Mercedes E class MOT failure <sob>

footman

footman

footman

Soldato
Joined
21 Oct 2002
Posts
4,286
Just had a failure on my 12 year old E class 220 CDi.
Repair immediately (major defects)
Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Nearside Rear (forward arm mount on subframe) [5.3.6 (a) (i) ]
Fellow at Kwikfit said that the tester described it as "a little hole"
I've got no idea what any of this means, I've contacted my Merc mechanic who visits at home for advice, just hoping it's not the death of my lovely old motor!
 
JonRGV250 said:
What he's failed it for "Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Nearside Rear (forward arm mount on subframe) [5.3.6 (a) (i) ]" would usually be a fail for within 30cm of mounting points ie where suspension components mount to the body of the car and not the subframe itself.
This would be for the subframe..

VCEssmD.png


If the subframe has corroded and holed, then Merc will replace it under warranty (I've failed loads of them when I worked for Mercedes and also where I work now).
This is one from a few months ago..

Q2H0cXu.jpg


The rear arm completely detatches itself from the subframe, giving interesting handling characteristics :eek:
Click to expand...
Thanks for that, very comprehensive. I've been doing some research this afternoon and it seems it's not going to be covered by any warranty. The Mercedes Anti-Corrosion Warranty only covers perforation originating inside the structure, ie the bodywork and does not appear to cover the subframe. Also that warranty only applies if every service has been carried out by a Merc main dealer, since 2020 mine have been carried out by a Mercedes approved workshop.

As @MadMan-JaMeS has suggested I'm going to have to make a goodwill request. Little did I know this is a well known problem with some models, in fact there is a class action law suit proceeding in the States right now. It seem that before the W212 E class the subframes were made of aluminium and from the W212 onwards were made of an inferior quality pressed steel from the Far East. I'm going to wait for my Merc mechanic to give it a thorough inspection before I tackle the Merc dealership. I don't know whether I should be driving it or not.
 
The report doesn't say it's dangerous "only" that it's major and needs immediate repair. I wish it were clearer although I don't want to drive it except to the dealership.
 
Hyburnate said:
Mines a 59 plate... I'm not that concerned if Mercedes say they'll sort it.

I probably won't keep it forever but it's more plugging a gap as a daily at the mo!
Click to expand...
I'm less concerned now about Mercedes sorting it out than I was this morning but I would like to get an independent opinion about the state of the subframe before I take it to the dealership.
 
adam cool dude said:
I thought Mercedes Benz was meant to be a premium car brand but has Mazda levels of rust on their cars. Not a good showing really.
Click to expand...
They have cut corners with this and it's bitten them on the backside as far as reputation goes.
I'm off now to get an independent inspection before I throw myself at the mercy of Mercedes Basingstoke :D
 
Got the result I wanted without having to grovel to the Merc dealer, took the car to the people who look after our motorhome in Camberley. Their engineer had a good look underneath and pronounced it to be a small and easy weld repair, had a look around and said everything else seemed fine. A couple of hours work, £200 and he said he'll get it MOT'd as well.
Interestingly, he said that MOT engineers would not allow by law a dangerous vehicle to be driven away from the test site.
 
jpaul said:
you looked at subframe too ? - wouldn't you take it to Mercedes, nonetheless, even if they suggest you are crying wolf.
(I had an ageing rear trailing arm bush shift on a bmw which was not fun)
Click to expand...
Yes, following further advice from our independent Merc engineer I am going to take it back to Mercedes Basingstoke. If I get an independent repair then they will refuse to carry out any goodwill work should other problems occur further down the line.
 
@JonRGV250 I'm taking it into Mercedes Farnborough next Tuesday and I'll try to avoid flinging myself on the floor sobbing :D.
Seriously, I've been doing a lot of reading about this issue on various UK Merc forums so I'll be very softly softly in my approach.
I'll keep you posted, it could go either way.
 
Last edited:
JonRGV250 said:
Best of luck, but I'm fairly sure they'll sort it for you.
Fingers crossed :)
Click to expand...
Took the car into Mercedes Farnborough today who carried out a thorough inspection and provided a nice video. Without any prompting by me they said they would be contacting Mercedes Germany immediately and I should hear within 48 hours.
He also said that they have approved all previous submissions bar one. Interesting that are bypassing MB UK. In the meantime I am having the subframe welded in order to pass the MOT.
So it's still fingers crossed but I'm slightly more optimistic.
 
MadMan-JaMeS said:
When is the MOT ?

I would be careful welding it, and wait till MB replace it if you can.

Never know they might try and wriggle out of it, if you have it welded saying it voids the warranty or some rubbish.
Click to expand...
MOT expires on 11th January. I expect to hear back from Mercedes
Farnborough in the next couple of days, if the result is positive for me but there is a significant delay in the work being done I will clear it with them first if I want to get it welded to get an MOT.
I don't think that warranty comes into the equation, in fact I've been told to avoid mentioning that word but to use the term goodwill instead.
 
Last edited:
JonRGV250 said:
Hurrah!
Good news.

I spoke to a customer on Friday who’d had his replaced after I failed it on his MOT, and although Merc replaced the subframe for free, they did charge him nearly £300 for bolts etc, which is something I’ve never heard of before.
Click to expand...
I've heard about them trying all sorts of tricks so I'll be wary of that. I'm now trying to negotiate a courtesy car, pigs might fly!
 
rumple9 said:
I had same problem on my merc last MOT last february. Cost me £650 at a local garage
Incidentally in last week when I get out of the car I notice a burning smell (a bit like the burnt clutch smell) although it's automatic
Click to expand...
It's a shame that you had to spend so much when possibly it could have been fixed by Mercedes at no cost to you.
 
Mercedes Farnborough have declined to provide me with a courtesy car, they said that if the car had been serviced by them the corrosion might have been spotted earlier.
I could argue with the logic of that but decided to accept the decision without comment.
The car now cannot be driven until the parts arrive as the MOT has expired so I asked if my local engineer could weld the subframe and get the car MOT'd but they said that they would refuse to replace the subframe if I did that as the old subframe has to be returned to Germany for inspection, I'm not sure if I believe that but kept quiet as they hold all the cards..
 
Phone call from Mercedes Farnborough this morning, subframe has arrived from Germany so it's going in today awaiting a free slot in the workshop. I am going to have to pay around £240 for nuts and bolts, not overjoyed about that but I'm not making an issue over it, just want my motor back! They'll also MOT it.
 
Well the saga is now over, the new subframe has been fitted and I collected the car this morning. The bill for the "extras" came to £180 for nuts and bolts but also included a new MOT so I'm not complaining.
Compared to some other peoples experiences I'm quite satisfied in the way Mercedes Farnborough service people handled the whole issue while Mercedes themselves need a kick up the backside for being cheapskates and using sub-standard pressed steel for their subframes instead of the more expensive aluminium ones they used to fit.
Thanks to all on here who have made comments that have been useful to me.
 
JonRGV250 said:
Hundreds is not even close to how many are out there, and they're starting to rear their heads now with age.
I've lost count of how many I've seen, and I'm just one person.
Click to expand...
www.classaction.org

‘Too Dangerous to Drive’: 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz Models Plagued by Rear Subframe Rust Defect, Class Action Says

A proposed class action alleges a number of 2010-2022 model year Mercedes-Benz vehicles have subframes that can prematurely rust or corrode “from the inside out."
www.classaction.org www.classaction.org
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom