Panoramic roof seal rotting

[Terrycufc]

Has anyone with a panoramic glass roof had any problems with the rubber seal?
I got my year old B200 in April, when cleaning the car I found the seal at the leading edge was faulty, it looked as if it was rotting.
I booked the car in at my local dealer who thought the seal would be replaced under warranty.
I then got a call to say the roof comes as a complete kit at £1700 +VAT, and that warranty would not cover it, the damage to the seal having been caused by "outside influences"!

Not quite what I expected 6 weeks into owning an MB!

Terry.

 

[Mic]

Has anyone with a panoramic glass roof had any problems with the rubber seal?
I got my year old B200 in April, when cleaning the car I found the seal at the leading edge was faulty, it looked as if it was rotting.
I booked the car in at my local dealer who thought the seal would be replaced under warranty.
I then got a call to say the roof comes as a complete kit at £1700 +VAT, and that warranty would not cover it, the damage to the seal having been caused by "outside influences"!

Not quite what I expected 6 weeks into owning an MB!

Terry.

What outside influences?.....keep asking questions.

Mic

 

[mandrake]

i think mb are trying to bull s..t you ,if you do not get any satisfaction at the dealers that you got the car from ask to see the head man ,if that fails head office . in fact i would get in touch with the head man in germany

 

[carnut13]

What outside influences?.....keep asking questions.

Mic

Would that be air and rain? So inconvenient to the MB Panoroof designer.

 

[television]

UV is the killer of rubber, thats why they use it on the roof

It makes it worse when the owner opens the roof as this exposes more rubber to the UV, as make making it into a £1700 lump is typical of the car not attitude of the makers, just like a 230 strut, sorry no parts just give us your £1300 for a new one and we can earn £200 while fitting it, all plus VAT to keep everyone happy

 

[Terrycufc]

The "outside influences" could have been a bird or a mouse!
If either of those I would have expected to see bits of rubber on the windscreen.
I have not used an automatic car wash, or a machine polisher. The seal is below the surface of the glass and metal bodywork.

I'll try to take a picture and post it here.

Terry

 

[ernieh]

Warranty

Has anyone with a panoramic glass roof had any problems with the rubber seal?
I got my year old B200 in April, when cleaning the car I found the seal at the leading edge was faulty, it looked as if it was rotting.
I booked the car in at my local dealer who thought the seal would be replaced under warranty.
I then got a call to say the roof comes as a complete kit at £1700 +VAT, and that warranty would not cover it, the damage to the seal having been caused by "outside influences"!

Not quite what I expected 6 weeks into owning an MB!

Terry.

Surely it must have been like that when you bought it. Therefore, irrespective of Mfrs Warranty, the vendor must bear responsibility for this repair. Did you buy it from a MB dealership? If UV is responsible for the problem then the original specification of the material is not fit for purpose.

One possible get-out I see is if it is simply the cosmetic appearance of the seal as opposed to its performance that is at issue, i.e. if it was leaking.

One way or another, if it was me I would not be paying!


Ernie

 

[Terrycufc]

Rotting seal update

The car came from a MB dealer who claim there was no damage when sold.
I have written to MB, they called back and say thay will not replace it under warranty, claiming the "outside influences".
In my letter I did state that if I had realised it would not be covered by warranty I would have returned to car using the 30 day used car guarantee. I suppose the dealer would have rejected that as well due to "outside influences".
I asked that in their letter of reply they include the name and address of the top customer service person in MB.
Attached (hopefully!) is a picture.

Terry

 

[television]

As the paint is perfect, and the rubber sits below the roof line how could any thing do it while in your care, I think that you can claim by law for up to 3 months after the purchase

 

[Terrycufc]

Hi Malcolm,

What would allow the 3 months?
It would come down to my word against theirs, and I cannot guarantee it was there when I bought it because I didn't check.
But then I have no idea how it could have happened since I have owned the car.

Terry

 

[Xtractorfan]

It would be worthwhile getting an opinion from an independant motor engineer..even the AA/ RAC, and then acting on their information.
You do have a claim under the Sale of Goods Act, google it and check out just how much clout it does give you.. also your local trading standards will set you right with regard to
your course of action....
Is it possible it is fouling on the roof opening at the rear as it opens/closes

 

[television]

It would be worthwhile getting an opinion from an independant motor engineer..even the AA/ RAC, and then acting on their information.
You do have a claim under the Sale of Goods Act, google it and check out just how much clout it does give you.. also your local trading standards will set you right with regard to
your course of action....
Is it possible it is fouling on the roof opening at the rear as it opens/closes

By watching the roof close, that could easily be checked out, it almost looks to me as though a child has stood on a seat maybe and picked at it, it is a long way up from the ground on a B class. It does not look scraped.

The rubber needs to be examined to see if it was a faulty part and self disintegrating, the average person would not think of looking or checking anything right up there.

 

[carnut13]

is it possible that birds have pecked at it ,or a squirrel?

 

[Terrycufc]

It is a fixed panoramic roof, no moving parts.
There is always a chance of animal damage, however I would have expected to see some evidence, such as bits dropped on the windscreen.
I am at a loss as to what has caused it.

Terry

 

[television]

If you get no joy and do not want to battle, there are things on the market that would do a good repair

 

[whitenemesis]

Pano Roof seal £24 from MB (A1687800198)

 

[Terrycufc]

Looks like I have a good result.
Following my second letter to MB explaining the circumstances again they have called my local dealer and said they will cover the replacement cost as a sign of goodwill. It is a big weight off my mind, wondering what i could do.
Now I have to wait for a complete panoramic roof assembly to come from Germany.

Well chuffed.
Terry

 

[television]

That is a good result and very fair, that could have been there from new and the last owner did not see it or was not bothered.

How stupid that the a complete must be got to fix it

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Persistence pays off. Well done.

 

[Terrycufc]

I haven't yet had written confirmation from MB......
Perhaps the post from Netherlands is a bit slow.....seems odd that I send letters to MB in Milton Keynes, but the replies and phone calls are from Netherlands.

Terry