W204 2008 rear subframe failure!

[Swanseabay]

HI Folks.
I've been reading these posts with great interest - especially the optimistic ones! I've had my 2011 C180 saloon (53,000 miles) for 6 years. Bought from a good friend who is meticulous with his cars and always uses the main dealers. Until last year, so did I (so full MB service history to then) but, following some awful customer service (funny if you weren't involved - details on request) went to an independent local MB specialist for a service and for a couple of small jobs last year, all very satisfactorily carried out. At this year's service I was told about a small corroded hole in my subframe. The local specialist said they always checked the subframe with older Mercs. Advice was that it was OK pro tem but had to be fixed. They also told me that it was a known fault and that they knew of several people who had had the job done FOC by main dealers, so to go there, rather than have them fix it and charge for it. This was last week, so I have yet to contact the main dealers (who had done all services and MOTs until early last year). I just hope that the fact that I have just jumped ship will not prejudice my chances of a FOC repair. ANY ADVICE FROM CLUB MEMBERS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I'll keep you informed of outcomes.

 

[Swanseabay]

Hi Coops. Do you have any other information you can share with me? For example: who was the main dealer and what did they tell you re the attitude of Mercedes?
Thanks
Bob

 

[Swanseabay]

Further news on my subframe problems: Mercedes agreed to replace the corroded subframe FOC with commendable alacrity. It was done just over a week ago. My Mercedes is a 2011 C180 with 53,000 miles on the clock and, significantly, I did not buy it new: I bought it from a friend almost six years ago, in absolutely pristine condition. Unfortunately, I had to have a timing chain replaced at around 50,000 miles and no amount of cajoling could persuade Mercedes at the time that this should not happen and that Mercedes should offer at least a contribution. (The total replacement costs were similar to those of replacing a subframe). To have been landed with both expenses so soon after each other in an otherwise pristine car would have been harsh, to say the least.

 

[WDB124066]

28 years in a Toyota no rust - anywhere.

MB are taking the **** and I believe they are experimenting with the Hamburg med school to see how badly they can make a car and still have people buy one.

 

[slatermethuen]

My 2008 S204 with 89000 miles was serviced at MBS Southampton last Monday. They told me that they had seen a hole in the rear sub-frame and suggested I get it looked at by a main dealer, to see if they could do a warranty repair. I booked it in with Marshalls Southampton last Wednesday who took a quick look at it and then immediately offered to replace the subframe free of charge and said they could start work straight away! Pretty pleased with this considering the age and the fact that my car doesn't have full MBSH. Hopefully this will reassure others who have the same issue with their car.

For reference, the main dealer said the work would have cost over £3000, and MBS said it would be about £1600 to fix.

 

[Ash c220]

Hi. Ive owned my C220 cdi for less than 2 years. Its a 2008 with 92000 miles. Ive just been told (like others by the looks of it) that my rear subframe has rusted and sheared in two!! This just hours before i was about to do a 3hr motorway journey!

so by the looks of it alot of you have had this problem with some being fixed my MB themselves…. My question is how did you go about getting them to fork the bill?

any advice greatly appreciated,
Ash

 

[indigoskywalker]

Hi Guys, does anyone know if there is a difference between a W204 non AMG and AMG subframe? I believe AMG models have a couple of arms in the rear that are thicker at one end, so i am assuming there must be a non AMG and AMG subframe?

 

[indigoskywalker]

Also, for those that have got MB to replace the subframe under warranty, did they also replace the bushes or do these come with the subframe?

 

[AMGeed]

Hi Guys, does anyone know if there is a difference between a W204 non AMG and AMG subframe? I believe AMG models have a couple of arms in the rear that are thicker at one end, so i am assuming there must be a non AMG and AMG subframe?

Couldn't say what differences there are but the AMG (C63) has a different Part number for the rear subframe to the non AMG.
Diagram for 250CDi below.

FG 204.303 - REAR SUBFRAME > Mercedes EPC Online > nemigaparts.com

Parts catalogs. Spare parts catalog Mercedes EPC Online. Mercedes. Car. REAR SUBFRAME.

nemigaparts.com

 

[ajlsl600]

I never has any corrosion on any of my g classes other than light surface rust easily cleaned off.
No question in my mind, bean counters involved here.

 

[Lodge]

I have been told my subframe needs replacing. Mercedes will provide the subframe free of charge but dealership wants to charge me £225 for to quote them nuts and bolts. Has anyone else had to pay for this.

 

[star]

No, but seen them try and charge a fortune for ghe brake pipes. We saw out first 203 with a subframe failure this week.