Mercedes Paint problems | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

Fri 22 Nov 2002 21:03

Mercedes Paint problems - Thunderbird_3

Hi,
I have seen some previous postings concerning the current woeful state of the Mercedes paint finishes and unfortuanately I maybe setting out a well trodden path.

I currently own a Mercedes E320 CDI Estate, W reg 2.5 years old, which has numerous stone chips with 'spiders leg' type corrosion under the silver metallic paint, I previously had an H reg E Class saloon with no such problem. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced a similar pattern of corrosion?

I thought that quality cars were galvanised dipped hence I was considering having a report written on the bodywork finish by a specialist company. Could anyone please advise, from their own experience whether this is the best way forward and if so perhaps recommend a reputable company, preferably in the North West so I may pursue the matter further with Mercedes.
Any help or comments gratefully received.
David.

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Sat 23 Nov 2002 18:14

Mercedes Paint problems - malcolm

Had exactly the same problem with a VW golf 1989 grey mettalic finish,problem was a lot of small stone chippings were only noticed when the "spiders legs" appeared and by then some of them were up to 20mm long, it looked like something was "burrowing" under the surface!. Needless to say I did not keep that car long and never bought another VW.

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Sat 23 Nov 2002 22:39

Mercedes Paint problems - DGW

I had a similar problem some years ago with a silver metallic Audi 100CD5E. From experience I can say that if you don't treat the problem at the outset, you may well end up with a serious rust problem developing.

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Sun 24 Nov 2002 01:47

Mercedes Paint problems - Blue {P}

So what is the best treatment then?

I've got a small stone chip on the Fiesta which has got a tiny bit of rust forming, unfortunately I need to do something soon as I know this will not get any better.

I've tried Chips Away but they quoted £70 + V.A.T. after coming to the house to see the car, despite quoting my dad £45 + v.a.t. to do the same work on any small metallic car when they had a stand at the shops. Me thinks they have seen the Fiesta and made up a price of what they think they can extract?

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Sun 24 Nov 2002 12:30

Mercedes Paint problems - madf

I always buy a touch up kit (from dealer to get correct match) with a new-to-me car and touch up all chips every month or so. May look unsightly but better than rust forming.

Chips Away or others are great BUT I would only spend that kind of money when buying first or when coming to sell .. if the car is really bad. Most peops buying accept well touched up chips as a part of buying s/h cars.

The kind of spider cracks are due to neglect of chips allowing water and corrosion to spread under the paint. Modern water based (as opposed to solvent) paints appear more vulnerable to chips or maybe it's just the increased traffic density...

madf

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Sun 24 Nov 2002 15:18

Mercedes Paint problems - Thunderbird_3

Thank you for all your comments, so far.
As madf suggests the 'spiders leg' corrosion appear to centre around stone chips, however I was under the impression that the galvanising of quality cars would help prevent this kind of 'casual' corrosion. If this is the case am I justified to raise this as an issue with Mercedes if they go down the line of water based paints compared to solvent, etc..?
David.

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Sun 24 Nov 2002 15:45

Mercedes Paint problems - Cyd

There was a time when some cars were dipped to galvanise them, and I cannot say for sure whether any manufacturers still do this. Most cars are now made from steeel that is pre-galvanised on the roll on ONE SIDE ONLY. The galvanised side then goes to be the inside surface of the panel, this is actually where most corrosion used to start. It's also extremely difficult to get a superb paint finish on the galvanised side.

So, the outside surface is plain steel. It (the Body-in-White) will have been chemically dipped and precoated before painting. This is electrolytically applied and so forms an excellent barrier EXCEPT when this barrier is physically damaged, perhaps by such things as, err, stone chips. Actually most stone chips will not break through this barrier - only a small %age where the stone was large or sharp will do so.

It is therefore vitally important that you regularly inspect your car for stone chips and clean & treat them appropriately ASAP (there are kits available). This will be mentioned somewhere in your handbook and will probably be a condition of the anti-corrosion warranty (which is usually a warranty against corrosion from the inside out).

