98 E300 showing rust from under door moldings - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

acerejo · #1 03-12-2003, 10:44 PM

I just purchased a 98 e300 turbo diesel in almost perfect condition. This car does not even have a door ding and has never been in an accident.
I was shocked to find paint bubling from rust from under molding on both rear doors. It's just becoming noticeable and I bet it looks even worse under the actual molding that's in the middle of the doors.
I had a body shop look at it and he stated that even though the car is out of warranty, it is a factory defect.
He claims that when they installed the side moldings that the fasteners must have chipped the paint. The rusting process started imediately behing the molding and is now spreading to the visible areas.
He stimated the repair to be about 2,000.00 because both doors need to be fully painted.
I called Mercedes and they told me that there is nothing they can do because of the age of the car.

I still own a 88 300sel with no rust whatsoever even though it is 10 years older. I think 4 years is a little premature for rust and now I am wondering if the remaining side moldings also have that problem.

Has anyone encountered this problem? Any suggestions? I am going to the local dealer anyway that maintained this car.

I sure am dissapointed with Mercedes corp for not wanting to help me out.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone with similar experience.

Acerejo

#2 03-12-2003, 11:12 PM

Aren't Mercs waranteed for 6 years corrosion? If not, they should be. The car is not 6 years yet, and it should be repaired under warantee.

rwthomas1 · #3 03-12-2003, 11:18 PM

Call everyone in the MBUSA structure you can. Be nice, but be firm. You are a repeat owner and MB owners are rolling advertising for them. It behooves them to treat you right. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Most every vehicle sold since the mid-90's has a 5-6year rust warranty. Shame on MB if they don't. RT

Diesel-Lover · #4 03-12-2003, 11:56 PM

Send in the second owner registration card or do so at the dealer.
This way you are the "registered" owner of this automobile with the company.

Then send them a photo-copy of the anti-corrosion section of the warranty along with photos and a description of the issue as stated by you and the estimate for repairs.

I feel that you should get action to your satisfaction. If they say they will examine it and then decide, you should make it a point to be present and take photos as the process is carried out to show that the rust started at the molding mounting hole and not at the edges.

If it started at the holes (retaining clips scraped the paint scenario) you should be covered under the warranty.

Best of luck. Also can you post the pics here as well?

turnne1 · #5 03-13-2003, 09:27 AM

I think the warranty is only for 48mo 50K miles.....that includes anything about the car.I think anything else would be goodwill.
BUT..as I recall typically on the rust portion of the warranty most state that there must be rust that has created "rust thorough"...so I think there actually has to be holes in the car for warranty to kick in

Warren
1992 300SD 161K
Columbus Ohio

#6 03-13-2003, 09:45 AM

I am currently fighting Daimler Chrysler because the paint has cracked all over the hood of my 2000 Jeep Cherokee, which is 2K miles out of warranty. There is a boatload of information on the net regarding defective Jeep paint, and Jeep has paid thousands of claims unwillingly through the court system. Your paint may have been defective, thus breaching Mercedes implied warranty of merchantability under the uniform commercial code. For your sake, I hope the paint is defective, so they have to replacee it---for mine, I hope not, because I have the same car!!

Good Luck, and please post your progress.

acerejo · #7 03-13-2003, 09:50 AM

Thanks to all for the excellent info, I plan to pursue all suggestions and I will be posting pictures a little later.

The car does have High mileage (178000) however it is very obvious that the rust is started from under the paint. This should not be mileage related.

Mercedes did tell me that it is only warranteed 50K, I will have to look over the corrosion policy and review it. Meanwhile the rust just keeps getting bigger.

I already registered the car with mercedes corp as a new over the phone.

