E Class corroded subframe

ofcork

Expensive though for a few minor things.

Squatman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122065975#Comment_122065975

thanks for this oh great one. minor work to me doesnt constitue a 900 euro bill

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122075889#Comment_122075889

It does when you go to a main dealer

NickNickleby

I kept mine long enough to bring it for a service. Out to main dealer, "while you're at it, will you correct the aim on the windscreen washer jets?".

This job requires a specific tool. I would imagine 30 seconds on each.

A year later, getting shot of it, I reviewed my service documents and lo and behold I see a line on the last one :

Windscreen Washer Adjustment €24, to which was added VAT.

I'd imagine €900 wouldn't go very far at all.

Squatman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122076720#Comment_122076720

a fool and his money is easy parted :P

Squatman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122075904#Comment_122075904

not to me it doesnt.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081789#Comment_122081789

Go price something as simple as 2 shocks or 2 wishbones for an E Class at a main dealer and let me know how you get on.

Squatman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081850#Comment_122081850

shocks arent "minor things" i dont think anyone would consider relacing the suspension system as minor activity. but you make up examples to satisify your perception of another posters example if it pleases you. goodmabe luser1988

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122090321#Comment_122090321

I don’t really care what you consider to be minor. But I can give you another example if you like. My mother was quoted over €1,500 to replace two wishbones in the main dealer. I went to the motor factors for her and bought a pair of them for €160 and had them fitted for another €100 or so. Is that minor enough for you? Or do you want to give me some real world examples that you’ve experienced?

Odelay

I was quoted €2000 for disks and pads. Got them done with local mechanic for €500. I’d consider that to be minor work.

Odelay

When you respond with name calling you’re losing….

Odelay

Anyone have a mysterious coolant leak on these? Definitely not a head gasket, so slight i cant see where its going.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122220909#Comment_122220909

Its usually leaks around the fuel filter housing. Very common problem on the 2.1 engine.

p molo

My Mercedes-Benz failed the NCT and has been taken off the road for being deemed dangerous. The issue is due to corrosion on the subframe, which Mercedes-Benz is legally required to replace. However, Mercedes Ireland has informed me that it will take six months to replace the subframe. Since I need my car for work, what should I do in the meantime????

Is this a MB scam??? Delaying tactics

they have a 30 year rust warranty

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122287206#Comment_122287206

Have a read of the thread, its been discussed multiple times

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122287206#Comment_122287206

They are taking the piss with the time frame primarily to avoid doing the repairs imo.

Get an aftermarket subframe fitted at your own cost and let mercedes still it up their ass.

galwaytt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122090360#Comment_122090360

and there you have it. You bought aftermarket/spurious parts. Nothign wrong with that in itself, but thinking buying OEM in the dealer and 3rd Party in a Factors is going to be comparable is just………. daft.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122302614#Comment_122302614

Ah you again, your only 2 months late this time.

The point I made was that €900 is fairly normal for routine maintenance or minor work if you go to a main dealers. Would you not agree? And If you go to an independent mechanic (or the motor factors) you will only pay a fraction of the cost. Not everyone wants or needs OEM parts on their 10 year old rusty C Class

Citizen Six

Does anyone know if this corroded sub frame issue was ever resolved in later W212 models? Or do they all suffer the same problem?

I believe the warranty was extended in the UK for this, but was similar applied here, or do they not bother, as we are a smaller country?

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122076720#Comment_122076720

I recall about 10 years ago bringing my Merc to a Merc dealer for its first service after buying it secondhand - they charged about 10 euro for filling up the screen wash

galwaytt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122302775#Comment_122302775

I agree certainly that €900 is a lot for anything. Btdt, have the invoice(s)…..and for higher too…

If you look at the costs per hour of the local Indy vs the Main Dealer, there is a difference, certainly. Think €65/hr versus €125/hr.

So, in a 2-hour job, that's a difference of €120. Taking your €900, all other things being equal, that could reduce the bill to €720. Still a big bill.

So, the balance is parts. And that's the veritable 'how much is a head gasket for a blue van' scenario.

Last year I need a new sensor for my M-B, and was quoted €600 odd by main dealer (supply-only). Only they couldn't get one, as they were on b/order. I had an NCT looming, so went for a 3rd Party one at €200.

That's when the trouble started. The firmware in the new part played havoc with various systems in the car (no, I don't get it either, but clearly it was interfering with the BUS). I got 'System Assist' and various safety system errors. I coudln't switch on main beams (dips only). Cruise control wouldn't work. After several visits to the Indy (chargeable), I relented and went on the waiting list for the OE part from the dealer.

The OE part plug & played, all errors cleared, and it's been perfect since.

So, eventually, I'm down the €200 for the spurious part, 2 x rounds of labour to fit/fix, and I still ended up buying the top-dollar OE part. Whatever way you look at it, it would have been cheaper to skip the 3rd Party steps.

Sometimes it will work in your favour, and sometimes it won't. But you can't always make an assumption that the Dealer option - whilst still a big number - isn't actually ultimately more expensive. You have to look at each job on it's merits and you have to be comparing Apples with Apples.

My 0.02.

Core6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122305804#Comment_122305804

I don't think it was ever resolved on the W212.

I know the problem was there from the first of the W212, W204 and other models and probably there to the end.

I have heard that one in three cars suffered from the problem.

I had a W204 and a W212 that both suffered from it.

MB replaced both with no charge. I twas a slow process as subframes were in short supply.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122310658#Comment_122310658

Thanks. Had it on a 2010 212 and got it replaced. Family member just buying a 2015 212 and thinks it won’t be an issue, as it was just a bad batch on the earlier ones. He’s not even bothering to get it checked.

Core6

He might be right but I would definitely get it checked if I was him. That said, it isn't easy to see until it is badly rusted.

Both my cars that needed the subframe replaced were late 2011 models.

Mercedes replaced them for free but I was without each the cars for months - fortunately the problems surfaced about a year apart so at least one was on the road at all times.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122306635#Comment_122306635

That sounds like they've coded something to the part to force you to use MB parts. Though tbh a quick Google suggests theres all sorts of version incompatibilities with genuine MB parts as well. Perhaps there was the same version issue..

p molo

MB guaranteed x 30 years rust free!!

Squatman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122311411#Comment_122311411

you would be more like 6 months without a car now due to what im told is "parts availability". Its great that MB are standing over this, however its scandalous that this safety concern wasnt a forced recall, as it was in the UK. So in the case of my car, which was a UK import, had it stayed in the UK, it would have been reacalled before the seriuos corrosion that failed the NCT.

Hotblack Desiato

Only a matter of time before someone loses their life because of an issue like this and an Irish importer gets sued into oblivion for their negligence.

Blut2

Has anyone gone through this process recently?

I'm wondering if the wait times have gotten better as the years have gone on. Presumably/hopefully the numbers requiring fixing in MB dealerships has gone down a bit.

JL61

I had my W212 done under warranty 2yrs ago. Main dealers get 80% of the hourly rate for warranty repairs and it keeps workshops busy. After the initial inspection fee by the main dealer the process was seamless, all done within 28 days. Other signs of heavy corrosion now visible on the main chassis, not the subframe.