Hello all, I have a Jan 1997 Mercedes E280, a fine car that runs great even with 99,200 on the clock. Has never required any repairs in 2 years of ownership.
HOWEVER! As many Merc owners of this type will know there are rust problems. I have heard various reasons, like "its the streched steel construction" or "these were built in humid India"
I have heard conflicting reports that Mercedes will repair rust damage and that these cars have a 30 year anti-perforation warranty. Then some websites say only body repair will be carried out to cars under 5 years old, other sites say Mercedes will repair all if they have a Mercedes Service History. From what I can see, no one has actually grouped together and said there is a problem. These are £37,000 plus new in the UK and Mercedes needs to accept there is a problem.
On my car I see new rust spots every time I wash it now, despite being clean when bought, (its no better than a £100 Ford Fiesta in this respect) Mercedes UK needs to know.
What I want is if you have had problems with these Mercs to let me know, perhaps a large number of responses to this very popular website will help us with our Merc dealers to get repairs done.
A FINAL QUESTION, I have a patchy service history, does anyone know do Mercedes hold details of services carried out?? I dont have the original service book with my car.
Thanks all
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Let me get the "india" bit out of the way
Mercedes started making the w124 in 1996. However the w201 was laready in production in Europe and the person who buys a w124 will be well aware that the 201 is around in europe so it flopped badly. The w124 was exported in small no's to Malaysia, Russia and Kenya. Some excess stock made its way to the UK through the grey market. The cars made in India are as follows:
W124: E220 or E250D - blue black, white, silver, dark blue
from 1998 W201: E230, E250D - later E240, E220D - silver, red, gold, black and dark green
W220 - S320L later S350L various colours
C class - C180, C200D later C200k C220d - these have suffered problems endemic with C classes globally
Hence your car was never made in India. The cars were made in a factory wholly owned by DC. The quality of the unit is the best one outside Germany.
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I have some experience of this problem.
Basically the problem is due to a combination of the 'stretched metal technology' and the move to different types of paint. The paint is also sometime put on very thinly, especially on 'external corners' and it also chips easily.
The 30 year rust warranty (which has many exclusions) was introduced to try and diffuse the problem. Your car was made before the 30 year warranty was introduced.
With a '97 car you have a very slim chance of help from MB. You would need a FMBSH and a very helpful dealer. Dealers generally help customers who bought cars off them and always had servicing done by them. Normally MB (UK) don't want to know.
Service data is held by dealers - ring the dealer(s).
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Try www.mercedesclub.org where you will find almost endless stories some good some bad.
A FMBSH is nearly always required
Goood luck.
I have had 3 wheel arches and boot lid repaired under warranty on 98 C Class and now 4th arch is going !!!! as well as drivers door lower lip.
Going in for assesment next week.
Body shop had 4 week wait for Mercedes appointments so looks like problem is PRETTY BIG!!!
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Surprising on a relatively new and modern car - I was a little gutted about some rust on the rear arches on my 1982 Granada. Does mud collect on the arch lips on Mercs? Every now and again on my cars I get my hands and hose into the arches to get all the accumulated mud out. This trapped mud just holds moisture (and lots of salt in winter) which rust loves!
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You have been lucky! We have a 300turbo diesel estate of '99 vintager, 70,000 up. The electrics are hell. 2 heated seat pads fitted so far, 2 more needed at over 400 pounds each. The first went within 10 months. Ignition lock, replaced after 8 times stuck on the drive with a non-starter. The extended warranty cost merc a bomb. Other electrics have gone wrong too. To replace the glow plugs means taking the inlet manifold off. it makes Citroen look well organised. The rust is your fault according to merc. Stone damage!Actually it is the EU requirement foe water based paint. No continuous relationship with dealer: merc took over retail round here in Manchester. I am in correspondence with them.Last straw was being told I needed a new light cluster when I did not. Mechanically OK, and comfortable. Do not get the level of service that labour rates should bring. There have been many other faults: over £400 for heater motor and regulator, for one. To fit a new dash light (clock) takes over £50 of labour. Silly! Never needed one before in 40 years motoring.
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wevew got one and its silver and its rusting around top of doors but rusty bits are still strong (for now)
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Some one has touched on this already but the problem is water based paint, the quality of it is no where near as good at 2K or two pack, which gives a much thicker build and is stronger to resisting chips(used throughout the 80's). The paint problem is why VW/Audi switched to galvanising the shells first, so when the paint chips its doesn't rust, although eventually they do as salt etc works its way through the bare surface, but this takes years (about 10) before it becomes a problem. Given the cost of a Merc its poor that they are not galvanised first. The easiest solution for merc owners would be to get the cars waxoyled after purchasing them, on the underside, in particular the wheel arches and throughout all the doors and cavities. However, its a bit cheeky that they haven't done this in the first place.
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Many other manufacturers have used water-based paints without the same problems, including those who do not galvanise shells.
The water-based paint is more difficult to apply, and MB seem to have had a problem with adhesion. I bought/sold a '98 MB a year or so back. The customer came back recently compaining about the rust on the rear arches. The paint was literally flaking off. I don't think the metal can have been properly prepared. They also put the paint on very thinly. I have a Nissan from the same era which has water-based paint and its been much more thickly applied than on the MB's.
Incidentally, the problem is not confined to E-Class, or 90's cars. I recently had someone try to sell me a 2000-model C-class coupe which had 2p-sized rust blisters all over it.
Cavity wax injection won't really help the problem because the rust is from the painted side of the panel.
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