W210 warranty paintwork joke! Watch out robinsons!

[CHEWIE]

Evening all...or should I say good morning?

just a "quickie before bed"!.....maybe not that quick!

Will let you have full story after visting Robinsons "Car Carvery" of Norwich!
Watch this space!, but for now...

Had the bodywork done under warranty end of last year (November), and she looked stunning, that cold, dark, winters evening as she was brought round from the Jokeshop!.......sorry body shop, gleaming in the reflected electric lighting on the Obsidain Black paintwork, Myself and my Daughter felt really good as we went off into the City in my Gleaming Black Beauty!, for those of you who dont know the car in question is a 51 plate e320 cdi, avantgarde AMGs etc.....blah,blah,blah, and when we parked we had a look over her, and to be honest she looked good! on the face of it, ...in the dark, looking the other way with my eyes shut,... as I must have been!

Anyway, a cold, wet and salty winter has now past and if I am honest I have not washed by hand during the winter, as Top wash still on offer...and Im a lazy git!
Well as was a reasonable Bank Holiday weekend I thought I would give car a good going over, good wash wax and a T-Cut,......thats when it all became clear just how much effort Robinsons had put into their Warranty work!!!

Honestly the list is SO long,... I am Gobsmacked myself! will fill you all in details over next day or two after I have had my "Pound of flesh",will try and get some pics on too.

some of complaints are:-

Overspray Galore!
Rubbed down paintwork on door shuts (1500-2000ish grit), then left unpainted!
Exsposed and rusting bare metal!
Metal particles in surface of paint, ...now rusting!

The main issues with the old 210, such as boot lock, around door handles, number plate etc are now far worse, many bubbles under paint over larger area! and loads more new rust in new places, and some incredible such as laquered over rust!, also crap prep and finishing!
Sticky residue (runs) inside door shuts etc.

It seems they only repair what is "outward facing" on the panels, as rust on bottom edges of doors and behind seals and panels etc, not touched! ..or mentioned!
Whats that about, Mr Mercedes? would it be too much to inform your customer that, "From here Sir It looks Fantastic!... but dont lean to the side too much as you will be able to see the crap, rusty, untouched bits that will soon creep round the panel to make this all a complete waste of time" ...but why tell us Mugs, We keep coming back for more **** from this "Pretiege" Motor Company!
Going to take me a while with that Bodyshop Manager!

To be honest I had overlooked a few noticble minor issues, such as engine bay was aboslutly "white", sort of pinky too....with filler dust, and roof trim keeps coming off,... and washer pipe came off inside bonnet,... and passenger door wont shut without big shove now,....all things they touched,.... all Ok before!

Thats only some of it, but alongside this there were a few issues that I had to pay for, and I asked for a full underseal, but I think I got the discount application, as only really a strip down centre of vehicle, maybe I had to ask for the "full underseal, including all the nooks and crannies and awkward to protect places please" which I thought I was paying for, and the "point" of undersealing.
Also paid for entire roof to be sprayed, as told could not just address rust issue at front, which was, in all honesty caused by a "butcher" of a Windscreen Fitter at some time in the past, (Im second owner) having been a Supervisor for AutoWindsreens (RAC) for some years, I know full well what goes on under those Windscreen trims and usually involves a Stanley knife and by the time you notice the rust creeping out, its a 12-18 months down the road and all a bit too late to complain.
So with this in mind I had arranged for screen to be removed and refitted for them to do work, as rust goes both ways once there, after about the first week I spoke to the bodyshop super and was told "No thats ok, weve done that bit , didnt need screen out" and just kept saying not a problem.......guess what?...Yep, you guessed it! I removed top trim and bingo, a rusty line forming again along the adhesive...Fantastic.

Prices went up and down during process and ended up costing me just short of 1500.00, all together,so all the hassle and cost so far (and more to come.............NO A Class loan car this time!), so in roughly 5 months, till end of April,it is now FAR worse than it was before!

