W210 Rust problems

[liner33]

Finally seems the tin worm is appearing . I've always known it could be an issue and now its my turn

I have a 56,000 2001 E320 CDI estate, its a well specced and very well loved car which i have had from almost new (ex demo).

Currently there are small patches of rust just showing under the headlamps and under the wheelarch and around the lock on the tailgate.

Been to a bodyshop and spoken to them with a view to spraying the bonnet as well as repairing the rust , as it will match better and sort some stone chips but the question is .....

Is it worth it???

Or should i punt it on and look for something else (non Merc)

The work is likely to cost £2-£k to sort out fully

I know i probably fight MB and get them to sort it but i'm not sure its worth it , i've found MB dealers especially my local one to be dire and i'm not sure i have the fight in me

[5 wh]

A good smart repair guy should be able to repair the small areas you are describing for a couple of hundred quid.

[extvr]

Hi,
Does seem very excessive, i just got a quote for my mate to get his S class resprayed, in a different colour, and that was only 2k. You need to shop around. Just as an extra my 1999 E class 300TD with 205k is still mint and tight as a drum. Stick with it.

[Cooky]

My E240 is a disgrace, rust around the arches and on the edges of the bonnet. The paint finish is shitty and thinner than a gnats cock. The electrics make a 70's Lotus look good. For a prestige car it looks like a cheap scabby eastern European whore. Never again will I purchase anything made by Merc. Their customer service is a joke and their labour charges are ridiculous.

[extvr]

Cooky said:

My E240 is a disgrace, rust around the arches and on the edges of the bonnet. The paint finish is shitty and thinner than a gnats cock. The electrics make a 70's Lotus look good. For a prestige car it looks like a cheap scabby eastern European whore. Never again will I purchase anything made by Merc. Their customer service is a joke and their labour charges are ridiculous.

Well i agree about the prices i went into Redhill Merc today and got a quote for a full service and a few other things, £880.00, came home went to my local garage who has looked after all my cars, inc my TVR`s all done for £320.00, but i really can not fault the car at all with anything, and at 205k miles how many cars could you say that about.

Steve.

[cptsideways]

I thought it was the Corrosion class that suffered from the tinworm festations.

2K + for a few panels of paint should be a quarter of that

[liner33]

I want a good quality job.

It will be both wings painted and the rust repaired, stone chips and corrosion repaired and bonnet resprayed and doors resprayed to blend in the paint to match. Front bumper resprayed and tailgate corrosion dealt with and resprayed. A section of the rear bumper will be done to repair a parking scrape.

I've just had a full repsray on my other car (Skyline) and even with a colour change it was £2k but i wouldnt be happy with the same level of finish on the Merc

Its not the cost though compared to buying a new car £3k is nothing , its whether its going to be worthwhile, i mean if the corrosion attacks something more important ie crossmember or suspension mounts it could well write the car off , if £3k buys me another 3 years motoring out of it it will be money well spent

Whats a 55,000mile luxury estate going to cost me ???? £25k ???

Edited by liner33 on Tuesday 11th September 09:01

Edited by liner33 on Tuesday 11th September 19:31

[stuartdenton]

Got a 02 E200Kompressor done 116000 miles with very little trouble. had trouble last year with rust around front wheel arches and rear door handles, all sorted out by MB under the 7 year body garuntee. Now having a rusty front suspension cross member replaced by MB.

[Cooky]

As a workhorse the engine is superb, but what I should have stated was that for a prestige car my E240 estate is not worth the purchase price. I have kept up the Mobio life warranty and only MB have serviced it. The rust is a disgrace and I wasn't aware of the 7 year warranty, I shall be on the phone in the morning

The electrics are not good. thus far I have had a new ignition module and barrel, new keys, new led displays (both) had 2 pick-ups on the flatbed due to it going into limp home mode when the cooling fan for the engine ECU packed up. new passenger seat airbag sensor pad. MB have tried 4 times to rectify the fault on the drivers seat (it no longer reclines or adjusts height) The rear brake light LED's are packing up (only 3 working) electric windows blow fuses for fun... and to top it off after the last service @ £2k the car was returned to me with a faulty tail light bulb.

