W210 rust issues - what have you got?

[DrNick]

Dear all

I have recently noticed rust in the seams around all 4 doors of my 99 E class.

I took it to the dealer who took photos, and said it would be a while before I heard anything, and wasn't any more forthcoming than that except he measured the paint and said that one of the doors was thinner than the rest and must have been worked on before, to which I pointed out that all 4 doors were rusty. ( Why would thinner all over mean its been worked on? Surely that means its been completely stripped and then resprayed? Unlikely I would have thought)

Anyway, 2 days later I get an answerphone message from the dealer saying that they need a service history before they can even progress it. Needless to say, I havn't got one that they would believe, so they are going to try to wriggle out of it. I don't see why a service history and high mileage should affect a claim for rust in the seams of the doors.

My case would be strengthened if I can quote other peoples success with warranty claims of cars of this model and vintage (of which there are several, as I have been looking through the forums) and although there is data here it is spread out in many threads with lots of other discussions thrown in (I've printed most of them out, and its not easy to pinpoint the gist of the problem/solutions). I'm sure it would help other people as well who are yet to discover this problem and will have to go down this route if people could reply succinctly with the rust problems they have had, the age/mileage of the car, and brief details of the success or otherwise of a warranty claim. Then people would have some ammunition to take to Mercedes, showing there are precedents.

Nick

 

[SilverSaloon]

Dear all

I have recently noticed rust in the seams around all 4 doors of my 99 E class.

I took it to the dealer who took photos, and said it would be a while before I heard anything, and wasn't any more forthcoming than that except he measured the paint and said that one of the doors was thinner than the rest and must have been worked on before, to which I pointed out that all 4 doors were rusty. ( Why would thinner all over mean its been worked on? Surely that means its been completely stripped and then resprayed? Unlikely I would have thought)

Anyway, 2 days later I get an answerphone message from the dealer saying that they need a service history before they can even progress it. Needless to say, I havn't got one that they would believe, so they are going to try to wriggle out of it. I don't see why a service history and high mileage should affect a claim for rust in the seams of the doors.

My case would be strengthened if I can quote other peoples success with warranty claims of cars of this model and vintage (of which there are several, as I have been looking through the forums) and although there is data here it is spread out in many threads with lots of other discussions thrown in (I've printed most of them out, and its not easy to pinpoint the gist of the problem/solutions). I'm sure it would help other people as well who are yet to discover this problem and will have to go down this route if people could reply succinctly with the rust problems they have had, the age/mileage of the car, and brief details of the success or otherwise of a warranty claim. Then people would have some ammunition to take to Mercedes, showing there are precedents.

Nick

AFAIK MB dont require full service history now for rust warranty stuff

 

[Lil' Aty]

I had probems with my front wings catching rust and my bootlid in 2001 on my 97 w210 i took my car back to the dealer they checked it over with the car only covering 28k at the time they couldnt really argue with with a 3-4 year old car that was low however it was serviced everytime from my main dealer to whom i took it back to for the rust claim they checked the car over and sent a claim in to MB headquaters with a claim for the 4 doors, wings and bootlid 6 weeks later they took the car in and did the work..

hope this helps with your claim..

 

[Aletank]

AFAIK MB dont require full service history now for rust warranty stuff

When and where was this annouced ? I thought the understanding was , as long as its been serviced within the last 2 years by Mercedes.

On my 1999 C-class I've had the boot lid replaced and wheel arch treated under the rust warranty scheme.

The guy checked the thinckness of the paint, but no photos and said he wouldn't need to see the service history as MB check all that(must be on computer) when they are authorising the claim.

 

[SilverSaloon]

When and where was this annouced ? I thought the understanding was , as long as its been serviced within the last 2 years by Mercedes.

i read it on here about 3 weeks ago.

should be able to confirm soon as i have asked my local dealer to start a claim on a bit of rust at the lower of my drivers door on my CLK

terrible for a car of this price and age. my 1999 mondeo had no rust at all. thought MB cars would be even better.

 

[rizal2510]

Hi,

I've got my rust claim warranty approved for my W210 1998 E240. The areas affected are two front wings and three doors. My car have about three MBSH stamps and the rest was serviced by an independent with 77k on the clock. It took me about six weeks to get notification that my claim went through and the car is in the bodyshop now. Upon sending the car in, noticed that the rear arches and bootlid also shows symptoms of rusting hence another claim was submitted. This was advised by the bodyshop guy to get whatever approved repairs done first as they might reject the claim if all the work is resubmitted again.

Next on the list is my wife's 1998 W202 which has developed rust along the door seals for two doors. So far the rest of the common problem spot is clear. This car has FMBSH but a higher mileage, so would like to see how the claim would go.

All this rust reminds me of my old A reg Escort MKII..

 

[kenwaic]

i just got my car back from the bodyshop after three weeks but they did do a good spray job except some panels were out of alignment but gonna get them done again ..got two front wings two rear quarter panels a drivers door and a new bootlid oh and i also got myself a shiny new cupholder
but i agree with someone that said 5 year old mercs SHOULD NOT rust

 

[Dieselman]

Dr Nick

Rust is an issue well known on late model MBs. Known areas are door tops, front wings, rear wheel arches, bootlid around the lock, front suspension spring cups, radiator support panel, bonnet frame to skin.

Cars registered before November '98 had a six year unconditional warranty, cars after November had 30 year Mobilo Life. For Mobilo Life you do need the car to be serviced.

