W210 Rust ?

[SimonLA]

I've owned my 1999 300TD for 10 Months and it's a dream to drive, punchy and 30-35mpg (never tried driving too carefully, so don't know what the max mpg potential is). I've only recently picked up on the rust problems that the E Class apparently has and its concerning as I intend to keep the car for some years. So far I've looked at all the usually reported places, door seals, boot lock etc and its as clean as a whistle........question is:- were there particular years where this was a bigger problem ?,
Any other E Class owners out there with rust free cars ?, or am I just living on borrowed time ?

Also I'm aiming to put a CD Changer in the car, does anyone know if there is any wiring already in place to the boot......the thought of the boys from Halfords 'avin a go is scary.

 

[Brian WH]

I've owned my 1999 300TD for 10 Months and it's a dream to drive, punchy and 30-35mpg (never tried driving too carefully, so don't know what the max mpg potential is). I've only recently picked up on the rust problems that the E Class apparently has and its concerning as I intend to keep the car for some years. So far I've looked at all the usually reported places, door seals, boot lock etc and its as clean as a whistle........question is:- were there particular years where this was a bigger problem ?,
Any other E Class owners out there with rust free cars ?, or am I just living on borrowed time ?

Also I'm aiming to put a CD Changer in the car, does anyone know if there is any wiring already in place to the boot......the thought of the boys from Halfords 'avin a go is scary.

I had a 1997 E280 and when I sold it 18 months ago it was rust free, and the same age as your's now, so they are not all in the same boat mate. By the way it was left outside and never garaged.

 

[JumJum]

Freddie Jones had his E320 CDI last of the line w210 rebodied after it was only 9 months old, rust coming through all over the place.

He was told there must have been a fault on the production line and his car missed "dipping" (?) .

Quite a lot of comments about rust on the boards

See also

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4030&view=previous

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php3?t=101394&highlight=w210+rust

I'd get down to the dealers and get it checked by them

 

[uumode]

I've owned my 1999 300TD for 10 Months and it's a dream to drive, punchy and 30-35mpg (never tried driving too carefully, so don't know what the max mpg potential is). I've only recently picked up on the rust problems that the E Class apparently has and its concerning as I intend to keep the car for some years. So far I've looked at all the usually reported places, door seals, boot lock etc and its as clean as a whistle........question is:- were there particular years where this was a bigger problem ?,
Any other E Class owners out there with rust free cars ?, or am I just living on borrowed time ?

Also I'm aiming to put a CD Changer in the car, does anyone know if there is any wiring already in place to the boot......the thought of the boys from Halfords 'avin a go is scary.

Your's must be a good 'un. (presumably you peeled the door seal back as far as your fingers could prise them top and bottom of the doors)

Maybe your's got an extra lick of primer. If it hasn't rusted through now, then it probably won't for a long time (unless it's already been repaired)

 

[uumode]

Also check these links if you haven't already

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=6397

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=7870&page=1&pp=15

 

[MontB]

Montb

I think that a good site for you to have a butchers at would be www.honestjohn.co.uk. Go into car by car breakdown and select your motor. Lots of good info there.

I've owned my 1999 300TD for 10 Months and it's a dream to drive, punchy and 30-35mpg (never tried driving too carefully, so don't know what the max mpg potential is). I've only recently picked up on the rust problems that the E Class apparently has and its concerning as I intend to keep the car for some years. So far I've looked at all the usually reported places, door seals, boot lock etc and its as clean as a whistle........question is:- were there particular years where this was a bigger problem ?,
Any other E Class owners out there with rust free cars ?, or am I just living on borrowed time ?

Also I'm aiming to put a CD Changer in the car, does anyone know if there is any wiring already in place to the boot......the thought of the boys from Halfords 'avin a go is scary.