The level of service one receives in farcical, they only offer A Classes as courtesy cars unless you dig yer heals in and wait over a fortnight for a slot...and last year the car was in and out of MB Stockport 5 times with a misfire (plugleads...instead of changing them all they did one at a time and each time broke the top off the heat sink protectors)

So to cap it all our once 2 Merc household is now a 2 Jaguar household. My XJR is far superior in performance and build quality and has NO rust.

M Benz are a disgrace, the product is substandard and the service isn't even second rate.

I really hope someone from MB reads PH, but then I assume reading isn't necessarily a required skill for their service personnel.

I should add that when Mrs C recently had a problem with our XJS convertible whilst picking up Cooky Jnr from school , she phoned Jaguar and was instructed to take the car straight to them, because of the age of the car and the nature of the fault they had FIVE technicians immediately to her aid and she received several cups of coffee whilst they rectified the fault (all sorted in 45 minutes).....and... they didn't even charge.

[liner33]

I agree about the dealers they are dire but mechanically my car has been excellent it also has a full MBSH, apart from wear and tear items very little has needed doing

Its had

New key fob (warranty)
Passenger window motor
Drivers mirror glass
MAF (went into limp mode replaced by Mobilo-life)
Door trim on drivers side corroded after stome chip
Fuel pipe

Not bad for 6 years of ownership

[Parrot of Doom]

Take it to the dealer and have them do it under the Mobilo warranty. Provided its got a good service history, they should do it for nowt. If they don't, try another dealer. And another.

[bloodyniceben]

liner33 said:

Finally seems the tin worm is appearing . I've always known it could be an issue and now its my turn

I have a 56,000 2001 E320 CDI estate, its a well specced and very well loved car which i have had from almost new (ex demo).

Currently there are small patches of rust just showing under the headlamps and under the wheelarch and around the lock on the tailgate.

Been to a bodyshop and spoken to them with a view to spraying the bonnet as well as repairing the rust , as it will match better and sort some stone chips but the question is .....

Is it worth it???

Or should i punt it on and look for something else (non Merc)

The work is likely to cost £2-£k to sort out fully

I know i probably fight MB and get them to sort it but i'm not sure its worth it , i've found MB dealers especially my local one to be dire and i'm not sure i have the fight in me

Why are you worried about cost, MB have to repair it under warranty, and if you have full MB history then there should be no issue.

Ben

[liner33]

MB dont HAVE to do anything , i've witnessed them arguing with a customer how her wheelarches and doors had rusted due to stonechips!!

Those who think its straightforward havent dealt with MB much

[daveenty]

Parrot of Doom said:

Take it to the dealer and have them do it under the Mobilo warranty. Provided its got a good service history, they should do it for nowt. If they don't, try another dealer. And another.

This is the problem with MB dealers. Some will accept it, others argue the toss. I've had it with two local ones. One want your money and nothing else, the other is happy to help in any reasonable way.

As said above, find a dealer who gives a shit and you'll be OK.

Just finding one which is the problem (and which has let the brand down badly)

[Biggles111]

I think as is said above it depends on the dealer. Our 2000 E240 had rust in the door tops when I bought it at 5 years old. Mercedes subsequently agreed to make a repair under mobilo life and all was sorted, even though most of the history was with specialists rather than main dealers. Agree it should never have happened but if you go to the right dealer they'll fix it.

[odyssey2200]

rust around the tailgate lock is a known problem on 210s.

Often occured under warranty and there was an internal memo about it back in 98/99.

[Parrot of Doom]

odyssey2200 said:

rust around every body panel is a known problem on 210s/

Fixed.

[odyssey2200]

Parrot of Doom said:

odyssey2200 said:

rust around every body panel is a known problem on 210s/

Fixed.

obviously not on the OP's 210.

[bloodyniceben]

liner33 said:

MB dont HAVE to do anything , i've witnessed them arguing with a customer how her wheelarches and doors had rusted due to stonechips!!

Those who think its straightforward havent dealt with MB much

I work for them, i know what they should and shouldnt do.

Ben

[odyssey2200]

bloodyniceben said:

liner33 said:

MB dont HAVE to do anything , i've witnessed them arguing with a customer how her wheelarches and doors had rusted due to stonechips!!

Those who think its straightforward havent dealt with MB much

I work for them, i know what they should and shouldnt do.

Ben

you work for a dealer or DCUK in MK?