what year is safe rust wise

have you spotted rust on your car ? click the year if YES.

  • I have no rust ! [please comment below with model & year]

    Votes: 315 21.6%
  • 2006

    Votes: 46 3.1%
  • 2005

    Votes: 70 4.8%
  • 2004

    Votes: 97 6.6%
  • 2003

    Votes: 123 8.4%
  • 2002

    Votes: 179 12.3%
  • 2001

    Votes: 227 15.5%
  • 2000

    Votes: 190 13.0%
  • 1999

    Votes: 149 10.2%
  • 1998

    Votes: 172 11.8%
  • 2007

    Votes: 18 1.2%
  • 2008

    Votes: 9 0.6%
  • 2009

    Votes: 6 0.4%
  • 2010

    Votes: 4 0.3%
  • 2011

    Votes: 5 0.3%
  • 2012

    Votes: 4 0.3%
  • 2013

    Votes: 3 0.2%
  • 2014

    Votes: 6 0.4%

  • Total voters
    1,461

50876

Senior Member
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Location
Glasgow
Your Mercedes
SL350 2007 3.7
Our 1997 SLK first started showing rust around the front of the rear wheel arches about four years ago. I repaired it then and again last year by buffing back to the bare metal, priming and re-painting (It didn't need any filler) I have since sold the car and now have a 2007 350SL. It is completely rust free.

John
 

GeeAy

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Nov 27, 2012
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Location
Notts
Your Mercedes
2016 W205 C220 SE Exec
I do find it incredible that we can complain that 15 year old cars have some bubbling.
 

Frontstep

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Joined
Apr 22, 2007
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Your Mercedes
T210 320cdi
That some of them have been rusting for most of those 15 years is the problem.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
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Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
I do find it incredible that we can complain that 15 year old cars have some bubbling.

You can complain when the car is only 4 years old about rust, but it will not do you much good.
 

rf065

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Location
Grossbritannien
Your Mercedes
SLC300 - C250d Estate 4 Matic & Z900rs
I do find it incredible that we can complain that 15 year old cars have some bubbling.

After two Mercedes "goodwill rust repairs", first at 4.5 years, second at 6 years, I'd be ecstatic if it reaches 15 years old with only some bubbling!

Russ
 

Lotus26R

Active Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2015
Messages
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Location
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Your Mercedes
2004 SL500, Tellur Silver
2004 SL500, small amount of rust blistering around the n/s/r wheel arch. Question is, shall I do something about it or live with it?
 

Frontstep

Senior Member
Joined
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Your Mercedes
T210 320cdi
Use TV's repair otherwise it creeps up the wing.
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
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Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
My 2000 W202 was rusty around the door bottoms and wheel arches but my 1992/3 R129 has no rust at all.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
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Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
My 2000 W202 was rusty around the door bottoms and wheel arches but my 1992/3 R129 has no rust at all.

They were the best years for the body on a 129, the 2000 year 129's can rust very badly

The early 202's will out live the last ones in many cases re the rust.
 

grober

Senior Member
Joined
May 15, 2002
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Location
Scotland
Your Mercedes
W204 C200cdi estate
The statistics re-enforce the evidence that Mercedes body quality took a tumble during the Jürgen Erich Schrempp era from 1998- 2004. First step on the slippery slope was around 1992 when the paint system was changed from solvent based to water based paint--- this was to reduce solvent emissions and was not a choice. Later things got worse during the Daimler - Chrysler era where it was rumoured Mercedes used cheap imported Russian rolled steel stock. Things improved around 2004 as bodies were given better rust protection and steel quality improved.
 

Riko85

New Registration
Joined
Jan 6, 2016
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
London
Your Mercedes
Mercedes CLS 220 AMG bluetec 2015
Hi, I have Mercedes CLS 220 AMG BLUTEC year 2015 with tyres 255/35/19 front
And 255/30/19 back
Can i change it with 255/45/19?
It's estate . There is a lot of noice when I'm driving on motorway? Thank you
 

DavidR

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
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Getting back to rust.....

My soopercheap 1998 W210 OM606 has galloping corrosion in the front wings, so bad that the paint is still solid but the wing behind has disintegrated.

The rear arches are mainly devoid of paint, and it's had to have a patch welded at the back of the offside sill.

... but it was £300 with a year's ticket, so I'm not complaining too loudly!
 

A.J.

Senior Member
Joined
May 31, 2015
Messages
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9,581
Location
Norwich. UK
Your Mercedes
UnMerc - 2020 VW Polo 2.0t GTi Plus, DSG. Flash Red, Traditional VW GTi Tartan seat trim.
Mine is a 2009 W204 C220, no rust I am glad to say !! :):):) My buddy however has a W203 C180 and that is starting to show rust on the wheel arches :-:)-:)-(
 

Kirbs

Senior Member
Joined
May 29, 2014
Messages
533
Reaction score
53
Location
Sutton Coldfield
Your Mercedes
ECLASS 280 sport,2009,3.0 and SL350 2004
Rust or not to rust thats the question

I have no rust on a 2004 R230 SL 350 54K

Since I have had it I blow dry with a powerful leave blower,clearing out all the seams,back areas where water can gather without us knowing,cut,clay bar,protect 3 times per year,dont drive in wet,cold, might have rust somewhere but cant see it yet

Have read that the next 2 years could be a different story,item in Mercedes Club owner gazette?

Thanks

Paul
 

wizzman

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2015
Messages
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42
Location
Grimsby, NE Lincolnshire
Your Mercedes
SL500 2002
Ha ! do yourself a favour Paul and jack the rear of your car up, remove the rear wheel arch liners and clean out all the crud from the inner arches. Or, in the next two years you will be saying hello to rust:(:(:(

can you guess what I have been doing today ???? grrrr
 

onefortheroad

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Joined
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Location
uk.
Your Mercedes
Me -2019 GLC 350 coupe AMG line. Mrs- ford kuga 65 plate awd powershift .
Late DEC 2004 w211 no rust . wife has a 2003 slk its had rear arches tidied.
 

CITYBOY

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
327
Reaction score
3
Location
Cheshire
Your Mercedes
C Class C180 Blueeffiffiency 1.8 W204 {2012}
I had my previous black C180 2002, for 10 years, my daughter had it the previous 3 years, I waxoiled it 2006, and I sold it 2015, and I can say it did not have any rust whatsoever........whether it is of any importance...it was made in South Africa.
 

efinjohn

Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
20
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Location
Bristol UK
Your Mercedes
C240/2001/2.6 1996 E250 (The tank) owned for 12years engine has never been touched in anger
my 2001 c240 rust in both front wings (now replaced) rust in both rear arches (repaired)
very shoddy paintwork at factory.. owned for 5 years now rustfree and fresh paint.
 


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