Sprinter Rust Claim...

[Flash]

The Sprinter is only 19 months old with 22000 miles and already has rust on its panels...

Apart from the rust is it is in immaculate condition and I always wash/valet it regularly. Its been taken to a MB Passenger Car bodyshop for inspection (as they would do a better job than a commercial MB body shop) and photographs were taken and copies made of the Service History Book and V5 Document (only had one service so far back in Decemeber last year as it has long 20000 mile service intervals).

Those that are famlar with the MWB Sprinter Panel Van will know that it is made up of to two large panels on each side for the cargo area followed by the door and front wing. The worse panel affected by the rust the boyshop have said is a genuine claim and agreed how awful it was and the entire panel shall be repsrayed and sand blasted down (I'm am not keen on having the panel replaced anyway as it would be a very big job removing and welding the new one and after all this is a commercial vehilce...) once MB have authorised the repair. However, the rust on the panel on the driver's side cargo panel they are trying to say is a stone chip which it is not and I shall contest this once the authorisation has been given by DC.

My question is what do you think are my chances of getting DC to authorise respraying the entire passenger side as respraying just the affected panel will not match with rest of the paintwork and will be noticeale as the affected panel is a very large area...??? What arguements should I use? Has anyone been in a similar situation with their passenger car?

 

[GrahamC230K]

Re your last point, I would wait until you can see mismatched paint before worrying or fussing about it. Once there is a problem to worry about, you will also have your undisputable evidence.

Good luck.

Must remember I don't want another MB, never a buy another MB, must not buy an MB. Think I've go it .

 

[Dieselman]

My question is what do you think are my chances of getting DC to authorise respraying the entire passenger side as respraying just the affected panel will not match with rest of the paintwork and will be noticeale as the affected panel is a very large area...??? What arguements should I use? Has anyone been in a similar situation with their passenger car?

I would think your chances are nil.

why do you think the car bodyshop will do a better job than a commercial paint shop?

 

[Flash]

I would think your chances are nil.

why do you think the car bodyshop will do a better job than a commercial paint shop?

I will have let them do the job first as Graham said BUT if there is any colour mis-match then I shall have to try and take things further from there BUT I know that no matter how good a bodyshop is if individual panels are reprayed then there is always a colour mis-match despite blemishing other panels and the panel that needs respraying is the biggest panel on the vehicle and will stand out like a saw thumb. My initial thought was that if there was a colour mis match then respraying the entire side from the beginning would just make it easier and less hassle for all concerned as the paint would be mixed up at the same time and job done in one attempt rather than two.

To be honest the reason why I had taken the Sprinter to a Passenger Car Bodyshop is because they do passenger cars from an A Class to a CL and have a good reputation for doing a first class job and are likely to take more care with finish on the Sprinter than a Commercial bodyshop would that mainly deals with commercial fleet vehicles (owned by Corporate customers which no one will be to bothered about inspecting or the perfection of the finish) and not private owners such as myself. Also, the Passenger Car Bodyshop is a lot closer to me distance wise than the approved MB Commercial Bodyshop. If the Passenger Car Bodyshop bodge up the paint job/finish than I feel that I will have more leverage to get them to sort things out as they would have more of a reputation to uphold than a Commercial Body shop would. Also, the Commercial Bodyshop that I made enquires too and visited did not seem as Professional as the Passenger Car one.

 

[Flash]

Chased bodyshop yesterday as now been just over two weeks since claim was submitted and "susrprise surpisrse" they have not heard anything from DC yet. There is now another panel that I have spotted rust on and that two will need respraying on the other side and I have been told that this will be another separate claim... Looks like I have ended up with a rust bucket (18 months old too....)

 

[Flash]

Update: -I had to chase the bodyshop again this morning myself and all of a sudden the paper work was found and autorisation given by DC for the respray of the panel. I now have to take it back to have the other panel photographed for the claim to be submitted so that all the work is carried out at the same time.

 

[Flash]

Update: DC have approved the second claim (I rang the bodyshop a little while ago). All I have to do now is book it in with the Bodyshop for them to carryout the work. I just hope that they do a decent job now...