Audi vs Mercedes

[Cullers]

Just an observation which I'm hoping people can say if they've noticed or agree. I'm looking at getting myself either a Mercedes or Audi (CLK or SLK vs A4 or TT) which will be about 15 years old. One thing I've noticed ploughing through the adverts is that a lot of the Mercedes seem to have rust bubbling on the wheel arch. I've never owned an Audi before so am not sure whether that is a valid observation.

[Codswallop]

The early to mid noughties were known as the dark period for Mercedes quality due to mis-guided attempts at cost cutting to increase profits. Rust is a big problem as the switch to water based paints didn't go too well...

[daemon]

Cullers said:

Just an observation which I'm hoping people can say if they've noticed or agree. I'm looking at getting myself either a Mercedes or Audi (CLK or SLK vs A4 or TT) which will be about 15 years old. One thing I've noticed ploughing through the adverts is that a lot of the Mercedes seem to have rust bubbling on the wheel arch. I've never owned an Audi before so am not sure whether that is a valid observation.

Yup

Mercedes of that era suffered badly from rust - tread carefully....

[spookly]

Cullers said:

Just an observation which I'm hoping people can say if they've noticed or agree. I'm looking at getting myself either a Mercedes or Audi (CLK or SLK vs A4 or TT) which will be about 15 years old. One thing I've noticed ploughing through the adverts is that a lot of the Mercedes seem to have rust bubbling on the wheel arch. I've never owned an Audi before so am not sure whether that is a valid observation.

Mercedes went through quite a few years where rust was a big issue. Seemed to get it a bit more sorted after early 2000's.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Best advice for a merc of that age is avoid if you don't like rust, they rust like fk, and even after a respray at a merc dealer bodyshop it comes back after a few years. Tt is polar opposite they are galvanised and have high quality paintwork, but 4 pot engines unfortunately and a lot more cramped.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're looking at a CLK then get the later W209 model (2002 onwards) rust won't be an issue on those.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Early w209s could rust just as bad, i think around 2006 was when they turned a corner.

[PositronicRay]

Audi were using galvanised panels back in the mid 90s. Quality back in the day was good, they were after all the underdogs squaring up for a fight!

Unusual to see a rusty Audi, usually the rusty ones are a result of a poor accident repair. TTs use some aluminium panels, not sure about the MK1 but the MK2 has alu wings and bonnet.

[ZX10R NIN]

OldGermanHeaps said:

Early w209s could rust just as bad, i think around 2006 was when they turned a corner.

I have to disagree with that having had at least 6 pre 2004 CLK's with no rust issues & I currently have 2003 CLK55 with no issues.

A badly repaired car can rust (especially if the car has a Ceramic paint code) due to the work carried out.

[anonymous-user]

I've ran a facelifted 06 203 C-Class and the rear inner wings round the wheel arches can bubble away. The paint was quite thin too so stonechips would appear and rust if not kept on top of, overall though it was a nice car IMO. I always thought about these early 2000 Mercedes on how they would age as they had some issues from new, never mind 15 years down the line! I would go for as late a car as you can find if you want a Mercedes and go for a facelifted CLK/SLK if you can.

I've also owned a few Audis and the front wings can rust but only if you don't really wash the car as mud can store around and get into the metal. VWs in particular I found were notorious for this too.

[Burnzyb]

Merc had an issue getting water based paints right, not so much a cost cutting error, after 2001 I think they started to sort the issues, the w211 was not effected by the paint issue like the w210 was, I'm guessing all new models after the w211 also followed suite, my 03 s211 is fairly rust free, has brown rear arch lips that hasn't really gotten worse in the year I've owned it, but the rest of it looks fine, and it's the "worst" colour for rusting being silver.

Audi have many of their own problems, so it's not as cut and dry as that.