To accept or not to accept. That is the question.

[MB-BTurbo]

There are two tiny breaks in the paint. They could be stone chips but I very much doubt it as the pattern is the same as the corrosion on the inside. It think it looks more like the bubbles have popped.

I might phone up the body shop and ask how much the badges are as they claim they are expensive and add to the considerable sum. If they are able to do it with out the badges and reduce the price respectively then I might do that.

Still feel cheated though.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Near Maidstone...

I was going to recommend Scuffbusters in TW but a bit far from you (Mrs JB is from t'Sheffield originally).

I went to school in TW and always visit throughout the year so could be an option. I have used The Body shop in Sevenoaks before. Very good value indeed and seem to do a good job too.

 

[corned]

I might phone up the body shop and ask how much the badges are as they claim they are expensive and add to the considerable sum. If they are able to do it with out the badges and reduce the price respectively then I might do that.

Why would the existing badges be scrapped? They (in effect) simply peel off. Why can they not be reused?

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Exactly, I would taker them off and refit myself.
The issue Im having is the price they are quoting me is the full customer retail price of £700+ of which they want me to pay £220. It wont cost MB anything like £700 to do and have probably just weight up the cost price. Therefore I cant see them being very forthcoming with my debadging option as the made up £700 is hidden with the full retail price of badges meaning they would actually have to pay something as the retail price of the badge is offset against the cost price of the actual job...

I hope that makes sense, its complicated trying to explain it.

 

[bedwards1966]

I think that the figure they have claimed it would normally cost is vastly inflated in order to get you to pay more. It certainly is far more than it should cost.

I'd try to get them to accept 100% liability, if you really can't get that then I'd either take it to a small body-shop who'll do a great job at far less than MB are asking from you, or alternatively you could leave it, if it were me then on the inside I'd be inclined to scrape off the bubbled paint to expose the metal and put some Waxoyl on to minimise any further rusting - though it sounds like it really needs applying from inside the door too, I don't know how easy that would be.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

I'd try to get them to accept 100% liability,

How do you go about doing that? Its Mercedes Germany that have made this decision and its through Evans Halshaw Leeds who are the only approved bodyshop in my area. They dont have a say in the matter and all communication has to go through them.

 

[rf065]

It think it looks more like the bubbles have popped.

Don't accept their offer, take it back and ask them to reconsider the original assessment as this rust is not connected to the original complaint.

My CLK had around 10 of these little blisters that had popped, they are not stone chips, and Mercedes fixed them free of charge.

Later, rust appeared on the boot lid and Mercedes would only pay 80%. This rust was under a plastic trim panel on the boot lid and was only found because I had to change a number plate light.

Russ

 

[MB-BTurbo]

I have sent them an email saying they can keep the badges and I would like the cost of the badges (£89) deducted from what I pay. If they agree I will probably get it done. If they dont I have found a new tailgate for £150. The only problem is that it is miles away and local pick up only.

I can see them trying to blame it on stone chips as there are two perfectly placed little dots that are exposed to the elements. It would be very difficult I would imagine to argue against them, although I agree they look to be caused from the inside out.

 

[rf065]

I can see them trying to blame it on stone chips as there are two perfectly placed little dots that are exposed to the elements. It would be very difficult I would imagine to argue against them, although I agree they look to be caused from the inside out.

I would take it back, they are not stone chips but blisters caused by very thin paint which allows moisture to get behind it causing the blisters.

Here are mine, repaired by Mercedes on both sides of the car.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Whats Mercedes approach on fixing these? The same as all other rust issues?

 

[rf065]

Not sure, but they fixed mine, no questions asked, even with one indy service in the book.

Russ

 

[MB-BTurbo]

When was that? I have just spoken to the body shop again and they have said that Mercedes Germany have only this year started asking for large contributions whereas before they would just do it.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Sorry I should have said they wont repair it for free. Is this something that I could repair as it sounds like its rusting from the outside in, e.g. strip it back and touch it up or is there more to it?

 

[John]

I've done a fair bit of rust on a MK4 Escort in the past.

You have to strip back and completely remove the rust as otherwise, it will be back promptly.

Then you have to fill, prepare, paint and blend.

It's not 'easy' in my experience and I wouldn't do it myself as a professional can do it much better and has all the tools etc. to start with.

 

[rf065]

Sorry I should have said they wont repair it for free. Is this something that I could repair as it sounds like its rusting from the outside in, e.g. strip it back and touch it up or is there more to it?

Mine was done last year, the bodyshop is used by not only Mercedes & BMW dealers, but Porsche and Maserati etc. They said they use a type of sand blasting to take the paint back to the bare metal, then two coats of primer and 3 coats of paint which they reckon is more than Mercedes ever use nowadays, Mercedes cars have the thinnest paint out of any modern cars they work on.

Every time I pass the place, it is full of Mercs, this is what happens when bean counters reckon that little more than one coat of paint is sufficient.

Russ

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Its sounding more and more like I will have to get it done then as I cant really ignore these two rust spots unfortunately.

Following on from the conversation with the bodyshop they said;

1) I have no choice they have to put the badges on, so no option to supply without and reduce the quote.

2) They warranty the work for 1 year but this does not cover rust forming in the seams as this is different and will result in a new tailgate which I will have to pay 30% for again (around £350), despite already having paid to get the above done.

3) If they discover more rust that leads to additional work or a new tailgate I will have to pay extra for that, as it would be mid job so I would have no choice.

3) If I dont get it done within the 10 days I have left then it is recorded as a refusal, making any future claims vulnerable to rejection or at best I could hope for a 50% contribution. This makes pursuing very difficult due to the time scale. It also makes it harder if I decide to pursue through the small claims court.

4) I dont get a courtesy car although I can pay £8 a day for a Micra.

I have to say that the 6 months I have had of Mercedes ownership has been pretty miserable. I have had around 3 weeks where I have enjoyed it with nothing wrong. At the end of the day £220 isnt the be all and end all with car ownership especially a prestige marque such as Mercedes but its the hassle and principle of it all.

 

[John]

Just out of interest - I would take some pictures of the two spots (close up and context like you've done), as well as the rest of the rust.

Then email them over to Scuffbusters.

I did this with our Jazz when the misses scraped an arch or door or similar and they were able to advise on the likely cost.

They beat a lot of bodyshops on price by repairing stuff a bodyshop would replace if required (like bumpers albeit not necessarily relevant here).

 

[MB-BTurbo]

I went round a few bodyshops today and was getting similar quotes for the two areas to what Mercedes quoted for doing all the tailgate areas - except car clinic that said it would be £250 for one spot - off their rockers I think.

 

[nick mercedes]

2) They warranty the work for 1 year but this does not cover rust forming in the seams as this is different and will result in a new tailgate which I will have to pay 30% for again (around £350), despite already having paid to get the above done.

3) If they discover more rust that leads to additional work or a new tailgate I will have to pay extra for that, as it would be mid job so I would have no choice.

3) If I dont get it done within the 10 days I have left then it is recorded as a refusal, making any future claims vulnerable to rejection or at best I could hope for a 50% contribution. This makes pursuing very difficult due to the time scale. It also makes it harder if I decide to pursue through the small claims court.

MB can make up any T&C they like, but if they take away your consumer rights, which they appear to do, they are unenfocable.

You have brought a car with a rust warrenty, it has rusted, MB need to put it right, if they don't just take them to court.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

It doesnt have a rust warranty though as it has 1 indi stamp. The reason they are paying anything is due to them admitting a design fault, or so Ive been led to believe. If this is no the case I would love to know about it.