Bubbling roof paint
- Thread starter Rodders
- Start date
Carol
Top Poster
Just tried to contact my local MB workshop in Witham , ended up going to Jardine motors chat line.
They have told me the workshop is closed /shut completely. I have been in touch with them throughout 2021 ,they told me my roof would be the next one to be replaced.
Now got to start process again . Reason for posting is if anyone else is awaiting a roof replacement at Witham MB bodyshop chase it
now , so I feel like I've been left in limbo
They have told me the workshop is closed /shut completely. I have been in touch with them throughout 2021 ,they told me my roof would be the next one to be replaced.
Now got to start process again . Reason for posting is if anyone else is awaiting a roof replacement at Witham MB bodyshop chase it
now , so I feel like I've been left in limbo
Grand Tourismo
Top Poster
Not been put off, but I have a really nice caravan as well.
Paul Hellawell
Member
My roof was replaced for the blistering problem in October 2019 while the van was under warranty. I'm assuming from what people have said that the hard frosts this winter may relate to the fact that the blistering has appeared on the new roof. I'm more than two years past the replacement and three months past the end of the vehicle warranty but regardless of what the dealers are saying about timing, this is a known quality issue and it is clear that the roofs supplied are faulty if paint is blistering at all on a well cared for vehicle, however long it takes. I'm wondering what the consumer law is regarding Mercedes liability for defective products or products 'not fit for purpose'? I am not interested in paying for such an obvious and well reported fault to be rectified and wonder if anyone else on here has sought legal advice or taken action?
I paid a visit to MB Edinburgh on Monday who took photos of the blisters on our replacement roof. Waiting to hear back from them. We are still within the three year warranty so I will be interested to hear what they say. It is a well known issue so I would expect MB to do the decent thing. The real question though is whether they have changed how these roofs are made, or , or otherwise fixed it for good. We can't all keep going back for a new roof every spring.
Its a real shame because in all other respects we think the MP is a superb vehicle.
Its a real shame because in all other respects we think the MP is a superb vehicle.
Grand Tourismo
Top Poster
Hi Paul - my experience with this issue tells me that your new roof would have been covered under the vehicle warranty when it was replaced, rather than the 2 years MB parts warranty.
Given this I would expect that any new rectification work would be classed as a genuine "gesture of goodwill".
That being the case, personally, I would seek the goodwill of MBUK by contacting them in a positive and friendly way before pushing the legal button.
Start with you local dealer, then when that bounces customer services, when you get a push back from here you will need to escalate the problem into a formal complaint which will drive it onto the desk of MBUK - aim for your issue to be dealt with by Harry Clarke and see what can be done.
Good luck!
Grand Tourismo
Top Poster
There is some evidence that a change in roof production preparation occurred in April '21...we will have to wait and see.
Grand Tourismo
Top Poster
Here is a quote from MB Cust. Servs. to another MP owner from Fb who is in the process of getting his 3rd roof...
"
Steps were put in place by our factory in Germany to rectify the production issue that was happening - however this permanent fix was not in place until April 2021 - I therefore feel that it is likely you had 2 roof replacements with the same fault present.
"
Grand Tourismo
Top Poster
The interesting thing for me is that I thought the roofs were made by Westfalia, in primed finish and ready for paint...which after the Westfalia takeover I assumed all is located in France.
If so what are MB in Germany doing to the roof that they had to change the process of?
I can only assume that the roof is shipped to MB in raw gel coat finish (I know that the roof arrives at the dealer in a flash coat of primer ready for paint) so maybe MB Germany primes them, assembles all the required bits and packages them up for distribution to the dealer?
I'm not sure we will ever know...but another thing I find interesting is on inspection of my roof the bigger blisters eventually peeled to reveal perfectly flat un-bubbled primer underneath.
Where are you in terms of dealer response? I’m waiting now to hear back from mine.
Grand Tourismo
Top Poster
My roof was replaced back in November '21
Carol
Top Poster
Same here , always have to chase , expecting a call this month,
Grand Tourismo
Top Poster
The general train of thought is that the fibreglass curing process or gelcoat application was somehow incorrect (maybe moisture within or a chemical imbalance) and that the roof is now "breathing" through the primer and lifting the paint behind...I am certainly not a specialist, there was talk on here of arranging a specialist to complete a report but in the end MB seem to be sorting out claims to a satisfactory result.
Bumbellini
New Member
I’ve been unlucky and experienced this bubbling problem on two vehicles. I experienced it on my first Marco Polo - a Marco Polo Horizon - the body shop on inspection ordered another roof. I actually changed to a new Marco Polo before the work was ever carried out, but Mercedes impressed me with this solution rather than wanting to paint the problem.
My other experience was with a Niesmann+Bischoff motorhome. The Hymer groups solution was to strip and respray all the effected areas which was every bit of fibre glass.(bonnet, wheel arches, rear panel) They did this at their expense. The solution didn’t solve the problem as bubbles reappeared. The second time they didn’t want to accept any responsibility (warrant lapse) but in the end they paid half of the £8500 bill to do the work again.
What I’ve learned during these episodes is the problem occurs when the fibre glass isn‘t left to breath/lose moisture for long enough before its painted and put onto your vehicle. I’m not sure if it can be sorted by stripping, re-prepairing, and re-painting. The problem for me on both vehicles happened over the winter I think caused by frosts. The bubbles actually reduce in size in the summer.
I think worryingly for all of us these problems are well known by our manufacturers, they are caused by problems in their manufacturing processes. They understand the causes but are very reluctant to share what they know (to limit liability)Presumably they can identify possibly effected batches, but they do not do recalls. And finally sadly if enough time goes by they don’t want to deal with the problems at all (because of cost)
Its worth inspecting your vehicle as we come out of the winter as the sooner you start the complaint process the more likely your going to get help and a solution.
My other experience was with a Niesmann+Bischoff motorhome. The Hymer groups solution was to strip and respray all the effected areas which was every bit of fibre glass.(bonnet, wheel arches, rear panel) They did this at their expense. The solution didn’t solve the problem as bubbles reappeared. The second time they didn’t want to accept any responsibility (warrant lapse) but in the end they paid half of the £8500 bill to do the work again.
What I’ve learned during these episodes is the problem occurs when the fibre glass isn‘t left to breath/lose moisture for long enough before its painted and put onto your vehicle. I’m not sure if it can be sorted by stripping, re-prepairing, and re-painting. The problem for me on both vehicles happened over the winter I think caused by frosts. The bubbles actually reduce in size in the summer.
I think worryingly for all of us these problems are well known by our manufacturers, they are caused by problems in their manufacturing processes. They understand the causes but are very reluctant to share what they know (to limit liability)Presumably they can identify possibly effected batches, but they do not do recalls. And finally sadly if enough time goes by they don’t want to deal with the problems at all (because of cost)
Its worth inspecting your vehicle as we come out of the winter as the sooner you start the complaint process the more likely your going to get help and a solution.
My (2nd) roof has started to blister again. The dealer confirmed to me today that a new roof will only be covered under warranty until the end of the vehicle warranty which is a few months away for me. When I asked what if the replacement was fitted after the warranty had elapsed, the answer was no warranty. There is no additional warranty on warranty items
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