After the problem with my rear differential requiring a complete new rear axle and a 4 week wait I had hoped that was the end of my problems....
However after looking round the car today I noticed some paint imperfections on the drivers side front wing. It's were the panel meets the bonnet (Hood) and looks like corrosion from the inside coming through the paint! Now I know it can't be that so think it must have been there from manufacture. Probably some sort of contamination on the panel before spraying. You can feel the imperfection if you run your finger over it and you can also see it if you're looking.
Any ideas on what I should do with regard to getting it replaced? I have several options:
1. Ask for the panel to be resprayed but that may lead to paint colour differences.
2. Ask for a complete new panel.
3. Ask for a complete new car considering the other problem I had and explain that I'm concerned there may be more issues with this particular vehicle.
4. Reject the car and ask for a full refund!
3 & 4 may be a bit extreme but I am seriously concerned this car may have other problems further down the line. The car has already been with the dealer for over 4 weeks and I've only had it since August!!
Option 1 seems the most realistic, depending on how much faith you have in the ability of the workshop. It's not just colour matching you have to worry about, but also the quality of their preparation and the finish achieved. Anything other than a factory-finished look is likely to affect resale value.
Not sure how replacing the wing would help (unless it really is corrosion coming through[:0]), as you would still need to have it prepped and painted.
As you say, options 3 & 4 seem extreme, though I can see why you're thinking that way. I think it's too late for 4, as you've already accepted some corrective work on the car (there was a test case on this involving Nissan back in the 1980s).
Asking for a replacement car may be your best bet, depending on how sympathetic your dealer is to your situation. At least that way you get to start again with a clean sheet. (I guess this would be a more straightforward process if we had something equivalent to the US "lemon" law).
Can you take a picture of it? Is it so visible that it would show in a photo?
Have you thought about using a claybar on this area, maybe it's just inperfections that make it look like that, and give it that weird rough feel (or whatever it is that you're feeling)?
But could very well be that the paint on that particular area is getting read to chip off, OR, it could be that someone has sprayed this part of your car with lighter fluid, resulting in a 'bubbly' surface. This part will probably be repainted if required, in any case, if you receive a new piece from MB, they'll send the piece unpainted to your dealer, and it's up to them to paint it the correct color.
Too bad it takes 4 weeks to deliver the piece. Over here it takes only a day or two to receive just about any piece since Zurich has a major MB depot with bits and pieces.
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New car: 2004 SLK 55 AMG, Iridium silver.
Additional: Chrome door lock pins, K&N Performance Filters, Piecha roof control module
Sold: 1998 SLK 230K, Linarite blue.
Brabus: Front spoiler, side skirts, rear apron, exhaust, gear shift + hand brake, 17" Monoblock IV, hubcaps/wheel locks, Aluminium doorlock pins, polished safety roll bars, Brabus logo
Digit-Power: 30bhp + 50nm torque
Additional: Chrome side indicator frames, Chrome SRS badges, CLK grill, Lorinser Wing, Rieger headlight covers
Thanks for the advice everyone. I will try and photograph the damage today but not sure if it will come out. Will be talking with the manager of the dealership today so fingers crossed we can resolve the issue.
The stubby aerial does work. The reason why I'm selling this one is that the dealer fitted it and left the one I had bought at the factory in the car! Hence I now have two stubby aerials! I found no change in the range for opening the doors etc. The only change was the radio reception. It wasn't good in my area with just the aerial. I had to get the amplifier kit installed as well. Reception now excellent. The aerial is the official MB one.
Hope that helps and here's the link for anyone who'e interested:
I tried a stubby one from ebay and the remote locking would only function if I was inches from the car . Is this one you sell any better ?
... remote locking works by IR, not RF so the aerial will not affect it one iota (the IR system is pretty cr@p anyway - you do have to stand very close to the door handle and totally still).
I tried a stubby one from ebay and the remote locking would only function if I was inches from the car . Is this one you sell any better ?
... remote locking works by IR, not RF so the aerial will not affect it one iota (the IR system is pretty cr@p anyway - you do have to stand very close to the door handle and totally still).
Uh, with due respect, no way. Surely remote locking has to work with RF: it will work no matter which direction one points the key, and will even work with the key in my pocket.
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Ron Jeffries
www.XProgramming.com
SLK350 Firemist/Beige
Linear Mode
