Rust!!!!!!!!!! Oh and central locking

[i.forbester]

I have a 5 year old E320CDI which now has rust breaking out on both front wings (wheel arches and joint with bumper), on a rear door and around the lock on the boot. I am not covered by Mobilo as I had major falling out with local dealer over lack of service on my last Mercedes. I use a very good local garage with Mercedes software.
Does anyone know what is the best approach to take with Mercedes to see if they might address the issue. I know I will have no luck with my local dealer.
Thanks for any help or suggestions!
Also does anybody know anything about problems with central locking my car does not respond to either plip key and only one works in the ignition. The batteries are fine in both

 

[jberks]

You have to visit a dealer for the rust. There are lots of dealers around these days. Just find another.
Regarding the key, does the central locking work at all. Will it work if you point the key at the driver's door handle?
The remote locking works on 2 channels (IR and radio) and you have 2 keys. The common aspect is the central locking itself.

 

[hawk20]

Mercedes have been amazingly good about the rust issue, reading threads here, on other UK forums and US forums.

They have dealt with rust on some cars that were not FullMBSH.

Not all though. If the car is rough, covered in stone chips that have not been touched up, or scratches, or minor accident damage left unattended, they have been naturally unwilling to help.

One person I know, with no FMBSH, took his E class for its next service at an MB dealer and raised the rust issue when he collected it. Two new doors and wheel arches fixed to his surprise and mine. So worth a try.

Out of interest, cars produced in 2003 and onwards were fully galvanised.

 

[philharve]

I have a 5 year old E320CDI which now has rust breaking out on both front wings (wheel arches and joint with bumper), on a rear door and around the lock on the boot. I am not covered by Mobilo as I had major falling out with local dealer over lack of service on my last Mercedes. I use a very good local garage with Mercedes software.
Does anyone know what is the best approach to take with Mercedes to see if they might address the issue. I know I will have no luck with my local dealer.
Thanks for any help or suggestions!
Also does anybody know anything about problems with central locking my car does not respond to either plip key and only one works in the ignition. The batteries are fine in both

Hi i.forbestor

Within the last few weeks I've had all 4 wheel arches repaired due to rust breaking out on the inner lips of the arches and I'm now awaiting on a decision from MB regarding replacing the trim on the B pillars and a new set of alloy wheels which are corroding beneath the surface.

I avoided my dealer and went direct to the MB-approved bodyshop which I had used before and I progressed my claim from there. I have not fallen out with my dealer, I just don't trust them, with good reason. The last time I visited them they said my MobiloLife cover had ceased. I had a FMBSH except for the last B service which was performed by a Mercedes specialist. The indie performed the service work using Mercedes parts and procedures and, IMHO, to a better standard. I think it was 'sour grapes' on the dealers part that I chose to save hundreds of pounds in service charges by avoiding them. That's what I call being smart.

I have had no warranty problems with MB and the car has been returned to me in a better condition than when it left the factory. Spotless paintwork and no corrosion.

I did have an untreated rust spot to a door bottom attended to and a crease in a rear wing removed at the same time. I paid for this work. I had no hassle from MB.

I believe that if there is evidence that a car has/is being well maintained, MB will look favourably upon a corrosion claim. In so doing, MB (or its agent: dealer, bodyshop) is making a value judgement about the 'quality' of the current owner. If the car appears unloved, which may be reflected in the attitude of the owner, I believe the chances of a claim being rejected increases exponentially. The rationale being that if an unloved car is repaired, it will likely fall into the same unloved state again. If so, why should MB fund its repair!

There is strong evidence within the threads of this forum that suggest that the way MB deals with claims is far from being even-handed. Some claims succeed, others not. Why? I have followed my indie's advice and pressed my claims with vigour. So far it has paid off.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[i.forbester]

You have to visit a dealer for the rust. There are lots of dealers around these days. Just find another.
Regarding the key, does the central locking work at all. Will it work if you point the key at the driver's door handle?
The remote locking works on 2 channels (IR and radio) and you have 2 keys. The common aspect is the central locking itself.

Neither key will lock or unlock the doors, and only one key will work in the ignition? Do you think that this points to a key fault or the central system?
Thanks

 

[i.forbester]

Sorry for late response but I will follow your advice. I am attempting to get support from the Mercedes daler that i bought the car through but they have been absorbed in to another dealer and I am having difficulty on finding the original people who were involved.

 

[hawk20]

Sorry for late response but I will follow your advice. I am attempting to get support from the Mercedes daler that i bought the car through but they have been absorbed in to another dealer and I am having difficulty on finding the original people who were involved.

This is important. Are you saying you have just bought the car from them? Because if so, Mercedes can and probably will say, quite fairly, that you bought the car with known rust and the price you paid will reflect that.

If -on the other hand- you have owned the car for some while, they may well deal with the rust, even if you do not have FullMBSH.

 

[Glenn Smith]

This is how i've approached it, write to DCUK, tell them how much you love your car, but are supprised and dishartenend by the excessive corrosion, by modern standards, on a car of this age. They will contact your local dealer who will get in touch and arrange for a bodyshop representive to view your car, and they will repair it. My car has been serviced by me since it was 3.5yrs old, and hasn't been serviced by MB since it was 3yrs old last October it had a fair bit done under warranty when it was 6.5yrs old and it's been in two previous times, they have only refused to do rust around a stone chip that is not in a known problem area. note that newer cars do not have the same type of warranty that the older ones did have, ibelieve MB were caught out by, for one excessive rust and the other block excemption rules which were retrospective, later cars have no rust warranty and corrosion issues are dealt with under the long term care package called Mobilo life (as with older cars) this no longer is called a Warranty, so is exempt from block exemption rules, this cover will be renewewd (free of charge) for two years at a Dealer service, work it out for yourself, lets hope newer Mercs don't rust. I'm considering buying one now and if it rusts it will be the last one i have, as i do my own servicing i will lose my long term care package and have no comeback whatsoever.

