Advice Please (rust problem)

[sicandar]

Hi All

I am new to the Mercedes club so go easy if I sound stupid please

I just bough a c180 (w202). When I was buying I noted some rust partucularly on one rear panel. Now I read here about the rust warranty of 30 years, but apparantley this is only valid if you have a full MB service history which this car does not.

On reading the MB car book though it seems that you only need to service it after 5 year to be elligible (the car was first registered in march 2000). So my question is should I get it serviced first (and if so how much will this cost roughly) or should I just go and ask them to repair the rust (some advice about what to say would be helpful too please!)?

All advice much appreciated, thanks!

 

[pascal]

I think you may have misread the waranty, Sican.

 

[sicandar]

What do you mean Pascal?

 

[jberks]

Hi,
As Pascal says - not sure what you read in the book but the rules are that the car must have a full MB service history (from new) to be eiligble, and then the rust must have appeared from under the paint so if its caused by an untreated scratch or stone chip, you are out of luck - mine goes in tonight for the usual W210 woes, but there are 2 areas that I still expect a bill for, as they are blatantly stone chip related. The rest MB have agreed to pay for.

You can try your luck at a dealer. They will advise and if appropriate pop in a claim for you, but chances are MB will ask for at least a major contribution and that is likely to be more than you would have to pay a non MB bodyshop to do the whole job, so possibly not worth the effort.

 

[sicandar]

Hmmmm I am not sure here is the bit I am reading, from the Mercedes handbook, services section it says the following in the rust warranty bit;

"from the fifth year onwards the car should have been serviced by an authorised MB workshop within the last 2 years prior to the damage being repaired"

I thought this means after the fifth birthday it needs o have been serviced by MB to be eligible so whay have people been turned down? Have I got the complete wrong end of the stick? :-D

 

[jberks]

I take that to mean that for the first 4 years, they aren't too fussy. -After that they get stricter. So the warranty is unconditional for the first 4 years, after that it becomes a discretionary goodwill warranty.

As the rust has already appeared, just getting it serviced at the dealer before you put the claim in, isn't going to get you around the rules I'm afraid.

It all depends when it was last at the dealer for a service. Do you know how long its been?

 

[sicandar]

unfortunately it hasn't been serviced by Mercedes since late 2002 -

I took it to mean that after 5 years the car should have been serviced by them within the last 2 years prior to a claim being filed -

would it be worth e-mailing MB in advance of going to the garage to clarify my postion?

 

[jberks]

always worth chatting to your local dealer.

 

[jakmeticklerpaper]

Tin worm

Hi
Advise reading previous threads on this subject. It is important to note that rust around doors is a manufacturing defect and not a wear and tear issue!
Since a recent EU ruling to this effect, as I understand it, a manufacturer/dealer cannot refuse to honour a warranty claim even if a car does not have a full main dealer service history. (But I believe genuine manufacturers spares must be used for all replacements and car must have been serviced at correct intervals.) My 1999 C220cdi had rear door rust repair and respray by MB free of charge just 6 months ago and it has been serviced by independant specialists almost since new.
Be bold, go and make a fuss, especially if the showroom's full of buyers!
jak

 

[GlenH]

Chaps,

I?ve just had a rust warranty decision on my April 2000 202 CDI220 ? they?ve agreed to do all that I reported to them which is rust on the boot lid and all 4 wheel arches ? the car had a FMBSH apart from the last one which was done at an independent ? I say if you?re not sure about it then just go for it ? you?ve nothing to lose.
I only had the inspection done about a month ago so they?ve come back to me quickly as well.

Cheers

GlenH

 

[anyweb]

i'd also like advice !

hi, i'm new here, i have a mercedes c220 which i bought second hand from a local person (who imported it from germany).

To cut a long story short, its a 1995 model in fairly good shape but it does suffer from rust on both of the front doors (where the trim is in the middle) plus at the bottom edge of the passenger door and under some of the wheel trims.

as I didnt buy this from a mercedes dealer, am I sod out of luck ? i have all the original papers/service history if that means anything, and i live in sweden

you can see some of the wheel arch rust here

http://anyweb.kicks-ass.net/personal/me/mycar/newcar/brake_discs/img_3415.html

cheers in advance and i'm glad i found this place !!

cheers

anyweb

 

[pascal]

I am pretty sure MBs extended corrosion warranty was not offered back in 1995.

 

[anyweb]

thanks Pascal

so are you saying its only offered with new cars ? or cars since what year ? is there any documentation about it anywhere ?

cheers

anyweb