merc rust warranty help========

[t29sab]

hi i own a 04 plate vito van and just wonderd on how the warranty for rust works, is it any rust that appears then its under warranty ,as my wheels and very small odd spots are starting to appear , i am very upset with this vehicle and also wonderd on the chances on getting my money back ive had it for 5 months its being back to dealer 5 times, now i am waiting for them to replace rear suspension and propshaft bearings door catch and look at the rust problems, . I am very suprised they have let me drive about knowing there is no suspension as it very dangerous to drive over steers like a rally car around bumpy corner. £14000.00 of german crap i have bought gutted HELP======================

 

[Parrot of Doom]

2004 and rust - christ

 

[davebox]

Seems to be a bad year
My 04 C220 has rust bleeding through the chrome on my rear head rests (its inside the car for Goodness sake) and also the wheel nuts are rusting.
I wonder if this is the future of a once great company?
I would like to think not but from the feedback of people I know with "newer" mercs, problems like this are now more common. If your Van is under the warranty (which I believe it is) then you should not be putting yourself or others at risk by driving an unroadworthy vehicle. In the case of an accident YOU are responsible for the vehicle. If it is a danger you should ask MB for a replacement vehicle whilst yours is being looked at.
It's up to owners to explain that this is not something that we expect from a prestige motor company.
I'll be doing just that on Wed.
I would ask anyone with even minor problems to do the same - Just be polite but firm.
Hope you get the Van sorted!

 

[jberks]

Seems to be a bad year
My 04 C220 has rust bleeding through the chrome on my rear head rests (its inside the car for Goodness sake) and also the wheel nuts are rusting.
(

Perhaps after having a 2000 W210 I am de-sensitised, but, wheel nuts do rust. They generally get sprayed by acidic cleaning fluid, get hit with road salt and grime and other corrosives but as they are in a recess, don't get enough water to clean them up properly, so they rust. I can't imagine what you could do with them to avoid it really. Ok the headrest is a bit silly, but non structural and easy to replace. Clearly a manufacturing defect but an extremely rare one and at the rate these things are produced, defects do happen. If the boot lock or wheel arches start to rust then we're back to the old days but I believe an 04 on Merc is pretty rust free.
Vans are another matter though. I fully agree, if you feel it is unsafe, then it should be back at the dealer immedialty and they should be lending you something until its fixed. I would tell them that this is their last chance to put it right or offer them the chance to swap it now as yours does sound dodgy.

 

[Balal]

I was told by someone that mercedes has 10 years of no rust guarantee. and if your car gets rust within 10 years then they repair it for free ?!?!

The merc (including mine) all seem to have rust under the bonnet grille!! I would ask my local dealer if its under warranty as its less then 10 years old.

 

[joe bloggs]

Vito vans, and other commercial MB's = 2 years warranty (inc corrosion)

 

[davebox]

JBerks!
You are right about the wheel nuts going rusty, though I wonder why My 51 plate Vauxhall that has 53K miles of road rubbish have yet to rust . I was having a bit of a moan in general though I still expect a level of quality higher than most with a prestege motor company!
The problems have now been sorted and when I get in writing what SG did to the car I'll post it under my original C220 safe mode post.
:wink:
Just looked at this: http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=16841
Merc's have had problems with wheel nuts going rusty!

 

[Glenn Smith]

SAD FACT, MERCS AREN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE. My first merc, c230k year 2000, bought in august 2004, compared to previous car Peugeot 406, no comparison! Peugeot wins hands down, a 1998 car bought with 108k and sold with 143k no work apart from normal servicing and an exhaust! and no rust despite the stone chips along the front, the car still looking good, sold to a colleague and see it every day, the merc, new rust appears every few weeks, two warranty jobs done, tailgate and door, air con packed up, new condensor req. water leak into passenger footwell, noisy wipers, interior starting to show signs of wear, engine oil leak, play in steering joints, new drag link req. Apart from that love it, fantastic power delivery and good ride, not sure if i'll buy another, my boss has an 05 c220 waiting to see how this fairs after 3-4yrs. already had minor probs.

