TiMerc

Folks, I am not new to the forum but only recently rejoined Mercedes ownership since moving to Canada (Calgary). I bought a CPO 2018 GLS450 with lowish miles (50,000 kms) in April 2022, and while carefully drying the car after a wash today (shout out to rapid dry towels etc) I noticed - shock horror in the year 2023 - lots of little rust spots across all four doors and across all four wheel arch extensions (honestly, I assumed the extensions were plastic). I can also see rust on inside of the fuel hatch.

This seems pretty odd to me. I've not yet gone back to the dealer - I am wondering about getting an independent assessment first. But wanted to check in here if there is some known issue or anything like that? Or if anyone can point me to threads in the archive? (apologies for being lazy but rudimentary google searches didn't turn up anything other than some bloke with an apparently isolated rust incident with his X166 rear hatch).

I am completely astonished to be honest. Maybe I should not be? We had planned to buy another Mercedes for our second car but now I am worried I'll have to buy a bloody Lexus or something.

Any thoughts appreciated.

chassis

Doesn't sound right. Can you post photos?

JD101b

Could you post photos? This seems awfully strange.

tekfoc

Sounds like iron deposit from the road .
Get some ironX it'll easily remove the contaminants.

W205C43PFL

This is highly possible... OP, as suggested use that or any fallout remover. The rust is probably from the road as mentioned or brake dust that landed on your paint's surface and then that rusted.