Until Tomorrow Mr Bodyshop Manager!

Sorry its a long one, but as you can guess, Im Not A Happy Bunny!
I will get back to you when more time in next few days with more details and the outcome of My visit!

Cheers, Ray.

 

[teddycatkin]

Sad ---but very interesting story and a good warning to others ?.

 

[television]

Sad ---but very interesting story and a good warning to others ?.

Yes true,and never trust no one

 

[jberks]

Poor quality control and a bodyshop man who's on a bonus for rushing the cars through.
Throw it back and tell them to do it again.

 

[robertjrt]

As you may have read my car has been parked at MB Chelsea for the past three and a half years. When it was recovered to MB the "tow sheet" showed a scratch on the lower valance, near the tow hook. A few months later the scratch had turned into a £600 body repair, at my cost!

Having read your post I am more than determind than ever to insist on a full inspection of the bodywork. MB swore blind that the damage was on the car when it was delivered to them. The spare tyre also; change size, make, pattern and alloy rim style!

 

[turbopete]

after reading of your woes, im pleased theres very little i dont do myself on my car! it may not be the best job ever done when i get the spray gun out, but its only cost me my materials and my time. and only myself to blame if its not done to the standard i want it done to!

 

[CHEWIE]

after reading of your woes, im pleased theres very little i dont do myself on my car! it may not be the best job ever done when i get the spray gun out, but its only cost me my materials and my time. and only myself to blame if its not done to the standard i want it done to!

Hi Turbo, Yes me too normally, I am in process of a complete revamp on my T4 transporter LWB Syncro, engine change through to respray ,also restoring a 4 door,... yes 4 door Jaguar XJ6 Cabriolet (Banham XJ6), rare beast, thats along with my wooden car, yes wooden! sounds like a joke,I know, but built buy engineer from Marine ply, epoxied, then painted, (Morgan Inspired) built on 1973 Marina chassis,engine etc, has to be seen to be believed! and I have had most of the Merc apart too, previous listings a plenty, usually resolved by my Oracle, more commonly as Malcolm (Television)
With this lot around my ears already, it SEEMED like a good idea to take advantage of the Warranty, call me old fashioned, but I actually thought they had done this sort of thing before and maybe, they would be quite good at it by now.......how wrong I was!
Ran out of time today, so didnt get in to see them, will keep you posted.
Thanks everyone for your interest.
Ray.

 

[CHEWIE]

Sad ---but very interesting story and a good warning to others ?.

Thanks, If this helps anyone avoiding the probs I have encountered, its all been worth while!
Information Is Power!
Cheers,
Ray.

 

[Dosco]

Down Down deeper and Down...

....as the song goes...they deserve to be on their knees to you for such poor quality workmanship (or is it workpersonship!).

No doubt not practical but if you were near to MK and the Garage/Bodyshop failed to sort out the problem take the car to MBMK and with a big sign on the top of the car camp outside their offices - it has been done and it did work.

As I say not practical or cost effective but before Jberks jumps on me you do need to give them a chance to sort it out.... the best of luck and the only true advice I would offer is to keep your cool and use a script as your prompt so you forget nothing.

 

[HJHPH]

You are not alone, summary of events surrounding my Vehicle repair at approved bodyshop in Basingstoke following a collision with falling tree. (tried to thin it out!!)

Car delivered to R&R & Autos that afternoon.
No courtesy car available, arranged hire car.
Given a due out date for my car of 9th February. Call received from receptionist Tuesday 6th confirming car would be ready.
Phone call made by myself on Thursday 8th to see if I could collect car AM, informed car would be ready at 17:00 Friday 9th.
Drive to R&R Autos Friday 9th @ 16:30 to collect car to be informed car was not ready as parts had not arrived no phone calls to inform me, complete waste of my time.

