Fire opal red colour problem - HELP!

Egg1000

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Thanks for the update. The way the guy said it to my husband implied there was no warranty at all, which I found confusing. Not least because it would be a new paint job. I do understand the original warranty would no longer stand as essentially there’d be no original paint left. I’ve picked up mine from it’s inspection, just waiting for the official verdict now. The dealer doesn’t seem to know where it’s going to go (3 different answers from 3 different people ranging from going back to Mercedes in Germany to going to a local body shop garage). Once I know where it’s going, I’m sure I’ll be able to find out what guarantee comes with it. Thanks for your help all.
I've been dealt with very efficiently. I went to a main Mercedes dealer, who referred me to inchcape Volkswagen. I later found the Mercedes dealer is also inchcape.
Highly recommended. Took seven working days and they let me use a brand new golf for the period it was being used for £30.
 

Egg1000

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So. As I would expect, there's a difference in colour. One of the doors they've painted doesn't exactly match the rear door and front wing. It's subtle, but 2 staff from inchcape agreed, there is a difference.
They also pointed out that the wing and boot have the same colour difference (thanks for that!), but I hadn't noticed as the boot is the lighter shade, which, you'd kind of expect from natural light.
They're unwilling to correct the problem.

Now my car has an orange door.

The moral. Don't ever buy a used red Mercedes, but you already knew that.
 

John Laidlaw

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It’s going back then I take it?
 

Rotorhead500

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One course of action I did take with an uncooperative dealer a few years ago (not MB), was after much reasoned discussion, I simply parked my car across their doorway, locked it and walked away having said to their representative that's where it's staying.

It did work, albeit a day's inconvenience for me.
 

Egg1000

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It’s going back then I take it?
Not sure of the best course of action?

It's close, but it isn’t perfect. They've told me the warranty work is all MB will allow them to do, using the paint code given to them. Plus the other panels have been resprayed elsewhere. (Presumably because the laquer was flaking off). Their argument is that there is a mismatch because the colour is different from the (possibly non MB approved) respray done elsewhere.

All I know is, it wasn't mismatched when it went in, but it is now.
 

Egg1000

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After a carefully written and factual email, I have just had a call from the Bodyshop Manager. They have kindly offered to correct the mismatch.
He seemed genuinely frustrated that it had come to this, and that they should really have noticed the problem on-site.
I am so relieved.
 

A.J.

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After a carefully written and factual email, I have just had a call from the Bodyshop Manager. They have kindly offered to correct the mismatch.
He seemed genuinely frustrated that it had come to this, and that they should really have noticed the problem on-site.
I am so relieved.

And so are we, just shows what you can do with the right approach. Good to hear ! :D
 

Egg1000

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I'm getting properly depressed with this. It's had the remedial work done (this is the remedial work to fix the mismatched coloured panels following the respray to fix the lacquer issue) and it still isn't right. The passenger door they painted was more orange than the front wing and rear door. Their bodywork guy also pointed out that there was a difference between the boot and the rear wing. He also pointed out the difference of the colour of the fuel flap, which they refuse to paint; because it's plastic. To remedy this, they have painted the rear door, and rear wing, supposedly with the same paint. Of course, as it's been done at a different time, it's not quite the same, and the issue with the front wings and bonnet being different hasn't been addressed either. I've written to MB and in fury, I wrote to the dealership manager again.
The bodyshop manager has said he will look at the car, (he admits he didn't see it before it left) but I'm letting it get the better of me. I'm feeling genuinely stressed and thinking I might have to try and find the money to get rid of it (which to be honest, I simply don't have).
If anyone has any similar experiences of a bodyshop messing up so badly, and what I can do to get this put straight, I'd be really grateful. They've also damaged a small part of the trim on the A pillar inside the car. They gave it back to me with the dash cam on the floor and the lead hanging from the ceiling and the trim at the top of the window on the drivers side seems loose (they'll have removed and refitted this to spray the roof). I've totally lost my faith in them and feel totally deflated and upset.
 

peterws1957

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Not surprised you are feeling deflated. The bodyshop is trying to fob you off. It has become clear from the many posts on different MB forums about this issue that the ONLY solution to this is a full bare metal respray and this has been carried out by many dealers. If I read your post right there is a mismatch of paintwork due to previous botched attempts at rectifying the problem. (hopefully not as a result of accident damage). This is irrelevant to the requirement of a full respray.I would write a letter to the MD of the business pointing this out and enclosing photos of the state your car was returned to you. Say you expect full rectification and nothing less.
Easy to say with hindsight but MB Manchester have done a lot of these red paint jobs and seem good at getting these through MB head office. Hope it's sorted for you.
 

Egg1000

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Not surprised you are feeling deflated. The bodyshop is trying to fob you off. It has become clear from the many posts on different MB forums about this issue that the ONLY solution to this is a full bare metal respray and this has been carried out by many dealers. If I read your post right there is a mismatch of paintwork due to previous botched attempts at rectifying the problem. (hopefully not as a result of accident damage). This is irrelevant to the requirement of a full respray.I would write a letter to the MD of the business pointing this out and enclosing photos of the state your car was returned to you. Say you expect full rectification and nothing less.
Easy to say with hindsight but MB Manchester have done a lot of these red paint jobs and seem good at getting these through MB head office. Hope it's sorted for you.
Thanks for this. I have a complaint lodged with Mercedes who are investigating the issue. They've liaised with the dealership. I had a meeting with the bodyshop manager, he was pretty understanding and has suggested an independent paint specialist evaluate the vehicle and the panel differences. In order to suggest a solution.
The irony was he was pointing out differences in panels... That they'd done!
I've sent an update to MB on what was said. This was Tuesday, not heard anything since.
To be honest, if the panels were blended I wouldn't care too much. But where there is a difference in colour between panels (a solid line) it catches my eye every time I approach it.
I actually want to sell it, but finances don't really allow that at the moment. (Last year's repair bills didn't help!)
 

