GuyV

Thank you !!!

im waiting for a reply from the dealer this week-we shall see.

if I recall properly, MB has extended a 30 year rust warranty to its European customers but not here in the US? We need that here. And I respectfully disagree about the social media impact. BBB is powerful but so is social media- not at the dealerships in specific but on the MB Facebook etc. no vitriol or obscene semantics, just a well thought out statement from W463 owners and enthusiasts.

“ We love our G wagons! Help us to keep them one of the most iconic symbols of excellence and technical achievement that Mercedes Benz is known for.
Extend fully transferable coverage of any oxidation/ rust issues due to manufacturing short falls. Live up to your motto
THE BEST OR NOTHING”

post it everywhere you can - and also go to the BBB and make your concerns known

i will post the resolution with EUROMOTORS of Germantown

JD101b

I think it took a lawsuit in Europe to get that rust protection extension put into place.

streborx

I grew up back east and remember well the salt induced corrosion that would destroy a vehicle within a few years, and create huge maintenance problems along the way. PA dumped so much salt on its highways during winters that the structural integrity of roads and bridges was compromised. I'd never buy a pre-owned car from that region unless it had been winter-stored.

Gene Gorman

Here in Florida some people drive their cars on the beach (salt water) and they rust just like the cars from the rust belt. Anything on the beach is subject to salt air. Aluminium sliding doors and home air conditioner compressors last just a few years because of the salt air.

GuyV

From the pre owned sales manager EUROMOTORS Germantown MD

With regards to your email dated September 7, 2021, please see our service manager’s response to your concerns.

Oil & Filter change - Service A was completed at our dealership on 09/18/2020 at 40,193 miles. Service intervals are every 10,000 miles or one year. The service was not due at the time the vehicle was inspected on 07/28/2021.



At this time we are only prepared to reimburse you for a full detail interior/exterior clean (estimated at $300). Please forward me a copy of the receipt and I will have a check mailed to you.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————— ———————————-

let the games begin:

my response:

I can’t believe it took you all over a week to get back to me with that answer- the absolute minimum you could offer. If it were your car, you would absolutely expect better.

As I stated in my original email, I know the dealership is capable of better and for sure the Mercedes Benz organization expects better.

The items I requested that you repair at no cost to me are small - they could have been addressed before the vehicle went out your doors. Either they were over looked or they were just ignored thinking we would not say anything.

I’m going to have all the issues rectified on my service visit at Mercedes Benz of Pensacola ( centennial imports) - I’ll send you the bill. Reimburse me for what you think is right.
———————————————————
BBB is my next move

GuyV

streborx

The dealer is telling you "we won't buy back the vehicle because we know it's not worth what you paid for it", and our reputation is not worth a couple $ grand. Visible corrosion should have been disclosed in the listing.

JD101b

All those areas you took photos of are typical rust areas. However, the "rust" on the underside of the bonnet is actually adhesive that bonds the engine insulation to the bonnet. I thought I had a rust issue in the same spot too, but my body shop guy confirmed that it wasn't corrosion.

As I said before, a class action is the only way Mercedes is going to actually address this issue. The dealership is essentially telling you to go **** yourself. The BBB might offer some assistance, but a lawsuit is the only way to get anything meaningful done.

There was a guy who posted in my rust thread a few days back with the same problem and wanting to discuss a class action. I've read similar comments from people with late model, low mileage G's wanting to do the same thing. I think it's worth a shot.

GuyV

BBB, Yelp, Carfax, MBUSA all contacted - MBUSA asked for estimates of rust remediation and replacement cost for TWO tires - deep cuts to the cord. This was from a DEALER !!

EURO MOTORCARS GERMANTOWN MD- in the end just a shameless/ despicable business using the Mercedes brand.

in the end I’m stuck paying the bills to make the car - safe and secure for my wife and son. Sad that this is from a dealer.

I’ll keep you updated - thank you ladies and gentlemen for the advice, solutions and encouragement.

JD101b

Yikes. Sorry things went that poorly.

Make sure EVERY rust problem is found beforehand. Mercedes WILL NOT fix these problems a second time around. If you have to, pay a mechanic or body shop guy to examine every inch of this car to locate any potential issues.

C2 Turbo

Never trust any dealership, new or used, no matter how fancy the marque is. At the end of the day, they are all friggen salesmen and tehy would sell a car to their parents aat a steep discount and yet make money on them Xuck them all.

GuyV

Now bbb, Yelp, cars.com, dealerrater, MD AG complaint filed, and I was dealing directly with MBUSA. All that said - life is not fair. MBUSA called today to say they will not support my claim of assistance for poor manufacturing procedures being the cause of the rust spots on my 2014 G550. They extended a 300.00 Mercedes credit- not to be used for parts.
The maintenance bill at our local MB dealership was 2100$. Two tires due to a deep cut, spark plugs, serpentine belt, oil/ filter change- I can stomach this. When you buy a preowned you normally have some tweaks upon delivery. In addition though I drove the car to the body shop after I picked it up at the dealership- 4500$ to start- might be less but that could be worst case. I was naively expecting the best or nothing from this MB dealership what I got was a used car in need of both maintenance and body work. I wish it was different but life’s not fair.
EURO MOTORCARS GERMANTOWN MD-not living up to the best or nothing.

any ideas ladies and gentlemen?

JD101b

Yes. Class action lawsuit against MBUSA.

Also, consider contacting your state AG regarding the dealership.

streborx

Take it to a MB dealership and trade it for a new GLB - let the nightmare belong to someone else.

JD101b

MBUSA and the dealer screwed him. He shouldn't have to sell his car to remedy the situation.

streborx

Dumping the truck is the easiest way to deal with rust.

JD101b

Like all of us, OP has a strong affinity for the G-class. He should be able to own a relatively new example from a marque that literally bills itself as "the best or nothing" without needing to deal with $4500 in rust repairs.

OP will have to disclose the rust issues to the buying party - it would be immoral not to. That means he is going to take a big hit on the vehicles value. Maybe G-prices keep going up and if he holds on to it for a bit he can recoup the lost value due to rust. Either way, he doesn't get to enjoy a certified vehicle from (I cannot stress this enough) a manufacturer with the slogan "the best or nothing" rust on a 4 year old, $160,000 car is inexcusable.

streborx

I totally agree - it just burns me that no one can be trusted any longer. Everyone seems to be trying to screw the next guy. And if you can afford to buy a $160K vehicle, you deserve to be really screwed.

C2 Turbo

Refer them ****ers to this website. Tell them you are being very polite as most enthusiats knows that you all are firggen vultures. That is why I try to make at least $3000 refundable deposit and if I go ahead and buy the vehicle, I leave that deposit there in case If I am dealing with jerks like this dealership.

Trust me, brand name dealerships are the most notorious of them all. This is how they make money selling compromised cars to people least expeting these issues.

Profit is, spend less and sell high, simple as that.

For the same very reason, I don't buy their CPO program either which is a friggen joke.

streborx

This experience certainly illustrates cause to dealer finance a used vehicle, even if you can pay cash. If the vehicle turns out a dud, stop payments and let the repo guy tow it away at 2:00 a.m. If all is OK after 6 months, pay off the balance.

C2 Turbo

Would that not go against your credit?

streborx

When you can pay cash for a $150K vehicle, who needs credit?

C2 Turbo

Got it. Didn't know a 2014 G550 was $150K ?

JD101b

lol

JD101b

I think it was $125ish new. With options, taxes, etc. It would have been getting close to $150.

Doesn't matter though. A $10k shouldn't be rusting after four years/40k miles. A "best or nothing" Mercedes sure as hell shouldn't be either.