Informed that car would be delivered back on 15 February. Car arrives and left in my work car park until I leave for home.
On driving the car up Cheesefoot head Winchester (steep incline) car has no power. Call R&R Autos from lay-by and Tony Purslow mechanic dispatched to inspect. Mechanic arrives after an hour to hook up laptop, no faults found. Inform R&R Autos that I will drop car at Tony Purslow Hindhead for inspection on Friday morning and would like a courtesy car.

Car dropped at T Purslow where a silver Freelander is waiting. Freelander has faulty wiper and no windscreen washers due to damaged reservoir. (road legal?)
Phone call informing me that the car was in "limp" mode due to punctured vacuum tank, this will be replaced.
Car delivered back 21st (approx), drive car around block still in "limp mode" ask driver to take back and also sort out things like old wiper blades fitted back on car also various scratches not repaired. (to be fair Paul fits new wiper blades FOC)

Informed vacuum hoses damaged and will be replaced.
I visited R&R Autos to meet with Paul to discuss items missed (scratches on rear wing and overspray on drivers door, drivers side door trim, wipers etc)
Car delivered back 1st March, drives very well, paint work looks good but there is a dent in the new wing, also small dent missed on drivers door, Wipers not set correctly (vibration on drivers side, passenger side hitting housing under bonnet) indicator cracked in passenger side mirror.
Dent repair guy sent out and carries out an acceptable repair on new wing and door.

Several unreturned phone calls to R&R Autos to try to get a date to have these final items resolved.
Car goes into Purslows Hindhead for service, this reveals damaged from air intake trim part no A203 505 0930, and missing trim panel part no A203 830 1613.

This does not take into consideration endless phone calls, the fact that the car was driven in limp mode to and fro from the workshop to Winchester using my fuel and adding mileage to my car.
How the car can be released to a customer in limp mode and with the other faults listed has still yet to be explained. What were the QA guys up to?

And so it goes on a bit of a shambles really. Took about 16 weeks and lots of phone calls but eventually resolved.

 

[turbopete]

we have a "rogues gallery" here of people who have sent in their photos of them with their cars. i wonder if anyone has a "rogues register" and logs down the names etc of all these trades people/garages/bodyshops etc for future reference? or indeed the info for the good and the great! then people would know who to use and who to avoid , at a glance, so to speak!

 

[CHEWIE]

Robinsons Redeemed?

we have a "rogues gallery" here of people who have sent in their photos of them with their cars. i wonder if anyone has a "rogues register" and logs down the names etc of all these trades people/garages/bodyshops etc for future reference? or indeed the info for the good and the great! then people would know who to use and who to avoid , at a glance, so to speak!

That is a great Idea and could be helpful to many members!

And after my visit to Robinsons they may have to rank higher than first thought, as I could not have asked for a better response!
The Bodyshop Manager (Keith) came out to inspect the car with me and seemed genuinely surprised as I went from fault to fault and He agreed every one down to them, he was very apologetic and agreed that it was terrible workmanship and QC and the rust that was just out of sight on panels should not have been left as it was, it should never of happened and would do everything he could to put it right! I almost felt guilty for complaining as he almost seemed ashamed, .......so at that point I thought it only fair to take my foot off of his head and let him get up to tend to the bleeding.....................!

No it was all very easy and amicable, but I was expecting to have to "push" it, as reading the small print (remember, the large print giv'eth... and the small print tak'eth away!) there is only a 3 month warranty on warranty work that involves paintwork!...... why?... why should it be anything less than the original warranty as the work carried out by themselves? ...oh yes maybe its because they are not very good at it sometimes!

So it may be worth those of "problems" with warranty work giving Norfolk a visit as the reception I got was very good and they seemed keen to take on the work in the first place, I think He knows that I will have my "fine tooth comb" with me when I collect next time and is booking me in the week after next as full next week, so I will let you know the outcome of the "rework", but I did mention towards the end that had they not have resolved the problem I would have been heading to Head Office with my sandwich board and megaphone, ...that prompted a nervous chuckle from him, so I think he knows it will have to be right this time as should have been the first time.

