MB's solution to rust under door seals

[bacoms]

I'm awaiting MB's response to the report prepared by the paint-shop to which I was referred by my local MB dealer.

The guy at the paint-shop told me that they have been told by MB to fix rust under the door seals by first grinding off completely the strip of metal under the seals on the doors affected by rust and then filling the cavity left with silicone plus a hardener.

This seemed to me like a very mickey-mouse solution and unworthy of MB, however I'm no expert.

What do other members think?

 

[Blobcat]

On My W210 they cleaned off the rust, repainted it, injected waxoil then stuck the seals down. That was done in Dec 06.

 

[Daeths]

I'm awaiting MB's response to the report prepared by the paint-shop to which I was referred by my local MB dealer.

The guy at the paint-shop told me that they have been told by MB to fix rust under the door seals by first grinding off completely the strip of metal under the seals on the doors affected by rust and then filling the cavity left with silicone plus a hardener.

This seemed to me like a very mickey-mouse solution and unworthy of MB, however I'm no expert.

What do other members think?

Had three of my doors done exactly the same way. I believe thisis the proper way of treating the problem. Only difference is that they used a high tack adhesive tape with joined the rubber to the door top. I didnt like this so peeled the rubber back (oo err) and using high q black silicon "glued it down" slammed the doors shut carefull wiped away excess. u cannot see anything and I defy water now to pass between the door and the rubber !!!
Obviously now I have said this my car will disintigrate into a pile of red oxide in the next 24 hours...

 

[philharve]

It's true!

I'm awaiting MB's response to the report prepared by the paint-shop to which I was referred by my local MB dealer.

The guy at the paint-shop told me that they have been told by MB to fix rust under the door seals by first grinding off completely the strip of metal under the seals on the doors affected by rust and then filling the cavity left with silicone plus a hardener.

This seemed to me like a very mickey-mouse solution and unworthy of MB, however I'm no expert.

What do other members think?

Hi bacoms

Mercedes has developed a special tool to remove the metal lip around the door channel and it's very quick, efficient and makes a neat job of it. Grinding the metal lip away does basically the same job but is not quite so easy.

The rubber seals are glued in place so that there is no gap between the seal and the door channel. The absence of a gap means no water can get into the channel hence trapping moisture there. This is how the corrosion gets started, that and an inadequate layer of paint covering the metal channel.

The adhesive is not permanent and a special solvent is used to to release the seal from the channel in order that it may be replaced. Professional bodyshops will also inject Waxoyl, or equivalent, into the more difficult places and this provides an additional level of protection.

The repair may seem 'Mickey Mouse' in its approach but it is a Mercedes-Benz 'approved' solution. My C230K has undergone the process. Only time will tell whether it will afford long term corrosion protection.

My indie, who is aware of the repairs to my car, now performs regular corrosion checks on all 4 doors to ensure the corrosion does not resurface.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[bacoms]

MB's response to rust under door seals.

For the record I just thought I'd report back on how I got on having the rust under the door seals fixed under warranty (or, as MB call it, a goodwill gesture).

As I wasn't happy with my local MB dealer's solution to cut back the metal and fill the void with mastic, I took the matter up with their UK HQ. They said they'd look into it and get back. When they did it was to say that this was the approved method of fixing the rust and was all they could offer.

Faced with accepting this or starting legal action, I chose the former (life is too short) and booked my car into the local MB approved spray shop to have all 4 side doors cut back and filled and the rust around the rear number plate light and on the front cross member fixed.

On picking the car up I was told that, as the rust on two of the side doors was worse than first thought, MB had approved the replacement of these two doors. I was unable to inspect closely the other two doors as the rubbers are now sealed to the doors by the mastic. This apparently will come away in time when I will look closely at the effectiveness of the repair.

All in all a better result than I was fearing. It's just a pity that all this publicity about rust seems to have badly hit the second hand value of these cars.

Still, it's only money.

 

[FIBAMAN]

I would not bank on sealants and mastics being a reliable repair. I have seen the results in industrial applications where the item being sealed was static and not subject to movement, vibration etc. The only solution to rust is to either remove the affected steelwork completely or to grit blast correctly. Grinding can actually drive in rust particles, unless all of the metal is correctly ground away.
However I am a cynic and I still contend that if MB had not tried to cut corners in metal prep. they would not have this problem. I wonder if the clever dicks who thought up the cost saving cuts have evaluated what the repairs have cost so far (that is if they are still employed by MB)

 

[bacoms]

I would not bank on sealants and mastics being a reliable repair.

Yes, that's the worry and if it fails in 2 or 3 years time, who do I claim against? The spray shop's guarantee is only for 12 months. Clearly MB's warranty against the car rusting from the inside out is for 30 years. However the car has rusted and has been repaired to a standard laid down and approved by MB. That says to me that it's still covered for the remaining years of the warranty. I suspect MB will argue otherwise.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I got 4 new doors in February 2005. Last service I noticed when I got the car back that all of the seals had been stuck down with some very evil smelling adhesive, like Evo Stik. This was done as part of MB follow up, by the dealer. Not sure how this is going in the very long term. My rear door is now also up for replacement, its got rust at the number plate lights and high level brake light.