Rusted Brake Caliper and Lug Nuts
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Joined: Dec 2009
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C350
Rusted Brake Caliper and Lug Nuts
Does anyone know if this kind of rusting is normal or covered under the warranty? I know rust on brake disc is fine but on the actual caliper and lug nuts? I did a search and found only one other person with this issue.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Miami, FL
C300 Luxury
The SAME thing happened with mine, I spoke with my friend at the dealer and NONE of it is covered under warranty. Basically unless you have proof that you've only used the Mercedes-Benz wheel cleaner to clean the rims, the warranty's shot. Basically what I did is remove the lug nuts, clean them, and paint em with matte black krylon (3 light coats) and put them back. So far no issue, hope that helps 
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From: Ohio
X3 and 2012 C coming soon
Don't know if this interests you, but I have chrome lug bolt covers. I think they provide some protection, but I got them in anticipation of what happened to yours. You can see them in my sig.
Here is the link:
http://www.otisincla.com/
Search them on ebay too. We have 17mm lug bolts.
Here is the link:
http://www.otisincla.com/
Search them on ebay too. We have 17mm lug bolts.
Last edited by Derspeed; Jan 4, 2010 at 04:02 PM.
Super Member
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Try another dealership, that looks horrible... it's supposed to be zinc carbonate on the surface of those.. not iron oxide.
If the dealership refuses to help, scrub them clean with a wire brush or steel wool and paint them, easy enough to fix.
If the dealership refuses to help, scrub them clean with a wire brush or steel wool and paint them, easy enough to fix.
Last edited by Peabody; Jan 4, 2010 at 05:08 PM.
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From: Miami, FL
C300 Luxury
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
In these harsh conditions ,I would also put a little grease on the threads & also on the wheel lug face to wheel. Back off a few ft lbs when torquing up though.
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
[QUOTE=ldtCapitan;3882460]it rains a lot and they said it voids the warranty when I drive in the rain and don't dry them when I'm done.QUOTE]
You gotta be freaking kidding me...we are supposed to dry our wheels everytime we drive in the rain...I would get them to put that in writing then sue the dumbasses...
Call MBUSA on this one as it sounds like a line of BS to me.
You gotta be freaking kidding me...we are supposed to dry our wheels everytime we drive in the rain...I would get them to put that in writing then sue the dumbasses...
Call MBUSA on this one as it sounds like a line of BS to me.
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From: Miami, FL
C300 Luxury
I should of. I went there and told them to change the lugs but they said that unless I've ONLY used hi-pressure water or Mercedes wheel cleaner to clean the rims then it voids the warranty on the lugs and I believe new ones are 40$ at the dealer. Frankly I've had nothing but bad experiences with my local dealer (other than them giving me like 9 Mercedes cup holders...)
Senior Member
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From: Brooklyn, NY
2021 GLB35, 2007 E350, 2014 ML350 4Matic, 2008 C350 Sport
That's caused by using excessive wheel cleaners, MB should make good on the lugs and the calibers since the excess brake dust caused us to use the wheel cleaners so often.
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From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
That's what they said to me, (I live in Miami, FL) so it rains a lot and they said it voids the warranty when I drive in the rain and don't dry them when I'm done. Also they seem really low quality lugnuts >__< After I painted them they've been fine though. I really need to find a new Mercedes dealer
....and as someone else posted, if you didn't have all that brake dust to cause them to get so dirty, you wouldn't have to clean them as often.
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From: Virginia
2012 E350 - Cabrio; 2017 GLS 450
Rusted Lugs
My lugs were rusted just like yours and I took mine to the dealership and they replaced all of them. I'm kinda in good with my dealership I think (hope) and they didn't charge me. What probably happened is that I probably cleaned them with an unapproved wheel cleaner and messed them up. I just use soap from here on out. Meguiars gold class seems to get them clean just fine.
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From: Alexandria, VA
07 E63 AMG, 10 C63 AMG, 07 E63 Designo, 07 E350, 09 C300, 07 C230
If your dealership, will not change them out form you, then your only recourse would be to scrub them with a wire brush then paint them. I had this same issue with my 03 Mini Cooper S, I repainted the calipers, and just bought new chrome lugbolts. you would think that Mercedes would take care of this for you. Well, I haven't had this happen yet on either my C300. If know that, I won't have these issues on my E63, granted the E63 calipers are painted silver, and I have chrome lugbolts. But, I will keep my eye out for corrosion on my C300.
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It's most likely a result of a poor galvanization process at the factory, though you might want to double check your cleaner products to make sure they are safe to use on galvanized metals. Just go buy a handful of galvanized nails from a hardware store, soak each one in the solution for a day, then rinse them off with water and let them air dry. If they form rust spots, that's your culprit. If not, you at least have a valid, testable assertion that your maintenance did NOT cause the rusting. Also, if they tell you that you are supposed to dry them after the rain hand them your owner's manual and ask them to turn it to the appropriate page. Those components are supposed to be protected from oxidation by the factory.
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From: Ontario, Canada
2016 C450 AMG, 2012 C350 4Matic Sport
Dry the wheels after a rain??? Don't drive your car in road salt???? What planet are these guys from?
This is a high end car maker using excuses that even the lowliest econobox car maker wouldn't dare use. The wheels will get wet, and will be exposed to road salt in northern climates, so M-B should design their wheel components to withstand these elements for more than a year...
If the problem is as a result of poor quality galvanizing, they should admit it and replace the part at no charge, not come up with lame-*** excuses.
This is a high end car maker using excuses that even the lowliest econobox car maker wouldn't dare use. The wheels will get wet, and will be exposed to road salt in northern climates, so M-B should design their wheel components to withstand these elements for more than a year...
If the problem is as a result of poor quality galvanizing, they should admit it and replace the part at no charge, not come up with lame-*** excuses.
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Some of you guys have some serious issues. You actually believe the bull**** that comes out of the dealers mouth? That rust is COVERED. You don't have to prove a damn thing. I had mine replaced three times on my W203, and the latest set hasn't rusted. If the dealer gives you their usual line of crap, you push the issue and ask them to show you where that is stated. If they still wont budge it's time to threaten to call MBUSA - which is exactly what you should do. Still no good? Find another dealer. Send MBUSA a letter threatening legal action if you have to. The way the dealerships cheat and lie is unacceptable.
Having said that, don't use harsh wheel cleaners as they will cause the rust.
Having said that, don't use harsh wheel cleaners as they will cause the rust.
