Rusty A and B class before 07

[television]

Just peeping at benzworld and I see that there are very serious rust problems, and all of the doors and tail gate are being replaced.
On a 06 B class the rear tail gate was so rusty that it fell off.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w169-class/1442577-class-06-rust-bucket.html

 

[psmart]

This doesnt bode too well for the rest of us then, as I said long time ago, we will have to wait 3+ years on the new crop of cars to decide if they are reliable and without fault! I guess someone in 2009 will come on the forum and say all cars post 2008 are fault and issue free!!!

 

[hawk20]

Below is a useful and informative thread.

Problem affected early A’s and B’s and has been corrected on more recent production. Precise dates not given.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w245-b-class/1430142-warning-all-b-class-owner-rust-3.html

Here are some quotes from the thread: -

Apparently the rust problem was with the opening units on the car only, not the monocoque cell, so they say. It's where the panels are crimped over.

Information on the German site indicates that the root problem is with the steel itself; some batches were improperly zinc coated, and the weldable primer was messed up too.

Apparently 2007 builds had the problem corrected. This is from our German B-Club friends.

Yes the early production (2005-2006 builds) had many cars with this problem. In Germany it's very widespread.


And if anyone can read German: -
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/korrosion-bei-mercedes-a-und-b-klasse_718568.html
The article isn't specific about the dates that were affected, but essentially it says that the problem was the sealant was applied to bare metal before the anti-corrosion treatment was applied to the bare metal panels, so the slightest ingress of moisture into the sealant creates beautiful conditions for rust.

 

[mastereng]

I think the German article you linked to does give dates:

"die zwischen Juni 2004 und Juni 2006 hergestellt wurden"

which roughly translated means assembled between June 2004 and June 2006. Kind of relieved my A Class was built in 2007!

 

[hawk20]

Bit odd this one. Had lunch today with friends who have a 3.5 year old B class. Checked all the places mentioned and not a spec of rust.

My brother's A class is 4 years old (from 2005) and also not a spec of rust.

I assume therefore that only some are affected.

The link is to Canada where conditions are, of course much worse and salting the roads happens for long periods. Nice to know if is particular VIN numbers, or ages of car.

 

[keith100]

The link is to Canada where conditions are, of course much worse and salting the roads happens for long periods.

Too right.

 

[jberks]

I assume therefore that only some are affected.

I imagine so. Its like the 98 to 2004 models, some were badly affected but as with any manufacturing or quality control defect, some are still perfect and so not affected. Worth owners having a check though and if found, I'm sure MB would replace the effected parts under the corrosion warranty.

 

[television]

The link is to Canada where conditions are, of course much worse and salting the roads happens for long periods. Nice to know if is particular VIN numbers, or ages of car.

Sweden is on the same hemisphere lines as North Canada, and gets the same temperatures, salt is also heavily used, but I have read nothing in the Swedish motoring press about any problems, and they would be quick to pick up on such things. Salt is not used in Germany.

 

[J400uk]

The way to tell if it *might* get affected by this issue is the door seams.

The cars built prior to June 2006 (i.e. 05/06 Model Year cars) will have a corrugated seam:

Wheras cars built after this date will have smooth seams:

Unfortunately you can't tell by the registration plate, need to know the build date or physically look for yourself. I fear when this problem becomes widespread in the UK residaul values for A and B Class models will take a nose dive.

 

[hawk20]

Sweden is on the same hemisphere lines as North Canada, and gets the same temperatures, salt is also heavily used, but I have read nothing in the Swedish motoring press about any problems, and they would be quick to pick up on such things. Salt is not used in Germany.

Agreed. This is all fairly odd. Checked my brother's A class registered in April 2005 (one of the first of the new model 169) and not a smidgen of rust anywhere after 4 years and 40k miles. Checked a friend's B class which was also one of the early B's and that is clear as a bell too.

 

[Splatt]

Thats strange , the A class we owned had that corrugated seal ( like mastic gun effect) and it was reg 07. Watch out, it`s still out there somewhere ! Although the body was good.

 

[J400uk]

Thats strange , the A class we owned had that corrugated seal ( like mastic gun effect) and it was reg 07. Watch out, it`s still out there somewhere ! Although the body was good.

That would mean the car was built a long time before it was registered, as the manufacturing process was changed in mid 2006 and they havent modified it since then as far as I know.