W210 rust. The saga continues.

[bacoms]

When I had the rust around the door seals fixed at the beginning of the year, I thought the rust problem was solved. How wrong I was. I've now discovered rust bubbling up around the wheel arches and one of the seams by the driver's side rear door. Car will be 8 years old next month so thought I'd better get it into MB (Southampton) pronto.

Their rust guy (worryingly it appears to be a full-time job) took the usual photos and measured the paint thickness pretty much all over the car. He noted that it was thicker than expected along the driver's side, (190microns against 100-120microns) suggesting this side had been repaired.

MB came back saying they would repair for free the rust on the passengers side but that I would have to make a contribution (£205 + VAT) to have the rust fixed on the driver's side as, 'being the off-side, this is considered as corrosion' and not covered'.

Should I consider this as a 'result' or am I being fobbed off????

 

[Xtractorfan]

£200 aint a bad price for fixing the rust, remember once they do it you will have your rust warranty intact.. boy is this forum slow

 

[bacoms]

£200 aint a bad price for fixing the rust, remember once they do it you will have your rust warranty intact.. boy is this forum slow

Are you sure about that? My dealer is adamant that MB are doing this work as a goodwill gesture.

 

[Daeths]

my warranty work completed 13 months ago is back in as it is rustier than before. I was told that the work they completed is only warranted for 12 months. get that huh ???

We are currently in 'discussions' for three arches and a door repair. Not happy and not even vaguely impressed with the repair work

 

[Hawthorn470]

I have had my Silver W210 Avantgarde in for rust warranty work 4 times over the 5 years I've had it. This includes twice for remediation covering previous work (door tops and wheel arch). It's now an annual inspection and trip into my Merc dealer to get authorisation for more work. The key is the relationship between the local Merc dealer and the paintshop - and I know this can be strained.

The paintshop that Merc use in my area have said they're fed up having to re-do work, and that the only solution many cases is new body parts (which Merc have declined to supply). Last week when I last picked it up, the paintshop had a 2001 estate in, completely stripped ready for repainting.

Parts rusted to date: wheel arches (all), door tops (all), boot lid around lock and under light, bonnet (air grille), bottom of rear doors - trailing edge, rear panels - bottom. Other parts corroded and not covered: alloy wheels and door frame covers.

One thing of note - the paintshop reckon they've never had any solid colour models in, they're always metallic.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I have a W210 2000 which met the usual rust problems.

Four doors replaced due to rust. Very visible under all of the seals.

Tailgate under review at the moment but looks like they will do it too. Its gone at the number plate lights and the brake light.

As for metallics, I have seen a lot of solid colours rusting too.

 

[Xtractorfan]

I think the reason for the bodyshop not having any solid colour cars in is because 90% of mercs and indeed cars in general are metallics

 

[Xtractorfan]

The other thing that most ppl dont realise is that it isnt the colour coats on the car that give protection from rust but the initial primer and undercoating process

 

[bacoms]

The other thing that most ppl dont realise is that it isnt the colour coats on the car that give protection from rust but the initial primer and undercoating process

Very true but MB are telling me that I have to make a contribution to fixing the rust on both driver's side wheel arches as rust on this side is considered corrosion rather than a failure of the primer/undercoating process. They accept that the rust on the passenger's side wheel arch is down to them. Doesn't make sense to me.