Rusty Mercedes SUV

[Number_35]

I think of German cars in general as being quite rust-resistant, and was surprised to see this poor thing in traffic today. The front looked just as bad.

I'd bet it spent its first few years in the rust belt somewhere

 

[JoelB]

Seems abnormally bad to me. Maybe an aftermarket replacement or bad repaint after a rear end accident?

 

[crashz]

Woah! That bad even for here!

Bet it spends a lot of time near seawater. Coastal town beach house? Kids thought it would be cool to drive it on the beach?

 

[fantastic]

ML350? This is what happens when you don't bother washing off the salt. Obvious to some oblivious to others.

 

[IndyIan]

Those seemed to have the same sheet metal supplier as the MB sprinter vans of the 2000's? Just seemed to rust from the inside out! Under never scratched paint on the roof... Discount India or China or Russia steel I guess?

 

[michaelluscher]

That one looks worse than usual, but the entire "Daimler Benz" mid 1990s and newer era cars had poor (early water based?) paint, and a bad reputation for rust
W210 E Class was notorious for this

W220 S Class wasn't much better

I like some of the classic late 1900s Mercedes, but the Alabama trashcan W163 isn't one of them

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

ML350? This is what happens when you don't bother washing off the salt. Obvious to some oblivious to others.

You want be to blast pressurized salt water even deeper into my car? No thanks.

 

[Jetronic]

I think of German cars in general as being quite rust-resistant, and was surprised to see this poor thing in traffic today. The front looked just as bad.

I'd bet it spent its first few years in the rust belt somewhere

View attachment 279206

Sadly Mercedes doesn't have a stellar reputation with rust.

 

[02SE]

You want be to blast pressurized salt water even deeper into my car? No thanks.

Where is it stated that you have to use high pressure to wash Salt off vehicles?

I've washed salt off my vehicles for decades, including their undercarriage. I never once used high pressure spray.

The longest I've kept a vehicle is 22+ years. A vehicle that was on salt-encrusted roads for every year of those 22+ years. NO rust when I sold it.

Vehicles that rust away is mostly about owner neglect.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Because I ASSumed you go to a commercial car wash.
I undercoat my cars before winter and do zero Washing during the winter and my cars are just fine.

 

[Oillover]

My recent trip to Sask revealed similarly rusted vehicles.
Always amazes me the increased cost of vehicles, yet the consistently decline of overall quality.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Sprinter vans always rusted very bad up here.

 

[02SE]

Because I ASSumed you go to a commercial car wash.
I undercoat my cars before winter and do zero Washing during the winter and my cars are just fine.

Well, now you know what happens when one assumes.

 

[Number_35]

Those seemed to have the same sheet metal supplier as the MB sprinter vans of the 2000's? Just seemed to rust from the inside out! Under never scratched paint on the roof... Discount India or China or Russia steel I guess?

Sprinter vans always rusted very bad up here.

I'd forgotten about the Sprinter vans - it was scary how much surface rust they developed here.

 

[Number_35]

Seems abnormally bad to me. Maybe an aftermarket replacement or bad repaint after a rear end accident?

The hood was also very bad. Check out the rocker panels and lower doors.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Well, now you know what happens when one assumes.

yeah yeah

 

[Number_35]

Woah! That bad even for here!

Bet it spends a lot of time near seawater. Coastal town beach house? Kids thought it would be cool to drive it on the beach?

We are hundreds miles away from the nearest seawater. Manitoba has 100,000 lakes, all freshwater.

But it's possible (even likely) the vehicle spent some time in a saltier environment.

 

[Astro14]

We are hundreds miles away from the nearest seawater. Manitoba has 100,000 lakes, all freshwater.

But it's possible (even likely) the vehicle spent some time in a saltier environment.

Like winter roads in Canada?

 

[fantastic]

You want be to blast pressurized salt water even deeper into my car? No thanks.

I'm sure there are different methods. Pressurized carwash is one of them. If you are afraid of doing that then get a sponge & 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I'm sure there are different methods. Pressurized carwash is one of them. If you are afraid of doing that then get a sponge & 5 gallon bucket.

Im good, I undercoat my cars so I dont have to wash it all winter. Id rather not mix salt and water.