As you have rightly said mileage and sevice history should not be an issue for a corrosion claim.
The rust is caused by poor and thin paint application. The paint tollerance is between 70 and 100 microns total thickness, but some cars are thinner than this. My own car measured 60 microns.

If a panel has been worked on previously then the paint will be thicker as a sprayer will normally achieve a thickness of 130 microns plus any paint already on the panel.

Be firm but polite to your dealer and if necessary ring MB customer services. It really does work.

 

[IanT]

Just the door tops on my W210, flaking nicely under the rubbers and only 2 months over 3 years old too.

I'll bring it to the attention of the dealer when it goes in for service and see what they make of it.

Ian.

 

[BimMerc]

My w4nker of a dealer hasnt called me back yet despite MB Customer Services kicking his **** aswell. I reckon the service manager there is bit dim.

BimMerc

 

[eurojunky]

Also discovered rust

I also discovered rust on my 4 years and 9 months old W210.
http://wan.st/rust

9 year old BMW compact, 13 year old Audi 90, and friends 12 year old pug 205 has less rust! Arghhh

I've noticed in the wheel arch area there appears to be no thickened 'hammerite' texture as there is on my VW Polo, and the paint seems extraordinarily thin or there is no rust proofing layer as minor stone chips on the bonnet break out in a rust spot where chips on my Audi, ex 205 just show primer.

I've only had the W210 for 9 months and 3 thousand miles, car was purchased from MB dealer. (it has 93k on the clock though)

Going through the motions of a paint claim at the moment.

 

[IanT]

I also discovered rust on my 4 years and 9 months old W210.
http://wan.st/rust

That really is quite disturbing. I hope MB are taking steps to prevent this happening in the future and dealing with us all well, after all, the W210 was far from the entry-level Merc and none of its models could be described as 'cheap' in the same way you might describe a Daewoo.

Hope they sort it out for you - you'll have read about the limitations on warranty claims due to stone chips, damage or resprays not carried out by MB approved bodyshops, so look carefully to make sure yours hasn't been resprayed at some point. If they accept it and pay up you'll have a very clean fresh motor car.

Ian.

 

[Dave K]

Had my late '97 E300TD approved for a new bootlid within 4 days of my MB dealer looking at it. No quibble at all. Not full MBSH (but did have full SH). Also had the tailgate of my 2000 E320 CDi approved within 1 week of dealer inspecting it (full MBSH). Again, no quibble and both done within the last 3 months (E300TD only 3 weeks ago). Hope this helps.

I'd advise anyone whose MB isn't yet rusty in these areas to rust proof them with some Dinitrol or simillar. Just lift up the rubbers, squirt some in, and forget about it.

 

[eurojunky]

I'd advise anyone whose MB isn't yet rusty in these areas to rust proof them with some Dinitrol or simillar. Just lift up the rubbers, squirt some in, and forget about it.

YEP! and put mudflaps on, as part of the mudflap covers the wheel arch masking part of it from the impact of chips

This stuff sounds good to prime the wheel arch areas
http://www.fertan.co.uk/item-over_4_bodywork_and_stone_chip_p.htm
though probably MB repairs are standard primer and paint

 

[silverclk230]

I have had the local "chips away" operator round today to sort out all of the stone chips on my car.
When he had finished he pointed out some tiny rust marks which appeared to be breaking out from underneath of the surface of the paint. They were in the middle of the hood apron panel and he also noticed a couple on the bonnet.
These were, in his opinion, caused by tiny particles of metal adhering itself to the car during the painting process which corrode over time and eventually go rusty and break the surface. Apparently its a problem mainly with silver cars as they become virtually unoticabe at quality control. Its not until they rust that they become visible. He also identified some specs on the plastic bumper tops which were tiny specs of rust now just below the surface of the lacquer.
Its a recognised paint defect apparently, within the motor trade.
Basically it may have affected any horizontal surface on the car. Although only a few are visible now otheres may break out over time.
He suggested a claim against MB to rectify the defects, and also that an independent paint inspection would detect this as a defect if MB weren`t prepared to take me seriously.
He also commented on the fact that he though the quality of MBs paint finish poor, compared to similar quality cars, based on his experience of cars he has worked on.
I`m wondering now whether or not to pursue this with MB. Anyone else had a similar problem?

 

[IanT]

This is interesting, as now that he's painted it, MB may well refuse responsibility for the panels he's worked on. One of the points in the Mobilo booklet states that paint work must be done by a M-B authorised agent and the appropriate records made in the service book.

You should be fine for the rest though. Dang, mine's silver too!

Ian.

 

[silverclk230]

The chips away chap only touched in the chips - doubt MB would notice.

Have since spoken to a lawyer who thinks it will be very difficult to put a case together against MB without legal help, unless MB prepared to accept there`s a problem (which I doubt). As the third owner he thinks I have no contract with MB.

Sorry not an E class - its a CLK - but this defect may well apply to any MB.

 

[IanT]

Quick update...

Mine went in for its 163,000 mile service today and while I was there I asked the service advisor to check the door tops for rust, and the inside of the bonnet, adjacent to the hinge on the drivers side.

When I picked it up he said their bodyshop had looked at it and taken photos of the rust. He also said they were sending the evidence across to MB for the rust warranty claim and that he should hear from them in the next few days. I'll wait with fingers crossed...

The dealer was Rawsons of Tonbridge by the way...

Ian.