Thanks all again for the support

I will keep you posted

have a good all

Acerejo

turnne1 · #8 03-13-2003, 10:09 AM

I wish you luch guy with that amount of miles...
In my experience MB typically is more willing to offer goodwill because of the age of the car is high,but the mileage low than vice-versa
With those miles and you know being the original owner who has complained about the paint in the past...and therefore has a documented history of dealer complaints...I think its going to be tough
Has the car had any paintwork?...that could be a factor it is has and where it was done

Warren
1992 300SD 161K
Columbus Ohio

acerejo · #9 03-13-2003, 10:33 PM

Looked through the warranty info and basically it is 4 years or 50000.
I am going to see the manager of the local MB dealership where car was purchased and serviced.

Here is a picture of the right rear door. Will keep you posted.

Acerejo

Alan S · #10 03-14-2003, 10:17 AM

My good friend owns a 97 E420 that developed rust around the infrared sensor on the trunk. He had about 70000 on his and took it to the dealer, they fixed it without question. So I would suggest you talking it over with the dealer, for it really is a shame that this would happen to a Mercedes of such young age.

#11 03-20-2003, 10:55 AM

Acerejo, I have resolved my problem with Daimler-Chrysler, and they have agreed to repaint my whole Jeep at their expense (it was out of warranty). If you haven't resolved your problem yet, PM me if you are interested, and I will share with you what I did.

btw, i wouldn't know if i had paint problems with my mb lately with all of the pollen covering the black paint!!

acerejo · #12 03-20-2003, 07:20 PM

Thanks for the reply, I did contact the service manager where car has been serviced since purchase. He didn't even want to look at it because of the high mileage (178000). I think that I am stuck and probably have to eat the cost.
Newer mercedes, even though technologically better in performance, are not what they used to be. I was considering purchasing a new dielsel in 2004 when they come back but I think that I will pass. Maybe Chrysler has something to do with it but I think that I might be looking at Japanese import next purchase. I have never been disapointed with the Japanese cars such as infinity or lexus or even the economy types.

Thanks again for your reply.

Acerejo

turnne1 · #13 03-21-2003, 07:41 AM

Thats unfortunate...but I think you have to think about it from another point of view.How you you/they know that the car hasn't had some body work somewhere along the line at some independent shop that was subpar?
trust me when I bought my car I was under the understanding the car had had no body work.....well once when my local dealer was servicing it he mentioned that the car had had a rear fender replaced.he showed me the serial number marking etc on the new fender and also told me it had been done at a dealer...so long story short a lot of things can happen to a car within its life
And with the mileage you have there could be many untold stories on fender benders

Warren
1992 300SD 162K
Columbus Ohio

#14 03-21-2003, 09:45 AM

Sounds like you have given up. Regardless, if the dealer doesn't even want to look at it, he has already violated D-C policy. They HAVE to look at it. Then they have to do an estimate. Then they will offer you one of three options: 1. They will tell you the car is out of warranty, and this would have been a warranty problem, 2. They will offer you a substantial/not so substantial 'good will' discount, 3. They will paint your car, and d-c will pay for it. There are problems with paint and application of paint that can be outside of 'warranty coverage' that they are responsible for under the Uniform Commercial Code. You can't sell a car with poster paint on it, and then refuse to remedy the situation because the car is outside of warranty. Will they fess up to this at first? No! You have to beat it out of them.

Sorry for the soapbox, but I hate to see people get taken advantage of by car dealers.

Rick Miley · #15 03-21-2003, 10:43 AM

It has been my experience with warranty issues that Mercedes-Benz will always say no. If you call the 800 number or contact a zone rep about a questionable item, the first answer is always no. Most people go away or pay for it themselves at that point, so M-B saves a lot of money.

However, the dealer's service manager can have a great deal of influence on these issues. You mentioned in your last post that you contacted the dealership where the car was sold and serviced. That implies to me that there might be another dealership where you have personally done business. If this is the case, then contact your dealership. If it is a case of "the car's dealer" versus "your dealer," the one who knows you personally is much more likely to go to bat for you. Mine did, and got M-B to cover 2/3 of the cost of my cracked dashboard when everyone at M-B corporate said no.