The resistance to stone chipping is dependant on the paint mix and some manufacturers have in the past had problems with particular colours or batches. Whether water based paints are more or less susceptible I'm afraid I don't know.

I doubt you'll get anywhere with MB if you go on the attack, but it might pay to ask nicely if they can do anything to help.

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Tue 26 Nov 2002 20:43

Mercedes Paint problems - PST

Up until 2 months ago I had a company leased E240 Estate in Silver (X reg). This had the worst stone chip prone paint I've had on any car and after 40K miles looked a mess.

Several of the stone chips had started to rust when I chopped it in. An MB bodyshop technician did say that it was not uncommon but that I wouldn't get anywhere with complaining to MB themselves. I also sem to remember seeing a letter or two to the same effect in the HJ Telegraph column some months ago.

PST

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Sat 11 Jan 2003 09:05

Mercedes Paint problems - worried

Hi there! Just leased 2002 CL 500 and I fear that I am on the same path with paint problems. My color is Tectite Grey and I have 1200 miles on it and yes it had already been colored sanded by the dealership. I noticed pitting on the hood and fibers underneath the clearcoat. I was just sick ! This is just ridiculous ! I personally hand washed it twice and it scratched terribly a lot of swirl marks and hazing! I was very careful using only what the care booklet said to use. For a vehicle that cost this much and the wonderful eight layer paint they rave about in their care booklet this is terrible. There is a lawsuit that was won back in "94 on a leased mercedes with a bad paint job. But, they fought it for two years! I am going your route and going to find a expert body person to get a consultation on the paint! Oh yes the dealership told me that this was " a delicate paint job"! I've told this to several people and they just laughed at the dealerships commet!!!!GOOD LUCK! I am in Southern California!

Worried

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Sun 12 Jan 2003 19:26

Mercedes Paint problems - Thunderbird_3

Thank you for all your comments. I have had my car into the Dealership and they checked the paint thickness to ensure it was to Mercedes specification and whilst inspecting the area under a high power magnifying glass it was apparent that a stone, or similar, had impacted the bodywork and pierced the paintwork. Not that the stone chip was a huge surprise but the consequences of of not immmediately touching them up were!
Silver metallic used to be a classy finish and I would have been reluctant to 'have a go' at touching up chips myself just in case I made a botch job but in hindsight I am not that sure I could make it look much worse! In passing I was somewhat surprised to see the number of chips on the paintwork and woidscreen .. I can not recollect ever having this kind of problem with all my previous vehicles. I ahve not really got a definitive answer to the problem but I am in someways reassured I am not the only one with this problem .. there again I would thing Mercedes would be thinking differently, the publicity can not be doing them any good at all!
I am having the affected areas resprayed at my own cost and although I have considered Armourfend I am going to see how it goes without, that is attempting to touch up on an if and when basis. This whole episode takes the edge off an otherwise beautiful car!

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Thu 16 Jan 2003 13:22

Mercedes Paint problems - Dude - {P}

It has been well documented that water based paint finishes are not as durable as those derived from the petro-chemical industry. I however question (I know the owners will never admit to it) whether tailgating is more likely to be the reason for this problem !!!!

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Thu 16 Jan 2003 16:53

Mercedes Paint problems - blackdog

I have corrosion sround the boot lock on my 96 E 280 if its any consolation.

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Fri 11 Apr 2003 13:27

Mercedes Paint problems - macca

I have corrosion sround the boot lock on my 96 E

280 if its any consolation.

BLackdog, my mate has just got Mercedes to agree to resolving the rust on the boot problem, they are going to replace the lid. The car is probally newer than yours but it appears to be a known problem. I unfortunatley have the spiders web effect happening on mine but they do not want to do anything about it, poor for a quality motor. I seem to remember something about a problem with the way the stell is pressed causing problems with the paintwork, anyone remember that one.

