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So I just took delivery of my C450 about 2 weeks ago and when washing it today I noticed a paint chip on my drivers side rear wheel. It isn't a curb rash because I'm the only one who has driven it and haven't parked near any curves lately. Is this a manufacturer defect that I can get fixed under warranty or am I out of luck? Thanks in advance for yalls help!
So I just took delivery of my C450 about 2 weeks ago and when washing it today I noticed a paint chip on my drivers side rear wheel. It isn't a curb rash because I'm the only one who has driven it and haven't parked near any curves lately. Is this a manufacturer defect that I can get fixed under warranty or am I out of luck? Thanks in advance for yalls help!
Chip on multispoke 19''
I know the feeling when you find that first new car "violation." But after having driven your car now for a couple weeks, claiming manufacturing defect is likely a stretch. A rock on the road, could have easily done what your picture shows. I agree with the post above, touch up paint is likely the best option. Maybe your dealer has some to match the wheel or has a wheel guy (most dealers do) who can make that go away for a very reasonable price.
A tire and wheel protection plan should cover it (if you purchased one.) It is clearly caused by a road hazard. My wheels with simlar damage were repaired. I have the same wheels. My damage was on the silver part of the wheel. Yours will be much easier to repair. I had no idea how the damage occurred and no one asked. I also had a damaged tire replaced.
Last edited by BenzC400; Jan 10, 2016 at 09:49 PM.
I had a $1k wheel protection package on my S500, and somehow I bent a $1200 AMG rear. They denied the claim. Small print said they only covered damage that caused the tire to not hold air. That also ruled out curb damage BTW. Read those contracts carefully before you buy.
I have a set of OEM staggered 20's on the S, and I'm always doing something bad to one of them, so I have an extra front and extra rear. When one gets dinged up enough, I'll mount the fresh one and send the damaged one to a refurb house to get spruced up. They come back like new, ready for the next rotation in six months or so. Less if I let my wife drive the car.
The mobile repair services that work the wheel while it's on the car, on the lot, are ok for small stuff. Otherwise I send them out.
There are different tire and wheel policies out there. Some don't cover cosmetic or curb rash damage. Road hazard coverage seems to be very common. You must clearly understand the definition of road hazard according to the policy. I've had no issue with getting cosmetic wheel damage covered, as well as a tire that developed a rip or split from a road hazard.
Last edited by BenzC400; Jan 10, 2016 at 09:47 PM.
Yeah, that was my point. Not all packages are created equal. Read the contract.
I wonder if it differs dealership to dealership. For example the tire/wheel protection package that was offered to me in the finance dept. covered curb rash/bent wheels as well as flat tires/blow outs/slow leaks but didn't cover any tires but the piece of crap LRR Continentals that came with the car. Since I had no interest in keeping the Continentals (not sticky enough) I passed. Other people who have posted on these forums say their tire/wheel protections covered any tire on the wheels (including winter tires) but not aftermarket wheels.
I wonder if it differs dealership to dealership. For example the tire/wheel protection package that was offered to me in the finance dept. covered curb rash/bent wheels as well as flat tires/blow outs/slow leaks but didn't cover any tires but the piece of crap LRR Continentals that came with the car. Since I had no interest in keeping the Continentals (not sticky enough) I passed. Other people who have posted on these forums say their tire/wheel protections covered any tire on the wheels (including winter tires) but not aftermarket wheels.
No matter where you buy it, Mercedes doesn't sell it. It's always sold under the MB banner in the finance department but the underwriter is going to be third party. Instead of buying from the laminated sales sheet they slide under your nose, ask for a copy of the actual long form contract. Check the list under the heading "Exclusions". That's what's not covered.
I had a $1k wheel protection package on my S500, and somehow I bent a $1200 AMG rear. They denied the claim. Small print said they only covered damage that caused the tire to not hold air. That also ruled out curb damage BTW. Read those contracts carefully before you buy.
What a waste of $1,000...a wheel protection plan that doesn't cover a bent wheel. So if you get a bent wheel which causes massive vibrations when moving, if the tire still holds air...they don't cover it? How can that be?
So glad my $990 three year wheel/tire warranty plan covers a scenario like that and others...as long as I never state that I "curbed" the wheel/tire I'm covered.
Last edited by MASSC450; Jan 11, 2016 at 12:37 PM.
What a waste of $1,000...a wheel protection plan that doesn't cover a bent wheel. So if you get a bent wheel which causes massive vibrations when moving, if the tire still holds air...they don't cover it? How can that be?
So glad my $990 three year wheel/tire warranty plan covers a scenario like that and others...as long as I never state that I "curbed" the wheel/tire I'm covered.
Oh, the F&I guy who sold it to me gave me the same spiel...look at how beautiful and expensive those wheels are. If you curb one it could be a lot to fix it. This protection plan covers any damage.
The first clue is when the guy tells you that to get something covered you have to lie about how it happened. How else in the world do you get curb damage without hitting a curb?
More importantly, verbal promises are unenforceable if a written contract exists. So nothing they tell you is meaningful or enforceable, just like the info in the sales brochure is meaningless and unenforceable.
A contract cannot be modified verbally or in writing by a document outside the four corners of the contract.
Had I read the contract rather than rely on the claims of the sales person I would have seen the exclusion for ANY damage that did not compromise the rim enough to prevent it from holding air.
BTW, the first time I scuffed a wheel and reported it to the dealer they told me the policy was too new and if I made a claim the company might drop the coverage. They suggested I wait for serious damage before making a claim.
If you can afford giving a paintshop guy free lunch and a sixpack he can take care of that in 30 minutes!
My personal experience is that if the first thing you do when you pick up your car is to clean the wheels and put some sort of wheelguard on your saving your wheels from lots of nasty problems. Your dmg is kinda extreme tho. takes some force to make a dent like that!
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