Roof replacement - Recommendations for dealer or specialist who can do the work properly...

[funkyegg]

Sandown Mercedes (used to be Mercedes Epsom) did ours and they use body shop Fastlane (near Heathrow). They are very experienced with the roof replcement work, no complaints so far.

 

[Tony Bartlett]

Dear Fellow Marco Polo Owners. PLEASE can you help!

Desperately looking for Dealer or Specialist who can install a roof properly and without damaging or getting filthy other items in the van. Have been through 20 months of hell with a "Flagship" Dealership who subcontracted the work to a body shop.

- 404 days from first drop-off to last collection in March 2023
- 213 total days without vehicle
- 3 roof replacements as well as repainting, repairs and replacement of other items damaged

Raised issues and damage at last collection and said it needed to be rectified but given BS explanations and told to take vehicle. Have repeatedly raised issues since.

Now, after using the van only 3x since March, the last time seal has come away from roof (does this every time, they simply seem unable to fit the seal) and roof failed to close on last trip. The roof has been raised only 4 times since March! It looks and though one of the hydraulic struts is broken. Also noticed that there are ripples on the roof running up on the inside of each roof rail. These were not on our original roof.

From searching, Mercedes Poole has done roof replacements successfully and people have been happy with the work. Are there any others...?

Would be so grateful to hear from anyone who has had positive experiences with a contractor who knows what they're doing and has done a great job that has lasted, whether Mercedes Dealerships or Independent Campervan specialists.

We invested over a decade of holiday money into this van so we could make magic memories with our young son. This is now the second lost summer of holidays due to failed warranty work and I'm exhausted and depressed from the whole experience.

The van drives like a dream, but everything else is heartache.

Thank you in advance for you help. x

I just had mine done through Birmingham Mercedes who sub-contracted the replacement to Individual Cars, also in Birmingham. Seems like a good job.
Trying the roof out this weekend and so will let you know.

 

[Kiwi Ange]

Thanks for your reply Tony. Good luck with it this weekend. I hope it's a job well done.

 

[Tony H]

I haven't dealt with roof replacement out of warranty, other than the ongoing issues with the warranty work itself. In my experience, it is only the actual top roof part that is replaced, not the bellows. Our journey with roof replacement has been pretty dire, with round after round of consequential faults and damage. However, there are lots of people on here who have had successful roof replacements so I would take a broad view of experience.

hi any idea how long this osmosis problem lasted , and the earliest it was spotted.
I had exactly the same problem with my california a few years back, luckily covered under warranty.

 

[Route66fan]

Does anyone have a picture of these blisters? So I know what to look out for in any vehicle I might want to buy?