That is very helpful, do you know where I can find similar information for my V class Viano?
Most models are 2003 onwards. You could assume that or contact Customer Service via the MB website.
As MTI says earlier models had a rust proofing dip and other measures which in my experience worked really well. My cousin has an E class over twenty years old and no visible rust. But then came health and safety and environmental concerns which demanded water based paints. These are not inherently waterproof and it is the lacquer used as a topcoat that prevents water ingress. Hence stone chips and scratches must be attended to, as once the lacquered surface is broken water can be absorbed by the water-based paint.
I am not an expert but galvanising does seem to be accepted as the best rust prevention process especially now water based paints are pretty universal. Other threads suggest BMW moved to galvanising in 2004, but maybe someone else has more details.
Check out the orange-peel on this brand new £65,000GBP CLK63 AMG:
Pretty shameful, i'd be pissed if it were my car.
With many German marques, the range-topping cars (Audi A8, BMW 7-Series) usually have superior paint to the others, never any 'orange peel'.
Can the same be said for the S & SL-Class?
BTW, Porsche have been Galvanising since 1977.
The orange peel is because modern environmental regs have forced them (and everybody) into water based paints. It takes A LOT of handwork to get that level of orange peel out of modern paint.
If own a 1986 fully galvanized 300e. I believe that was the first Mercedes to be fully galvanized. I do know it it 21 years old in the same family for 17 and the car has almost NO rust. It will last around 40-60 years my guess. Here are some pictures of a 500e that sure odes interest me. Look at the paint! Mine has been repainted due to chips and dull not rust. I will take years for the confidence is back in this brand. A friend of mine owns a new SL and was embarrassed when it was pointed out how bad his paint was.
If own a 1986 fully galvanized 300e. I believe that was the first Mercedes to be fully galvanized. I do know it it 21 years old in the same family for 17 and the car has almost NO rust. It will last around 40-60 years my guess. Here are some pictures of a 500e that sure odes interest me. Look at the paint! Mine has been repainted due to chips and dull not rust. I will take years for the confidence is back in this brand. A friend of mine owns a new SL and was embarrassed when it was pointed out how bad his paint was.
Well, had another thought on this galvanizing issue. The paint on my W221 is like typical for current cars but I'm sure it isn't galvanized on any visible part (not sure about the roof), the point being that the visible parts are all aluminium, or plastic (what ever bumpers etc. are).
The comment earlier about water soluble paint seems to be the reason as claimed earlier. This being the case, you cannot expect "the quality to come back" as this is forced by today's environmental rules.
A typical case where it simply is not fair to compare old models with new ones.
I just fixed a few rust spots on my ml and I'm surprised at how rust resistant the sheet metals were. Mind you, this ML's been driven in NY since 02, and there's been alot if snow/rain in the past few years(well, not this year). I had a few dings and long scrapes that exposed bare metal, but I just painted over with touch up paint. 3 years later, paint flaked off and rust started showing up. I just left them alone as I was going to give my car a fresh coat in the future. Another year, and rust spots started getting red and real rusty, so I sanded off the surrounding areas, expecting to see rust under the paint. To my surprise, the rust didn't even spread beyond the exposed area. There is no rust anywhere else on the car.
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