w210 rust repair under warranty advice sought

[ennio]

hi

the dealer from whom I pruchased my 1998 w210 e300td estate has had approval from MBUK to repair rust on various panels (door, tailgate, bonnet, wing). I have had the car 4 years - the car is 7 years old with 180,000 miles.

I am dubious about panel "repair" as opposed to panel replacement. The dealer tells me that repair is the current MBUK policy, and that a repair treatment has been developed which is effective. He also assures me that when they start work on the car, if an individual panel is found to be beyond repair, they will submit a new claim to MBUK for replacement. It appears that each panel is treated as a separate claim.

I plan to keep the car for at least 4 more years. I am suspicoius that repair may be good for a couple of years but may not be good for my plan.

Can I reasonably protest that the panels should be replaced, not repaired?
Should I protest to the dealership or to MBUK?

thanks for any help
ennio

 

[jberks]

If the car was fairly new then maybe. To be fair, most 7 year old cars have a spot of rust here and there, especially with that kind of mileage. I've had mine done in the normal places, admittedly the oldest repair is only 18 months old, but there's no sign of any return as yet. As it's a goodwill repair I suspect you'd have a fight on your hands. How many other manufacturers with spend a few thousand repainting a 7 year old car with 180k on it - infact how many other cars could do 180k and have an owner who still reasonably expects another 4 years out of it! Assuming you do keep it for another 4 years and put another 100k on it, any small bits of rust that do return aren't going to affect the value of an 11 year old car with 300k on the clock.

I know the W210 has corrosion problems, but presumably yours isn't that bad if you are only just having it done now. Mine was only 4 years old when that first went in and I don't consider it bady affected. We all view the older models as never rusting, so complain about the newer ones, but I clearly remember my dad's loved from new but 150k mile 6 year old W123 250 with bubbles all over it! - and MB weren't going to fix that!

Maybe I'm being soft but I'd accept the repair.

 

[230K]

Hi

Has anyone done any sort of analysis to see whether there is a trend in which cars are more affected by rust diesels, petrols, estates, saloons, silver, black, blue or red etc. Interesting that cars i know of have all been diesel, 3 estates, 1 saloon, 3 silver and 1 blue.
Are diesel estates more widely affected.

ennio sorry for hijacking your thread, on your case i would expect new panels (as i got) but i think just to get them to fix it is a result at present.
The rust warranty is for 30 years. Try and imagine how many miles could be on the car when it is 29 years old 600,000???, the "7 year old and 180K" argument just does not wear with me im sorry it is a 30 year warranty and in my opinion was sold as such.

230K

 

[seasons]

Partial success in getting rust fixed.

My W210 E300TD, has been with me from new, and I take the view that a warranty is part of the contract of purchase, so have been less than happy with MB attitude.
01/03/99 car new to me. current mileage 153K
May 2002, stains in headlining found to be rust under roof panel. Dealer fixed under warranty at no cost to me. (2 years old!!!) Even Lada did better than that.
June 2004 Rust in the tops of the doors under rubber seals. Dealer replaced all 4 doors under warranty at no cost to me!
Feb 2005 Rust in front wheel arches, dealer repaired in June 2005, by sandblasting and re-paint at 30% cost to me as no full MB service history.
June 2005, Rust in rear quarter panels where they meet the sill. dealer repaired as above at 35% cost to me as no full MB service history.
The car has of course been serviced every 10K miles and I am present in the workshop where we look for any signs of corrosion regularly.
MB position is that the extended rust warranty is offered as part of their service procedure, and if you have a full MB service record, then they treat it as a goodwill matter. I suspect it is more a case of they have already received enough revenue from you to pay for such repairs.
This is a cynical way to treat customers, and may not even be legal in European law.
The real issue for me is that the myth of MB products being head and shoulders above their competitors is now lost, and the inflated prices for initial purchase and subsequent servicing are no longer justified.
I operate my car as a "Private Hire" chauffuer, and meet other colleagues who have J and K plate Volvos and Lexus models without this kind of rust problem, so comments such as what can you expect after 6/7 years do not wash with me. We also have a J plate W201 without even the suggestion of rust.
I wish you well in your negotiations with your dealer who will refer all warranty claims to Stuttgart.
I will not need an E class when I retire at year end, but now the trade knows of the reputation, what will it be worth?. I dont think a new smaller MB product will be chosen.

 

[FELLOW]

Rust repairs and legal stand point

I had my second hand merc for less than one year when rust was noted (a '99 w208 clk 320) the old merc body work g'tee was only six years and the dealer one year - I asked for new pannels (nb cheap light pannels are available but MB parts are a little thicker and only 10 -20 per pannel more expensive) .... it took ages and lots of trips but eventually they resprayed it and replaced pannels where needed - I wanted all pannels replacing but this was would have been deemed "reasonable in court" if merc policy.
The job is good. The body work boys I know warned me of re-occ' and your concerns are justified but at seven years don't look a gift horse in the mouth...check your warrenty else where on the internet and accept dealers good will

 

[joe bloggs]

30 years perforation, not rust cover started Nov. 98.
8 years general corrosion goodwill (not warranty) cover - subject to full dealer service history.

 

[ennio]

thanks to all for your advice.
ennio