A Warranty Question

[EGBM]

Hi all. Simple question (hopefully!) - if you find rust on your MB whilst under the approved used 1 year warranty, rust which has clearly been developing before you bought the vehicle, will it be covered by that warranty (or the 30 year rust warranty) even if it was caused by the previous owner? (It looks like the boot lid was shut on something, causing paint to be removed, rust has set in).

The same incident has also apparantly damaged the rear lens. Trouble with both of these things is it's only been noticed after buying the vehicle. Could MB say "tough luck, sold as seen", for example?

Thanks.

 

[whitenemesis]

I beleive the only rust covered by warranty is that which developes from the inside and bubbles through the paint. Not that caused by accident or abuse

 

[EGBM]

I suspected that might be the case. I suppose the only reserve position is that the car was knowingly sold rusty (or more likely, unknowingly sold rusty!). Given that this is within a month of purchase a final recourse would be to hand the car back.

 

[jberks]

I found some paintwork damage on my previous E several weeks after purchase and the dealer was very good, immediately agreeing to sort it, but it is nothing to do with MB and I suspect will depend greatly on the dealer. With them counting every penny at the moment, you may have a fight, but then again you may be pleasantly surprised. You can but ask.

 

[EGBM]

Well I did just that and they're arranging to pick the vehicle up and get it sorted this week. Can't say fairer than that. I assume it's in their interests to do a decent repair so I'll hope for the best on that one. As you say, don't ask, don't get.

 

[EGBM]

Well, all that got sorted in 2008. It's 2010 and I've just spotted some more rust bubbling up on the boot lid in a different place to the repair.

I'm thinking it was "there" when they did the last instance and they missed it, but it looks to be getting a hold. It's not near the damaged area either, it's on the part under the number plate where you put your hand to slam the boot shut. There's no sign of any external damage, it's definitely the inside-out sort of rust (I'm a rust expert, see my sig!).

While I'm sure this is repairable it doesn't reflect well on MB at all, and our experience of MB ownership, however well engineered the rest of the car is. It also concerns me that rust has appeared in what seems to be a completely innocuous place with no obvious means of water ingress (though accepting it may be a leak down through where the numberplate is attached?). Will it relentessly keep reappearing? I've had a lifetime of these issues with the Granada, I don't expect it with a 4 year old Merc.

I'll let you know how I get on. It would be sad if our experience of owing such a great car is spoiled by such poor quality.

 

[merc7]

. It would be sad if our experience of owing such a great car is spoiled by such poor quality.[/QUOTE
yes it is sad the only thing is new here is another statistic , it is your own experience added to the many of us

 

[EGBM]

I don't consider it acceptable in this day and age to have metalwork deteriorate like this, not when you consider it's supposed to be a prestige marque with the associated costs of buying and owning.

We've had other cars as runabouts driven and left outside in all weathers and there's not a pimple of rust anywhere.

Such is our disappointment we'd struggle to want to keep the vehicle any longer than we had to.

 

[merc7]

I don't consider it acceptable in this day and age to have metalwork deteriorate like this, not when you consider it's supposed to be a prestige marque with the associated costs of buying and owning.

We've had other cars as runabouts driven and left outside in all weathers and there's not a pimple of rust anywhere.

Such is our disappointment we'd struggle to want to keep the vehicle any longer than we had to.

absolutely i could not agree more i said that on many occasions to my dealer but i like mercs!!!

 

[carnut13]

I dont know where to start on this answer but briefly

1 Look up the many threads, and particularly the sticky on this

2 Yes..sold as seen; too many people have bought rusty cars (low price) and then tken MB for the repair. No longer

3 You need full MBSH up to 8 years for goodwill and original owner

4 30 yr is a falicy..."inside out"..I dont think you will get that one to stick

If only MB would come clean on their rules we would all be happier

 

[vauxhallmaniac]

Carnut, my SLK was covered under warranty for rust on the arches and wings at 7 years and i was the 5th owner so unless they have changed their criteria you dont have to be the original owner & yes they did want to see full MB history........

 

[carnut13]

Carnut, my SLK was covered under warranty for rust on the arches and wings at 7 years and i was the 5th owner so unless they have changed their criteria you dont have to be the original owner & yes they did want to see full MB history........

Yes they have...I spoke to MB today as my car is in for rust and they have really tighted the rules. MB HQ are being tough. depends on your relationship with your local Dealer and how much they will fight for you and how long you have owned the vehicle

The last thing to say is " Ive just bought this and look at...."

 

[EGBM]

Interesting stuff carnut. How does this all fit in with the sale of goods act?

I think MB need to understand the damage to their image (and finances) producing inferior quality cars does to them. It is in their interest to repair my car and keep me as a customer. They are going to have to try very hard to do this now, even if they do the work - I'll never believe they've solved the problem unless they go to great lengths like replacing the affected panel wholesale and I doubt they'd do that if the last repair was anything to go by.

Had the car remained rust free this would not be an issue. So they face throwing tens of thousands of pounds away for no reason. I'll quite happily take my custom elsewhere and never look at an MB again if it means avoiding such a ridiculous farce of repeatedly de-rusting a 4 year old car. Multiply this by the large amount of affected customers and they have a serious threat to their existence.

 

[Aoraki]

Wouldn't a 2006 model be galvanized? If so, surely the rust must be coming from a damaged area. You mention in a previous post that you thought your rust was also from "outside" influences which MB repaired. MB can't be held responsible for this can they?

 

[EGBM]

Hi Aoraki, MB at Blackburn kindly repaired the original damaged paintwork, yes. This has remained rust free so far, as far as I can tell.

What I'm seeing here is rust bubbling up from a different area of the bootlid which has suffered no "outside" influences and can not have been affected by whatever hit the damaged area (previous problem looks to have been caused by something getting caught in the way of the boot shutting).

It is definitely coming up from inside out, not like the last lot. I also expected a 2006 model to be galvanised which is why it's such a mystery.