W203 Galvanised Or Not?

[perdikoula888]

I went to repair my car under insurance to a body shop. Although initially in the estimate they stated that the car at the end will be cavity waxed for rust/corrosion, they changed their mind and they decided that it is not required or necessary. Their excuse was that the car is galvanised and does not need cavity wax. Is this true or not? I need an expert answer as I need to get the facts right before I go back to them to discuss this issue. Please let me know!

 

[miro]

I went to repair my car under insurance to a body shop. Although initially in the estimate they stated that the car at the end will be cavity waxed for rust/corrosion, they changed their mind and they decided that it is not required or necessary. Their excuse was that the car is galvanised and does not need cavity wax. Is this true or not? I need an expert answer as I need to get the facts right before I go back to them to discuss this issue. Please let me know!

Since wax doesnt react with zinc and it provides additional anaerobic barriers against anything environmental then precisely what is the reason why having wax wouldnt be BETTER than not having it.

 

[perdikoula888]

thank you for your advise. however can you tell me if the car is galvanised or not? i am curious to know!

 

[miro]

thank you for your advise. however can you tell me if the car is galvanised or not? i am curious to know!

You mean galvanised for 100 years or galvanised for paint protection.

Let me put it this way. Its galvanised but not the way they are making out it is. It clearly states in the workshop system that all underside work must be recoated with the relevant tar substance and all interior work must be resprayed with wax on the inner skin of the outer bodywork. They are just lazy, so it makes no difference whether it is galvanised or not, all modifications require recoating.

In other words it is a red herring.

 

[ddentrec]

The W203 series is not galvanised.

No MBUK marketing or techninal information for the W203 that I have seen refers to the bodyshell being constructed of galvanised steel.

The general misconception is that the 30-year MobiloLife corrosion waranty means that the car shell is galvanised. But it is not. It has 'standard' wax cavity/underseal treatment as per 1980s Mercedes, but of lower quality in my view.

Also unworkable and uneconomic MobiloLife conditions will ensure that all cars that are covered will not longer becovered after 7 years of ownership anyway. 97% of MB will be independantly serviced after 7 years invalidating the corrosion warranty, which is a relief for DaimlerChrysler UK.

My response will attract criticism. But I invite them to post me a web link to a DaimlerChrysler official website stating that the W203 is of galvanised construction.

 

[glojo]

MB will be independantly serviced after 7 years invalidating the corrosion warranty, which is a relief for DaimlerChrysler UK.

My only criticism is Mobilio is NOT just a corrision warranty.

John

 

[perdikoula888]

Therefore I should require cavity wax no matter what they say. Is this correct? Also can someone tell me what exactly is the process and which interior/exterior parts-panels in specific I should reasonably expect that they should cavity wax them?

 

[miro]

Therefore I should require cavity wax no matter what they say. Is this correct? Also can someone tell me what exactly is the process and which interior/exterior parts-panels in specific I should reasonably expect that they should cavity wax them?

I would have grave reservations about dealing with a repair agent that doesnt have that information already and then further trusting them to do the job knowing that they dont want to.

 

[perdikoula888]

If I know what exactly the process involves, it would be easier for me to evaluate whether they are doing the job right and can inspect and verify if all the job was "actually" done.

 

[glojo]

I would have grave reservations about dealing with a repair agent that doesnt have that information already and then further trusting them to do the job knowing that they dont want to.

Right from the biginning of this thread these have been my thoughts. I cannot criticise the repair shop, because we have no knowledge of it, but I would have little, to no confidence in their professional knowledge. I am also a critta for checking the repair will be baked after spraying?

I would NOT have allowed this company anywhere near my pride and joy. (They still might be a very professional outfit)

John

 

[Dieselman]

If the car was built before mid-late 2004 it will not be galvanised, it also will not have had any cavity wax applied in production.

Most repairers will apply wax as a safeguard, just ask the bodyshop to do it and I'm sure they will.

Repairs involving waterbased paints are usually oven dried, only the factory doesn't do that.

As a matter of interest nano lacquer doesn't require any more finishing/baking than regular acrylic lacquer, but due to being harder but more brittle it doesn't take well to localised repairs as it doesn't sand down to a fine edge, but keeps shaling to a sharp edge.

 

[glojo]

As a matter of interest nano lacquer doesn't require any more finishing/baking than regular acrylic lacquer, but due to being harder but more brittle it doesn't take well to localised repairs as it doesn't sand down to a fine edge, but keeps shaling to a sharp edge.

Okay you win, the bait was cast, the fish has nibbled

All the research I have carried out into nano paint usage by Mercedes-Benz has stated nano paint needs to be baked, and baked at higher temperatures than that required by normal water-based car paints when originally applied.

I was told the reason for the very long delays with getting all models painted in this excellent paint was simply the problem with converting the 'paint line' in the relevant factories to be able to bake at the higher temperatures. I believe the 211 4Matic which is, or was built in Austria is one of the last to have only this paint, the first being theE, S, CL, SL and SLK-Class model series. I have no idea when the C-class received this paint but would estimate it to be no earlier than the spring of 2004?


