C class rust problem
Banned
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
C-class
My car has had rust in all 4 fenders, and along the front edge of the front fenders where they meet the front bumper, as outlined in the pic.
Its been repainted twice, the last time the areas were treated so they wouldn't rust again, yet still did. So this time I took some preventative measures and grinded down the inside lips of the fenders, treated them, then covered in POR-15. This should help prevent rock chips from flaking away the paint, since its more durable, exposing areas to rust. It should also prevent rust from coming back.
Prevent is the right word, cause eventually it will come back, hopefully by then I've sold the car.
Its been repainted twice, the last time the areas were treated so they wouldn't rust again, yet still did. So this time I took some preventative measures and grinded down the inside lips of the fenders, treated them, then covered in POR-15. This should help prevent rock chips from flaking away the paint, since its more durable, exposing areas to rust. It should also prevent rust from coming back.
Prevent is the right word, cause eventually it will come back, hopefully by then I've sold the car.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Chicago area
'06 E320 CDI,premium package, xenons,LED's,Nav. and '11 BMW 335 D, Nav, Sport, Premium, Cold, PDC
OK, here is my update.
Service manager called me today (after 3 weeks) and said, that since car is out of the warranty (~7 years old and 66 K miles) the best MB can do for me is split the cost of replacing all four doors.
My share is supposed to be $3900.
Apparently this was recommendation of the Regional Service Manager of MB of North America.
Obviously the work has to be done by the MB body shop.
I’m going to get an estimate from the independent body shop for the door replacement as well as for the “repair” that will allow me to unload the car.
Is there anything else I should try?
Should I try another dealership to see if they would offer a better solution?
Service manager called me today (after 3 weeks) and said, that since car is out of the warranty (~7 years old and 66 K miles) the best MB can do for me is split the cost of replacing all four doors.
My share is supposed to be $3900.
Apparently this was recommendation of the Regional Service Manager of MB of North America.
Obviously the work has to be done by the MB body shop.
I’m going to get an estimate from the independent body shop for the door replacement as well as for the “repair” that will allow me to unload the car.
Is there anything else I should try?
Should I try another dealership to see if they would offer a better solution?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Chicago area
'06 E320 CDI,premium package, xenons,LED's,Nav. and '11 BMW 335 D, Nav, Sport, Premium, Cold, PDC
Reply to COIN
I was working w/ Autohouse on Eadens in Northbrook, IL.
I can also try Knauz to see if they would offer a better solution . I will post pictures over the weekend.
I can also try Knauz to see if they would offer a better solution . I will post pictures over the weekend.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 15
From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
The doors retail for six hundred and change each. How does your "half" come up $ 3,900? In Europe Mercedes has a problem with rust, and offered a 30 year warranty, as long as your car was serviced by a dealer. I suppose it is not easy to use the warranty. The back office boys are good at designing sales features that never pay off for the consumer.
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 3
From: Portland, OR
2005 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan
Campaign - Door Frame Corrosion
Campaign No. 2005030005 April 2005
Revised May 2005
FILE:
SERVICE:
GROUP 00 OF SERVICE INFORMATION BINDER
PARTS:
GROUP I OF INFORMATION _ PARTS & ACCESSORIES BINDER
TO: ALL MERCEDES-BENZ CENTERS
SUBJECT:
MODELS 203/210
PRESERVE DOOR FRAME UNDERNEATH DOOR SEAL
This revised Service Campaign bulletin 2005030005 supercedes previously issued Service Campaign bulletin 2005030005 released in April 2005. It contains updated warranty information to allow the repair of noticeable corrosion under certain conditions. Please destroy all previous Service Campaign bulletin versions.
This Service Campaign has been initiated because DCAG has determined that the door frame assembly requires the application of corrosion preservation or it may be subject to premature corrosion.
Please review the Effective Serial Number chart and if necessary repair the subject vehicles during the vehicle's next service.
Prior to performing this Service Campaign:
^ Please check VMI to insure the vehicle is involved and to determine if the vehicle has been previously repaired.
^ Please review the entire Service Campaign bulletin.
Approximately 170,238 vehicles are affected.
Models / Chassis From / Chassis To
203006 A152847 A152847
203006 F001036 F001036
203035 F049686 F049686
203045 A036346 A121707
203061 F003609 F122998
203064 A030687 A030687
203064 F000420 F122993
203264 F051490 F122510
203745 A108909 A108909
203747 A085400 A166999
I input these chassis numbers for everyone. You may have some leverage with this information, as the premature rust problem is a known issue. If you've had it serviced by the dealer, this should have been fixed (if applicable chassis number is affected). Good luck!
