Galvanising Of Mercedes Cars

[hawk20]

It is often asked, when did Mercedes start galvanising the steel panels of their cars. Some threads refer to Mercedes and BMW beginning galvanising in 2004. I now have -from an unimpeachable source- the detailed picture concerning Mercedes.

I set out the picture –model by model- below. I hope moderators/administrators will consider making this a sticky for a while as it is of general interest, not widely available, and because new threads are posted so often now that threads disappear from the front page in the twinkling of an eye.

C CLASS -203 series- saloon and estates: -

All steel panels were galvanised from Quarter 2 2003 production onwards.
During the previous six months (Q4 2002 + Q1 2003) the process was
gradually introduced on the production line and therefore some vehicles
were galvanised during this lead-up period, but not all.

E CLASS -211 series- saloon and estates: -

All steel panels were galvanised from Quarter 1, 2003, production onwards.
During the previous quarter (Q4, 2002) the process was gradually introduced
on the production line and therefore some vehicles were galvanised during
this lead-up period, but not all.

CLK CLASS – 209 series

All steel panels were galvanised from Quarter 2 2003 production onwards.
During the previous six months (Q4 2002 + Q1 2003) the process was
gradually introduced on the production line and therefore some vehicles
were galvanised during this lead-up period, but not all.

SL CLASS –R230 series

This is not so easy to be specific because the change-over period
continued right through into Q3 2004. So although many SLs were galvanised in early 2004 it is not till the end of the third quarter of 2004 that one can say that all were galvanised.

S CLASS –220series and CL class 215 series.

The S class and CL class are built of a combination of aluminium and steel. For the
aluminium components there is, of course, no galvanising process.

All steel panels were galvanised from Quarter 1 2003 production onwards.
During the previous quarter (Q4 2002) the process was gradually introduced
on the production line and therefore some vehicles were galvanised during
this lead-up period, but not all.

I hope members find this helpful.

 

[izzi613]

Hawk20 thanks for that

Mine was registered 3rd November 03 but how would I know what date it was manufactured?

 

[Blobcat]

Hawk20 thanks for that

Mine was registered 3rd November 03 but how would I know what date it was manufactured?

Pull out some of the plastic buts - ashtray etc and the date is on the back. These bits will have been made at a very similar time to the car.

 

[type49]

I like the way they put "but not all" - almost a get-out clause!

 

[Blobcat]

Are the panels galvanised post pressing or has MB used steel which is galvanised on one side which is then used for the inside of the panels?
If so stone chips will still cause corrosion on the outside. The single sided galvanised steel is widley used as it can be hard to produce a quality paint finish on galvanised steel.

 

[hawk20]

Hawk20 thanks for that

Mine was registered 3rd November 03 but how would I know what date it was manufactured?

Clever people like Television and others can tell you how to derive from the VIN number. I think your dealer can tell from the VIN too.

 

[hawk20]

I like the way they put "but not all" - almost a get-out clause!

To be fair, I put that so as to be completely clear on when some are galvanised (while the process is being phased in) compared with the date when all are galvanised (after the end of the phase-in period). Hope this makes it clearer.

 

[hawk20]

Are the panels galvanised post pressing or has MB used steel which is galvanised on one side which is then used for the inside of the panels?
If so stone chips will still cause corrosion on the outside. The single sided galvanised steel is widley used as it can be hard to produce a quality paint finish on galvanised steel.

That is a very astute question and I do not know the answer. Someone else may know, but in the meantime I will try and find out. Having seen galvanising in other fields I can imagine the difficulty of getting a good paint finish.

 

[jberks]

Hawk20 thanks for that

Mine was registered 3rd November 03 but how would I know what date it was manufactured?

go to the russian web site and put in your vin. The build date is on there.

 

[izzi613]

go to the russian web site and put in your vin. The build date is on there.

I did that Jberks and thank you but it just gives me delivery date of 26.09.03 but no actual build date. Having said that it is an 04 model year car so it probably was built in Qtr 3 or 4...

 

[Apial]

When did it stop?

I always thought that the W124 series had galvanised panels, not least because my car is rust free. Perhaps the question should be "When did Mercedes STOP galvanising?"?

My old 325i from '87 was definately galvanised, so I assume at some stage galvanising must have gone out of fashion in the motor industry.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I always thought that the W124 series had galvanised panels, not least because my car is rust free. Perhaps the question should be "When did Mercedes STOP galvanising?"?

My old 325i from '87 was definately galvanised, so I assume at some stage galvanising must have gone out of fashion in the motor industry.

No just with MB. Most other car manufactures are striving to get better rust protection and most now offer 12 years, not only that but the cars last atleast 12 years. MB seemed to go backwards from the mid 90's.

Its so strange when every other german manufacture is at th etop when it come to corrosion protection, Audi being the true leader, but BMW and VW are all very very good.

Looks like they have got their act together now. No question wheni am replacing my 210 its will be a with a 2003 211. That wont be for another couple of years yet.

 

[bigasotonuk]

For information Porsche have been making cars from galvanised steel since 1980 and that was on a 924 bottom of the range (was,nt even a porsche i hear some of you say), even had a 10 year anti-perferation warranty on it.
As far BMWs i,ve owned six 5 series one 6 series 1980-1987 all had rust issues from wing rust (from the inside out) to completely rotten boot floors so i do find it hard to believe that BMWs of this age were ever Galvanised
You talk about rust on Mercedes but i,ve seen far,far more rusty BMWs.

 

[mioba]

Hawk20 thanks for that

Mine was registered 3rd November 03 but how would I know what date it was manufactured?

enter vin in TV's favourite russian site

 

[izzi613]

enter vin in TV's favourite russian site

Quote:
Originally Posted by jberks
go to the russian web site and put in your vin. The build date is on there.

I did that Jberks and thank you but it just gives me delivery date of 26.09.03 but no actual build date. Having said that it is an 04 model year car so it probably was built in Qtr 3 or 4...

 

[Blobcat]

As you have found the VIN decoder only gives a delivery date. Pull out the ashtray or other bit of plastic as per above and look at the date stamp on the back. I have just taken out one of my fog lights and the plastic cover had 07/00 as a build date, only 2 months before my car was registered.

 

[hawk20]

Are the panels galvanised post pressing or has MB used steel which is galvanised on one side which is then used for the inside of the panels?
If so stone chips will still cause corrosion on the outside. The single sided galvanised steel is widley used as it can be hard to produce a quality paint finish on galvanised steel.

I can now confirm that the steel panels are galvanised on both sides. They are dipped.

 

[Simon Barry]

A recent discussion concerning the full galvanising of body panels, with a MB franchised bodyshop employee of long established experience, suggests that
the coating is extremely thin.

If paint chipping occurs these models still rust & that the improved lacquer
coat does not improve resistance to chipping.

I had hoped that it would be possible to dispense with 3M anti abrasion film
I have successfully used on my W202, when updating to a late W203 but it
would appear not.

Simon Barry

 

[madf]

I have owned various BMWs E30 and E36 and from my experience can assure you some panels are not galvanised.

Galvanised panels do NOT stop rust: ask any 911 owner who owns a mid 1980s car. They just delay it. But stone chips and salty water combined with mud build ups will still do damage and of course welds destroy galvanising ....

 

[slim_boy_fat]

(was,nt even a porsche i hear some of you say),

Only someone who knew nothing about cars.....