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Merked men
I have some experience of the Mercedes Mobilo 30 year body warranty. In 2004 I bought privately a low mileage 1999 Mercedes S500 (W220), made in the dark days of MB quality control. It was silver, which was the main problem colour, and its paint basically fell off, along the door bottoms, front wings and boot lid. In my two years of ownership, the car was resprayed by MB three times and had a new boot lid.
There was no visible rust, except along the inside edge of the boot lid where the skin wraps under. Following the last repaint, needless to say I got rid. The point is, this car only had a 3-year body warranty. I think the Mobilo 30 year agreement didn't start until 2001 (I had a 320 SLK on a 51 plate which had the 30 year cover). Mercedes unofficially extended this 3 year period up to 8 years for cars with full MBSH. I was told this both by the body shop manager and also a friend in the trade who has a paint shop.
Mercedes were so inundated with this type of work they were farming jobs out to independents like my pal. From my personal experience MB Sheffield bent over backwards to rectify my problems, obviously with agreement from Mercedes. Pity they weren't making better quality cars around this time as the problems I had with the air suspension make another (very expensive) story!
There was no visible rust, except along the inside edge of the boot lid where the skin wraps under. Following the last repaint, needless to say I got rid. The point is, this car only had a 3-year body warranty. I think the Mobilo 30 year agreement didn't start until 2001 (I had a 320 SLK on a 51 plate which had the 30 year cover). Mercedes unofficially extended this 3 year period up to 8 years for cars with full MBSH. I was told this both by the body shop manager and also a friend in the trade who has a paint shop.
Mercedes were so inundated with this type of work they were farming jobs out to independents like my pal. From my personal experience MB Sheffield bent over backwards to rectify my problems, obviously with agreement from Mercedes. Pity they weren't making better quality cars around this time as the problems I had with the air suspension make another (very expensive) story!
Asked on 21 January 2010 by BN, via email
Answered by
Honest John
Another reader supplied this: "1) M-B 30-year rust warranty is based on the vehicle's being maintained correctly and exclusively by M-B service places. This was upheld in Germany's top court as a legitimate ploy to get customers to pay for M-B in house servicing. I believe this started in 1998, and owners need to check their paperwork to ensure they are (or are not) covered."
I think he's right about Mobilo starting in 1998. Other readers have confirmed this. Your 1999 S Class might not have been covered for some other reason. Your point that MB extended the 3-year warranty to 8 years also rings true from what other readers have written. It’s confusing, but the fact remains that MB is not fixing cars more than 8 years old.
I think he's right about Mobilo starting in 1998. Other readers have confirmed this. Your 1999 S Class might not have been covered for some other reason. Your point that MB extended the 3-year warranty to 8 years also rings true from what other readers have written. It’s confusing, but the fact remains that MB is not fixing cars more than 8 years old.
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