W204 rear subframe corrosion - dealer diag fee

[hebdenwill]

Hi all,

I've been reading quite a few threads on here and other places about people taking their C class (and other affected models) for defective rear subframe replacements courtesy of MB.

mine is pretty crispy so I asked someone I know who works at a dealership about it, they said they do sometimes replace them for free, but it would involve a £180 diagnostic fee - waived if the work is carried out. I guess this is usual but has anyone found a way around this? Even if I'm fairly sure they might want to replace it, it's a very large amount of money on the line for them to potentially say "no don't worry that's fine it doesn't need doing"

Just wondered if anyone has any advice, thanks!

 

[Will]

Try a different dealer?

Or ask if they do vehicle health checks (or MOTs) - £180 seems a bit steep for just the subframe to be checked for a claim (doesn’t feel like this is a diagnosis to me really?)

 

[markjay]

It's just the standard reply. In essence, there's not much that the dealer (or anyone else) can see until it's too late.

I did ask MB Brooklands to inspect the rear subframe when they last serviced the car, they got their MOT tester to come and have a look and he said everything was fine, though I wasn't expecting anything else. I wasn't charged.

Alternatively, any MOT tester or garage can check it for you - it's a very simple and quick external visual check.

Again, passing the visual check doesn't mean that there isn't a problem looming inside the rear subframe, but short of drilling a hole and inserting a borescope camera there's not much else that can done.

 

[Will]

Again, passing the visual check doesn't mean that there isn't a problem looming inside the rear subframe, but short of drilling a hole and inserting a borescope camera there's not much else that can done.

That’s pretty much my thoughts, but I doubt they will be drilling and/or borescoping a subframe for that £180 diagnostic fee anyway.

OP says it looks crusty though so maybe a visual check would be enough to submit a claim anyway?