 

[hawk20]

This is how i've approached it, write to DCUK, tell them how much you love your car, but are supprised and dishartenend by the excessive corrosion, by modern standards, on a car of this age. They will contact your local dealer who will get in touch and arrange for a bodyshop representive to view your car, and they will repair it.

Yes but first he needs to answer my query about is this a recent purchase. If it is, they may not fix it. You cannot go and buy a rusty one cheap and then get Merc to fix it so you can sell at a profit.

later cars have no rust warranty and corrosion issues are dealt with under the long term care package called Mobilo life (as with older cars) this no longer is called a Warranty, so is exempt from block exemption rules, this cover will be renewewd (free of charge) for two years at a Dealer service, work it out for yourself, lets hope newer Mercs don't rust. I'm considering buying one now and if it rusts it will be the last one i have, as i do my own servicing i will lose my long term care package and have no comeback whatsoever.

If you buy a Merc PRODUCED in 2003 or later, it will be galvanised. I put up a thread with all the dates when full galvanising of all steel panels started.

 

[hawk20]

Here is the link for galvanising: -
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=23630

 

[t_gane]

I was speaking to a friend of a friend about rust on Mercs, who works for a Merc approved bodyshop. Hopefully his comments will help to clear a few of the questions/points raised here.

Hawk20 is absolutely right, if you have knowingly bought a car with rust then you cannot expect MB to pay for repairs to it. My friend also said that MB often ask for a copy of the V5 to show the length of ownership.

The repairs are covered by Warranty up to a 3 year old cars, then by MB goodwill (?) on cars up to 8 years old. After that ... you're on your own. That might explain why they are keen on full MB service history, they want to reward loyal customers.

The wording on the Mobilo terms is very careful, it says about perforation, by which they mean rust that starts at the metal and works out, not corrosion that is caused by poor paint coverage. Nearly all of the rust problems are caused by paint coverage and paint rubbing through like the top door seals. These are covered by Warranty and Goodwill but not by Mobilo.



From my own bad experiences with the local dealer, I changed to the next nearest, which is close t my work, and have never looked back. But like all things in life there are good and bad examples to be found. If you are not happy with your local dealer then find another to ask. Losing customers through the door and therefore money is the only way some of them will learn.

 

[hawk20]

I was speaking to a friend of a friend about rust on Mercs, who works for a Merc approved bodyshop. Hopefully his comments will help to clear a few of the questions/points raised here.

The repairs are covered by Warranty up to a 3 year old cars, then by MB goodwill (?) on cars up to 8 years old. After that ... you're on your own. That might explain why they are keen on full MB service history, they want to reward loyal customers.

The wording on the Mobilo terms is very careful, it says about perforation, by which they mean rust that starts at the metal and works out, not corrosion that is caused by poor paint coverage. Nearly all of the rust problems are caused by paint coverage and paint rubbing through like the top door seals. These are covered by Warranty and Goodwill but not by Mobilo.

.

Your friend is partly right and partly not quite right. IIRC older cars were given an eight year guarantee on rust but in about 1999, I think, Mercedes brought out the 30 year rust guarantee. They have been pretty generous at interpreting what they will cover under this. It is not meant for stone chips, scratches, dents etc but for rust that starts from the inside and works out. They have replaced doors and wings and more under the 30 year MobiloLife.

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

My 98 clk 230 was first registered early in the year, hence I had hoped that
the rust problem would'nt effect it. How ever that appears not to be the case
various pin pricks of rust on the bonnet, wheel arches and door bottoms.
The car has been regularly serviced and is looked after although not by a Franchised Dealer since I've owned her........
Do I stand any chance of making a claim, bought from a reputable Motor trader her in Bristol a year ago last June at What Car book price.

Will I have to take her for a dealer service first (don't want to upset my regular chap who is good merc trained & VGVMF), or does anybody know
of a Merc approved body shop in Bristol? that I could approach first.I have to say that both my Range Rover and VW Corrado dont have these problems.
The bonnet os the Corrado was stone chipped when I got. But no rust bubbles lifting through/underneath the paint................
I bet most 9 year old Fordshave less rust on them.........

 

[hawk20]

My 98 clk 230 was first registered early in the year, hence I had hoped that
the rust problem would'nt effect it. How ever that appears not to be the case
various pin pricks of rust on the bonnet, wheel arches and door bottoms.
The car has been regularly serviced and is looked after although not by a Franchised Dealer since I've owned her........
Do I stand any chance of making a claim, bought from a reputable Motor trader her in Bristol a year ago last June at What Car book price.

Will I have to take her for a dealer service first (don't want to upset my regular chap who is good merc trained & VGVMF), or does anybody know
of a Merc approved body shop in Bristol? that I could approach first.I have to say that both my Range Rover and VW Corrado dont have these problems.
The bonnet os the Corrado was stone chipped when I got. But no rust bubbles lifting through/underneath the paint................
I bet most 9 year old Fordshave less rust on them.........

If you want to know the nearest approved body shop just ask your local Mercedes dealer.

Why did you think a car registered near the beginning of the year would be less likely to get rust?

Strictly you need full MBSH to keep the thirty year rust guarantee intact. And I think it began on cars around 1999 -someone else may know the exact date. Check your papers and handbook to see what was said at the time of sale. Or ask your local Merc dealer if nobody comes on here with the exact date.

Failing all else, you can only try. Mercedes have been very good in many cases (but not all) at dealing with rust even when the service history is not complete.

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Cheers Hawk I'll mull it over

Mr Bear