Rust Guarantee!

[T1M4]

I have a 1999 C220CDI, which has some small patches of rust on it, i was wondering if it was covered by the Mercedes Rust Guarantee? It does have a full service history
If not does anyone know when it came in?

Thanks Tim

 

[Jensen]

You should be ok, as I had my C250TD covered that was registered 1998. However this was a goodwill gesture the total period was 6 years I think from registration. But apparantly this changed to 30 years sometime in 1999 I think.
No doubt somebody else will clarify.
Personally I would take it in and be assertive
Godd luck

 

[SimonLa]

My 99 E class had all rust repaired under Mobilo life (including subframe). If you have the service history - then you just need to take it in and get the ball rolling....if they don't want to play then call MB Customer Service.

Declared rust proof in Oct 06 - Rusting again Aug 07...GRRRRRR

 

[verytalldave]

I have a 1999 C220CDI, which has some small patches of rust on it, i was wondering if it was covered by the Mercedes Rust Guarantee? It does have a full service history
If not does anyone know when it came in?

Thanks Tim

Most car manufacturers rust warranties are very specifically worded and I would expect Mercedes to be no different. Some makers insist that the car has proper full service history. They say this gives them the chance to pick up any rusting problems before it gets too bad. More like its a clause to get out of doing any remedial work without full srvice history.
Also, most rust warrenties are "anti-perforation". Which means the car actually has to rust to a hole before you can claim. Surface rust, no mater how extensive or bad, providing there are no actual rusting "holes" is not covered.
All anti-rust policies do is give a potential purchaser some rough idea of how good the manufacturers anti-rust treatments are.
Lets face it, get a chunk of average car bodywork, remove all the paint and leave it in your garden for 6 years. It would certainly be very rusty, but I bet it would not have perforated. Close, but not yet. That would probably take 8-10 years or so. Safely out of the warrenty period. Call me an old cynic if you like, but most guarantees on most things are almost worthless. There will nearly always be a getout clause somewhere. Trust me, I'm a politician.

 

[hawk20]

Lets face it, get a chunk of average car bodywork, remove all the paint and leave it in your garden for 6 years.

I am happy to be able to tell you that that is not true of the Mercedes policy. Numerous threads give testimony to the fact that the policy does exactly what it says on the tin.

Mercedes have dealt with many rust cases on cars with full MBSH and they have also dealt with quite a few with partial MBSH. I can give you loads of links or you can search here, on other UK forums and in the US.

RUST and MOBILO

30 year guarantee began with Mobilo on 24th October 1998

Full galvanising of all steel panels on Mercedes began around 2002 and most models were fully galvanised by 2003. I'll post the link in a second or two.



Useful thread on rust and Mercedes fixing the problem for some but not all: -

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=30656&highlight=rust

A case where Mercedes did lots under ‘goodwill’
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=30644&highlight=rust

Another useful thread with lots of information and many cases of Mercedes paying for rust to be treated: -
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=27552&highlight=rust

Another interesting thread giving info on the eight years cover prior to MobiloLife coming in.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=29655&highlight=rust

 

[hawk20]

Information on Galvanising

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=23630

 

[verytalldave]

In that case, apologies are in order. Maybe I should be slightly less sceptical.

 

[T1M4]

I am happy to be able to tell you that that is not true of the Mercedes policy. Numerous threads give testimony to the fact that the policy does exactly what it says on the tin.

Mercedes have dealt with many rust cases on cars with full MBSH and they have also dealt with quite a few with partial MBSH. I can give you loads of links or you can search here, on other UK forums and in the US.

RUST and MOBILO

30 year guarantee began with Mobilo on 24th October 1998

Full galvanising of all steel panels on Mercedes began around 2002 and most models were fully galvanised by 2003. I'll post the link in a second or two.



Useful thread on rust and Mercedes fixing the problem for some but not all: -

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=30656&highlight=rust

A case where Mercedes did lots under ‘goodwill’
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=30644&highlight=rust

Another useful thread with lots of information and many cases of Mercedes paying for rust to be treated: -
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=27552&highlight=rust

Another interesting thread giving info on the eight years cover prior to MobiloLife coming in.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=29655&highlight=rust

Thanks for all of the advice, i will be taking my car into MB, and see what they say hopefully get my rust sorted!!

 

[hawk20]

In that case, apologies are in order. Maybe I should be slightly less sceptical.

Normally your scepticism is spot on, I'm sure. But in this rare case it does what they say.

BUT: - modern water based paints are not truly waterproof and it is the clear lacquer that provides the real protection. Once that is broken by stone chips or scratches or minor accident damage, if it is not touched up properly, then rust can easily occur from the outside in -which is not covered.

Repairs which have been done by a non approved bodyshop are not covered.

So provided all repairs are done by an approved bodyshop, and provided reasonable care is taken to touch up damaged areas then you are covered for rust from the inside out as it says in the T's and C's - given full MBSH.

 

[T1M4]

Normally your scepticism is spot on, I'm sure. But in this rare case it does what they say.

BUT: - modern water based paints are not truly waterproof and it is the clear lacquer that provides the real protection. Once that is broken by stone chips or scratches or minor accident damage, if it is not touched up properly, then rust can easily occur from the outside in -which is not covered.

Repairs which have been done by a non approved bodyshop are not covered.

So provided all repairs are done by an approved bodyshop, and provided reasonable care is taken to touch up damaged areas then you are covered for rust from the inside out as it says in the T's and C's - given full MBSH.

Thank you very much, and it was nice meeting you on Sunday!!

 

[hawk20]

Thank you very much, and it was nice meeting you on Sunday!!

Yes, you too. Mercedes World was worth the visit, I thought, but the sales staff seemed oddly under-informed about their product.

They had one car priced at £88k which is actually £68k. Just a typo I'm sure but could put some buyers off.

 

[73plot]

I can also vouch for the MB Rust warranty. I have a (nearly) 8yr old W202 Estate (bought s/h at 3.5yrs old)which was starting to show rust in all 4 wheel-arches and tailgate bottom seam, at 7 yrs old. Was checked by my local dealer and the "Approved" repairer Assessor, passed on to MB & they OK'd the repairs: repaired all 4 wheel-arches and replaced tailgate.
Can't emphasise how impressed I was! Great job and the sort of quality service you would expect.
Well done!
Main conditions were: Service book up to date with MB stamps; and have owned the car for (I think) over a year before reporting.
And I got a loaner car for niks..................