2000 Mercedes-Benz CL CL500 from UK and Ireland - Comments

When the car was 12 months old I noticed that rust had appeared on the driver's rear quarter panel. The dealers resprayed it without an argument. Two years later rust has re-appeared on both rear quarter panels. The dealers have offered to respray the panels again without any argument. I demanded that the defective panels are replaced. They had to consult with Mercedes Customer Services, who have refused to replace them.

The car is a disgrace to the 3 pointed star marque. What is even more disgraceful is the arrogance of the people at the head office of Daimler Chrysler U.K. they didn't even bother to come and inspect the vehicle. I have been driving top of the range Mercedes for nearly 25 years and to be treated in this manner is astonishing.

I have been left no option but to issue proceedings against Daimler Chrysler.

After that the car will be displayed in all it's rusty glory outside a Mercedes dealership in Manchester advertising the problem.

To fit a new quarter panel is serious surgery and would result in far worse problems than minor corrosion.

I'm afraid that your experience is typical for recent model Mercedes cars - cars affected included Cs, Es, CLs and CLKs. A switch to water-based paint around 2000 and an insane attempt to improve falling profit margins by reducing paint specs to just 100 microns (250 would be appropriate for a decent car) has caused enormous problems for MB - or more accurately, for owners of its poorly built cars.

Initially, the firm quietly undertook to replace entire panels, but during 2004, there was a switch of policy to a quick shot-blast and 'blow-over' with paint. Dealers are allowed just a couple of hours labour + materials for each panel, so MB's spend per rusty panel is probably around £50.00. Nice savings for MB, and a guarantee of further rot in future for the hapless owner.

Of course, many of us have 30 year perforation warranties on our cars. Sadly, this is of little help. For starters, most MB rust is due to the appalling paint quality - rust rarely starts from the inside, so there is often no 'perforation' at all, just a spreading eyesore of flaking, disintegrating paint. This allows MB to duck its responsibilities at any time it chooses. Most rust repairs being conducted by MB at present are 'goodwill' repairs.

In any event, miss just one dealer service and your 30 year warranty is void.

The result, of course, is that residuals on MB cars are now very poor. I was offered just £8,500 by an MB dealer for my July 2000 E-class estate - original list around £48k. This is the worst depreciation figure I have ever seen for any car, regardless of make or model.

How sad it is to see a 'quality' carmaker lose its way so quickly.

Smart car anyone?

We also have a Mercedes car (E Class Avangarde, 2 years old) with rust problems. Initially it was only the boot lid, but problem now spreading. We have tried to trade this in, but Audi and BMW dealers are not interested as they know of the rust problems. We are seriously considering contacting BBC's Watchdog to ask if they would investigate as maybe their viewers with Mercedes are experiencing similar problems.

I am a new Mercedes owner last 12 months and the customer service experience I have had is the poorest in over 20 years of car ownership.

I bought my E class thinking I would get exceptional service not the case.

- Faulty brake re-fit, damaged alloys, dent in car door and getting car back dirty from services, not being kept informed of service status and when car ready. I have to chase them constantly. My service from Volvo was fantastic for last 10 years, feel I made a big mistake changing Marque.

I find these comments very interesting.

I was considering buying a Mercedes again as it's 20 years since I last owned an S-Class, but I think I'll stick with BMW. I've owned four BMW's, three of them V12's and have had no real problems, mainly just routine maintenance.

A friend just traded his 2-year old E-Class for an Audi A6 and is delighted with it.

Paint flaking is what you expect from the very cheapest of cars. And then, only after a few years, not 12 months.

I work for a mercedes approved bodyshop as a paint sprayer. the E-Class models and CL coupes are the main rust problems. the clk coupes and convertibles also rust. This really has to be seen to be believed. I own a mk3 fiesta which are well known rusters, but some of these £60+ cars have more rust than mine! when we repair it really is a bodge, just sand out the rust and paint over it. then wait for it to come back!! :D.

Interesting Comments,

I came across this site because of recent problems I am having with my A-Class.

My engine has blown at 49K and the car was brought new from Mercedes, serviced at every interval and the last service was at 46K. To add every recommended service option was carried out (my last service cost me £940!). Well, after paying for 12 hours of diagnostic, the warranty department is refusing to carry out the repair for a new engine. Problem: Engine cam belt gone and all valves are damages (inside the engine! -non serviceable parts which show last the lifespan of the car).

Anyone in the Uk can proceed to legal aspect as it violates the Trades and Goods Description Act. Even though it is out of warrant who would expect a 1 owner full MB service history Mercedes to die at 49K?

I am using my home content insurance (Norwich union) has they cover my legal costs for consumer issues. The customer service is pathetic and I believe this is due to the new "Mercedes Benz" conversion to "Mercedes Benz direct". I have owned countless MB cars and am disappointed about how they are treating their customers.

