Rusting Mercedes 2007 ML.

[officer305]

Hello, Just to let you all know there is a problem with Mercedes ML doors rusting from the inside. I bought a new Mercedes 320 ML CDI in July 2007.

Whilst cleaning the car a couple of weeks ago I noticed what appeared to be rust/ corrosion under the paint work on the passenger side rear door. The rust is creeping under the paint from the seal where the outer door skin and inner door skin are sealed. The rust is almost the complete length of the bottom of the inner door protruding onto the inner part of the door casing.

The car has already had the top door trim replaced because of rust as well as the rear chromed bit where you hold to shut the rear door.

I took ito to the Mercedes garage where I bought it. They took pictures and have sent it away to Merc for a claim. as yet the garage has not got back to me. Not unusual. They are pretty useless.The last Merc I bought of them was a heap. Sold it back to them after 18 months. They couldn't fix it. 18 miles to gallon on a diesel.

I have since learned that this is not an uncommon problem and more and more ML's ( The new Shape ) are rusting under the paint. Especially at the doors. I recall an article which I am trying to find where a bodyshop chap had a tour of the pre paint prep of the ML's and was worried about the sloppiness of the procedure. His worries obvioulsy correct.

Its an absolute disgrace that you pay in excess of £45000 for a car which rusts in under three years. I have seen a lot of W203 rusting around all four wheel arches as well. Apparently after 8 years they wipe there hands of any claims. Poor prep again?

So beware. Check your ML's for rust.

Are Mercedes worth the money any more. On my experience. NO.

 

[The_Don]

Damn !! thought all the rust issues were sorted my c43 has rust but cant see any on the c63 yet :O)

 

[Michael G 2]

Please delete.

 

[television]

How old is the ML? You just say you bought in 2007.

He bought it new in 2007.

 

[Miffy]

Please delete.

he says bought NEW in 2007

 

[Michael G 2]

He bought it new in 2007.

Cheers Malc.
It is a disgrace on something like that.
You'd think it wouldn't happen nowadays.

 

[Mic]

Hello, Just to let you all know there is a problem with Mercedes ML doors rusting from the inside. I bought a new Mercedes 320 ML CDI in July 2007.

Whilst cleaning the car a couple of weeks ago I noticed what appeared to be rust/ corrosion under the paint work on the passenger side rear door. The rust is creeping under the paint from the seal where the outer door skin and inner door skin are sealed. The rust is almost the complete length of the bottom of the inner door protruding onto the inner part of the door casing.

The car has already had the top door trim replaced because of rust as well as the rear chromed bit where you hold to shut the rear door.

I took ito to the Mercedes garage where I bought it. They took pictures and have sent it away to Merc for a claim. as yet the garage has not got back to me. Not unusual. They are pretty useless.The last Merc I bought of them was a heap. Sold it back to them after 18 months. They couldn't fix it. 18 miles to gallon on a diesel.

I have since learned that this is not an uncommon problem and more and more ML's ( The new Shape ) are rusting under the paint. Especially at the doors. I recall an article which I am trying to find where a bodyshop chap had a tour of the pre paint prep of the ML's and was worried about the sloppiness of the procedure. His worries obvioulsy correct.

Its an absolute disgrace that you pay in excess of £45000 for a car which rusts in under three years. I have seen a lot of W203 rusting around all four wheel arches as well. Apparently after 8 years they wipe there hands of any claims. Poor prep again?

So beware. Check your ML's for rust.

Are Mercedes worth the money any more. On my experience. NO.

Now that really is an absolute disgrace and inexcusable......keep us informed as to how you get on......many of us have suffered corrosion issues but your account of your experiences is very disturbing.

Mic

 

[television]

This is disgusting for any car these days,, MB do use a crap metal that soaks up the rust,,it creeps along under the paint and eventually all falls off.

I would check very carefully the state of the other doors and remove the door liner to do so

I have spent the last 2 days doing the insides of the rear wheel arches, my car hardly ever goes out in the rain and certainly never knowingly in the rain.

