E Class metal problem / warranty
#1
12-19-2006, 09:08 AM
E Class metal problem / warranty
Dear All,
I am new to this site and decided to register as I have a question I would like to put to you.
We bought an E200 Estate (99-V) from a main dealer when a couple of years old. It has now done circa 90K miles and has a full (not main dealer) history.
The body of the car is terrible and is rusting everywhere. It is like the old Fords you used to get when 20 years old. The car has never been in a crash and other than the wing and bonnet still has the original paint from factory.
The car has been to the local main dealer who said they had never seen one this bad, however the problem was well know within MB and is a soft metal problem for E-Class and S-Class. Not sure if it just this year but have spoken to three MB dealers who have all confirmed the problem.
Car is now booked in to be completely repaired and re-sprayed under warranty, however as the wing and bonnet have been sprayed since new MB will not cover this under warranty. This work was carried out by our insurance and was done through an MB approved garage (as we did not want to kill the warranty), but MB say that unless it is actually done by themselves they do not guarantee the work. The MB approved is more "approved by the relevant insurer" not MB themsleves so beware! MB confirmed they have had this issue a number of times with other customers, which in itself is wrong.
I am now having to try and go through Royal & Sunalliance who were the insurance company involved to get the other bodyshop to do the wing and the bonnet as it has a lifetime guarantee... apparently.
I wanted to know if anyone else has had this rust problem with their car, and if they had it done under warranty?
Personally I think it is a great shame that MB has admitted there was a metal problem with some cars, hence the warranty work being approved, but will not do the wing or bonnet simply because is has been re-sprayed since new. This is a metal problem as they admit, so it is frustrating to have to have two different shops carry out the work, when all the rust is caused by the same problem. MB ducking out of their responsibilities! I know of a particular Main Dealer in London that does not even use their own bodyshop, instead a smaller cheaper one in the back streets of London to keep the cost down. Imagine if you bought a car from them - you would have the same problem and although would probably get it resolved you would have to fight.
Hopefully someone else has had a similar problem and wil be able to offer advise!
Sorry for the long first post!
Regards
Rob
I am new to this site and decided to register as I have a question I would like to put to you.
We bought an E200 Estate (99-V) from a main dealer when a couple of years old. It has now done circa 90K miles and has a full (not main dealer) history.
The body of the car is terrible and is rusting everywhere. It is like the old Fords you used to get when 20 years old. The car has never been in a crash and other than the wing and bonnet still has the original paint from factory.
The car has been to the local main dealer who said they had never seen one this bad, however the problem was well know within MB and is a soft metal problem for E-Class and S-Class. Not sure if it just this year but have spoken to three MB dealers who have all confirmed the problem.
Car is now booked in to be completely repaired and re-sprayed under warranty, however as the wing and bonnet have been sprayed since new MB will not cover this under warranty. This work was carried out by our insurance and was done through an MB approved garage (as we did not want to kill the warranty), but MB say that unless it is actually done by themselves they do not guarantee the work. The MB approved is more "approved by the relevant insurer" not MB themsleves so beware! MB confirmed they have had this issue a number of times with other customers, which in itself is wrong.
I am now having to try and go through Royal & Sunalliance who were the insurance company involved to get the other bodyshop to do the wing and the bonnet as it has a lifetime guarantee... apparently.
I wanted to know if anyone else has had this rust problem with their car, and if they had it done under warranty?
Personally I think it is a great shame that MB has admitted there was a metal problem with some cars, hence the warranty work being approved, but will not do the wing or bonnet simply because is has been re-sprayed since new. This is a metal problem as they admit, so it is frustrating to have to have two different shops carry out the work, when all the rust is caused by the same problem. MB ducking out of their responsibilities! I know of a particular Main Dealer in London that does not even use their own bodyshop, instead a smaller cheaper one in the back streets of London to keep the cost down. Imagine if you bought a car from them - you would have the same problem and although would probably get it resolved you would have to fight.
Hopefully someone else has had a similar problem and wil be able to offer advise!
Sorry for the long first post!
Regards
Rob
#2
12-19-2006, 01:35 PM
RE: E Class metal problem / warranty
Not sure what you mean by "soft" metal.
MB have had a problem and I too have had a dose of MB trying to get out of liability.
In fairness the warranty does not cover a vehicle of your age. Its purely an expectation, reputation, goodwill issue.
MB have made a policy change to extenf their goodwill claims especially IF the car is an import (grey market) or has NOT been Main Dealer maintained.
The UK 30 yr corrosion cover only covers rust from inside out vs outside in. Your rust will be outside working in. The paint basically falls off after corrosion due to a stone chip gets under the paint. MB don't use plastic guards on their wings/fenders and are therefore prone to paint damage from stones. Even the new w221 doesn't have plastic wing finishers. Take a look at lets say Honda / Volvo.
