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Anyone else has this problem with door handles? This is the E53 with night package 2 (dark chrome).
Looks a lot like rust but it can't be. It only shows on both handles on the passanger side so far and not on drivers side. It turned out like this 2 days after i got it brand new from the dealership, and before any form of car wash. The dealership said that this was normal and showed me two different E53 that was going to customers with the same issues.
I just have a hard time understanding how and why Mercedes would let a product like this roll out to the customers.
Certainly not normal. If it doesn't come clean, I would demand they be replaced. Mine look fine and I've had my car a year today. When I wash my car (every 1-2 weeks) I dry the handles and use compressed air to get water out of the cracks and crevices inside the handles. If it rains, I don't dry them off, but my car is always in the garage when I'm not driving it. At the dealership they sit out in the elements so much more exposure, but they should still not rust.
This not normal. I just checked my wife's 25 E450 that will be 1 year old in Sept and see no imperfections. Secondly, I live in a Canadian city where we use tons of salt on winter roads and my wife does not have her car washed often. During winter months it is white with salt and chrome parts are all like new. DO NOT ACCEPT THIS CRAP FROM YOUR DEALER.
OP - I wonder if this is not just surface contamination and not rust on the handles themselves. Perhaps something was dripping from above at some point and got in the handle area. Have you tried cleaning them to see if this comes off?
Is it some type of coating, or rust? Have you tried to clean it off (as in some kind of residue, glue, etc)?
That’s totally unacceptable and should be resolved by the dealer..
I had this with a single fender vent, didn't notice it at the dealership but found it when I got home. The dealership replaced it, unsure if they paid for it or pushed it through warranty.
Yeah this is surface contamination. Likely caused by rail dust during transport. Certainly not normal. FWIW, here's what ChatGPT has to say about it.
When it comes to exterior chrome trim on vehicles, that orange-brown discoloration is usually a form of surface contamination or corrosion, and here’s how it plays out specifically in the automotive context:
🚗 Why Chrome Trim Discolors on Cars
1. Surface Rust from Airborne Iron
• Brake dust, rail dust, or industrial fallout can settle on the trim.
• These iron-rich particles oxidize and leave rust-colored stains.
• Common near wheels, lower body panels, or in urban/industrial areas.
2. Road Salt and Moisture
• In coastal regions or places with winter road salting, salt accelerates corrosion.
• Even stainless or chrome-plated surfaces can show discoloration if salt gets trapped in seams or scratches.
3. Microcracks in Chrome Plating
• Chrome plating on trim is often thin and decorative.
• Over time, UV exposure, thermal cycling, and vibration can cause microcracks.
• Moisture seeps in, corroding the underlying metal (usually steel or plastic with metallic coating).
4. Improper Cleaning or Harsh Chemicals
• Acidic wheel cleaners or household products can etch the chrome.
• This leads to oxidation or staining, especially if not rinsed thoroughly.
5. Environmental Fallout
• Tree sap, bird droppings, and industrial pollutants can chemically react with chrome.
• These leave behind brownish or orange residues that mimic rust.
🧼 How to Fix and Prevent It
✅ Cleaning
• Use a dedicated iron remover (like CarPro IronX or Griot’s Iron & Fallout Remover).
• Follow with a non-abrasive chrome polish to restore shine.
✅ Protection
• Apply a sealant or ceramic coating to the trim to repel contaminants.
• Regular washing, especially after rain or driving on salted roads, helps prevent buildup.
✅ Inspection
• Check for pitting or peeling—if the chrome is compromised, replacement may be the only long-term fix.
Yeah this is surface contamination. Likely caused by rail dust during transport. Certainly not normal. FWIW, here's what ChatGPT has to say about it.
Be cautious with what you use, the dark coating on the chrome will come off, I just used my old part (pictured) to test. Using Meguiar's Metal polish, it did remove the discoloration quite well, but additional rubbing pulled the dark finish and expanded the chrome already exposed on my piece.
Be cautious with what you use, the dark coating on the chrome will come off, I just used my old part (pictured) to test. Using Meguiar's Metal polish, it did remove the discoloration quite well, but additional rubbing pulled the dark finish and expanded the chrome already exposed on my piece.
Yes, I should have added that with the car being under warranty, I wouldn't touch this and potentially make it worse. Instead I'd put my foot down at the dealership to get this resolved. For them to brush you off like that because other cars in their lot show the same issue is complete BS. I'd call them out on how they care for these cars.
OP - I wonder if this is not just surface contamination and not rust on the handles themselves. Perhaps something was dripping from above at some point and got in the handle area. Have you tried cleaning them to see if this comes off?
I don’t think it’s actual rust just some sort of discoloration. The area is smooth, if it was rust I should be able to feel something on my fingers.
Yes I had it washed yesterday and it stayed the same. The dealer said it should be clear again after wash and this was normal for specifically the dark chrome option.
I went back and he showed me two different E53s on site (new like mine on their way to customers) with the same issue so I accepted his answer. Still felt odd that Mercedes would roll out a product like that.
To you people that have replied, do you have the dark chrome option or standard?
I don’t think it’s actual rust just some sort of discoloration. The area is smooth, if it was rust I should be able to feel something on my fingers.
Yes I had it washed yesterday and it stayed the same. The dealer said it should be clear again after wash and this was normal for specifically the dark chrome option.
I went back and he showed me two different E53s on site (new like mine on their way to customers) with the same issue so I accepted his answer. Still felt odd that Mercedes would roll out a product like that.
To you people that have replied, do you have the dark chrome option or standard?
It's not the chrome itself that rusted. It's the iron material that settled on it and together with moisture oxidized and then left rust colored stains. There's nothing unique about the dark chrome. That's just a tinted clear coat that gets applied on top of the chrome.
Be cautious with what you use, the dark coating on the chrome will come off, I just used my old part (pictured) to test. Using Meguiar's Metal polish, it did remove the discoloration quite well, but additional rubbing pulled the dark finish and expanded the chrome already exposed on my piece.
UPDATE: They will be replaced free of charge. It went smoothly, no questions asked when the dealer provided the pictures to mercedes germany.
That's good. Glad you got them to fix the issue as that is not normal. If you haven't already, I would go over the car in detail to be sure there is nothing else like this wrong.
I wonder if they are replacing the handles on the other cars they showed you with the same issue.
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