156 GTA rust epidemic warning?

Originally Posted by Ecurie Ecosse

My 147 GTA seems to be fine so far (touch wood).

My Dad's Mercedes W203 C Class (year 2000) has suffered quite a bit from rust. However, Mercedes have been very good and, under their 20 (or 30 - I can't remember) year anti-corrosion warranty my Dad has had 2 sets of 4 wings fitted on the car (the rust came back through).

Hopefully Alfa responds in the same way.

I suppose that's not to bad then,i do find paintwork can be quite expensive nowadays when being repaired sprayed etc, even more so than mechanical problems on the odd occasion.

And also it seems accident damage can be patched up very well
nowadays so you have to be quite cautious when bying used.

cheers,

Attila.

Last week, I found the same problem on a rear wheel arch

I'm having a bit of a problem getting the work sorted out by Mangoletsi - I didn't call them for a few weeks because I was just so busy at work, and I think they forgot about me. Rang them on Monday and they said they'd check what was happening (I also told them about the rear arch) and get back to me in 24 hours. They didn't, and again due to being incredibly busy, I didn't get in touch with them either.
Probably not worth trying until after Christmas now.

Bit late to this thread - sorry, can't get on here as often as I'd like now :-(

I had a 5p size rust bubble appear on the front offside wheelarch lip inside edge. It was fixed under warranty at the dealers in the summer. Must say I was a little dissapointed with the fix. Basically the bubble was removed leaving a raised edge around the area (obviously not sanded down) and then treated?/touched up quite crudely. The rust hasn't returned so far, although I haven't looked at the inside of the wing.

My thoughts at the time were that this is probably all that Alfa would authorise under the warranty, and as it was in a non-cosmetic position it was all the remedy they were required/willing to do.

If it had been in a visible position, I imagine I would have had a bit more trouble getting authorisation from Alfa as it would have required the respraying of the whole wing, but I can't see how they could refuse to do it.

I tried for a warranty repair on the rear wings but got no, no & no.

Apparently cosmetic rust and not their problem. Funny that cos any bodywork professional who has seen or been consulted reckons they never weatherproofed the seam and whilst the spot welds haven't failed there should have been some additional protection applied.

If I wait until it makes a hole in the wing they will no doubt say the problems stemmed from this initial 'cosmetic' rust.

Good luck trying to pitch a £40,000 159 GTA against M3's and RS4's when you haven't resolved basic issues like rust.

It's a bit of a shame. Mercedes did have a problem with late 90s - earl 00s models but have held their hands up and been very good at repairing affected cars.

Good luck, Gary and merry Christmas!

Originally Posted by gwales

I tried for a warranty repair on the rear wings but got no, no & no.

Apparently cosmetic rust and not their problem. Funny that cos any bodywork professional who has seen or been consulted reckons they never weatherproofed the seam and whilst the spot welds haven't failed there should have been some additional protection applied.

If I wait until it makes a hole in the wing they will no doubt say the problems stemmed from this initial 'cosmetic' rust.

Good luck trying to pitch a £40,000 159 GTA against M3's and RS4's when you haven't resolved basic issues like rust.

Surely they're talking ****** re the "cosmetic" rust? If the bodywork is rusting from underneath the paint, it's the manufacturers fault.

In my case, it was quite obvious from the paint left intact over the bubble this problem was not due to trauma e.g. stone chip, and I'm sure this swayed the decision to repair foc. (that and the fact the repair was cheap!)

I previously had the all too common problem of rust bubble on the leading edge of the roof, just by the windscreen, but this was an obvious stone chip ... I had to pay for that. I wouldn't expect them to pay even 'though I hear the roof is one part of the bodywork that isn't galvanized (or otherwise rustproofed).

Can't wait for the 159 GTA although I'm not really looking own one. Hopefully the 159 should fare better than the 156 over time ?

I finally got around to contacting Mangos and Alfa again this week. Mangos told me that they've contacted Alfa UK who have told them that I shouldn't have been told they'd cover the front under warrantee, the bloke who said so was in trouble, but that they'd honour what they'd told me.
Doesn't sound very promising for me trying to get the back done under warrantee too, does it? But I've rung Alfa and they've re-flagged the claim and will get back to me, so fingers crossed.
I don't agree with the guy saying the front shouldn't have been covered, and I can't see any excuse for not covering the back when they're covering the front, as the issue is clearly exactly the same.

I struggle to understand why they say that they cannot cover the repair when the car has an 8 year corrosion warranty, They need some shaking maybe? Some bad press?