 

[t29sab]

what a nightmare i got my van in october 05 and 9200 miles ive had a new sam unit in (something to do with electrics) then a new drive shaft in the gearbox (a full strip down)a new track rod end (now i have two worn down tyres) a recall on the front suspension (it was knocking over bumps)two new rear shockers( it took them 6 weeks to order) new bearings on the prop shaft(very noisy) a new front headlamp (full of water) a new rear door catch(door would not shut)it does 24 to the gallon and uses 2.5 litres of oil in 5000 miles and there is rust coming through on most of the hidden joints and folds. WE also have a escort van and that is a lot better than than £14500 pile of crap that i use .PLEASE WHAT CAN I DO, PLEASE HELP

 

[t29sab]

fords are better than mercedes

Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6



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what a nightmare i got my van in october 05 and 9200 miles ive had a new sam unit in (something to do with electrics) then a new drive shaft in the gearbox (a full strip down)a new track rod end (now i have two worn down tyres) a recall on the front suspension (it was knocking over bumps)two new rear shockers( it took them 6 weeks to order) new bearings on the prop shaft(very noisy) a new front headlamp (full of water) a new rear door catch(door would not shut)it does 24 to the gallon and uses 2.5 litres of oil in 5000 miles and there is rust coming through on most of the hidden joints and folds. WE also have a escort van and that is a lot better than than £14500 pile of crap that i use .PLEASE WHAT CAN I DO, PLEASE HELP

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Last edited by t29sab : 14-03-2006 at 05:29 PM.

 

[davebox]

What can we say?
If it were mine, Id take the loss, clean it up and add a 4 Sale sign. Then go and buy a ford or vauxhall. Of course, that is your choice to make - this is only an "if it were I" post. sorry to sound so unhelpfull but thats honestly what I would do.
Hope you have better luck soon
DB

 

[jberks]

Your van sounds like a lemon. They are rare and there is no logical reason for one van to have a vast array of unrelated problems, but some are just duff.

With a new car and that list of issues, MB often replace the car. There's been a couple of cases on here where they have done this. Just because its a van, there is no reason for this to differ. I'd ask the dealer and if no joy, get on to MBUK. At the end of the day, you haven't had it a year and its clearly not fit for the purpose. Suggest they do the decent thing and provide you with a new one, before you sour the relationship with a solicitor.

 

[Coulsdon Eagle]

i posted about my van a while back, a 2000 plate, X reg 110CDI, i've got loads of rust coming through, all around the wheel arches, all along the sides where the plastic trims sit, the bonnet (having done over 180,000 miles, i expect it with stone chips etc) the slam panel under the bonnet is totally rotten with rust, i went into my local MB commercial dealer and asked how MB stand on rust issues, but the guy in there denied any such warranty existed, i am now looking at getting it treated and re-sprayed at my own cost, apart from that, the van has been superb from a running point of view, and for a multidrop courier like me to still be on the original clutch, starter motor, alternator etc is testament to the quality of an MB Vito

 

[t29sab]

vito o4 plate

thanks for all your replies, hear is a update on my rusty vito, i wrote to mb headquarters in milton keyens told them all the mechanicle trouble and the amount of time of work ive had and the most alarming the rust coming through on most of the joins and seems on the panels not much but it is all over and in 5 years it will be ripe , they replied to say sorry and we are investigating the matter and will be in touch within ten working days,the time has passed no reply so i rang them but my file case had got lost but they would ring me back straight away with a answer ,no one rang me back. Yesterday i got a phone call of mb in dundee asking me questions about all my trouble and to resolve the issue but he said we don t normally swap vehicles and told me he would ring back later that day with a answer STILL AWAITING HIS CALL THREE DAYS LATER

 

[Coulsdon Eagle]

did you ever get a call back?