This has been up more times than any other, it must be a recycled steel sheet, and the same problem that Citroen had in the 1970's

I would say that it will need four new doors as the others must be going the same way

 

[BarryF]

Did Mercedes buy up all the old Rover 2000 and 3500's and use the metal from their wings to make some of the new cars ?
Barry:lol:

 

[television]

Did Mercedes buy up all the old Rover 2000 and 3500's and use the metal from their wings to make some of the new cars ?
Barry:lol:

I think they bought up the lancia old stock

 

[hawk20]

I do think we should be careful about making allegations with no factual back-up whatsoever. I have yet to see any evidence that MB use 'crap steel'.

As a follower of most of the MB forums this is the first report I have seen of this rust issue on a recent ML.

What we know is that MB began galvanising all steel panels in 2002 and by 2003 most MB vehicles were being so treated. We also know that BMW who had similar rust issues also went to galvanising around the same time -though in their case they only claim partial galvanising. See this thread: -
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=43408

We also know that a small number of early A's and B's (mainly in Canada) suffered rust at the edges of door panels where the inside and outside panels are crimped together- despite being galvanised. The cause was found and rectified. From the OP's description his problem sounds to a non-expert like me to be not very different. MB repaired the faulty A's and B's at no charge to owners and I have seen no more reports of any further rust problems in those classes.

First thing is to get onto MB via a dealer or approved bodyshop and IMO one should expect that it will be fixed free if it is a manufacturing defect.

 

[television]

I do think we should be careful about making allegations with no factual back-up whatsoever. I have yet to see any evidence that MB use 'crap steel'.
Then open your eyes and look around you
As a follower of most of the MB forums this is the first report I have seen of this rust issue on a recent ML.

Whats recent ?? MLs of a few year old do rust badly

What we know is that MB began galvanising all steel panels in 2002 and by 2003 most MB vehicles were being so treated. We also know that BMW who had similar rust issues also went to galvanising around the same time -though in their case they only claim partial galvanising. See this thread: -
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=43408

We are not interested in what BMW do thank you, for what ever you put up there at least 15 car makers out there that never rust
We also know that a small number of early A's and B's (mainly in Canada) suffered rust at the edges of door panels where the inside and outside panels are crimped together- despite being galvanised. The cause was found and rectified.

A little rust !!!!! the tail gates rusted right through and they fell off


First thing is to get onto MB via a dealer or approved bodyshop and IMO one should expect that it will be fixed free if it is a manufacturing defect.

If it is a manufacturing defect,, what planet are you on

Do MB pay you for your post, or what ???? I have spent the last few days on the rear wheel arches of my 230, I gave up trying to remove the rust pits as they go all the way through the metal, I have modified them instead, I say it again the metal is lousy

 

[television]

This car just 10 years old and under 100k miles, thats not funny if you bought it new
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=70755

 

[hawk20]

Do MB pay you for your post, or what ????

Yes. About £5k per posting. How much do Audi, BMW and Jaguar pay you?

 

[The_Don]

Here we go ......................

 

[Michael G 2]

Here we go ......................

You get used to it amg.

 

[merc7]

I must say that is really does not inspire confidence to part witk £*****k car!!,must be a bad batch they used on your car???,galvanised steel& nano paint should eradicated that problem???,i got used to Mercedes & their problems i just treated like a high maintenance wife/girlfriend .
(this post was paid by vauxhall)!!!:Oops:

 

[television]

You get used to it amg.

Yes sadly we do get used to so many rust problems that should not be in this last few years

 

[Michael G 2]

Yes sadly we do get used to so many rust problems that should not be in this last few years

At least galvanisation and nano paint have greatly reduced cases over the past few years.

 

[drmw]

I do think we should be careful about making allegations with no factual back-up whatsoever. I have yet to see any evidence that MB use 'crap steel'.

As a follower of most of the MB forums this is the first report I have seen of this rust issue on a recent ML.

Perhaps a generalisation for the sake of brevity - for "crap steel" read "crap steel / design / water traps / welding / galvanisation process / primer / paint - select as appropriate"

Logically, as rust takes some time to make its presence known, there will be a period of two or three years before it becomes apparent so we can expect to see three year old cars feature as we move on in time

The issue is that it still does appear which is inexcusable