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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Maintenance and Repair

1094 messages,  Last post on Oct 21, 2009 at 5:02 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Sedan, Wagon

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#797 of 1094 Rust Problem by dee9520 Jul 19, 2006 (9:53 am)
The hidden rust was so bad on the retainer bracket for the top end of the right front wheel spring that the spring fell out on the floor of my garage and the car dropped down on the tire. It is a 1998 E320 two wheel drive. Had this happened while on the road two minutes before I would have been killed. I found out in just one day that there have been 4 similar serious rust problems in Lacrosse, Wi in models from 1994 to 1999. I don't think you can inspect for this problem since the critical area is hidden between the .045" thick bracket and the wheel well. I am warning all my friends who own a Mercedes E class. I have contacted my congressman and my lawyer about this problem. Pictures available.">
#798 of 1094 Dee9520 by dee9520 Jul 19, 2006 (12:24 pm)
Electric rear window opener problem 1998 E320. Both rear window motors failed. The first was covered under warrante, but the second one cost $400 to fix. The dealer in St Louis said that he was getting good at fixing them since he did 9 in the last 6 months. I was charged for 1.5 hr flat rate, but it only took 15 minutes. The only problem with the drive was that a cheap plastic wheel was used that was so distorted that the cable would not stay on. A good wheel from Phillips Plastics would have cost less than 5 cents. Is Mercedes cheap, or what.
#799 of 1094 Re: Repair problems [twix] by dee9520 Jul 19, 2006 (12:33 pm)
Replying to: twix (Feb 19, 2006 8:57 pm) I have a 1998 and both of my rear window openers failed too. I don't think I had used either one more than 5 times before the failures. The second one cost me $400, but I got the failed unit and analysed the problem. Mercedes uses a very cheap plastic wheel that could not cost more than 5 cents. The cheap plastic used seems to have distorted over time so that the thin cable will not stay on it. If they had purchased the plastic wheel from Phillips Plastics Inc, they would not have had the problem and they could have purchased the wheel for 4 cents. Replies to this message: garyh1 (Jul 19, 2006 9:19 pm) bigrobnh (Jul 20, 2006 5:33 am)
#800 of 1094 Re: Repair problems [dee9520] by garyh1 Jul 19, 2006 (9:19 pm)
Replying to: dee9520 (Jul 19, 2006 12:33 pm) I have a 1998 and both of my rear window openers failed too. I don't think I had used either one more than 5 times before the failures. The second one cost me $400   I too have a '98 E320, and yesterday we took it in to have a rear window fixed - for $363 (independent shop). My wife took it out this morning, and my son lowered the rear window on the other side, and guess what - that one broke. Unbelievable coincidence - and another $363 "out the window"! Like Dee, the windows had rarely been used (and the car has only about 35,000 miles on it). BTW, I also have a '94 E320 wagon, and have already replaced one back window opener in it as well.   This is clearly a manufacturing defect. Our mechanic joked that someone at MB must be sleeping with someone at the the supplier of this part (Bosch?), because MB continued to use them for years with this known defect.   Has anyone been successful in getting money out of Mercedes when this defective part is repaired out of warranty? Replies to this message: bigrobnh (Jul 20, 2006 5:33 am)
#801 of 1094 Re: Repair problems [garyh1] by bigrobnh Jul 20, 2006 (5:33 am)
Replying to: garyh1 (Jul 19, 2006 9:19 pm) My parents have a 2000 E320. They've had 3 rear window mechanisms fail. For them, it doesn't just stop working. The window starts up, then drops the glass so suddenly that it shatters. 3 of them...that means they've replaced at least one with another faulty part. They live in Florida and I'm convinced it's heat related.   My 2001 has not had it happen. I live in New Hampshire. I have several issues that DO show themselves when the car has been out in a hot parking lot all day.   Someone over a year ago put a link in the E Class forum to an MSNBC story on how Mercedes put pressure on suppliers to reduce costs so that Mercedes could maintain their target margins. When suppliers pushed back, they were allowed to increase their tolerances and, basically, supply lower quality parts.   My experience over the past 5 years is a tribute to that having been the case.   Oh, and those wondering if an extended warranty will help. It will help you in the case of catastrophic failure. Windows dropping out, failed headlight washers, failed climate control fan speed regulators, non-functional AM radios, failed instrument clusters, etc will not be covered.   Regards, BigRob.
#802 of 1094 Re: what to do??? afraid to buy my first Benz... [mamadadapaige] by majret1 Jul 20, 2006 (7:06 am)
Replying to: mamadadapaige (Jul 11, 2006 7:18 pm) Going thru the exact same quandry. First, wouldn't buy it without the extended warranty. Other makes will negotiate the price of the extended warranty. Not sure if MB will. All they can say is no. I talked to the service manager at the MB Dealer. There were problems with the 03s, fewer with the 04s and supposedly the 05s are back to the same old MB reliability. Of course he works for the dealer. But it does seem that most of the problems centered around the 03s (first year of the model change) Have owned an '87 E class and an '80 S class. They ARE expensive to repair. My experience is that, with the old ones any, they stay repaired. But you can forgive a lot for the pleasure of driving the car. It will drive the same way 10 years from now as the day you picked it up. Have driven BMWs, Audis, Acuras, etc. Nothing drives like an MB.
#803 of 1094 Dee by dee9520 Jul 20, 2006 (8:56 am)
The problem with the MB window opener design is the little plastic wheel that the cable runs over. The wheel gets distorted over time for some reason and the cable will not stay on. The guide system for the cable looks like some Jap toy made in 1950. With a new 10 cent wheel you could fix the unit, but MB throws the whole works away and charges $400 for the repair. It takes 15 minutes to fix and MB charges you the flat rate of 1.5 hours. I think MB has made over a million dollars with the window scam. Replies to this message: ccmbduong1 (Aug 16, 2006 8:02 am) paulsaini (Sep 09, 2006 12:47 pm)
#804 of 1094 Kilometer/ miles odometer? by spot2 Jul 24, 2006 (11:41 pm)
I have a '96 E320.with 60,000 kilometers on it. But it doesn't! Just discovered it is reading in miles. The speedometer is in Kilometers.Has anyone run into this? What to do? Is this a factory botch up or what? Both the trip meter and the odometer are reading in miles and I've already heard "that can't be".
#805 of 1094 Re: Intermitent Starting Problem [houstonmerc] by bfloozer Jul 27, 2006 (7:30 am)
Replying to: houstonmerc (Apr 01, 2006 3:05 pm) Did you ever find a solution? I have a '99 E320 with the same symptoms. Other sites have suggested the ignition switch, crank position sensor, fuel relay and sunspot activity. Hope you have solved it and can share it here. Thanks.
#806 of 1094 Re: Don't Be Unprotected!! [barry45rpm] by johnboyps Jul 27, 2006 (5:58 pm)
Replying to: barry45rpm (Jul 15, 2006 12:05 pm) I have a 05 E500. It's always in the shop as well.

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