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Mon 18 Aug 2003 16:21

Mercedes Paint problems - Addick

during a boring moment at work logged and read this trail. I have a E300 Td 1998 with paint lifting/corroding round the boot lock. Mercedes dalership looked at it and gave a quote (about £350) to respray and said they would speak to Mercedes about a goodwill contribution. However i have heard nothing further!

Any suggestions of how to get Mercedes to help?

Addick
(London)

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Wed 18 Jun 2003 12:04

Mercedes Paint problems - trombo

I have a question. There are stickers "Made in Germany" at this mercedes cars having paint problems?

Mercedes e-class cars are also assembled in India (Pune) etc. We assume the German parts (which are not painted) are attacked by the salt air during the transportation. An other problem could be the high atmospheric humidity of monsoon. All this could produce very little rust points being painted over.

We assume this India cars are reimported to Europe. However, we have no proof for the reimport. Therefore the above question.

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Wed 18 Jun 2003 12:21

Mercedes Paint problems - Marcos{P}

Apparently the cars made in India are never shipped back to Europe but some do find their way back as second hand units.

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Tue 11 Feb 2003 20:05

Mercedes Paint problems - worried

I just wanted to re-visit this site and let all the concerned Mercedes owners with paint problems, is that if your dealership is concerned they will help. Apparently, Mercedes factory people will check out your vehicle but will not admit to a paint problem. My dealership was gracious enough to know we were unhappy with our '2002 CL500 (Tectite Gray) because of the paint finish, which already had the hood color sanded. I now have a "2003" white which we are hoping this paint finish will endure!
GOOD LUCK! WORK WITH YOUR DEALERSHIP!

Worried - No longer!

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Fri 11 Apr 2003 16:07

Mercedes Paint problems - eMBe {P}

the following is a quote from HJ's car-by-car breakdown

"1995 to 1997 cars have had paint and rust problems, particularly around the numberplate area on the bootlid in the bottoms of doors and now developing in the front wings. This is well known in Germany. Daimler Chrysler has now admitted to another rust problem on all W210 E Class up to June 2001 build - apparently due to using stretched steel construction." <<

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Mon 18 Aug 2003 15:06

Mercedes Paint problems - Jon H

Hi,

Maybe this thread is dead but......my 1999 E300 TD Avanguard in Metallic Silver now has rust on the roof, bonnet, door and rear corner at the boot closure. Although it it a lovely car I will never buy another Mercedes again. The paint work agent at the dealership was adamant that all the rust was the result of stone chips. Well it must have been raining stones at the same time as I was driving backwards at extreme speed to get those chips all over the roof and rear of the car then!

Mercedes Benz are "considering" my case but if anyone has any solutions should Mercedes not act upon this appauling siuation.

Jon

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Mon 18 Aug 2003 15:13

Mercedes Paint problems - Aprilia

My sympathies. They really are a very nice car, but its terrible that this has happened. Even if the car is a bit stone-chipped it should not result in rust breaking out, good metal preparation should see to that. I hope MB help you out in some way.

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Fri 12 Feb 2010 22:18

Mercedes Paint problems - Zestar

It's important to obtain the paint film thickness measurements
of each of the individual layers that comprise the vehicle's finish:
e-coat, prime, basecoat and clearcoat. A total thickness reading
does not give a complete picture. One layer thickness could offset
the other 3 layers. Low prime thickness will result in excessive
stone chipping. Recent books have been published concerning
factory paint defects related to automakers.

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Fri 12 Feb 2010 22:28

Mercedes Paint problems - Hamsafar

9+ year old thread, I should imagine that rot box merc has rusted away by now.

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Fri 23 Jul 2010 16:46

Mercedes Paint problems - Mk1Focus

My W reg E320 CDI Estate is only just begining to show rust around the rear wheel arches and on top of one of the rear doors, must have got a good un. It's only got 68k on the clock so going to get the rust fixed and run it for another 100k, great car. I used to have a X-reg Focus 2.0l Ghia and that had chips all over but no signs of rust at all, another great car.

Edited by Mk1Focus on 23/07/2010 at 16:57

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