Thanks everyone for your interest/comments and also Thanks to Keith (Robinsons).

 

[Myros]

The warranty on MB funded paintwork

is 3 years. that made me laugh, as the repairs done to our 210 when it had a shunt were guaranteed for 7 years.
The 3 month thing is nonsense, and not in line with MBs undertakings to others. Don't acccept any further references to 3 months when they fix your car. 3 years from the date of each repair, I think.
Good luck

 

[CHEWIE]

is 3 years. that made me laugh, as the repairs done to our 210 when it had a shunt were guaranteed for 7 years.
The 3 month thing is nonsense, and not in line with MBs undertakings to others. Don't acccept any further references to 3 months when they fix your car. 3 years from the date of each repair, I think.
Good luck

Do you have a recent dealership receipt to hand? check reverse (Terms of Business)

14:- Warranty..

On parts or goods you get manufacturers warranty.

They warrant their WORK for 3 months or 3000 miles.

If painting included
They state they will take every precaution to prevent rust re occurrence,(not in my case)
and even then they go on to say, but no warranty can be given to that effect!
They wont even promise that the paint will match properly!

Would seem to me they have got it covered if they wanted to push it,
3 months and thats it! ...unless I am reading it wrong?
Dont get me wrong that would not have been the end of it if they had, as I would have fought tooth and nail!

Anyone else read it?

I cant grumble at least they have put their hands up to mine, well I can, ...but I wont.

Good luck to everyone else.

 

[Myros]

there is notably no paperwork with these MB-funded

claims.
The car was repaired under MB warranty at a 3rd party paint-shop , as raised by the previous owner, no paperwork,I had to chase the remote dealer, get the details, present them to my dealer who then knuckled under and admitted the repairs they objected to when inspecting with their paint gauge, had in fact been repairs MB sanctioned. Similarly, "our" repair, which they then sanctioned, went through with no paperwork for us, but lots of computer entry at MB. I was told the same period of 3 years that the previous repair had, would apply to this, starting from the date of this repair.
I had a lengthy and fun time to get MB to agree to the repair at all, but agree they had to in the end, as I was making trading standards type noises by then. They could also have checked the vehicle's history and found the previous repairs themselves, but they didn't. I have to say in their defence, a different service manager made all this go a lot easier in the end. He didn't seem to think it was his job to fight me off, he seemed to think I had a problem which needed fixing.
If your lot are fobbing you off with 3 months, then you are being short-changed. if it's an MB-funded claim, which it will be, they have to apply the same minumum standards across the board. If their own warranty is eight years, and professional repairers such as the one used by my insurers offer 7 years, and the ones they use up here offer three years, how can they give you three months. That sounds perverse. Keep on at them and don't give up.

 

[rob the painter]

The whole three month thing being banded about probably stems from a compulsory warranty for workmanship in the motor trade, as the law specifies; various bodyshops, insurance companies and manufacturers will then stipulate their own warranties on top of that.

 

[cammy]

Hi i have a 230 clk i have heard today that Mercedes are doing warranty rust on all cars but they are keeping quite is this true?

 

[Xtractorfan]

If your car is less than 8 yrs old and you have owned it for at least six months and have a full Mb service history then they will do the rust repairs.
If you fail to meet any of the above specs then they will allow you to put in a claim and it will be looked at by the 'goodwill team' who will then decide what course of action to take..which is repair under warranty...repair and ask the owner to contribute ..usually half the repair bill.. If you have owned the car less than six months they will not entertain any claims..

 

[100%Bitch]

FWIW, I have had absolutely no problems with Robinsons' bodyshop. In fact, I wouldn't let my car go into anywhere else.

 

[television]

FWIW, I have had absolutely no problems with Robinsons' bodyshop. In fact, I wouldn't let my car go into anywhere else.

Why do you keep putting dents in it,,its a shame