How does a repaint by a Mercedes Approved Body Shop affect the 30 year warranty?

[miurasv]

My 98 SLK was repainted by a Mercedes Approved Body Shop by the previous owner in March at a cost of £2500. I spoke to the MD of the body shop and he said that the warranty is for 3 years but does not cover rust. As there is supposed to be a 30 year rust warranty on this car?????, does having the car repainted, even by a Mercedes Approved Bodyshop invalidate the warranty? Thanks in advance.

 

[television]

30 years is 30 years and many have have their cars resprayed several times,so the 30year must stand

 

[carruthers11]

Hi Miurasv,
I have a 2002 C220 CDI Coupe and have a lot of rust on both front wings. I have been told by Mercedes Customer Care in Holland that there is no such thing as 30 year warranty, only a 3 year warranty. One of the wings has been retouched by a non MB dealer and therefore no goodwill work will be done on that wing. However I am astonished that a six year old MB requires two new wings!

Does anyone know where I can find out more about this mythical 30 year warranty?

 

[Xtractorfan]

Legally it could be argued that a 30 yr warranty should still apply if repairs have been done by an approved bodyshop..there again it could be argued that the bodyshop doing the repairs would now become liable for the work that they have carried out.. If you have bought a car that has been repainted then the bodyshop would be the ppl to contact with any problems

 

[Colt45_GTO]

lol the sl i'm doin should have a 30 yr wassit. so why am i spraying it?

 

[television]

lol the sl i'm doin should have a 30 yr wassit. so why am i spraying it?

I wondered when you would ask that, and the answer is that you do need to eat

 

[Colt45_GTO]

i do a better job than merc anyway

 

[Xtractorfan]

I can just see an approved bodyshop welding patches on wings

 

[television]

I can just see an approved bodyshop welding patches on wings

looking at a few Porsche 911's in my body works, the rear wing panels that rust away at the rear of the wheel arch, the makers only supply complete panels that take 3 days to fit, so its much easier to make infill panels and weld in.

 

[Colt45_GTO]

I can just see an approved bodyshop welding patches on wings

thats because they aint got the talent

 

[carruthers11]

XFactor - Thank you - so basically if I dont know which bodyshop did the original repair work and Mercedes say its tough if rust appears then I'm stuffed! Maybe I should have stuck with a crappy Nissan! At least they never rusted on me!

 

[Xtractorfan]

If the repairs were done by an approved bodyshop your mb dealer will have full details of the work carried out inc dates etc. so its worth making some enquiries. never give up without a fight.. the real problem with the warranty is the bodyshop were paid to make good the rust and fit new panels etc.. so basically they now carry the can..it could be argued that as mb sanctioned the work that they are responsible..so unless ur a dedicated rights campaigner you will have to depend on the goodwill of the bodyshop or MB

 

[Xtractorfan]

looking at a few Porsche 911's in my body works, the rear wing panels that rust away at the rear of the wheel arch, the makers only supply complete panels that take 3 days to fit, so its much easier to make infill panels and weld in.

We in our wisdom would also prefer to repair quarter panels as opposed to replacing them as I dont always relish cutting off panels and welding them up again..somehow the car never seems the same.. but there are limits, a bolt on panel ..unless really minor damge..is always quicker to replace.. tho there again I have fitted a few roof skins to various mercs.. one of the easiest roof skins to replace...

 

[carnut13]

I think the plot is lost!... you have the whole thing " inside out"

As I understand the 30 yr warrantee its about rust from the inside,not outside; so resprays are irrelevant .

Do you have a potential problem ( in the next 26 yrs) or a real one now?. The warrantee for the respray comes from the guy who did it..the warrantee for the metal/panel/body for rust comes from MB

I hpoe this helps

 

[Xtractorfan]

If a guy grinds some rust from a panel and then repaints it and it rusts again one year later and even rusts thru into a hole if you were Mb would you still stand by the original warranty.. .So the initial warrant is invalidated ...simple really .. the plot thickens .. and the metal gets thinner

 

[television]

.. and the metal gets thinner

LOL

 

[Colt45_GTO]

If a guy grinds some rust from a panel and then repaints it and it rusts again one year later and even rusts thru into a hole if you were Mb would you still stand by the original warranty.. .So the initial warrant is invalidated ...simple really .. the plot thickens .. and the metal gets thinner

i can relate to this. after a few resprays the paint is the only thing holding the rust together because the metal got so thin :lol: japs dont rust