Rusting Mercedes 2007 ML.

[Mr Teddy Bear]

What sort of bribe will be necessary in order for you to furnish a piccy of a certain hidden tattoo then Colin?............................as we're discussing unsubstantiated rumour?

 

[st4]

Rust on a 2007 car. I'd only expect that in the event of an accident and poor repair.

Having had the chance to wash, wax and study my pride and joy I am disheartened to say I have a small bubble of rust. Its on the flap you lift up to add roof rails, thankfully not on a body panel. It can't spread, so when I come to MOT and service the car (alas at the dealer as its under AUC warranty, they can look at it)

However, how the f**k did that happen. Its rusted from the inside.

There is a rather odd looking blister on the front wings, but are these not ally on a 211?

Pics and a new thread to follow but its sad. I am not the cars first owner, and its 5 years old.

Thankfully its under dealer warranty, so it won't be me paying.

I loved my last 211, its body work was A1 and lots of stone chips and NO rust. Maybe that got made out of better steel.

I was in Gray Paul Maserati (long story, I will not be defecting). And on a 2yr old QP there was electrolytic corrosion of the mirrors. Looked dreadful. Thats almost a £100k of car looking like a 210.

However the fella did tell me Germans used Polish steel to build cars with, and it simply was a poor cheap spec steel.

 

[television]

.

However the fella did tell me Germans used Polish steel to build cars with, and it simply was a poor cheap spec steel.

Yes poor cheap steel, it has to be

 

[Cole@MBS]

What sort of bribe will be necessary in order for you to furnish a piccy of a certain hidden tattoo then Colin?............................as we're discussing unsubstantiated rumour?

Please explain??

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Sorry to hear this Steve

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Please explain??

You need to do a search in Benz bin under Tattoo :lol:

 

[jberks]

I have a small bubble of rust. Its on the flap you lift up to add roof rails, thankfully not on a body panel.

If it's any help. I have exactly the same bubbles on mine. The small flap that lifts up on the roof, just looks a bit rough on the drivers one.

However, it's been like that since I got it 5 years ago, never got any worse, never changed in any way so I'm not convinced it is corrosion. After all, wouldn't it have changed/deteriorated in some way by now?

I originally thought they were plastic covers and it was just a bad moulding so wasn't rushing down to make a claim. Still intended to get the dealer to replace it at a service but always forgot at the appropriate time. I guess I could still get it done under the 8 year rule but in the mean time - as I say - whilst it certainly looks like bubbles under the paint, given its total lack of progress, I'm not so sure it is corrosion. They are cast so I wonder whether its just poor casting and QC rather than corrosion.
I'm due a service in 2k (<3 weeks at the current rate) and I'm toying with going to MB Harrogate with it so maybe I'll mention it and see what they say. Aside from that, not a hint of anything on mine.

 

[A180 Dream]

back on topic guys please, this personal tooing and froing helps nobody.

Well said Mark!

It is precisely that type of "tit for tat" and "name calling" that is turning me, and I suspect many other forum members, off this previously excellent forum

Is it not possible for the moderating team to become a bit more "pro-active" within these long running and controversial topics? :neutral:

 

[st4]

Yes poor cheap steel, it has to be

IIRC they 203s build in SA also suffered this problem using cheap SA steel. The german manufacturers (I assume MB, VW and BMW) bought this Polish steel and from what I gather it was cheaper, not a good spec and had inherent ferous oxide. From my limited knowledge of steel production a process is used to get the "dross" to be filtered off, this is known as slag and it exploits the difference between the density of the molten metal, and say the ferrous oxide.

The source of the info was a Maserati salesman (I was in to look at sourcing a Quattroporte for myself as I would like one, but fear its too expensive for me to run, and our chat there confirms this).

However, the Maserati had a lot of corrosion on the mirror frames and this is electrolytic corrosion and it looks every bit as awful as the rust on the steel bodied car. I've seen bad corrosion of this form on a 215 but it was 4-6 years old, not 2.

However apart from that the QP was a very high quality product, nice thick panels, clunk of doors, beautiful cabin and any AMG owners should consider one.

Sorry to hear this Steve

Cheers, I'll take photos and upload. Its sad for a car so new, under 55k miles, FMBSH 5 years old, so its been maintained and retailed as MB AUC.

Given its age, FMBSH, AUC warranty I doubt I'll have an issue getting it fixed. Its the dubious blister on the wing I am bothered about, the flap on the roof isn't a problem, tiny easily replaced part, but how did it get there is my worry.

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

There has been a hidden agenda running here, namely to persuade the casual reader that corrosion claims are all met only as a matter of 'Good Will' and never under the expensive Mobilo Warrenty. This is even taken to the lengths of contradicting the 'Thread Starter' himself! The second hidden agenda is baiting some one who bites too easily [possibly], but never the less contibutes a wealth of useful information to this forum.

 

[Mic]

Well said Mark!

It is precisely that type of "tit for tat" and "name calling" that is turning me, and I suspect many other forum members, off this previously excellent forum

Is it not possible for the moderating team to become a bit more "pro-active" within these long running and controversial topics? :neutral:

I chose to regard it as a rather entertaining ''spectator'' sport that I prefer not to play. I do not think it damages the Forum and most ''readers'' are surely big enough to see it for what it is.....a fairly robust contact sport but ultimately harmless.
If you do not like it, don't read it.......the hard core is usually found on the rust Threads.
Rise above it.....no one got hurt yet.

Mic

 

[hawk20]

If I post wrong, then I am grateful for the one putting me right, I am wrong loads of times, but I thank the one that corrected me always. Now If I try and correct you you shout "I am being abused"

Without any argument or any abuse, how can you join a thread saying that MB workshops have more gear the indies, when you do not have a clue what workshops have at all. and yet you post in an authoritative manner.

