at the rust bubbles on the boot. I explained to the bodywork guy that i have only had the car 3 weeks and it only has one stamp from MB and the rest are indys. They still took photos and measured the paint thickness and submitted to MB head office. The guy explained that I have a very slim chance of getting any MB goodwill due to the fact that its seen indy's for most of its life. I said i dont understand why this would make a difference when it comes to paintwork(rust bubble coming from the inside out) its not like its a mechnical part its rust that regardless of seeing a main dealer or indy it would still happen. Anyway didnt say much to that and just said that next week i will have an answer and we can take it from there. Im not holding my breath but how much do you think it would cost to get the boot sorted through an indy bodyshop?

 

[nickiandboris]

So I got the call this morning from MB redhill and they have told me that MB head office will not make any contribution towards getting my tailgate sorted and that the rust was down to stone chips!! I said to the guy that he knows as well as I that it’s coming from the inside out but there not budging. It basically comes down to MB service history(or lack of it) although the car has seen an indy throughout its life every 10,000 miles or so. So I guess I will have to get this sorted through a good bodyshop in Surrey, can anyone recommend one? I can’t be the first person this has happened to ;-( all the shine of a new car is washing away.......its those damn buyers eyes I had on.

 

[st4]

Thats appalling.

 

[gbjeppm]

Try this thread for assistance in finding a bodyshop

link

 

[Charmer]

Not in Surrey, but I would recommend R & R Autos of Basingstoke, Hants.

They are MB approved and did the warranty work on my car.

The quality of the work was first class, although they needed the car for 2 days longer than they originally thought.