2013 Mercedes E Class Rear Subframe Replacement £3.5k!!!??

[g3org3y]

Friend just text to me say his E Class (W212 2013) has failed the MOT:

MOT said:

Nearside Rear Sub-frame corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Quote to sort from the Main Dealer is £3.5k!

The car is on <70k miles and last year's MOT was v clean (no subframe corrosion mentioned at all), so a somewhat unexpected failure.

Quick google suggests this seems to be a known weak point/common issue. Looks like in the US on some models there's a recall?

Obviously the quote is ££££ because main dealer. My mate would struggle to find that kind of cash at short notice (and would of course prefer to pay less if possible).

If looking at Specialist prices, what do you guys reckon as a ballpark?

How much is a new rear subframe? Can you get away with a good second hand one? What are they £400-500 second hand? I presume you want to do all the bushes etc while there, replace with new bolts etc.

What's the labour charge on this job? Let's assume £100/hr. Probably

He's based Suffolk way, if anyone can suggest any good specialists for the above work that would be very much appreciated.

TIA

[trevalvole]

If Merc are contributing to the replacement of rusty rear sub-frames on R171 SLKs and W204 C-Classes, which I recall they are from various posters on here, then I can't see why they wouldn't do the same on a newer car. Perhaps some straight talking to the service manager to get Merc UK involved would do the trick?

ETA: As below, not just contributing - paying for the lot. There may even be a standard letter for R171 SLKs somewhere on the internet like slkworld.

Edited by trevalvole on Saturday 12th February 11:04

[Sheepshanks]

I understood Mercedes is pretty routinely replacing these under goodwill, however some people seem to hit a brick wall with their dealer - I guess it's a job they don't really want to do.

Recent one here on W212 at MB Southampton: https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threa...

Edited by Sheepshanks on Saturday 12th February 11:06

[g3org3y]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

Interesting to note from the link that the guy in question didn't have full MB SH.

I'll suggest my friend goes back at Mercedes with this info in hand and sees what they say. Seems like some dealerships are more receptive than others

[W201_190e]

The subframe is about £800 plus the VAT and then around 8-10 hours labour. Whilst it's off it's worth replacing the brake pipes- as they also corrode and that's also a subframe off job, at 8-10 hours...

[g3org3y]

W201_190e said:

The subframe is about £800 plus the VAT and then around 8-10 hours labour. Whilst it's off it's worth replacing the brake pipes- as they also corrode and that's also a subframe off job, at 8-10 hours...

Thank you.

Obviously if the dealership won't replace FOC or at least make a major contribution, Specialist will obviously be the way to go.

[cayman-black]

g3org3y said:

Thanks for the replies chaps.

Interesting to note from the link that the guy in question didn't have full MB SH.

I'll suggest my friend goes back at Mercedes with this info in hand and sees what they say. Seems like some dealerships are more receptive than others

Has the car got a full Merc history? If yes you stand a good chance i would think.

[GlenMH]

I have just had my 2011 E Class rear subframe done FOC at a main dealer in Bristol. It has been indy serviced - although STAR has been kept up to date - for the last 6 years.

Dealer did a video inspection, send the file to Merc and they agreed in under an hour. Push the dealer hard to get it done.

[g3org3y]

cayman-black said:

Has the car got a full Merc history? If yes you stand a good chance i would think.

I am not sure whether it does (not my car!)

GlenMH said:

I have just had my 2011 E Class rear subframe done FOC at a main dealer in Bristol. It has been indy serviced - although STAR has been kept up to date - for the last 6 years.

Dealer did a video inspection, send the file to Merc and they agreed in under an hour. Push the dealer hard to get it done.

Good to know.

The chap in question is going to go back to Merc with all the above info. Will update thread with the result.

[psychoR1]

For details on subframe replacements go onto facebook slkownersclub and reach out to Dave Evans he has some paperwork he can share that supports FoC replacement - quite a few old SLK's getting subframes regardless of history

[g3org3y]

Update, message from friend:

friend said:

Had a call from Mercedes this morning to tell me they are picking up the tab for all the repair work. They denied the warranty covered the problem but with little pushing they’ve agreed to do it for free

Looks like a great result, thanks all.

[cayman-black]

Excellent, thanks for letting us know.

[Touring442]

This is what happens to Merc rear subframes:

This is a 2010 but 2013 cars are known to be rotten.

'The best or nothing' as Merc adverts used to crow.

[Mercedes2010]

I have a 2010 with 166000 miles contacted my insurance Co car has full coverage because of value I called national safety inst in Washington by email and mb waiting on the insurance company for for inspection we will see how it goes if you have this problem on your mb e class start contacting mb yr insurance company

[noony99]

I'm new to this forum, but found the information really helpful about this Mercedes issue and so wanted to report my own experience
I have a 2011 E220 coupé and the sub-frame was corroded such that it had collapsed and was not at all roadworthy.

After reading this forum and some others elsewhere, I approached my local Mercedes dealership (West Drayton). Within a couple of days they had received agreement from MBUK to replace the piece at no cost to me (apart from a bracket which was also broken (@ £12 and some change).

I was really impressed with the speed of the decision and 2 weeks later I got my car back feeling like new once again.

I thought this might provide some encouragement and hope to others.

Thanks all.

[Touring442]

Not as impressive as a full recall on all steel subframe Mercs - that's what needs to happen. Lancia did it 40 years ago with the Beta with a much less serious problem but I guess MB don't really want the publicity.

[Waitforme]

I thought Merc had sorted their rust issues last century.
Recently read of a reasonably recent C class need a new subframe too.

[Touring442]

I saw a 2013 Passat up on a ramp last week.

The state of the rear suspension arms! Absolutely rotten.

[Tony1963]

Touring442 said:

I saw a 2013 Passat up on a ramp last week.

The state of the rear suspension arms! Absolutely rotten.

Well, without knowing where a 9 year old car has spent its life, and how it has been cared for, it’s difficult to judge. It might have been neglected on Blackpool seafront during storms for half its life!

[otolith]

Tony1963 said:

Well, without knowing where a 9 year old car has spent its life, and how it has been cared for, it’s difficult to judge. It might have been neglected on Blackpool seafront during storms for half its life!

Back in the 90’s there used to be a lovely red Alfasud parked on Aberystwyth seafront. I often wondered if there was any metal left under the paint.