Sovren

I just went ot pick up my replacement car. As soon as I arrived I knew there was something wrong. The sales guy walked me out to the car and showed me that the clear coat was peeled back on the left front fender.

I said, what are they planning on doing? He told me they wanted the body shop guy to look at it on Monday. I told him I'm not taking delivery of a car that has been repainted. He said he'd talk to the factory on Monday.

I left the dealership without my car.

I'm wondering, would any of you take a car that has had repaint work done to it? I am suspect of all the clear coat on the car now.

Should I push for a new car????

Thanks!

E55AMG99

I'm not sure how the replacement program works but personally, I would never take a new car that has been repainted after it left the factory. In fact, I usually never feel the same about the car after any kind of painting/bodywork.

I'd push for a new one. What could it hurt to try?

LorinserCClass

Possibly only w/a very HEAVY discount. Like they do at the Dept stores, damaged and fixed=heavy discount. It is your NEW car dammit they gotta do something for you! If not I would just ask them for another car.

awiner

Steer Clear ! Have them get you a replacment that is in perfect condition.

etenn

The only car they can give you to replace it would be an '04.

Would you stand still for that?

Seriously, how is the paint "peeled back"? What do you think happened to it?

Sovren

Looks like when they removed the protective plastic, the clearcoat may have peeled off with it.

Maybe the car was damaged at the factory... re-painted and re-clearcoated and then the contact paper put on too early? Or a bad batch of clearcoat?

There is a 6 in jagged line about 3 inches wide of peeled clearcoat.

As far as I am concerned, the car has a taint now. I just would not feel good about taking it.

If course I would take an '04.

Dr Chill

I'd offer to take the car if:

#1 the resprayed area is indistinguishable
#2 they sweeten the deal somewhat (i.e. wood wheel, clear bra, wheel upgrade, free brakejob)

A small area to respray clearcoat should not be an issue as long as they come clean with exactly how it happened assuming it happened at the dealers lot where the protective plastic was removed. If this area is just the tip of an iceburg, then a new '04 is in order. Ninety percent of the time these things are corrected without the owners ever finding out and they happen pretty regularly according to my sales manager friend.

ATLANTA E500

You will never be happy with a re-paint job. I have been thru this some years back with a BMW.

1. Have them order you a NEW 2004.
2. Keep yours, take the check for the NAV and buy a NAVMAN i-630

I was so pleased with buying the NAVMAN unit that IF my car had a screwup upon delivery I would have made an instant decison to refuse it and take the money.

You have seen on past threads how a repaint looks..........you will always be tainted on this car. I hope MB orders you a new 2004.
I would put up a screaming stink with the Gen.Mgr. and have him start earning some of his salary in sticking up for the person who pays his salary- YOU the customer.

My thoughts.

Derek.

rayscar

Don't accept a repainted car. Insist on a new one.

MadManAboutTown

No more discussion needed on this one - of course, you should never accept anything but a "pristine" vehicle from MB!

Do they (and their dealers) have no shame?!?

Rock72

my original car came with a small scratch on the rear bumper (about the size of 1/2 of your pinky fingernail). they repainted that section and i couldn't tell so i took delivery.

i'm glad i'm getting a replacement though because these days i can kind of tell the section that they repainted from some specific angles in the sun.

Rock

Nanky

I will not accept a recoated or repainted car. If you can wait a bit longer, I say definitely insist on a new one and have the dealer throw in some extras for the inconvenience.

Sovren

Dealers paint guy looked at it and said they will probably have to repaint the front fender. MBZ rep wants an authorized MB paint specialist to look at it. That will ocurr by Wednesday or so. If they have to repaint, I am for sure requesting another car. Even if its just a wet sand and a re-clearcoat, I am still going to push for a pristine car.

I paid for it... thats what I expect.

Zandorf

Can't they order a factory painted bumper and just replace the entire bumper?

Sovren

Its not the bumper, its the left front fender

mbprince

I would never 'knowingly' accept delivery on a touched up new car (glass or paint).

jhb

If you are leasing the car, it looks fabulous when done and they put in writing that it is their problem, maybe I would consider keeping it. But, if you are purchasing, no way, insist on a new one.

Jeff

Sovren

Its a purchase not a lease.

Sovren

Dealer says they want to do a repaint and then they insist I take this car!

I pushed back, said there is nothing they can do to make me take this car. Dealer is talking to MB rep on Tuesday. I gave him 2 options. Order me a new car. Give me ALL my money back.

If he comes back to me with any other offers, I am contacting my attorney. I've had it. I am not going to be forced into taking a car that is not perfect. Why should I? I'm tired of getting jerked around for the last year.

Update next week.

ctouhey

Man, I don't blame you. It's a hassel, it's stressful, it's not the easy route. Still, in the end, the outcome is preferable to the daily scrutiny of the repair job. Hang in there. It's not right, but it's necessary.

Rock72

i will take some pics one of these days. the repainted rear bumper section on my car is really noticable these days in the sun.

i did have the option of getting all of my money back. i didn't take it at the time because i had waited 3 months for the car and didn't want to wait another 3 months.

i'm just thankful that this car is going back for the nav replacement. otherwise, i would have them repaint it again.

i asked if they were going to repaint the entire rear bumper and they kept saying that it would be fine just repainted that section. i didn't think the colors would match right but it really did look ok when i first got it back.

anyway, good luck and don't accept a repainted car.

Rock.