 

[mattneville]

Merc faults

I had similar problesm witha Vito and C class various faults, I would tell them unless they replace/refund you, you will have all the faults sign written on the van and leave it outside there dealership. I got my money back after 18 months on the C class. Don't give up.

Cheers

Matt

 

[davebox]

he said we don t normally swap vehicles and told me he would ring back later that day with a answer STILL AWAITING HIS CALL THREE DAYS LATER

Ring your local trading standards, they can be helpfull.
The garage has three options
1 repair - this must be to a satisfactory quality
2 replace - like for like or
3 refund - refund takes into account the current market value, not a trade value.

Worth while making a call.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

I think I can beat you all hands down. Sprinter 316CDi registered early Aug 03.

Water pump leaked
replaced steering wheel(rough edges)
elec mirror switch replaced
rear hub oil seal leaked
fuel tank sender replaced/misreading
front shock strut replaced
exhaust blowing(4 attempts)
outside temp sensor failed
cab floor mat split
injectors replaced 2/5 faulty
passenger seat cushion replaced(internal fasteners failed)
4spd interior fan resistor replaced
sprintshift hydraulic pump replaced
V-belt pulley seized resulting in breakdown recovery.
auxiliary heater circulating pump replaced
door lock cylinder replaced
trackrod/ball joint replaced
sprintshift gearbox replaced (selection fault possibly related to muck introduced earlier?)
power steering pump replaced
corrosion in engine bay along chassis seams (mercedes authorised repair at about 30 months but I declined as it involved removing engine/brake pipes/ABS unit)
Alternator bearing
turbo oil return pipe leak
new engine(snapped conrod at 100k)

This is on a cherished, owner driven van. Thank god I didn't buy the imported one I was considering. Perhaps I should approach Merc Uk and ask them to look at my case.

The van before was a 2001 311 CDI which did 2 years/80k with hardly a hiccup. I only changed it so soon as I wanted something with a bit more comfort/power. The one item i worried about, the aircon, has not given trouble.........yet. there is still 3 months left in the warranty so the list could get longer.

Should I ask for a full refund?????????

 

[jberks]

I think I can beat you all hands down. Sprinter 316CDi registered early Aug 03.

Water pump leaked
replaced steering wheel(rough edges)
elec mirror switch replaced
rear hub oil seal leaked
fuel tank sender replaced/misreading
front shock strut replaced
exhaust blowing(4 attempts)
outside temp sensor failed
cab floor mat split
injectors replaced 2/5 faulty
passenger seat cushion replaced(internal fasteners failed)
4spd interior fan resistor replaced
sprintshift hydraulic pump replaced
V-belt pulley seized resulting in breakdown recovery.
auxiliary heater circulating pump replaced
door lock cylinder replaced
trackrod/ball joint replaced
sprintshift gearbox replaced (selection fault possibly related to muck introduced earlier?)
power steering pump replaced
corrosion in engine bay along chassis seams (mercedes authorised repair at about 30 months but I declined as it involved removing engine/brake pipes/ABS unit)
Alternator bearing
turbo oil return pipe leak
new engine(snapped conrod at 100k)

This is on a cherished, owner driven van. Thank god I didn't buy the imported one I was considering. Perhaps I should approach Merc Uk and ask them to look at my case.

The van before was a 2001 311 CDI which did 2 years/80k with hardly a hiccup. I only changed it so soon as I wanted something with a bit more comfort/power. The one item i worried about, the aircon, has not given trouble.........yet. there is still 3 months left in the warranty so the list could get longer.

Should I ask for a full refund?????????

Sound like you have a new van anyway! (not a lot left of the old one!)

 

[RichHammond]

Believe it or not I have rust spots on the bottom of the boot door on my ML270cdi 2002. Sounds like you bought a friday afternoon dog, id get rid before its out of warranty.