[Mad One]

I bought a Certified used 2011 E350 from a dealership in Maryland in 2014 and the car is a lemon. It has been serviced at the same dealership as purchased every 7-10k miles and currently has 80k. My brakes failed and I was just told the Subframe is Rusted Through. The car was serviced in November where the technician supposedly checked the entire car including brake lines and subframe.

They claim that the Rust must have happened in the last 9 months because the tech would have noticed it! REALLY???

We had no snow last year, so no salt on the roads and the car is garage kept. Sounds to me like MB isn't making cars like they used to! I checked my Subaru and they offer a 10-year corrosion warranty STANDARD! And the extended warranty that MB sold me won't cover the brake lines because of rust(sounds like Continental knows more about MB then me) "corrosion warranty"

Now I am stuck with a car that is "too dangerous to drive" and the dealership with its hand in my pocket. Any others out there with a similar problem?

 

[KentsCars]

Sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, the corrosion perforation warranty is the same as the car's original basic warranty: 48 months/50,000 miles. As for their claim that the rust issue must have occurred within the last 9 months is laughable and they know it. Sadly, I don't think that there is much recourse you have. But older Mercedes weren't any better. They rusted and fell apart like anything else. I had a super nice 300SEL that couldn't be put on a lift because it would break in half from all the rust, but you'd never know anything by just looking at it

 

[CetiAlpha5]

I usually get an under car wash a few times during the winter to get rid of rust, but you still get rust. MB tends to go overboard on the rust issue. A little surface rust and they freak out over it. Get a second opinion from an indy. Will probably last you several more years. I got an estimate of several thousand dollars to replace some steering lines because they were rusted 5 years ago. 5 years later everything is still fine. You're going to get a certain amount of surface rust. Have them show you the actual holes.

 

[tjts1]

You're in the wrong forum. W211 has aluminum subframes. W212 cheaper out with stamped steel.

 

[EFSiR]

I know it's frustrating but there are plenty of subframes on ebay. Cost is reasonable. Given that w212 are reliable, I'd get that fixed by sourcing all the parts, get indy to repaint the subframe and rust proof before installation. Believe it or not, hard brake lines are a DYI item... Regardless, it's upto you how you proceed.
About W211, it was a pleasant surprise for me to see so much chasis made of aluminum.

 

[DISBenz]

Does anyone have a quote on the sub frame replacement from an Indy?

 

[DISBenz]

Quite

 

[Derek814]

I bought a Certified used 2011 E350 from a dealership in Maryland in 2014 and the car is a lemon. It has been serviced at the same dealership as purchased every 7-10k miles and currently has 80k. My brakes failed and I was just told the Subframe is Rusted Through. The car was serviced in November where the technician supposedly checked the entire car including brake lines and subframe.

They claim that the Rust must have happened in the last 9 months because the tech would have noticed it! REALLY???

We had no snow last year, so no salt on the roads and the car is garage kept. Sounds to me like MB isn't making cars like they used to! I checked my Subaru and they offer a 10-year corrosion warranty STANDARD! And the extended warranty that MB sold me won't cover the brake lines because of rust(sounds like Continental knows more about MB then me) "corrosion warranty"

Now I am stuck with a car that is "too dangerous to drive" and the dealership with its hand in my pocket. Any others out there with a similar problem?

Hi I have a E220d salon 2012 that is less than 9 years old that has now failed the not for corrosive rear sub frame..I have checked other sites and people are asking for a recall..some dealers are repairing them free of charge.. 8 and half year old car and it's failure is very embarrassing for mercedes this is starting to circulate.so keep spreading the word

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Seems fairly common for W212s driven in winter climates with harsh chemicals and salts... Doesn't help, the front attachment point has a large gaping hole (not covered by the wheel well liner) and just sends water/salt into the subframe.

Any black "e-coat" parts on these cars just don't survive.... to bad, as my '95 E320 has about the same or less corrosion than our 2011.

