Avoiding Warranty

Spartan69

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UK Mercedes S320L 2002
Are dealerships instructed to do all they can to avoid rust warranty? My recent experience make me believe that they do. l have read threads on the forum regarding problems owners have with MB so this post is not about what l should do but the farcical excuses MB come up with.

My 2002 S320L has developed rust spots on the roof. So l took it into MB of Hull and arranged a meeting with someone called Simon from the Boston MB paintshop. His attitude was rather condescending to say the least. First he tried the MB full service history routine but that got him nowhere as the car has it.

Then he tried telling me it was stonechips. What? ... on the roof? .. when front wings, front door pillars have none and only a few on grille and bonnet. Quite a phenomenon!

Then he did an 'inspection' ... usual stuff .. paint depth gauge, marking spots on a printed sheet of paper and that was it. l asked him for a copy but he said l couldn't have one. l then asked him for the MB specs as to what paint depth should be and he said he couldn't give out that information. l did notice that he'd put 6 rust marks down on the roof and photographed them. Then off he went saying he'd be in touch.

Yesterday he did with obvious reply ... denied!

Now, l've had no documented correspondence at all ... no e-mails, letters ... just a phone call and rather rude at that. This is customer service? :lol:

As for his "inspection" of the S320L ... 6 rust marks on the roof? ... how about 38 ... yes 38!

Seems my S320L defies the Laws of Physics and has the ability to attract stone chips to it's roof! :rolleyes:

Now it's my turn ... should be fun! :lol:
 
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Xtractorfan

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This is life with rust problems and MB dealers or approved bodyshops, they basically try and fob you off, You should ring MB customer service until you get someone who will listen to your complaints and try to help you..You are also under their 8 yr warranty..which they deny having.. so keep the ball rolling.. and dont give up.. and if you look carefully you will find many more rust spots........
 
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Miffy

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CLK 320 CAB Elegance C208
I am under the 8 year rule, but as my car was bought in holland, they dont have the 8 year rule :(

Spoke to customer services, emailed them, had nice and timely replies, had calls back from them but still the same answer, sorry sir but your can was not sold with the UK warantee
 

jberks

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Jaguar XF 3.0 S, LR Freelander 2, Fiat 500 & Fiat Panda
So when did the 30 year warranty for paint work come into effect?

It didn't.
30 years is the corrosion perforation. I'm not aware of any covered that have rusted through from the inside. That came in around 1998/9 but has been messed around with a fair bit since.

They have changed their interpretation of the 8yr rule though. My Dad is about to go to war with them. 2002 E220cdi (W211). Rust on the wheelarches done FOC last year. 2 weeks ago we noticed the boot lid bubbling on the top corner (and thats aluminum!!) and apparent bubbling on the arches again. Took it straight in. MB want 30% contribution. Its been done but he's going after MB for the 30% now.
Allegedly they're trying it on with some crap about how it would have been less work if it had been spotted earlier but given its got fmbsh and it was reported between services, that one simply doesn't wash.

I was feeling smug with my galvanised 211 but given his has rusted on the ally boot lid I'm getting less confident now.
 

HJHPH

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W211 E320 CDI Avantgarde Estate.
Evidently varies from dealer to dealer, I took my wife's Sports coupe (May/02) in for MOT at Tony Purslows last week and raised issues of rusty front wheel arches. Result is car is now in being repaired as we speak. Also the body shop has found corrosion around spot welds on rear quarters and both these are being done as well. Should get it back Monday. Obviously with some dealers it can be a war of attrition but the warranty is there for our protection so it should be honoured.
Paul.
 

Xtractorfan

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If your car has been bought outside the UK then it has to taken to outside the Uk for the warranty repairs to be sorted, The Uk warranty and Uk customer service handle only the cars sold within the Uk, This is due to the fact that MBUK are a seperate company and warranty work within MBUK will only be covered.. I think this may also have had something to do with the large amount of imports that were flooding the Uk when the various pre euro currencies were excellent value with the strong pound..
 

teabag

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2001 W163 ML270 CDI
Are dealerships instructed to do all they can to avoid rust warranty? My recent experience make me believe that they do. l have read threads on the forum regarding problems owners have with MB so this post is not about what l should do but the farcical excuses MB come up with.

I must agree, they will try any means to renage on the terms of the warranty; the post below refers to a vehicle which was under five years old with a five dealer service stamps at the time of the first attempted warranty claim.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?p=311241#post311241

I Have bought another MB as I loved the E class so much, I can only hope the 2005 W220 S350 does not suffer the same fate.
 

type49

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Are dealerships instructed to do all they can to avoid rust warranty?

This is a complete opposite of my experiences. Warranty claims are paid back to the dealers via MB UK. In these current times, the dealers are desperate for any work, including warranty work. The 8 year "rule" can extend to 10 years in some cases, if the car is low mileage, MB history etc.
 


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