Corrosion question

[MIW615]

Seems to me, having read some old and new threads that there is a serious problem with corrosion on the E240 range whether is body related or the cross-member. I have only owned my car (2002 - E240) since October 2005 and apart from a few stone chips, which I regularly touch up it seems okay, although I will remove the undertray and check out the cross-member.

My questions are:

How long do Mercedes guarantee the painwork?
Do you have to have a full Mercedes service history?
What if your service book has a stamp from an Independant in it?
Does it apply only to the first owner (I'm the second owner)?

 

[jberks]

How long do Mercedes guarantee the painwork?
Allegedly 30 years. In reality they take the view that it shouldn't rust within 8 years so at 02 you're well in.

Do you have to have a full Mercedes service history?
Officially yes, though they are reasonably lenient and if its been to a dealer in the last 12 months then no problem. Sometimes they ask for a contribution if you've strayed. HOwever, given how new yours is they shouldn't give you any trouble.

What if your service book has a stamp from an Independant in it?
Mine did but I didn't get any argument. That said, they didn't ask to see the book. They had serviced the car within 12 months though. Hide the book to be safe.

Does it apply only to the first owner (I'm the second owner)?
No - car related not owner.

By 02, things were improving, so it may not be an issue for you anyway. My 00 wasn't too bad.

 

[MIW615]

How long do Mercedes guarantee the painwork?
Allegedly 30 years. In reality they take the view that it shouldn't rust within 8 years so at 02 you're well in.

Do you have to have a full Mercedes service history?
Officially yes, though they are reasonably lenient and if its been to a dealer in the last 12 months then no problem. Sometimes they ask for a contribution if you've strayed. HOwever, given how new yours is they shouldn't give you any trouble.

What if your service book has a stamp from an Independant in it?
Mine did but I didn't get any argument. That said, they didn't ask to see the book. They had serviced the car within 12 months though. Hide the book to be safe.

Does it apply only to the first owner (I'm the second owner)?
No - car related not owner.

By 02, things were improving, so it may not be an issue for you anyway. My 00 wasn't too bad.

Thanks for detailed reply, think I'll still check my x-member though.

 

[jberks]

I'll still check my x-member though.

absolutely - better safe than sorry..

 

[Coulsdon Eagle]

Vito van

My first post on here.
Must say that this makes interesting reading, i have a Vito, 110CDI, which i bought new in Oct 2000, although it is a work van, and has covered over 170,000, still original clutch/starter etc, i'm not your typical White Van Man, i do look after it, but to date i have rust all along the drivers side under the plastic side trim, bottom of the drivers door, both rear wheel arches, rust bubbles on the rear doors, the bonnet i expect to have marks due to stonechips etc, but i must say that i'm very disappointed, 'specially as i wouldn't have expected it to have rusted so quickly being a Merc, i have only had it serviced a couple of times by a Mercedes dealers, i was put off by their pricing, (£130.00 for an oil change ) so as i'm fairly competent with motors, i do most servicing myself, i'm wondering if it's worth taking it to a Mercedes dealer and find out where i stand regarding the rust, would any of you have any advice for me?

 

[jberks]

You can try for nothing but I believe the goodwill warranty was for cars only, and even then, ones with a fairly comprehensive dealer history. I'd be surprised if you get anywhere but nothing ventured and all that.

 

[Steel]

How long do Mercedes guarantee the painwork?
Allegedly 30 years. In reality they take the view that it shouldn't rust within 8 years so at 02 you're well in.

So let me get this straight. A Mercedes-Benz 8 or under 8 years old will still have this guarantee, but will a 15 year old Mercedes-Benz have this guarantee if it has a fair amount of dealer history?

 

[jberks]

Officially, the corrosion warranty is "Rusting from the inside, out". The flexed this to include rusting from under the paintwork, provided that there were no breaks such as stone chips etc. This was primarily to cover for the non galvanised steel plus water based paint debacle. I suspect that they wouldn't be quite so accomodating on a 15 year old one - plus the warranty only kicked in around '98 so the oldest covered is only 8 now. Its part of the 'mobilio' so provided mobilio stands ("after 2 years old, must have been seen by a dealer in the last 12 months") then yes it should still be covered. However, I suspect that if a panel doesn't rust within the first 5 years, it is going to take some form of damage, stone chip, wear from trim etc to start it.

 

[Steel]

We've had the car for 5 years now, and my dad does all the servicing on it himself. Both front wings are rotting from behind, specifically around the front side of the wheel arches. It isn't too bad yet, but they're probably well on their way with the paintwork bubbling badly at parts.

Because my dad did the servicing on it himself for the past 5 years, does that mean it will no longer be covered by this guarrantee?

I also must ask about this crossmember which suffers from corrosion. Are these on the 230TE (1992) and did they suffer from corrosion? If they did, where is this crossmember?

 

[Coulsdon Eagle]

with regard to my earlier posting, i went into my local MB commercial dealer, the man in there wasn't too sure how MB stood on the corrosion issue, so he's going to find out and get back to me on wednesday, watch this space