Badwolf

This new to me Mercedes e250 has this peel on every rim some more then others.
Car still under 4 year 80000km warranty.

Will dealer cover this under warranty?

KEY08

This should be a warranty item. Do you live in an area using road salt or ice melting road spray?

Badwolf

Road salt, in Toronto.
Correction it's not peeling the paint is still on the car, it feels smooth to the touch, but changed in color as on the picture.

KEY08

The wheels are clear coated. The corrosion is under the clear coat. It will only get worse

Badwolf

will mb cover this under their 4 year 80000km warranty?

hyperion667

Currently selling two sets of 18's

kajtek1

There is only 1 sure way to check....
Looks to me that PO was using acid cleaners and did not rinse it properly. I agree that most likely acid found weak spot in the hub hole and went under clear coat.
Road salt would show on outer edges first.

Mud

Mine had that discoloration and were refinished (not replaced) under warranty.
I have since had them powdercoated to another color finish though.

Badwolf

Just visited awaiting for my Comand unit to be updated as Bluetooth cuts out and it won't access any online services via my phone.

Service rep dismissed it saying some one didn't pop the center cap properly scratching the clear coat that caused corrosion to go underneath it. As there is a small scratch on edge where it meets the center cap.

kajtek1

That doesn't sound right.
Is it 1 wheel only, or all of them?

Badwolf

It's all of them, every single one, most of it is smooth on the outside, but all of them around the center caps, this wheels arn't in best of shape but this is happening only around the center.

I'll take better pics of all 4 rims

konigstiger

Discuss matter with Service Manager, use attached bulletins to support your warranty claim. If bolts are fine 66 rules out harsh product usage, 79 repair/replacement. Hope this helps.

Badwolf

Spoke to rep again, he took pictures, he said it won't be up to him and will send to Mercedes, the car is 3 years old with now 54k on it.

On looking at it closer, it looked like it's rust timing from under the paint, pictures attached of all 4

kajtek1

When you have a chance, read on inner side where the wheels are made in?
I had structural issues with similar looking Czech-made wheels and I wonder if we might have more to it?

KEY08

That is the exact same OEM wheel I have and use in the winter only now. I live in a salt zone also and my wheels are perfect. That corrosion is everywhere on your wheels. Mine are 5 years old.

Badwolf

Just called Mercedes Benz Canada phone customer service to check on the status on my wheel escalation, they have said no it won't be covered, no explanation on the decision.
And advised no more records or escalation on this matter.

I am really disappointed on how the response was with no further follow up just decline. I expected better from Mercedes.

After treatment like this on this issue have low expectations from them. Will be trading this in for a luxus as soon as I find one I like.

KEY08

You said this car is new to you. How new? Did you buy it with the wheels in this state? It would definitely be something to negotiate on during purchase. Sorry they are taking the hard line. I wouldn’t dump the car over it.

cetialpha5

Unfortunately it sounds like they did nothing wrong. Standard warranty is 4 years/50k and it sounds like the warranty is expired. Usually under extended and CPO warranties, cosmetic defects aren't covered, only under the original factory warranty.

Those wheels aren't cheap either, about $500 on eBay each. You could find a company that would refinish them, they're usually $100-$150 a wheel. Just the nature of a used car. The same would probably happen with any other brand.

Badwolf

this car is under original warranty, its 54k km, not miles, warranty is until 4 years and 80000km, 4 years will be this December

KEY08

Write to MB and escalate it up the chain. That is not right. Blaming this on an improper cap removal is BS. This corrosion of the paint layer (under the clear coat) is rampant all over those wheels, so the cap removal theory is wrong. Regardless of the elements, the wheels should hold up to the environment during the original warranty at least. If not, then they should be repaired or replaced. Once again, I have the same wheel on my 2014 E550 and they do NOT look like this. I say they are defective.

Badwolf

Update.

After escalating up, Mercedes-Benz did not offer replacement wheels, but has refinished the rims.

Not as good as new, but much better then before, the color is a little off looking darker then others I have seen.

I appreciate that they did the right thing at the end.

El Cid

Amazing how much trouble owners have to go to to actually obtain "The Best or Nothing."