SLK230 rust on wheel arches

[Deleted member 5443]

Hi everybody,

I've got a silver 2001 (facelifted) SLK230. I've recently noticed there is rust forming on the edges of the rear wheel arches, but not the front ones. Fortunately, the rust has not reached the faces of the panels yet, but I'm sure if I leave it, it will in time. Spoke to a stealership body man and he said that if I didn't keep them nice and clean, then this could happen. My wife drives a 1998 A3 and by comparison there isn't a blemish on the bodywork.

He also said that originally the bodywork was warrantied for 3 years, but that Mercedes extended the warranty by an extra 5 yrs on condition that you had the car serviced by them. Unfortunately I am just outside of this 8 yrs.

Has anybody else run into this rusty wheel arch problem?

Separately, I had the rear boot handle surround rust up twice (shown by bubbling paint) in the last few years which the same dealer repaired free of charge even though I didn't have the car serviced there.

Are there know problems and weaknesses in Mercedes bodywork?
I thought these were supposed to be prestige quality cars??

Interested to know your thoughts.



bern

 

[Deutsch]

Common problem - my 2001 clk 230k in at local specialist at the moment - may be worth your while to try and get a claim under a goodwill agreement as this will be corrosion and not stonechips - they will however require service history and check the paint on the panels to make sure they have not been resprayed before - I was only offered 50% of the costs from MB and am told that MB are tightening the amount that they spend on Goodwill claims! My 4 wings are costing 1200 notes!

 

[DJC013]

Hello, when i was looking for my SLK i was shocked at how many had rust on the arches ! I ended up taking a torch and a mirror to look at the arches, a few of the sellers were shocked that their `immaculate` cars had rust on them. I also have the rust on the bootlid, i just factored in the cost of repair in my purchase price !! regards Damian.

PS - My mate who sprays cars for a living says this is quite common, they did not put much paint on the car from new !!

 

[PML]

I have a 02 c220 cdi and my rear arches are getting quite bad and a few little spots around the tailgate

bit dissapointed
PML

 

[BTB 500]

Most pre-2003/4 Mercedes rust. M-B then brought in galvanised panels and improved paint to address the (big) problem:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/34227-galvanising-mercedes-cars.html

 

[Dovedale1508]

I just posted this in another thread - probably makes more sense here tho':

My 2001 W170 SLK230 has rust on all four wheel arches, bonnet, boot lid and roof edge.

I initially approached a local repair shop who took one look at it and suggested I go straight down to my dealer and claim on the warranty ("I've seen so many of these Sir...")

The assessor didn't even have to be told where to look, he went straight to all the spots with his camera, took photos of my docs and said he'd send them off to MB.

One week later and the nice lady from MB Customer Services called me and told me that the Mobilo-life book in my vehicle was meaningless (?) and that I had a standard 8 year anti-corrosion warranty which expires on 1st Sept 2009. The car has only done 60k, I've owned it for 3 years and have it serviced by my local independent (the same guy who did my V8 Jag for 10 years)
MB offered a goodwill payment 50% of the estimated £2400 cost of repairs on the basis that I didn't have a full MB service record.
I asked what different changing the oil made on the failure of the vehicle finish on the bodywork. They said that the dealer would have checked and cleaned all areas (yeah?)...

I objected and told them to go away and think again, on the basis that I had purchased a prestige brand and expected better. My 120k mile Focus is not rusty. My son's 15 year old Fiesta isn't rusty. Even my Jag at 10 years and 120k wasn't rusty (!)

Three weeks later they called back and said that their offer was final. 50%.

Apparently the offer is valid for 30 days so I don't have much time left.

If I had £1200 kicking around looking for a good home, I might give in and just do it. But I don't.

Who do I write to at MB? Should I start with the Chairman?

Has anyone else got any further?

Steve

 

[EDZ649]

There are lots of threads on here about this issue, not just on your particular model. Do a search and have a good read, you might find some of them usefull.

 

[Armstern]

New Member reply

HI I'm in an very similar position as you,but rust only on rear arches and boot lid. Been offered a 70% discount by Mobilo but would still need to pay £270 plus VAT. Car only done 35k in 7 years and always garaged.. I think the price is what it would probably cost to be done at a normal body shop. have you progressed anywhere with your problem. Regards

I just posted this in another thread - probably makes more sense here tho':

My 2001 W170 SLK230 has rust on all four wheel arches, bonnet, boot lid and roof edge.

I initially approached a local repair shop who took one look at it and suggested I go straight down to my dealer and claim on the warranty ("I've seen so many of these Sir...")

The assessor didn't even have to be told where to look, he went straight to all the spots with his camera, took photos of my docs and said he'd send them off to MB.

