[tom32256]

On my 2016 CLA250 the black trim piece on the roof between the windshield and the panoramic roof has corroded. The car is kept in a carport out of direct sunlight. in Florida, so there is no exposure to road salt. There is no other paint or trim degradation on the car. Very disappointed to see this on my excellent German engineered automobile. Anyone else have this happen? Any suggestions?

 

[Picard]

Yes this is a documented issue. Currently wearing it on my 2014. Apparently one cause is the caustic ingredients of the widshield washer fluid.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

 

[BigJase88]

Wrap it in gloss black. Easy option. While at it get them to do the rest of the roof

 

[jmc]

Apparently one cause is the caustic ingredients of the widshield washer fluid.

the oem summerfit or winterfit stuff (with a tinge of ethanol in it) doesnt seem to attack the uv clear

aside from rain sun and polymer wash (and of course the occasional birdie present) nothing has contacted that surface and i dont scrub it (else it gets swirly like the b pillar trim) and knock on polycarbonate so far mine is ok … maybe treating it as a thin uv coating (like that on the headlight covers) may have helped

though if it goes one day guess i will whip out the trusty o’ piano black wrap

 

[Geo K]

Yes this is a documented issue. Currently wearing it on my 2014. Apparently one cause is the caustic ingredients of the widshield washer fluid.

Certainly, one of the most beneficial discussions I've seen on this Forum affecting every Member.

 

[tom32256]

Wrap it in gloss black. Easy option. While at it get them to do the rest of the roof

Please educate me on what you mean by wrap it.

 

[BigJase88]

Please educate me on what you mean by wrap it.

Vinyl wrap over it in gloss black

A wrapping company will be able to do it for not much cost

 

[tom32256]

Vinyl wrap over it in gloss black

A wrapping company will be able to do it for not much cost

Thanks. I'll look for a local company that advertises wrapping.

 

[tom32256]

Thanks. I'll look for a local company that advertises wrapping.

A local wrapping guy called be back and said if the surface is no longer smooth then the wrapping will not work. He said any surface imperfections would print through the vinyl, and maybe impair the adhesion.

 

[mav238]

On my 2016 CLA250 the black trim piece on the roof between the windshield and the panoramic roof has corroded. The car is kept in a carport out of direct sunlight. in Florida, so there is no exposure to road salt. There is no other paint or trim degradation on the car. Very disappointed to see this on my excellent German engineered automobile. Anyone else have this happen? Any suggestions?
View attachment 68328

As suggested by someone on this thread, I think it's the combination of both the hot sunshine and the windshield fluid drying out on the panel.

That's why I always make sure I wax that panel everytime I wax my CLA.

Although you keep your vehicle under the porch when not driven, but during driving, you could be using the windshield wash fluid during driving to get rid of bugs or dirt, and the florida sunshine is so hot, it literally bakes the windshield fluid droplets onto the panel within minutes.

Just as people would tell you to never wash and dry your car in bright sunshine, same idea, water-spots on your paint can be really difficult to remove, especially if it has baked into your clearcoat.

Changing the panel altogether is an (expensive) option, wrapping it makes sense too.

 

[tom32256]

As suggested by someone on this thread, I think it's the combination of both the hot sunshine and the windshield fluid drying out on the panel.

That's why I always make sure I wax that panel everytime I wax my CLA.

Although you keep your vehicle under the porch when not driven, but during driving, you could be using the windshield wash fluid during driving to get rid of bugs or dirt, and the florida sunshine is so hot, it literally bakes the windshield fluid droplets onto the panel within minutes.

Just as people would tell you to never wash and dry your car in bright sunshine, same idea, water-spots on your paint can be really difficult to remove, especially if it has baked into your clearcoat.

Changing the panel altogether is an (expensive) option, wrapping it makes sense too.

It seems as if that trim panel is not suitable for use as an exterior automobile component if it cannot tolerate windshield cleaning solution.

 

[mav238]

It seems as if that trim panel is not suitable for use as an exterior automobile component if it cannot tolerate windshield cleaning solution.

Well you can say the quality engineer who approved this part for use in the CLA probably didn't do his/her job properly, to assess the durability of the panel material under the most stringent conditions.

But at the same time, you can also say all car manufacturers did not do their job properly to ensure that their paint will stand up to the diverse weather conditions, hot sun, hard water, acidic water or rain, and the consumer not drying the car properly (allowing water spots to form) ..etc etc etc...

At the end of the day, within the first three years of car warranty, any defects will be or should be dealt with by the dealer. After that, it's really on the owness of the consumer to take care of the car.

 

[jmc]

A local wrapping guy called be back and said if the surface is no longer smooth then the wrapping will not work. He said any surface imperfections would print through the vinyl, and maybe impair the adhesion.

needs to be smoothed out first be wrap

 

[therobeys]

2018 CLA 250, had the same problem. At first I thought it was buffed too much. Had a body shop paint it and said it’s good to go now (with a warranty from the body shop). Time will tell…

 

[mav238]

2018 CLA 250, had the same problem. At first I thought it was buffed too much. Had a body shop paint it and said it’s good to go now (with a warranty from the body shop). Time will tell…

2018 model, was there no "new car" warranty to cover the defect?

I never polished that panel, never needed to. Simply wash, applied spray car wax or lately, Turtle Wax hybrid ceramic spray coating. Looking about the same as when I first drove it out of the shop.

 

[LoveFla]

On my 2016 CLA250 the black trim piece on the roof between the windshield and the panoramic roof has corroded. The car is kept in a carport out of direct sunlight. in Florida, so there is no exposure to road salt. There is no other paint or trim degradation on the car. Very disappointed to see this on my excellent German engineered automobile. Anyone else have this happen? Any suggestions?
View attachment 68328

This was a "concern" when I purchased a used (103,500K) loaded 2015 CLA 2015-went to a few body shops and had it painted along with the rear spoiler for 200 bucks!
For my beautiful (mint) used (49,500) loaded 2014 CLA purchased a few yrs ago-no issues!

 

[cpxii]

I always thought that this kind of trim corrosion was due to the harsh chemicals they use in touchless car washes (I have since switched to self car washes + a nice wax at home)

I say wax but I really mean one of those hybrid wax-ceramic detailing sprays. Seems to offer decent temporary protection against the sun and rogue pigeons leaving me presents in the morning 😅

 

[BigJase88]

I always thought that this kind of trim corrosion was due to the harsh chemicals they use in touchless car washes (I have since switched to self car washes + a nice wax at home)

I say wax but I really mean one of those hybrid wax-ceramic detailing sprays. Seems to offer decent temporary protection against the sun and rogue pigeons leaving me presents in the morning 😅

I got my car washed last week at one of those drive through ones and my gloss black trim was in a bad state

Managed to save it just in time and polished it out. Needless to say i won't be going back

 

[cpxii]

I got my car washed last week at one of those drive through ones and my gloss black trim was in a bad state

Managed to save it just in time and polished it out. Needless to say i won't be going back

Yeah, I view them as the "fast-food of car washes". Once in a while is okay if you're in a rush, but it's not good if you go there on a regular basis.

Also it's even worse if you let the car sit in the sun before it's fully dried since those chemicals get baked onto the surface

 

[jmc]

lets presume i live till 92
not in any of those years will i visit a car wash
hell no