Campaign No. 2005030005 April 2005
Revised May 2005
FILE:
SERVICE:
GROUP 00 OF SERVICE INFORMATION BINDER
PARTS:
GROUP I OF INFORMATION _ PARTS & ACCESSORIES BINDER
TO: ALL MERCEDES-BENZ CENTERS
SUBJECT:
MODELS 203/210
PRESERVE DOOR FRAME UNDERNEATH DOOR SEAL
This revised Service Campaign bulletin 2005030005 supercedes previously issued Service Campaign bulletin 2005030005 released in April 2005. It contains updated warranty information to allow the repair of noticeable corrosion under certain conditions. Please destroy all previous Service Campaign bulletin versions.
This Service Campaign has been initiated because DCAG has determined that the door frame assembly requires the application of corrosion preservation or it may be subject to premature corrosion.
Please review the Effective Serial Number chart and if necessary repair the subject vehicles during the vehicle's next service.
Prior to performing this Service Campaign:
^ Please check VMI to insure the vehicle is involved and to determine if the vehicle has been previously repaired.
^ Please review the entire Service Campaign bulletin.
Approximately 170,238 vehicles are affected.
Models / Chassis From / Chassis To
203006 A152847 A152847
203006 F001036 F001036
203035 F049686 F049686
203045 A036346 A121707
203061 F003609 F122998
203064 A030687 A030687
203064 F000420 F122993
203264 F051490 F122510
203745 A108909 A108909
203747 A085400 A166999
I input these chassis numbers for everyone. You may have some leverage with this information, as the premature rust problem is a known issue. If you've had it serviced by the dealer, this should have been fixed (if applicable chassis number is affected). Good luck!
Last edited by SteveAustin; Apr 17, 2008 at 02:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Chicago area
'06 E320 CDI,premium package, xenons,LED's,Nav. and '11 BMW 335 D, Nav, Sport, Premium, Cold, PDC
Thank you very much, SteveAustin.
Unfortunately the doors were treated (in 2005) according to the campaign, but still rusted.
The second dealer is working on some kind of proposal under the goodwill.
His cost estimate is ~ $7 K for a replacement of all doors. (An independent body shop, using OEM doors, came up w/ ~ $5 K.)
Even if the dealer will offer me 50/50 split, it will cost me a lot.
I’m considering “fixing/repairing” the doors and just dumping the car. It has a whole bunch of other, typical C class problems (power seat module draining the battery, sunroof module requiring resets every day, etc)
I will probably go back to BMW (had 3 so far) that i had much more luck w/.
I will keep my other Benz to the end of the factory warranty and hopefully by then there will be other Diesels offered (BMW or Audi) so I could replace my Benz-Diesel. (This one is good so far)
We’ll see.
Unfortunately the doors were treated (in 2005) according to the campaign, but still rusted.
The second dealer is working on some kind of proposal under the goodwill.
His cost estimate is ~ $7 K for a replacement of all doors. (An independent body shop, using OEM doors, came up w/ ~ $5 K.)
Even if the dealer will offer me 50/50 split, it will cost me a lot.
I’m considering “fixing/repairing” the doors and just dumping the car. It has a whole bunch of other, typical C class problems (power seat module draining the battery, sunroof module requiring resets every day, etc)
I will probably go back to BMW (had 3 so far) that i had much more luck w/.
I will keep my other Benz to the end of the factory warranty and hopefully by then there will be other Diesels offered (BMW or Audi) so I could replace my Benz-Diesel. (This one is good so far)
We’ll see.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Mercedes Benz CDi 220 ... my2001 ... 6sp man
Firstly hello, and secondly sorry for jumping in both feet first ... just though to mention, my 2001 ... W203 ... 220 CDI had a bit of a dispute with a 200 year old wall and lost! ... so I took it to the local Mercedes body shop for repairs. As they were pricing up the battle damage I though I'd mention the lower door rust and a couple of other small rust spots I'd notice recently. As mentioned the car is a 2001 year model, so basically I expected nothing but was pleasantly surprised that they noted down all corrosion and they are at present repairing the self induced rear end damage and also the corrosion/rust areas. And to top it they have lent me a brand new A160 .... as someone previously mentioned, it turns out, and at the time not to my knowledge, that Mercedes in the UK carry a 30 year corrosion warranty, assuming the service is up held which it is, so all in all pretty content. Shame my previous W202 wasn't taken there but never mind, onward and upwards .... excellent forum, lots of informative information, cheers hoggy 
mileage Km 191511 .... Miles 119000
mileage Km 191511 .... Miles 119000
Last edited by hoggy; Apr 21, 2008 at 10:24 PM.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
C-class
Got my car back and did the first wash of spring and noticed rust on all four corners again. Checked the doors and no rust, yet some in the corners of the engine bay by the windshield and on the body around the hinges of the hatch.
