Uncle

My drivers side inside door handle broke, and it was replaced under warranty. Yesterday, my passenger side front handle broke the same way. What is it with these handles? Are the replacements any better? Should I expect similar probelms with my almost never used rear doors? Has anyone repaired these on their own?

ggms16

I didn't know that was happening to the 2010's. It was very common on Venezuelans C200's from 2008 only. When they replaced those at the dealer it never happened again.

dcjwlee

You went to open the door and the handle broke off? Was it stuck or did it open normally and break because it was flimsy?

Uncle

Th drivers side broke in June, and was replaced. No evidence of binding or other problem. Just started flopping around. The passenger side did the same thing on Friday. This is a very expensive ($1600) repair in they replace the entire door card. I am under warranty, but wnat to find out if the replacements are any better.

shotgun_banjo

I had the same problem with my GLK and I also noticed that the black plastic housing where the pull is also starting to crack. It will be replaced on Tuesday (the whole inner door panel....$1800 fix and thank God it is under warranty as well). On my B-class the crome thingi peeled and was also replaced and they said it was also starting to crack.

Uncle

The cost to repair is really shocking. Once these cars are out of warranty someone (I hope not me) will engineer a less expensive fix. I am surprised that there is not more threads on this forum on this. The dealer was not at all surprised with this problem and treated it in a routine way.

dcjwlee

This thread scares me.

Uncle

Scares me also.

victorhoisingto

So my wife had the door handle on her 2010 c300 break on Tuesday. Dealer wanted $145 to pull the door panel to decide if it was covered under warranty. The problem was the chrome door handle (not covered) broke where it attaches to the latch cable.

Mercedes response was to replace the entire door panel (not sure how the latch becomes trim when it can't be ordered separately). Cost for the door panel $755, labor and misc. shop cr&& to replace $218, for a total cost of $973. Sorry, my wife told them, not so politely, where they could stick the crappy car and their even crappier warranty.

So now what, I can't trade this piece of junk in with a broken door handle???

I reviewed the video on removing the door panel and decided I could do it myself. Here are the results:

- Tools & Parts: Torx driver and a flat head screw driver, $0.92 for 2 nylon washers, super glue
- Time to remove panel (1st time) 15 minutes
- The fix - Super glue the broken plastic part back onto the latch, then for strength, sandwich 2 matching nylon washers to either side of the break, making sure to align them properly with the opening for the latch cable, and a little more super glue. Let it all sit overnight, put the door back together (again 15 minutes) and I have a permanent fix.
- Total work time: less than 30 minutes.

I'm going to call my dealer tomorrow and offer to complete these repairs for $500 with a lifetime gaurantee. I figure I can make a killing with this sort of work.

vic viper

If your car is fully serviced at an authorized dealer they usually replace the door panel under goodwill if your warranty has run out.

There is an easy fix, just drill a 1mm hole, so that you can glue the handle together and then tighten and strengthen it all using a thin steel wire through the hole and around the break.

victorhoisingto

Not my Dealer! They wanted $993 to replace the entire panel due to the trim piece (shiny plastic door pull) being broken. in my book it was classic poor service, poor design and bad warranty.

My new BMW will look good in the driveway!!

clart

2009 C220 drivers door handle snapped inside
- my garage said Merc want £550 for a new panel - quite apart from the horrific price, how can Mercedes claim to have a green footprint if whole panels need replacing because of a small failure.

What to do next - ? will let you know

MBSebas87

I'm scared lol

Uncle

I had both front handles break, and they replaced the door panels each time under warranty. It is idiotic to repair it that way. If it were my nickel, I would follow one of the fixes mentioned in the earlier posts.
It is a little scary MBSebas when you face heavy charges for simple repairs. LOL

BLKC300

Mine also broke. I have a CPO warranty.. Took it to the dealer had to pay $150 for them to let me know its not covered. They also informed me it would be almost $1000 said and done. I decided to give myself a temp fix. I just recently bought two c63 doors to replace but im really disapointed in how crappy the door handle is and mercedes not willing to cover it.

spyked

How can it not be covered under CPO warranty? Is CPO not the same as factory warranty?

I always thought the point of paying more for CPO cars was to have the warranty.

2006_C350

I'm not sure but I think CPO doesn't cover wear and tear and that's a wear and tear item.

BLKC300

CPO is a limited warranty so it only covers soo much. It did save me when I had some work under the hood done but the door handle not so much.

spyked

That means I will never buy a CPO MB. A door handle mechanism is wear and tear? They've lost their minds.

cjmarshall

Same problem. My cheapo fix seems to be holding up. Heres a link to what I did. Hope it will help someone out.
http://s794.photobucket.com/user/cjm...20Handle%20Fix

spyked

This is a SAFETY issue. Can you imagine, maybe being in an accident, or just needing out of the car quickly on railroad tracks or in a stalling incident, and the door won't open?

I don't understand how the NHTSA doesn't force a recall on this.

MBoxford

Thanks CJMarshall for the guide and pics. Followed it and it works. Only thing I did different was to drill a 1/16 hole through the handle, thread the wire through and tie off the wire that way. How does this not qualify for a recall is beyond me.

KCaudell

I submitted this as a complaint to NHTSA including a link to this thread. If they feel it's a safety issue I'm sure they'll respond appropriately. Good thread.

Pete915

My inner door handle also broke. Removed door panel and fixed crappy plastic handle by using a picture frame bracket, super glue and wire. Works perfectly.
Also reported issue to NHTSA.

blanche_n

I just took my 2010 c300 and I was told it will cost about $1440 for this small piece of junk handle. I was not happy for sure. I have to find someone to get this thing fixed but I am not paying 1440! how outragous. the people at the dealer looked at me like whatever. some other sucker will come back and pay it.