The real cop out is that if you get them to agree to offer goodwill then the (authorised) repairer then has to offer cover for the repair for 1 year. After this time all paint warranty expires. You ought to hear what the repairers are saying!
Yes it is that simple. MB are wriggling due to the potential horrendous claims that can be raised against them on this vintage of vehicle.
My understanding is that it is all down to paint process control rather than metal but I may be incorrect in this.
If anybody has any additional information I will be pleased to receive any additional information.
Stuart
MB have had a problem and I too have had a dose of MB trying to get out of liability.
In fairness the warranty does not cover a vehicle of your age. Its purely an expectation, reputation, goodwill issue.
MB have made a policy change to extenf their goodwill claims especially IF the car is an import (grey market) or has NOT been Main Dealer maintained.
The UK 30 yr corrosion cover only covers rust from inside out vs outside in. Your rust will be outside working in. The paint basically falls off after corrosion due to a stone chip gets under the paint. MB don't use plastic guards on their wings/fenders and are therefore prone to paint damage from stones. Even the new w221 doesn't have plastic wing finishers. Take a look at lets say Honda / Volvo.
The real cop out is that if you get them to agree to offer goodwill then the (authorised) repairer then has to offer cover for the repair for 1 year. After this time all paint warranty expires. You ought to hear what the repairers are saying!
Yes it is that simple. MB are wriggling due to the potential horrendous claims that can be raised against them on this vintage of vehicle.
My understanding is that it is all down to paint process control rather than metal but I may be incorrect in this.
If anybody has any additional information I will be pleased to receive any additional information.
Stuart
#3
12-19-2006, 02:02 PM
RE: E Class metal problem / warranty
Hi Stuart,
Its interesting. My initial reason for going to MB was the 30 yr body work warranty. The first dealer asked for pictures and confirmed it would be no problem under warranty. I used them initially as I am in the South,as are and a friend works for them in service but the car is in the North as it is my parents, so they suggested for ease I contacted the local dealer in the north.
The dealer in the north looked at the car and also confirmed that it would be no problem under warranty but advised that it would have to be done by 2007 as there was an 8 year gurantee, hence it is booked in with them for the 15th Jan. Neither deler said it was going to be done on goodwill and both agreed the warranty with ease.
This cars rust problem definately appears to be coming from within. The few stone chips are of course rusting, but the rest of the body is literally corroding before our eyes with no dents or chips in sight. To be honest I too do not know what the "soft" metal is all about, this is how it was described to me by a couple of MB specialists who the car has gone to for service.
Currently the car is due to be completely repaired other than the wing and bonnet in Jan up in the North then it is due to go to London to the largest MB bodyshop within the M25 to have the wing and bonnet done at mates rates for £450. Not so much about the money, more about the principal not to mension the hassle factor. I am currently trying to convince either the insurance company that initially paid for the wing/bonett repair to agree to use the MB shop in the north so that it can be done all at once, but it is not an approved bodyshop. The irony, considering it is MB itself and the bodyshop they callMB approved is actually not!
Really hacks me off when "reputable" manufacturers blatantly have an escape route, which you can do nothing about other than shout the loudest.
Regards
Rob
Its interesting. My initial reason for going to MB was the 30 yr body work warranty. The first dealer asked for pictures and confirmed it would be no problem under warranty. I used them initially as I am in the South,as are and a friend works for them in service but the car is in the North as it is my parents, so they suggested for ease I contacted the local dealer in the north.
The dealer in the north looked at the car and also confirmed that it would be no problem under warranty but advised that it would have to be done by 2007 as there was an 8 year gurantee, hence it is booked in with them for the 15th Jan. Neither deler said it was going to be done on goodwill and both agreed the warranty with ease.
This cars rust problem definately appears to be coming from within. The few stone chips are of course rusting, but the rest of the body is literally corroding before our eyes with no dents or chips in sight. To be honest I too do not know what the "soft" metal is all about, this is how it was described to me by a couple of MB specialists who the car has gone to for service.
Currently the car is due to be completely repaired other than the wing and bonnet in Jan up in the North then it is due to go to London to the largest MB bodyshop within the M25 to have the wing and bonnet done at mates rates for £450. Not so much about the money, more about the principal not to mension the hassle factor. I am currently trying to convince either the insurance company that initially paid for the wing/bonett repair to agree to use the MB shop in the north so that it can be done all at once, but it is not an approved bodyshop. The irony, considering it is MB itself and the bodyshop they callMB approved is actually not!
Really hacks me off when "reputable" manufacturers blatantly have an escape route, which you can do nothing about other than shout the loudest.
Regards
Rob
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