Where have you found contradictory literature that explains the Mercedes-Benz nano paint does not require baking?

Just as an aside, an American owner got his newly purchased car replaced when a damaged front wing could not be resprayed with the equivalent paint to the rest of the vehicle. No body repair shop could get hold of genuine nano clear lacquer.

I do accept that times move on, and this paint might now be available, hence this is a question, and not a statement.

During the paint process, the ceramic nano-particles float around freely in the liquid paint. When the car body is baked inside the paint shop oven at 140 degrees Celsius (284 degrees Fahrenheit), the ceramic nano-particles cross-link into a dense network instead of the long molecular chains found in conventional paint. This allows the lacquer to provide much more effective scratch protection against normal wear and tear.


Regards,
John the curious
nano nano (Mork and Mindy quote)

 

[Shude]

My only criticism is Mobilio is NOT just a corrision warranty.

Critisism of what/who?

The corrosion warranty is the only part of Mobilo worth talking about, once the car is past 4 years old and the recovery programme is expired (at least for 1998+ cars anyway).

 

[glojo]

Critisism of what/who?

The corrosion warranty is the only part of Mobilo worth talking about, once the car is past 4 years old and the recovery programme is expired (at least for 1998+ cars anyway).

Mobilio is usually a very emotive subject because folks that fail to comply with the terms and conditions tend to try to separate the warranty into sections. It has never been a two part warranty.

Whether we agree with the conditions is academic, they are there and that is the bottom line.

MobiloLife will be there to assist you in the case of technical breakdowns and problems starting the engine for the entire service life of your vehicle.

The bold type is as per the terms and conditions and not me being insensitive.

We have had members on this forum talking about problems with flat batteries. MobiloLife will turn out, and get you back on the road.
(You might well have to pay for the battery)

It is frustrating to continually read of folks misinterpreting something that is quite clear in its meaning. (the main requirements)


John

 

[Shude]

It is frustrating to continually read of folks misinterpreting something that is quite clear in its meaning. (the main requirements)

The main requirements are pretty silly though when surely the most common claim on the mobilo warranty is bodywork rusting from the inside out, something that no amount of stealership servicing is going to prevent.

There are rusty stonechips on my car that have never been mentioned after any service has been carried out, who knows if any hidden rust has been detected or efforts made to prevent it?

 

[glojo]

The main requirements are pretty silly though when surely the most common claim on the mobilo warranty is bodywork rusting from the inside out, something that no amount of stealership servicing is going to prevent.

I rest my case. You have instantly cherry picked the warranty.

If.......... yes if the warranty was only for bodywork, then yes it might be silly to insist on servicing. The warranty IS NOT solely about bodywork.

Mercedes-Benz has offered this excellent cover for a price.....Just like any other long term cover you care to take out. We can discuss servicing costs of main dealer vs independant but that is a seperate issue. If you don't like the rules, then don't play the game.

John

 

[Dieselman]

John
Regarding the Mobilio-life you are quite correct regarding the breakdown cover being reinstated after each service, but if the cars didn't rust then I'm sure most people would have theair cars serviced somewhere cheaper and either take out breakdown insurance or take a chance.
It is the corrosion part of the warranty that keeps people goint to the dealer.

In answer to your query regarding the lacquer technology, you only need to ask your local MB repairer. They will be quite free with the information.

Most manufacturuers rely on forced air drying when cars are built, whereas for years repairers have used ovens to achieve a quicker dry. This is to avoid runs due to non-solvent paints taking longer to dry off.

 

[glojo]

John
Regarding the Mobilio-life you are quite correct regarding the breakdown cover being reinstated after each service, but if the cars didn't rust then I'm sure most people would have theair cars serviced somewhere cheaper and either take out breakdown insurance or take a chance.
It is the corrosion part of the warranty that keeps people goint to the dealer.

For the older Mercedes I am sure this is correct and sadly for the lesser informed owner of a modern model you might still be right, but modern models will always need the main dealer to carry out the required and perhaps necessary upgrades??? There is clearly a saving to be had for older vehicles to be spoilt by excellent independants, but they can never afford to send their techicians away on the unending courses that are required to keep technicians up to date with all the modern pieces of technology that are now fitted onto modern vehicles?

In answer to your query regarding the lacquer technology, you only need to ask your local MB repairer. They will be quite free with the information.

I really enjoyed watching a good sprayer at work and have always picked their brains. Unfortunately nano paint technology generates a blank stare and then flannel........ The workshops I have spoken to merely state they will do a perfect match and yes sir of course it is nano paint. Ask them to describe it and that is a different story.

Most manufacturuers rely on forced air drying when cars are built, whereas for years repairers have used ovens to achieve a quicker dry. This is to avoid runs due to non-solvent paints taking longer to dry off.

I have always been told that the baking of paint hardens it and helps prevent uv rays from excessive bleaching? (very much an abridged and a laymans interpretation) I would really appreciate any expert comments on the baking of paints. Nano clear coat is a different issue and the experts have categorically stated this MUST be baked for the technology to work. I definitely would not ask joe bloggs the sprayer to confirm this simply because they will NOT have the right equipment??

Thanks as ever,
John