 

[Benzowner]

I've got a 1997 E300 Turbo Diesel Estate, and aside from stone chips, no rust in the car. But, I have always put aside £200 to £250 per year for scratch and minor dent removals, after all you have the engine, brakes and tyres checked and serviced, why not look after the bit that keeps the reasle value highest. No point in having a full service hictory in a pile of junk :bannana:

 

[uumode]

I've got a 1997 E300 Turbo Diesel Estate, and aside from stone chips, no rust in the car. But, I have always put aside £200 to £250 per year for scratch and minor dent removals, after all you have the engine, brakes and tyres checked and serviced, why not look after the bit that keeps the reasle value highest. No point in having a full service hictory in a pile of junk :bannana:

That's a breath of fresh air, at least not all W210 rust then. I was starting to get the impression that the door sills start rusting in 3 years with the trapped water in the sills

 

[SimonLA]

I'm not paranoid, but I've got the car in for a full MB B service today and specifically asked for a rust check - and got the Service Manager to write my request on the service sheet, just in case there are any downstream problems.. ..so at least I will know by the end of the day whether I'm just lucky, or can't see the rust for rose tinted specs.....hohum

 

[johnmc]

Gents,
Check out this link. I've had a lot of problems, others have too. Mercs are made
globally now, and for sure we ain't all driving 100% German cars, even if they have a
star thingy on the front! Many parts and some cars do come from India, including
S-Class, and all UK C-Class Saloons and Estates come from South Africa to the UK, MLs from the USA. Lots of scope for quality problems. Mind you, BMWs are also made there and don't have the same issues.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5899

To spot the rust you need to look real close, initially it looks like tiny thin spidery
lines in key places. Where to look:

- Pull bad the rubber seals on the tops of your doors and have a good look
along the edges. All four of mine were rusted. (my car is a 2000X) Wax treatment
was missed out here.
- Look closely around the boot lock button and the number plate surround. Errors
were made fitting the seals in these areas.
- Front wings around the seams in the wheel arches and around the indicator
light housings (earlier models).
- In older cars (6 plus years) spotting can start on the outside door panels.
- Front sub-frame. Look down directly between the radiator and the engine block,
look for rust on the metal section running left to right above the plastic cover that
stops water and stuff coming up into the engine area.
- Suspension towers. Looks closely around the suspension towers under the
hood. This is notable on E320/E320CDi models.
- Beneath the Cill covers under each side of the car.
- On 7-8year old cars check out your rear quarter panels for spotting.
- On 7-8 year old cars, open the hood and check along the seems under
the lid.

No car is immune, some are lucky and seem to avoid it. Stay on top of it, underseal
the car and it should last a bit longer. Fixing all of this out of warranty would write
off a car, so take care.

John

 

[mark.t]

rust

mine is rust free after 7 grands wiorth of work

WHAT was that about a sub frame

trading in for a range rover

or may be not

ps in need of some rep points been dragged down don;t you know

still not been chucked off yet

 

[BenzComander]

Hi,
1997 E320 Estate, 131,000 miles, full Merc history up to 90,000 specialist since. Apart from the normal stone chips on the front, there is rust in the tailgate lock area and under the trim strip on the tailgate. Also just starting to appear at the rear where the roof bars join the body.

Just a note though, I wonder where Mercedes gets its reputation for not rusting? I lived in Germany during the early 90's and we regularly had to weld all models, including 190's.

 

[uumode]

groan... to check under the plastic sills?

Didn't check there.

The end of that thread was depressing.

I think this will be my first and last MB,
then back to Audi or another VW with galvanised panels.

(perhaps I'll cheer up in the morning)

 

[SimonLA]

Had a full Main Dealer B service (ouch) and rust check on my 99TD last week and it looks ok....so fingers crossed I may just have a late ruster !. It is odd how we all seem to buy the 'quality' thing with Benzes, I guess its a type of mass delusion.

If you really want to have some stress buy a Land Rover, My wifes car is a 99 Discovery and the build quality is hilarious...but once you accept the leaks and the stuff that is for amusement only and was never actually intended to work (cruise control, electric windows etc) its a great family truck and we're just upgrading it to an 03 model.

I guess at the end of the day we all drive MB's for the 'overall' experience and I for one would rather drive a 'rusty' benz than any other car.

 

[kusanku]

Had a full Main Dealer B service (ouch) and rust check on my 99TD last week and it looks ok....so fingers crossed I may just have a late ruster !. It is odd how we all seem to buy the 'quality' thing with Benzes, I guess its a type of mass delusion.

If you've owned some of the older Benz models, the quality was definately there. Maybe it is a delusion now, but it was based in fact once