If anyone can help, know of any ideas or even has details for their head-office location (situated in London-m25), please post here.

Thanks

I live in US and my 2000 S430 has over $10,000 of rust damage. Both fenders, all four doors and rear deck lid all need to be replaced. I attempted to work with MB for the last two years. Finally I had to file a claim alleging among other things, concealment, fraud, deceptive adverstising. This is just not rust, this is corrosion damage causing the paint to bubble up. Underneath the metal is ruined and corroded. Please email me if you know what happen to any claims against MB. Thanks, my email is jim_winkelmann@yahoo.com.

I work for a MB Dealer as a Bodyshop Manager and am sorry for all you MB owners as I have yet to see a model that does not rust the new SL's (WDB230) as-well!!!

Thanks for the information. I was looking to buy at a 2001 CL, but now I think I'll pass. I have a 1997 Audi A8 with over 100,000 miles. It has had no major problems other than wear and tear. It also has spent most of its life in the Rocky Mountains where roads are salted and it has no rust. Then again it is aluminum alloy. I think I'll stick with Audi. Thanks.

I am the general sales manager of a small multi franchise car dealership and I have the miss fortune of owning an E class MB. I purchased the car when two years old with amazing service history, continued with MB service for a short time then realised that the quality of the workmanship for the price charged was rediculous so I used my own workshop facilities, but with genuine MB parts.

In the late summer of 2005 I found various panels on the car suffering from what can only be described as rot so I rang my local dealer only to be told, with a hint of superiority and sarcasm, "without our stamps in the book youv'e no chance".

At this point I thought I might have only found some one having a bad day so I thought a call to MB customer services may help. Nope, two calls later I am still waiting for Mr Mystery to call me back.

To add insult to injury my brother in law who owns a C class is booked in to have new panel fitted under MB anti perf in January and his car also does not have MB history.

The franchies that I control are Korean, Italian and Japanese and I guess that cost new you could get one of each for the price of one new E class, but I doubt if you would not see a rusty K I or J franchised car in my stock and if you did the manufacturer would bust a gut to sort it out!

I can't do much to improve matters, but I think that I may instruct my staff that we no longer accept MB product on our premises.

MB its your call!!

I purchased a MB C200 in August 2005. I have never received such poor service in my life. My car has gone in for a service and they are advising me I need 3 new tyres, brake fluid etc etc etc and this will cost me over £1,000 I have only had the car for 6 months! I had a BMW for over 5 years and changing to MB has been the worst mistake of my life. I also agree that having spoken to the head office they are not interested: I have advised anyone I speak to never to purchase a MB!

I own a Eclass estate 51 plate (2001) a car I have wanted to own all my life, one month ago after a small bump with a bus my local MB dealer came to give me a costing for the repair. After looking at the damage he said would I mind if he checks the rest of the car for rust! After 2 minutes my world got dark, very dark, All four wings have rust, the back tail gate, the sub frame under the engine, I could not believe it, never have any of my vw golfs had rust like this.

I decided to get shot of this car as soon as the repair was done and buy another golf, so I went to two local garages for a trade in only to be told "Eclass merc no thanks they are all full of rust " not even a offer!

I then went to Garage number three and he offered £9000!

The car is in the garage getting the work done and I have asked for all rusted parts to be replaced and the car to be totally repainted, I am am contact with mb head office, but as yet no response.

PS the car was due to be finished on 7th april only to get a call to say the rust is worse than they thought, but it will be ready on the 11th, last night I called them only to be told it had not been painted yet!

My email address is alexphotographer@hotmail.com if anyone would like to contact me please feel free.

Sadly all very true. I went to a car auction in the U.K. to look for an E Class for someone. We found four cars between 1997 and 2000. Every single one had severe corrosion in the front wings, and one would have needed a new rear arch. Absolute rubbish. They're not even very good to drive, and the interior trim quality is pretty grim.

I recently disposed of an A Class for someone and the buyer from the MB dealership that bought it said they wouldn't touch anything over 3 years and 30'000 miles. Ironically the A Class appears to resist corrosion better than the bigger cars!

When one can find any number of rust free 1998 Mondeos, Focuses and Peugeots, you have to tell yourself that Mercs are just crap. Very sad when you think of what MB once stood for.

Mercedes appear to be in big, big trouble (it has become a national scandal in Germany it appears) and the rust problem reminds me of Alfa Romeo and Lancia in the seventies.

In Norway and I also think the same applies in Sweden. They have agreed to fix cars for eight years after the first registration date and you don't have to have a full service history. They have been pushed by Scandinavian car associations to do that. The only tings they do not fix are rust due to stone chips, but you can try to find spots that are not that and show them that instead. On my 2000 E model they have replaced all doors/ front panels and fixed the hood, roof and rear door.