I should see what Jberks says -a wise poster by any standards -when he points out that most indies cannot possibly afford the full gear that a dealer can have.
Post 72 on this thread: -
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?p=580175#post580175

 

[st4]

I should see what Jberks says -a wise poster by any standards -when he points out that most indies cannot possibly afford the full gear that a dealer can have.

Hawk20-given that we have a lot of indies, some of which have been very well established and around for a fair few years, would it not be fair to say that they must have sufficient equipment, technical know how etc to work on the vast majority of cars the vast majority of the time. Otherwise the following would happen:

a) they'd lose custom to dealers, not the other way about which seems to be the going on, hence dealers cutting costs/doing servicing deals etc to compete with them on a cost basis. A chat with a Ferrari dealer (a far more specialised car than a Mercedes) told me the dealers are doing this.

b) As a consequence of not having the know how/equipment they'd fail to service/repair cars to a "fit for purpose standard". What do you think would be the outcome of this. They'd be sue'd out of business and would go out of business. This isn't whats happening now is it?

c) legislation would be passed to prevent indies for working on cars, this doesn't seem the case (block 20 exemption, yourself and TV can debate this at your leasure, I am off to bed in a bit). This seems not to be the case as even they are deemed good enough by the overzelous hands of the nanny states that make up the EU.

d) basically, if not able to do the job, would not be here. Simple.

So there you have it, Indies are thriving and doing well, dealers are wanting to compete. Why?

You drive an E220cdi, I drive an E320cdi, Jberks a E270cdi, Malcolm, Mic, SL500's. Which of these cars do you think a decent indie doesn't have the equipment/know how to fix. I bet PCS, MBS, MB Tech Warrington, the place in Glasgow would be able to fix/maintain these cars to a fit for purpose state just as well as any dealer.

 

[hawk20]

HI St4. See post 332 and the link. Answers better than I can.

 

[television]

Strange things forums,,I had a post on number 434 and now hawk has a post on that number and mine is not there

 

[television]

Has anyone seen my post 334 here please

 

[television]

HI St4. See post 332 and the link. Answers better than I can.

But with due respects to all concerned it is only the view of that member, I think that st4 answered it very well

 

[officer305]

Mercedes buckled.

It's not the steel as just by the nature of manufacture mild steel has the impurities removed as slag.
All mild steel rusts badly if not adequately protected and this is where Mercedes are failing.
Firstly there is galvanising and galvanising. Mercedes advertised they were using a method of 'organic galvanising', (whatever that means)...but some other manufacturers use galvannealing as that is less brittle so accepts being bent better.
How the sheet is cut makes a difference, any sharp, burred edges will be difficult to protect and remember the sheet is pre-galvanised, so any cut leaves an unprotected edge, which is where the rust starts from and then corrodes under the galvanising layer, hence the bubbles seen in your photographs.

I also believe Mercedes fail to properly clean and key the surface prior to painting so the primer has poor adhesion. Other manufacturers have recognised this problem and peen the surface to key it. Some also dip the complete body, which Mercedes don't appear to do, as shown by there being raw edges.

The rust on your car is worse than any older model I've seen, including the much maligned W210 and W208, because it really is starting from the inside of the panel and will work it's way out.
This could lead to the first genuine Mobilo corrosion claims if left unrepaired.
You can clean and wax the outside as much as you like, but eventually there will be a rust bubble under the paint where the steel has corroded right through from the inside.

Hi, I would like to thank Dieselman for the above. I sent it to the Mercedes garage yesterday. They forwarded it onto Merc Uk today at 8am. By 8.30 am they had received an e-mail from Merc UK saying that they had reconsidered the matter and the bonnet would be replaced. I visited two bodyshops yeaterday ( Scotland ) and they both said the bonnet would have to be replaced as the rust would keep coming through.

I also gave Merc Uk details of this site. Maybe they looked at it and got a shock regarding owners and rust??? You never know. I have also asked for a guarantee that if there are signs of rust on any other panels then they will be replaced. Still waiting for the answer on that one. Its terrible you have to keep pushing and pushing just to get what is right. Thanks.

 

[television]

A good result, the odd thing is the the bodies are dipped twice, once for the phosphate and then a filler, the next few coats are sprayed on, some area's are impossible to spray

 

[whitenemesis]

It's not the steel as just by the nature of manufacture mild steel has the impurities removed as slag.
All mild steel rusts badly if not adequately protected and this is where Mercedes are failing.
Firstly there is galvanising and galvanising. Mercedes advertised they were using a method of 'organic galvanising', (whatever that means)...but some other manufacturers use galvannealing as that is less brittle so accepts being bent better.
How the sheet is cut makes a difference, any sharp, burred edges will be difficult to protect and remember the sheet is pre-galvanised, so any cut leaves an unprotected edge, which is where the rust starts from and then corrodes under the galvanising layer, hence the bubbles seen in your photographs.

I also believe Mercedes fail to properly clean and key the surface prior to painting so the primer has poor adhesion. Other manufacturers have recognised this problem and peen the surface to key it. Some also dip the complete body, which Mercedes don't appear to do, as shown by there being raw edges.

The rust on your car is worse than any older model I've seen, including the much maligned W210 and W208, because it really is starting from the inside of the panel and will work it's way out.
This could lead to the first genuine Mobilo corrosion claims if left unrepaired.
You can clean and wax the outside as much as you like, but eventually there will be a rust bubble under the paint where the steel has corroded right through from the inside.

A good result, the odd thing is the the bodies are dipped twice, once for the phosphate and then a filler, the next few coats are sprayed on, some area's are impossible to spray

Dieselman is of a different opinion regards the dipping?