Chrishazle

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Not sure where you are, but you need a bodyshop of the quality of Vivid Visions in Ashford Kent. They've just done a bonnet and roof respray on my 2008 Carneol Red Metallic S204, and even with a good inspection lamp you cannot see the difference between the old paint and the new. They do not just use the paint code, they have something that looks at the actual car current colour then tells them how to mix paint to match. When I collected my car from them I took a fluorescent lamp, and could not see any difference between the paint on the wing and the new paint on the bonnet.
 

Egg1000

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Not sure where you are, but you need a bodyshop of the quality of Vivid Visions in Ashford Kent. They've just done a bonnet and roof respray on my 2008 Carneol Red Metallic S204, and even with a good inspection lamp you cannot see the difference between the old paint and the new. They do not just use the paint code, they have something that looks at the actual car current colour then tells them how to mix paint to match. When I collected my car from them I took a fluorescent lamp, and could not see any difference between the paint on the wing and the new paint on the bonnet.
And under warranty? They told me they could only use the code Mercedes gave them.
Sadly I'm North Wales.
 

peterws1957

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Thanks for this. I have a complaint lodged with Mercedes who are investigating the issue. They've liaised with the dealership. I had a meeting with the bodyshop manager, he was pretty understanding and has suggested an independent paint specialist evaluate the vehicle and the panel differences. In order to suggest a solution.
The irony was he was pointing out differences in panels... That they'd done!
I've sent an update to MB on what was said. This was Tuesday, not heard anything since.
To be honest, if the panels were blended I wouldn't care too much. But where there is a difference in colour between panels (a solid line) it catches my eye every time I approach it.
I actually want to sell it, but finances don't really allow that at the moment. (Last year's repair bills didn't help!)

Selling it with mismatched panels, let alone in Opal Red, may be a problem - I hope MB step forward and sort it for you. Who would have thought that choosing a car in a great colour would cause so much hassle?
 

Charles88

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So I have also had this issue , after an inspection last week Mercedes
Have agreed to respray the metal panels but refusing to do anything plastic including the bumper which is the worst affected part- they are also saying they can’t do it until July next year which seems ridiculous

Has anyone else had this problem?
 

Egg1000

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So I have also had this issue , after an inspection last week Mercedes
Have agreed to respray the metal panels but refusing to do anything plastic including the bumper which is the worst affected part- they are also saying they can’t do it until July next year which seems ridiculous

Has anyone else had this problem?
Oh jeez. You have my sympathy. I'm relieved that my saga is over, but it took the best part of nine months. Sounds like the dealership you're working with simply don't have the capacity to cope. I'm not sure if it made any difference to my case, but I had an ongoing complaint with MB at the same time. Which I'd encourage you to open. I had a couple of calls with Germany and afterwards things would move along.
It might be worth speaking with other MB franchises in your area.
They flatly refused to paint the plastic on mine too. There's laquer flaking off the rear bumper just behind the wheel, but it's not bubbling like the fault and it's an easy fix and out of sight. They don't accept that the plastic has the same issues, but others on here I think have managed to get it fixed. Pictures to MB might help?
 

NJS5

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Welcome Mark - Good news

I have the same problem which I have yet to raise with MB - fingers crossed.

NJSS
 

MikeJenner

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So I have also had this issue , after an inspection last week Mercedes
Have agreed to respray the metal panels but refusing to do anything plastic including the bumper which is the worst affected part- they are also saying they can’t do it until July next year which seems ridiculous

Has anyone else had this problem?
I had my car repainted under the MB paint warranty. The dealer (JCT600 York) did a paint assessment, measure paint depth, take photos etc. They submitted a warranty claim for me. It was accepted and the car was repainted. They refused to do the bumpers but checked every panel one by one and only did the affected panels (which actually was all of them). The colour is very slightly lighter and pinker.
 

Charles88

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I had my car repainted under the MB paint warranty. The dealer (JCT600 York) did a paint assessment, measure paint depth, take photos etc. They submitted a warranty claim for me. It was accepted and the car was repainted. They refused to do the bumpers but checked every panel one by one and only did the affected panels (which actually was all of them). The colour is very slightly lighter and pinker.

Is it noticeable enough that it will affect you selling it for what it should be worth?

MB aren’t budging and are adamant I wait until July next year which isn’t acceptable

does anyone know when this became a known fault as I’m considering speaking to trading standards

thanks
 

Chrishazle

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It's been known for a long time, both here and in USA where the colour is known as Mars Red, just Google either FOR or MR and be prepared for a lot of reading!
 

MikeJenner

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Is it noticeable enough that it will affect you selling it for what it should be worth?

MB aren’t budging and are adamant I wait until July next year which isn’t acceptable

does anyone know when this became a known fault as I’m considering speaking to trading standards

thanks
Is it noticeable enough that it will affect you selling it for what it should be worth?

MB aren’t budging and are adamant I wait until July next year which isn’t acceptable

does anyone know when this became a known fault as I’m considering speaking to trading standards

thanks
Only really noticeable to me cos I’ve got OCD. No actually you would be very hard pushed to see the difference and I don’t expect it will make any difference to the selling price.
MB have known about this for years. The dealer that arranged my respray said that warranty claims for this issue is never refused although the process is a bit inefficient
 
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