One week later and the nice lady from MB Customer Services called me and told me that the Mobilo-life book in my vehicle was meaningless (?) and that I had a standard 8 year anti-corrosion warranty which expires on 1st Sept 2009. The car has only done 60k, I've owned it for 3 years and have it serviced by my local independent (the same guy who did my V8 Jag for 10 years)
MB offered a goodwill payment 50% of the estimated £2400 cost of repairs on the basis that I didn't have a full MB service record.
I asked what different changing the oil made on the failure of the vehicle finish on the bodywork. They said that the dealer would have checked and cleaned all areas (yeah?)...

I objected and told them to go away and think again, on the basis that I had purchased a prestige brand and expected better. My 120k mile Focus is not rusty. My son's 15 year old Fiesta isn't rusty. Even my Jag at 10 years and 120k wasn't rusty (!)

Three weeks later they called back and said that their offer was final. 50%.

Apparently the offer is valid for 30 days so I don't have much time left.

If I had £1200 kicking around looking for a good home, I might give in and just do it. But I don't.

Who do I write to at MB? Should I start with the Chairman?

Has anyone else got any further?

Steve

 

[design guru]

Rust

I bought my car in 2001 and have had it since, I had an issue with rust on the arches and Mercedes had it done under the warranty, the repair shop asked me if I'd like the stone chips done at my cost but I decided not to and just got the arches done. It cost nothing, just the inconvenience of no car for 10 days.

I had this work done 6 months ago.

I have a CLK 230K

 

[Kenwin]

I have a (April) 2001 S320 CDI. Although they're only very little patches, I see what looks like very slight rust coming through the paintwork of part of the edges of the rear wheel arches. Should I be worried?

 

[Mike Walker]

You can find a number of previous posts on this topic from me. My W203 2001 is in for the third time in 1 year having the front edges of both rear wheel arches repaired at MB cost as I type. Car returns to me tomorrow.

 

[blondebier]

third time in 1 year

What are they painting it with? Marmalade?

 

[N7OGP]

My 2002 W210 had its 4 wheels arches and the tail gate down under warranty in November last year, the rust is starting to come back on the tail gate, i'm going back next week to complain.

 

[High-Lo]

Interesting to see that its not only W210's that have this problem as its always the W210 that gets mentioned first and foremost whenever the rust word is mentioned. My 2000 facelift W210 has some rust on the O/S front arch but none of the others. Also a few tiny bubbles under the rear O/S door handle. Overall its not suffered too badly but my 1993 Porsche does not have a single blemish in comparison.

 

[Smarties]

Had a 2000 (X Plate) 230SLK, pampered with only 20000 miles at 3 years old, which we liked very much. However, when it Started to rust we ditched it pronto. Bought a 1987 107 series SL to replace it. Guess what?.......No Rust

 

[BTB 500]

Bought a 1987 107 series SL to replace it. Guess what?.......No Rust

Really? They have a much worse reputation for rust than the SLK, although it's often more hidden away.

 

[BobbyHowie]

My 2001 CLK had rust on all wheel arches in 2004 and I had a helluva time getting MB to take care of it. They refused at first saying it was stone-chips but eventually did after many phone calls and letters.
Then got rust on the wheel arches in my SL last year which they fixed no problem. Interestingly, they said "Thought they'd fixed that problem".

 

[default_user]

Me too.

I've just bought a 2001 SLK200K. On looking over it when I first saw it, it all looked pristine but running my fingers around the lips of the wheel arches revealed that the front passenger side was very ragged and rusty. The seller has promised to deal with this before I pick it up but it makes me worry about the cost of future work that will probably be needed.

My wife will mainly be using this car as her daily driver so I guess looking after the bodywork will become something of an obsession! Time to make friends with a good body shop...

By contrast , my step sons 10 year old Proton Persona has no rust at all. I'd have thought MB would be a bit better. I absolutely love the car though so I'll just save up for when it needs major attention.

 

[wemorgan]

It depends how you see yourself living with your SLK. I had a CLK with a similar problem, but the car was only worth ~£3k so body shop repair weren't economical.

If the rust is still on the inside flange and therefore not immediately visible, I'd be tempted by a DIY repair. It wont look perfect of course, but then again no one will see it's there except you.

Might be worth saving your pennies for the likely mechanical repairs/servicing; MAF, gearbox oil, roof mechanism etc

Just a thought.

 

[default_user]

Hi Will. I did my research before deciding to buy an SLK but didn't realise corrosion was going to be a major worry. Now I have it I want to keep it for a very long time so would really like to look after it. As for the wheel arches, can you get arch trims like the chrome ones you see on BMWs? Thought this might be a good way to prolong the life of them. It would give leeway to cut out the rust completely, treat it and then cover it.