Less paint, more environmentally friendly materials, poorer plating on hardware.... The one good thing is the full underbody shielding. If they combined that, with the hardware and finishes of the W124 era... you'd have a car go 20+ with minimal corrosion.

That said, how many people keep a car 10 years? Usually its the second owner complaining when they buy the car second hand and wants it to go another 10 years.

 

[FireFox31]

Did the major facelift improve this problem for 2014-2016 models?

 

[jjallenjr]

Does anyone have a quote on the sub frame replacement from an Indy?

My independent gave me an estimate of about $3,500. There is a lot of labor involved. Look at Utube to watch someone replacing a Mercedes rear sub frame. It is not for the faint of heart. I am still trying to determine whether of not to replace.

 

[strife2]

When I was buying my W212 I looked at a much better loaded car in Pennsylvania that had only a few more miles, for less money. A BIG RED FLAG on Carfax was that both of the rear springs were replaced. A little digging revealed why: they break from RUST. Those are also "E-coated" AFAIK. I figured that the frame wasn't far behind.

I bought my car from a PA dealer but the car was originally from NYC and they had underside pix on the selling website; looked pretty much like new. The original owner might have not driven it much in winter, never mind, at all. I congratulated the dealer for showing undercarriage pix, and he told me that no one in their right mind would spend more than 5K for a 8+ year old used car from PA without looking under it.

 

[CetiAlpha5]

When I was buying my W212 I looked at a much better loaded car in Pennsylvania that had only a few more miles, for less money. A BIG RED FLAG on Carfax was that both of the rear springs were replaced. A little digging revealed why: they break from RUST. Those are also "E-coated" AFAIK. I figured that the frame wasn't far behind.

I bought my car from a PA dealer but the car was originally from NYC and they had underside pix on the selling website; looked pretty much like new. The original owner might have not driven it much in winter, never mind, at all. I congratulated the dealer for showing undercarriage pix, and he told me that no one in their right mind would spend more than 5K for a 8+ year old used car from PA without looking under it.

Springs wear out from time. I also replaced my rear springs but not because of rust, they sagged and the tires wore funny and that was in the 100k+ range. There are stories of them breaking though, they just don't make them like the used to.

 

[Bdgarfinkle]

Hi I have a E220d salon 2012 that is less than 9 years old that has now failed the not for corrosive rear sub frame..I have checked other sites and people are asking for a recall..some dealers are repairing them free of charge.. 8 and half year old car and it's failure is very embarrassing for mercedes this is starting to circulate.so keep spreading the word

Mine just fails too! Only 73000 miles. Called MBUSA NO HELP! Say warranty only 4 years. I filed a complaint with NHSTA! Sad for a Benz
Tink

 

[ianrandom]

I don't know why they don't sort these things out properly when there's a problem.

 

[londoninkmarketing]

Does anyone have a quote on the sub frame replacement from an Indy?

My independent gave me an estimate of about $3,500. There is a lot of labor involved. Look at Utube to watch someone replacing a Mercedes rear sub frame. It is not for the faint of heart. I am still trying to determine whether of not to replace.

FWIW, My dealer quoted $3,600 and a 10% courtesy discount.

 

[Fluteguy]

Was this still a problem with the facelift models? I have a 2016 E350 and this worries me as it came from South Dakota before I bought it

 

[Fluteguy]

Anyone???

 

[twburk]

Was this still a problem with the facelift models? I have a 2016 E350 and this worries me as it came from South Dakota before I bought it

Just bought a 2016 six months ago. Love the car, even more than my 2019 Lexus LS500. After reading about so much troubles with MB, I'm sure I will be sorry. Spotless car, rides great, Glad they changed out those no-flat tires. Hate those tires on my Lexus.

 

[Dtian198]

I too have this issue. My 2010 model E350 have a cracked sub frame and the dealer in MD Germany quoted me 3600+ to fix it. Plus the rotors and brakes for all four wheels, I have to pay about 6K to get it fixed. The service manager I spoke to told me he have been seeing this issue pretty common on a lot of C and E series. I cannot believe MB will have a broken subframe due to corrision. This is not the expected MB quality. = (