Originally Posted by newalfisti

I struggle to understand why they say that they cannot cover the repair when the car has an 8 year corrosion warranty, They need some shaking maybe? Some bad press?

You have to read the small print of that warranty carefully. They make you think there is peace of mind but there is so much small print in that warranty that it is really at their discretion to do a repair.

They can so easily argue that the rust has not originated within the strict terms of the 8 year perforation warranty and that is presuming you have had the 3 year and 5 year body work inspections done at your own cost!

Alfa are not alone, they all offer the warranty and are all positioned to hide behind the small print.

Originally Posted by Ecurie Ecosse

It's a bit of a shame. Mercedes did have a problem with late 90s - earl 00s models but have held their hands up and been very good at repairing affected cars.

Good luck, Gary and merry Christmas!

Mercedes still wont sort my Dad's CLK out and it has rust on all wings

Originally Posted by gwales

You have to read the small print of that warranty carefully. They make you think there is peace of mind but there is so much small print in that warranty that it is really at their discretion to do a repair.

They can so easily argue that the rust has not originated within the strict terms of the 8 year perforation warranty and that is presuming you have had the 3 year and 5 year body work inspections done at your own cost!

Alfa are not alone, they all offer the warranty and are all positioned to hide behind the small print.

I see what you mean. I wonder how come our GTA#s suffer from cosmetic rust when all the normal 156's i have ever seen never had a trace of cosmetic rust on them.

Originally Posted by newalfisti

I see what you mean. I wonder how come our GTA#s suffer from cosmetic rust when all the normal 156's i have ever seen never had a trace of cosmetic rust on them.

this is only 156 GTA's and they suffer because the GTA wings are "special" i.e. wider than normal 156 wings..... so we get special wider rusty wings

Originally Posted by 156GTASW

this is only 156 GTA's and they suffer because the GTA wings are "special" i.e. wider than normal 156 wings..... so we get special wider rusty wings

That is exactly it. The design of the GTA wings are specific to the model and these cars are only hitting 5-6 years of age now, where rust issues are becoming prevalent. The front wings rust because of the sanding action of the plastic liner on a poorly protected wing interior, this really is perforation from the inside out and should fit with the warranty small print.

The rears are rusting because corrosion has developed between the inner and outer wings. This appears to be through inadequate weather protection around the join but Alfa appear not to care about this one.

I think a permanent fix on the rears is going to mean a cut and weld job so I will save that until the rust puts in a appearance outside of the wheel recess.

Although all panels bar the roof are galvanised, the finish on the inward facing areas of panel appears to be a very thin layer of base primer only, and there is no galvanisation here either. The slightest scratch even from dropping a spanner and in goes the rust. Waxoyl etc would pay dividends if you thought to do it when new.

It does seem pretty poor that they did not protect the inside surfaces adequately.

Still it wouldn't be Alfa ownership if your head and heart weren't at odds.

Good news, they've agreed to cover the rear arch too.
And I was never asked for details of a 3 year bodywork check either.
I've been getting quite impatient about having this work done, because while the problems are practically invisible, I have two other issues which I intend to get done at the same time, and they both stick out like a sore thumb (to my eyes anyway).
There's a white scrape on the bottom corner of the front bumper, and a jacking point cover needs respraying after falling off and getting scuffed.
Does anyone know whether touching up the bumper will be a problem?

Bazza - Result!

Interested to know what they are fixing at the rear as I was turned down and if this is the same problem then I could maybe try again.

When I got the new wing I asked the body shop to paint the whole front bumper assembly and the side skirts which they did for £200. - Looks great.

I then stuck armourfend on the front of the rear arches - £11 well spent.

Cheers,

Gary

I'll try to take a picture of the problem at the back for you tomorrow - but it probably won't work, very hard to get a meaningful picture of it.

I think their current intention is just to remove all traces of rust and make good - but it's taken 5 years for this problem to appear, if it's another 5 years till next time, I'll be happy enough.
I will be telling them to make sure they catch it all though, and to have a good look at the inside of the panels.

It basically hasn't stopped raining, ro got fully light for the entire weekend here, so blurred as it is, this is the best I've managed I'm afraid:
Image of rust bubble - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Thanks bazza.

If you look into the wing does the rust extend all the way to the seam?

I have rust within the arch but nothing showing unless you poke your head in the recess. The rust is obviously coming from the seam between the inner and outer wings.

Can't see anything beyond that bubble without removing trim I don't think.

Bugger, I really need to chase this up. Been too busy at work and had other things on my mind.

Originally Posted by bazza

Can't see anything beyond that bubble without removing trim I don't think.

Is this a pic of the front then? I was talking rears.