6 years of Canadian winter driving so I guess I can't be too upset, lots of other cars show rust at this age.
6 years of Canadian winter driving so I guess I can't be too upset, lots of other cars show rust at this age.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke
Verdad Gallardo
8 Mercedes Models With Poor Reliability Records
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 3
From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Agree. Parent's '01 S500 has a bunch of rust bubbles and '99 ML430 two right doors have huge rust bubbles. Compared to my brother's '97 A6, no rust after 11 years and has always been parked outside exposed to the elements.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON
2002 C230 Coupe & 2010 C300 Sport
My car being a 2002 has rusty front fenders. I'd like to get used replacements - post 2004 production. Are all W203 front fenders interchangeable on coupes and sedans?
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 904
Likes: 22
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
2001 C230 70k nov.2012
I have a silver 01 C320 with 71k and all 4day doors have rust on bottomed edges and paint flaking off. 
not original owner bought from germany and had it shipped to ny. Other then rust/ the car is Mint!!
not original owner bought from germany and had it shipped to ny. Other then rust/ the car is Mint!!
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2001 C320
2001 C320 rust
I have a 2001 C320 which I bought new in 2001. After about 6 years I noticed rust starting on the lower door panel edge. The rusting continues until this day. We now have people come up to us and ask "what happened to your car?, It must be disappointing!". The explanation in this thread that stated MB did not galvanize the panels until 2003 makes sense as to why this is happening. It is hard to believe that MB would not galvanize panels on a vehicle that I paid $41,735 plus tax and fees in 2001. On the other hand I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota which is our primary "Winter" vehicle that has many more miles on it with virtually no rust.
The rust on the Mercedes is developing all over the vehicle and it is internal rusting not surface rust from scratches, etc. It is a nice driving car but I would not buy one again, particularly first or second year like the new C series that just came out. I wanted the BMW, but the wife liked the MB. Now she regrets that decision.
The rust on the Mercedes is developing all over the vehicle and it is internal rusting not surface rust from scratches, etc. It is a nice driving car but I would not buy one again, particularly first or second year like the new C series that just came out. I wanted the BMW, but the wife liked the MB. Now she regrets that decision.
Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 139
Likes: 4
From: Finland, Europe
W203 C200CDI
MB Mobilo Life is valid for 30 years and it covers rust problems. You need to have full service history though. I would imagine they have it in USA aswell since all warranty stuff works much better there.
But the rust problems have to be very bad before they cover them, some small spots are irrelevant for them
But the rust problems have to be very bad before they cover them, some small spots are irrelevant for them
Last edited by cvx; Sep 20, 2014 at 12:41 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
C280
2007 C280 door rusting
I am the proud owner of 2 - C class Mercedes Benzes. I have been a life time supporter of Mercedes Benz driving MB all my life. The best quality car that I believe you can get
My wife’s car is a 2007 MB C280. The car has 92 000 km and spent most of it’s life in a heated garage. I was shocked to note bad rust marks on the driver’s door. Took the car to Lonestar Mercedes in Calgary who has performed all its services. Lodestar referred me to Distinctive Auto body the Mercedes approved auto body shop in Calgary.
Distinctive checked the car out, took photos and along with the detail of the car submitted it to MB Canada.
I was shocked today to hear from Ed from Distinctive that MB will not cover this and stated based on the car’s age, milage and service record won’t be covering this damage.
Is this normal?
I would appreciate your help?
Sincerely
Anton
My wife’s car is a 2007 MB C280. The car has 92 000 km and spent most of it’s life in a heated garage. I was shocked to note bad rust marks on the driver’s door. Took the car to Lonestar Mercedes in Calgary who has performed all its services. Lodestar referred me to Distinctive Auto body the Mercedes approved auto body shop in Calgary.
Distinctive checked the car out, took photos and along with the detail of the car submitted it to MB Canada.
I was shocked today to hear from Ed from Distinctive that MB will not cover this and stated based on the car’s age, milage and service record won’t be covering this damage.
Is this normal?
I would appreciate your help?
Sincerely
Anton
