Any advice on paint warranty

[surebet]

I have a C180k 52 plate, owned since new.

In sept.2007 I noticed rust on rear wheel arches, mileage on car 28,500mls.
Took car to Mercedes and was sent to Evans Halshaw in Glasgow( official bodyshop for Mercedes Glasgow ) Car inspected and agreed work could be done under warranty. Car in paint shop for 3 weeks, on collection I noticed some black underseal where some of the new paint had been scraped off when either wheels being refitted or when the fibre inserts had been refitted. Pointed this out to Manager who replied " just bring it back " . Having done without my car for 3 weeks I drove away rather disillusioned with quality of repair and the lack of interest of the manager.

Approximately 3500 miles later I noticed the paint on the bottom inch of the doors(3 of the 4) appeared to be going opague together with the same rust problem with rear wheel arches.

I duly returned to Evans Halshaw, who agreed again that work should be completed under warranty. Car was away for just over a week, on collection I pointed out to the manager that the doors had not been painted properly and bottom weather seals not refitted correctly. Told to come back in 3 hours and he would have the doors resprayed and weather seals correctly fitted.

On collection paintwork appeared to be ok, however I was amazed the job could be completed in 3 hours when they could not get it right first time after having car for over a week.

Now 3 months later and less than 1000 miles, rust is back on wheel arches and paintwork on door bottoms is going opague again.

I am convinced this repairer is conning both customer and Mercedes in doing a botched up job and charging Mercedes( Mercedes customers indirectly)good money for a job I would be ashamed of with a pot of primer and a spray can out of Halfords.

My car has only 33,000 miles , full MB service history, never been through car wash, always washed by hand and kept garaged.

Can anybody advice me on any course of action I should take to get this probem resolved under warranty as I am at my wits end as I certainly do not want to take it back to Evans Halshaw for another crap job.

Look forward to all replies.

 

[television]

Sad reading,, you will get some replies from the right people in the morning.

Welcome to the MB forum

 

[Xtractorfan]

A letter of complaint setting out a list of your complaints should be sent to MBUK, a copy to the Mb dealer you used and a copy to the bodyshop, As the bodyshop has already had two attempts at rectifying the repairs it would in order to ask that the car be inspected by an independant engineer before any other work is authorised and that you would prefer another bodyshop to complete the repairs..this can be sticky as the original bodyshop in essence has to make good the repairs.. you should also have the car inspected by an engineer after repairs have been done, and before you take charge of the vehicle..

 

[harp1963]

SUREBET, sorry to hear that your car has started to rust. My CLK started to rust under the rear wheel arches and below the door too. This started to happen 2 years ago, ever since that, its been a battle to keep it under control. My car is a 2000 model. Mercedes in Reading have been very helpful in sorting it out for me, in a very professional manner. The car is now over 8 years old so no more surface rust claims,just Mobilo life should I need it. Reading were always helpful and I have never neede to complain.
What you are experiancing in my opinion is very poor customer service, and if I was in your position I would get MBUK to inspect the "repairs" carried out.
Good luck.

 

[jberks]

You can start sending letters and Xtractorfan suggestions are spot on, but I think to speed things up, I'd call into the bodyshop and speak to the top man. Arrange to take you car down and go over it with him, explain where you're up to and how unhappy you are with the bodged work done and the fob offs you've had when complaining. In 99% of cases, he'll see that the car is re-sorted by their top guy, done properly and properly inspected. We had similar - with rust just blown over. We read the riot act to the manager and it came back 3 days later repaired perfectly.
Also ensure they give you a nice loan car.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Yea i would go along with JBerks on this one the diplomatic approach is always the best starting point..

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Hi, Sorry to hear your story. I'm afraid with this type of repair (rust warranty) you end up between the devil and the deep blue sea. MB want the work done as economically as possible (normal business practice after all) and you want your pride and joy restored to what you consider A1 condition.

I think the advice you have been given re approaching the bodyshop manager is sound, if he knows his business as I'm sure he does, a face to face conversation about your expectations should go a long way towards getting the quality of job you expect.

If not a letter to the bodyshop listing your complaints should be delivered to them and copied to the service manager at the MB dealership you used for the warranty claim. If all else fails talk to MBUK.

 

[emble2446]

shock horror

well sad day really but try and reason with them and if no joy approach mb and ask for another bodyshop to do the work.took mine clk 320 a late 2002 model with rusty rear wheel arches ans a drivers door bottom corner rusty only 60000mls full service history to teesside mb bodyshop to day had a look around shock and horror full of mercs. a 55 plate c270cdi £6500 worth of paint and body panels to be replaced!! 09 mercs been stood at docks with rusty bonnets:Oops: yes its still happening there must have been 50 cars i was gutted but my pride and joy getting done for my 30% contribution to mb £800 bill

 

[television]

well sad day really but try and reason with them and if no joy approach mb and ask for another bodyshop to do the work.took mine clk 320 a late 2002 model with rusty rear wheel arches ans a drivers door bottom corner rusty only 60000mls full service history to teesside mb bodyshop to day had a look around shock and horror full of mercs. a 55 plate c270cdi £6500 worth of paint and body panels to be replaced!! 09 mercs been stood at docks with rusty bonnets:Oops: yes its still happening there must have been 50 cars i was gutted but my pride and joy getting done for my 30% contribution to mb £800 bill

Welcome and thanks for your post,,it does make you think

 

[energysolutions]

well sad day really but try and reason with them and if no joy approach mb and ask for another bodyshop to do the work.took mine clk 320 a late 2002 model with rusty rear wheel arches ans a drivers door bottom corner rusty only 60000mls full service history to teesside mb bodyshop to day had a look around shock and horror full of mercs. a 55 plate c270cdi £6500 worth of paint and body panels to be replaced!! 09 mercs been stood at docks with rusty bonnets:Oops: yes its still happening there must have been 50 cars i was gutted but my pride and joy getting done for my 30% contribution to mb £800 bill

Hmmm, I keep hearing how Mercedes galvanising process which began at @ 2003 would be a 100% fix for ALL their rust

It appears perhaps that isnt true - I suspected that was the case.......

 

[rugger2007]

MB UK don't give a toss about their customers, they have too much biz, so much so the Brenford repairs shop run two shifts, the paint shop accross the road are a bunch of ameteurs. MB are used to customers constantly complaining, they are immune to that sort of thing, I know this going back to the mid eigties and things are no drfferent now. And no I will not by a MB again, cars rust, poor reliability, I will buy a Ford Vovo instead. My Volvo 940 is a wreck but has been uttlerly reliable and so far no rust or mechanical or electonic failures unlike my W210

 

[jimmy_wood]

Let me know how you get on

My boot lid rust has been repaired 3 times by this body shop (first time was supposed to be a new boot lid). Wheel arches have also been repaired twice for rust. Now rust is back on boot and wheel arches at the same locations and because my car is now just over 8 years old they are trying to walk away. I have recently contacted MB customer services and await a reply.

Similar sorry tale over the years with car being away fortnights at a time ... I reckon between 2 and 3 months in total. Damage also needing repaired after return (chips where rear bumber would appear to have been levered off with a screwdriver).

Having read your advice I am now going to send a letter detailing my grief to the manager of the Merc dealer at Glasgow Milton Street.

I once had an early repair done by the Mercedes truck body shop in Glasgow and never had any problems. The body shop you mention handles all sorts of cars and I also wonder if Mercedes repair procedures are any different from the rest.

I certainly would prefer not to have to go back there again either.

Good luck!