BenzV12

Good to see you are happy with the job done well

RSIKR

Last week I had my burl walnut trim replaced on a 2010 E350 4Matic whose VIN# was in the affected range.

Kudos to Mr. Konigstiger for his service bulletin information.

I have been aware of the problem since the first posts in an earlier string on this forum. The change was gradual as my vehicle is garaged.

I pointed it out to the shop foreman on a visit to the dealer. He looked at it and immediately agreed it should be replaced. He checked the VIN, ordered the kit, and two days later the trim was replaced. The foreman explained that it required about 5.5 hours of labor. A loaner was provided.

This dealership is family owned with family members present. The service on any warranty issue or question has been superb. For that reason my vehicle maintenance is performed there. They deserve my patronage.

In addition to the service advisors there are two shop foremen. One is in the shop with the technicians. The other is on the service ramp and spends his time with the customers, he is a master technician and can answer any question knowledgeably.

Is the shop foreman available to the customers a common MB dealership concept?

RENNTECH

I do them outside of VIN range now. a few months ago i was more strict because of the volume and availability of parts. Most places will jump all over this, especially if they get paid off gross sales ( wood kits are big $$$) my guys did enough to be able to complete them in about 1 1/2 hours. Just a heads up i have had to do some cars 2 times. The fading happened again. Keep in mind this was in the low country southern region and most do not garage. Lots of sun damage. but i would keep an eye out regardless. It can happen again.

WEBSRFR

If you get this done, insist that the whole car's trim be replaced. The car is going to look horrible if the other untreated sections start discoloring later, perhaps just as the warranty runs out.

RSIKR

Agreed.

The replacement burl walnut trim is noticeably redder, darker, and richer in color. It would be hard to mix with the old without it being noticed. It is supposed to have the UV protection.

The MB bulletin directs replacement of all 16 pieces of trim in the kit.

Wig

Has anyone had their burl walnut trim replaced under warranty in Canada?

tutooo

My dealer just replaced all of the wood under warranty. They were hesitant at first and replaced everything except the wood on the center console. This looked really bad when I first saw the car. The new darker trim looked so much different than the old one. I had to speak to the service manager to get them to replace the rest. I took a look at the car this morning when I returned the loaner and the new trim really looks great. It is the same shade as the trim on the 2013's in the showroom. I am really happy I had them replace it and cannot wait to drive it home when I pick it up later today.

El Cid

My car has a Nov 2009 build date so is covered by the TSB. However, my Burl Walnut trim looks perfect. Of course, car spends 90% of its life in a garage and only just hit 12,000 miles.
Are there any people out there who have not experienced a problem with the Burl trim from the early period? Or was ALL of the trim manufactured incorrectly?

tutooo

The fading was not too bad on mine either when I purchased as CPO because it faded evenly. I could notice the difference when compared to later year models. Unfortunately, I am unable to garage it and I wanted get the trim replaced under warranty rather than waiting a few years and then regretting it not done when I was first aware of the issue.

ImInPA

It was originally thought to be a problem with a range of VINs. Mine was far outside the VIN range in 2011, but, also experienced the fading. I would imagine that all of the early vehicles would be susceptible to this issue. If your vehicle is in the range of VINs, I would definitely have the wood replaced just to have the wood trim with UV protection.

ttab

Want to thank everyone here after the faded trim stories. I took my MB to the dealer the next day and I got lucky. They had the trim in stock since the person they ordered it for never showed up since July.

They replaced the trims on the spot and it looks great. I was outside the VIN number but I printed the comments here and showed it to the service manager and he said no problem.

Great advice from you all.

Airmousam

Good info. Can someone point me to the bulletin? Were all 2010's affected? Thx

El Cid

Mine is in the affected VIN range and has an Oct. 2009 build date. However, no evidence of fading. The service tech showed one way they check is to open the front door and look at the sections at end of dash that are usually covered when door closed. Mine all match inside trim.
I did have it listed as a concern at an annual service just to get it in the MBUSA system.
Not sure, but I think amount of exposure to sunlight has a great effect on fading.

Airmousam

Thx, i checked those spots, and under the center console flaps, no fading that I can notice

konigstiger

Trim clean point is August 2011, all trim produced before this point is susceptible to fading. Initially LI68.10-P-05415 https://mbworld.org/forums/5041804-post53.html released with affected VIN range A000988 to A291888 then LI68.30-P-053962 https://mbworld.org/forums/5459952-post98.html released with clean point validity. Check your PM.

shashivr4

Has anyone experienced this issue with the "Black Ash Trim?"

Airmousam

Thank you!

wedge357

Ditto on the question. I just got an '11 E550 with the black ash trim with a July/10 build date. Thank you.

DerekACS

I have NOT read any reports of fading 'black ash trim'.

The fading trim issue seems to have affected only MY2010-2011 W212 with burl walnut trim. Perhaps a few early production MY2012 may also have suffered fading trim ? This problem is not just restricted to W212 located in the southern states; I have seen several MY2010-2011 W212 here in the Pacific North West with faded walnut trim.

Airmousam

Would every 2010 be affected by this issue, or is it a small percentage? Mine looks fine

DerekACS

Take a look @ El Cid's Post #33 above. Total exposure to UV is the likely determinant up to August 2011 production.

cascade

RyanRice

I have a question/issue. My 2010 burl walnut was replaced under the TSB, all of it. In a year since then, the dash pieces as well as the ash tray door have faded AGAIN. So much for UV protectant. I haven't brought it up to my dealer yet, and I'm not expecting help since I'm now in CPO vs factory warranty period and its already been replaced once.

Has anyone experienced the fade more than once? Or did I get shafted on the replacement pieces?

ngerstman

That's terrible. I had the wood fade issue as well two or so years ago on my originally purchased 2011 e550. No fading problem since. They obviously used a defective wood replacement set. I would think that if they are any kind of upstanding dealership that they would replace the wood again under warranty. I wouldn't hesitate to go in there and demand replacement. Regards. Ned.

thefisch

Don't most dealers give a 12/12k warranty on most repairs. I agree with Ned - you have nothing to lose by bringing it up.

I think I recall seeing someone post in the E350 faded burl wood thread about how the replacement wood faded also, but I don't recall the details.