UK Mars Red /Fire Opal Red [code 590] Micro Blistering Paint Manufacturing Fault

[markjay]

What's the car's pain code? This will clear it up.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Random picture from the WWW
A Class Jupiter Red.

 

[foxe01]

Welcome to MBClub Edward. I’m sorry to hear about your wife’s paintwork issue.

I would suggest that a fresh start with a main dealer from a different dealer group, and with a slightly gentler approach. It’s an emotive situation to be in, with such a large outstanding finance balance on a 5 year old car, but if you can emotionally remove yourself from the situation, remain calm, and ask questions to understand them you may find that a second attempt may get you further, quicker.

For example if they say that the car has been painted all over, then ask how they know that. If they say they are a professional and can just tell, then ask them whether they use a paint depth gauge to help you understand as you don’t have their professional eye. When they show you the depth on one panel, ask them to show you the paint depth in all panels if all panels have been resprayed.

There’s an element of discretion in goodwill repairs, and I’ll bet you a weak pint of larger shandy in a sunny day that if it’s repaired then it will be done as a goodwill gesture. Go about it in such a way hat the bodywork staff support your cause and you’re more likely to be successful. There’s always the possibility that it has been repainted too, so I’d hold fire on court proceedings until then.

Wishing you and your wife the very best in getting this sorted.

Hi Bobby,

Thank you very much for kind response.

During the gesture of goodwill inspection I tried to be very amicable but unfortunately MB decided from the off to approach it with hostility, and at first we’re trying to avoid doing any inspection at all, even though we had an official appointment and it was agreed days before it would take place.

They used the no service history with MB as the initial reason/ excuse for no inspection should occur, even though they had agreed prior to the visit they would conduct the inspection.

As everyone knows on MB Club that a service has nothing to do with bodywork paint.

Their approach including aggressive behaviour towards me and their excuses were very suspicious and showed more guilt they are at fault for poor paintwork.

I definitely agree with all your points and intend to approach the next visit with Mercedes in an ever more strategic fashion.

I bought my own paint gauge and found a third party bodywork shop who can do an official report to determine if the paint is factory or not.

After I have this report I can shut down their excuses and lies with professional proof.

I have shared pictures of our car for you to review.

Unfortunately, my wife’s GLA has micro blistering on every body panel including the roof.

Kindest Regards,
Edward

 

[foxe01]

What's the car's pain code? This will clear it up.

Hi Markjay,

The paint code I believe is Mercedes Jupiter Red Code 589.

Is Jupiter Red known for having the same problems as Opel Red?

 

[foxe01]

Welcone, and sorry to hear about your troubles.

Indeed, it has been hit-and-miss for many owners, some had a full respray without issues, other had to go through a lengthy battle first, and some were declined anyway.

Two points to note:

At this point, the obstacle you're facing is a non-cooperative dealer, I.e. MB have not dealt with your case yet, they'll only become aware of it once the dealer send-in their report. In this situation, it's always a good idea to try a different dealer.

Then, regarding the legal aspect, your current issue isn't that MB denied liability, but that the dealer claims that the car had a full respray previously. Regardless of whether that's true or not, the point is that if the dealer refused to inspect the car on the premises that any paint damage won't be covered anyway, then you could find others to join you, but at current the dealer isn't denying liability - your issue is in proving that the paintwork on your car is indeed original, and that in itself is not a basis for a class action law suit.

I suggest that you proceed as planned and get an independent report regrading the paintwork, then see what the dealer says, and take it from there.

Best of luck.

Thank you MarkJay, I am proceeding as you have suggested.

 

[foxe01]

Someone here will know.....but I thought that they had discontinued the troublesome Fire Opal paint before 2020..... what colour is yours @foxe01 ? It needs to be a solid, non metallic red.

I believe it Mercedes Jupiter Red Code 589

 

[SpikyMikey]

Hi Markjay,

The paint code I believe is Mercedes Jupiter Red Code 589.

Is Jupiter Red known for having the same problems as Opel Red?

It's not unknown - Google "Mercedes Jupiter Red problems"
Someone on here had a Jupiter Red car which needed a full respray if I remember correctly.

 

[SpikyMikey]

It's not unknown - Google "Mercedes Jupiter Red problems"
Someone on here had a Jupiter Red car which needed a full respray if I remember correctly.

Here you go...
GLA - My hot red dream is ruined..... | Bodywork

 

[foxe01]

Cinch have a bit of a rep of selling damaged cars that were not recorded by insurance companies....Google it. So it's not impossible that they painted it. Also things happen. My mate put his near brand new 5 series through a hedge.... only light paint damage....but he had both sides sprayed at his cost and kept the insurance out of it.

Hi @ALFAitalia,

My wife and I had not met yet before she purchased the GLA, since 2023 we have dated and got married.

Unfortunately, she didn’t get any advice at the time when she made the purchase or took out the really bad finance.

I have now inherited the problem and cost to resolve the paintwork now as part of my husband duties.

Happy Wife, Happy Life

Best
Edward

 

[foxe01]

It's not unknown - Google "Mercedes Jupiter Red problems"
Someone on here had a Jupiter Red car which needed a full respray if I remember correctly.

Hi @SpikyMikey,

Thank you for remembering this documented case/ situation in MB Club.

It’s also a GLA from 2020 in Jupiter Red, that got a repaint by MB as a gesture of goodwill.

This reference will deliver huge leverage in my case.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Edward

 

[SpikyMikey]

Hi @SpikyMikey,

Thank you for remembering this documented case/ situation in MB Club.

It’s also a GLA from 2020 in Jupiter Red, that got a repaint by MB as a gesture of goodwill.

This reference will deliver huge leverage in my case.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Edward

You're welcome.
Actually it wasn't the example I was thinking of; which I've now found.
2 different forum members mentioned here, each with the problem, one on an A Clas, one with a CLA.
A180D SE in Jupiter Red - Paint Defect | Bodywork

 

[markjay]

..
They used the no service history with MB as the initial reason/ excuse for no inspection should occur...

This in itself is quite rare.

Most MB cars will have at least 3 years of MB service history, recorded on the MB Digital Service Book (DSB), which you can access online using your Mercedes me account, assuming you've cleared one.

The reason is that the majority of private owners have the car serviced at the dealer until the new car warranty expires (although dealer servicing isn't a mandatory requirement for warranty cover, most owners do that), and cars supplied new on a lease will almost always have a clause mandating dealer servicing.

So, yes, there are exceptions, but it is still rare to find an MB car in the UK with no MB service history at all.

The reason that this may actually be relevant is that it depends on how MB will view the issue.

If it's a paint warranty issue, then they could try and argue that if it would have been serviced probably by an authorised MB dealer, the paintwork would have been inspected regularly and any defects fixed early on, but in reality they rarely do that because it's obvious that the car will need a bare metal respray regardless of when the issue was detected. And so, on a practical level, you are correct that the service history (or lack of) will not be a factor in the event that MB accept this as a paintwork warranty claim.

However, if MB deny the car's eligibility for a warranty claim, and process your claim instead as a goodwill contribution, then the service history most certainly will come into it, when considering the level of goodwill contribution, or if to offer one at all.