2k2s430

Well I was just washing my car when I noticed a yellow spot on my the lower right corner of my door. I thought it may have been sap. I look closer and yup rust so I was like agghhhh no big deal I have some touch up paint so I take small piece of very fine sand paper to clean out the wound and woooohhooooooo good times I get a sliver of paint about 1/4 of an inch wide and about 3 inches long. Rthe funny thing is that there really is no surface rust but guess what .........more of the paint wants to flake off in the same manner. I e-mailed the dealer and I am going to try the rust campaign deal. Has it really worked for anyone here in the U.S.?

fusion2007

yes do a search on in the forum i created a thread about this

2k2s430

Fusion I was wondering if there was official MBUSA documentation involved. I am concerned because my local dealer opened less than a year ago and may not be aware of such campaigns. I have already shot an e-mail to the dealership and to MBUSA so I will see how far that will get me. Hopefully I am lucky. I am concerned how they will treat since I believe I am a few months out of warranty.

bamberger_1

Don't let them (DC) send you back home w/o fixing the issue. I had the same thing in Germany. I ended up to get an almost 100% paint job for the car. It started at the bottom of the doors, (under the rubber lip), and behind the plastic doorsills.... and after 2 days of further inspection:

Around the sunroof frame
both front & rear fendors
behind the license plateholder
in the windscreen frame
wheel wells

All was fixed under warranty, plus a C-class loaner. It took 2 weeks!

2k2s430

So far MBUSA hasn't responded favorably they told me the issue was addressed and thatthe campaign was closed on April 25, 2005.

fusion2007

yes there is its a campain.. the thread has all the info in it

2k2s430

Well I just came back from the dealership and the service manager will see what he can do. I got the feeling that they are going to try to stick it to me. I will search the forum I remeber that this topic has been discussed but we will see what happens with my case.

2k2s430

Update......the service manager at the dealership called MBUSA and they told him the same thing they told me. There was a campaign and it is closed. So he sent me to a bodyshop to get an estimate for the repair. The body shop will contact us as soon as they have the estimate ready. While at the body shop the estimator found a few more bubbles. The service advisor gives me the feeling that nothing is going to be done. We will wait and see.

bamberger_1

I don't know how this is handled in the USA, but in Germany there is no closing on any campaign concerning the corrossion of these cars. It is a known fact that there is a problem, but it has to be addressed by the customer. (MB will not necessarily address it during a regular service job) But especially the doors, fendors, sun roof frame, windscreen frame and door sills are an issue which will be fixed no matter how old the car is, as long it has been serviced by the authorized dealership at least once within 24 months.
The dealers even had to seal all the seams of doors and trunk lid etc. as soon as the car showed up for a service. This was an order from the HQ. So don't let them fool you, stay tough and get in touch with MBUSA directly. The issue is that the dealer has to get approval form HQ and a lot of paper work has to be done, and many of the smaller dealers hesitate to do this, since they only get "internal" cost refunded no margin on it. I would even refuse to personally get in contact with a paint shop. If the dealer has no own paint shop, so let them go and get the estimate. I have recently seen a S500 from 1998 getting a almost 100% paint job due to corrossion for free by the local dealer's paint shop, so there is not limit. Finally you still have the anti corrossion warranty with the car which lasts for 30 years.

myfirstbenz

Wow, I wish my TE was covered under this recall, I have the typical rear window rust. MBUSA sucks *****.

2k2s430

Thanks Bamberger I don't plan on letting them steam roll me. When I spoke to MBUSA they were of no help and told if the dealership wanted to paint itwas up to the dealership. I said well the dealership didn't manufacture the car so why should it be up to them whether or not it is painted. The service manager at the dealership is being very professional. I get the feeling that he may not be showing all of his cards so to speak. I like the fact that he has made no promises and has not gotten my hopes up or down. I liked the fact that when I went to the bodyshop they actually knew about the paint bubbling campaign, and actually told me that the service manager has been very successful in getting cars repaired for this very issue. Currently I am takin the civil approach I will see how the situation plays out. I will keep everyone posted.

2k2s430

Well I received word today that Mercedes is going to pay for the paint repairs on my car. Apparently the service manager had to have Germany approve the work. So I am happy that they are going take car os this issue.