benzmodz

SYMPTOM: Steering column no longer travels up and down, sound of motor spinning, no movement. This repair is labour intensive but the part is worth only a few dollars.

VALID FOR: Memory steering column with motorized control.

MODELS: R171, W203, W204, W209, W211, W219, R230, W240.

WORK STEPS AS SHOWN IN W203:

1/ Remove centre console (6 screws)
2/ Remove dashboard end cover (unclip)
3/ Remove light switch (1 screw)
4/ Loosen ignition switch (ring)
5/ Remove cluster (2 hooks)
6/ Loosen under dash panel drivers side (3 screws)
7/ Remove head unit / radio (4 screws for COMAND, 2 for radio)

8/ Remove lower half of dashboard (drivers side)
- 3 screws radio area
- 1 screw near knee - bottom side
- 1 screw near outer vent
- 1 screw near bottom of fuse holder (W203)

Other work steps as shown in photos.


The broken part and new part side-by-side.




Part number: A203 462 06 78




Dashboard trim parts removed. Also removed passenger side so that I could repair the footwell flaps levers on heater box (best time to replace those fragile levers)




Ignition switch and light switch hang down. Also shown is European vacuum switch not used in USA.




Cover panel removed from area where parts will be removed




Stability bar bolt shown in red, cross-bolt from vertical adjustment shown in green.




Stability bar removed (2 bolts)




Vertical adjustment assembly + steering column




Remove 6 screws from the cluster area. Part in red rectangle is the alignment pin




Disengage vertical adjustment assembly from main plate (4 screws)




Main plate bolt (x4)




Loosen bolt clamp (1 hex screw) and unwind from main bolt. Remove vertical adjustment bolt from assembly. There are two black spacers on the bolt (one shown).




How your steering colum will appear at this point




Vertical adjustment assembly with new collar in place (spline). Test the thread by spinning the adjustment arms to see if one of the arms has locked. Loosen with gentle pressure.




Push assembly back into place and mate collar with drive motor. Install all parts back into place.




Your steering column now goes up and down again. Work steps may vary for other models.

glennbaz

My congratulations on putting all the time and effort into an outstanding post for anyone doing a similar repair. More posts like yours and the stealerships would be losing money for sure.
Glenn

bmwlover

Long needle nose pliers + mad skills = 5 minute job, no problem

benzmodz

I was also fixing the COMAND unit and footwell flaps on code 581 blower box.

I am sure that there is a 5 minute fix but someone needs to document it. Given that the joint is lame I would prefer not to flex it.

Basa

Does anybody know of any instructions / writeup for fixing this steering tilt WithOUT having to remove all the center console parts? (removing the underside of driver's dash is ok).

thanks.

dontbanme

Mine is broken as well...at least I think it is. The telescoping function works, but the tilt (up and down action) does not.

dontbanme

A google search for P/N: A203 462 06 78 only brought up this thread. You would think with it being a common fail point it would be available online somewhere.

Basa

You would think!

Pine

Just did this repair on my C230. It is probably worth getting the factory service manual before attempting. I'm not sure I would have been able to get everything apart without it.

ThunderPants

The dealer want $1,500 to repair this. I will I will be doing this repair myself. but their must be a better way.

ThunderPants

I just did this on my 2005 E-500 and it only cost mt $7.50 and two hours of my time. Thanks for the instructions

merclondon

How did you remove the ignition switch?

ThunderPants

I did not remove it , I just work around it. The pics show the wheel on the right hand side but my is on the USA-left side so I work arount it

benzmodz

I wish I had a dollar every time someone said that.

benzmodz

Get a large rubbery surface and press on the chrome ring and loosen it with a gentle turn. It spins off. Boom shanka.

ThunderPants

Then you would have $7.50

harshybar

My steering colum will move up/down in/out with the lever but it will not do it when I shut off and start. Would this still be the culprit?

Outkasted24

No, You just need to set up the Valet program by using the steering wheel buttons.

Drummajorc

Just did this on my c320 after finally having enough of having the steering wheel stuck at the highest possible setting from when we bought the car half a year ago and I wanted to say thanks for the instructions, probably would have never gotten to it without them.

Here's a crappy cell phone pic of the massive pita I went through to get the steering wheel to come down a few inches.

james90755

Oh man, I was just in about that deep into the dash for the heater box stepper motor linkages. I left one unplugged since I cannot reach it from underneath. It requires bolt removal from the engine side of the firewall. It controls the left windshield defrost.

I guess I have to go in again. I am amazed at how many $20 parts/$1000+ labor issues my 2003 C320 has had in the last year or two.

Frustrated.

And now I get a little clunk around the rear differential when I transition from reverse to drive when rolling too fast... and also at takeoff from a light under certain circumstances.

jevsays

Wow, so I MUST remove the center console (CD, climate controls, etc..) just to change out this dogbone part? PITA for sure!

alboogiee

I have yet to tackle the dog bone, but disassembling the center stack is fairly easy once you've done it before, I can have it down to firewall within 10 minutes.

jevsays

I've yet to do the center piece...I'll just have to look up another DIY for that part. I just ordered the coupling (11$ shipped)...NOT looking forward to the labor but I installed my a/c compressor myself instead of paying the quoted 1,500-2K$ stealership gesture. THAT was a PITA and I felt it the day after.

alboogiee

If you dont find the DIY here try MyMBOnline--I know there is/was a detailed picture DIY for the center stack. The hardest part is the vent clips when trying to release them, other than that it's straight forward unscrewing/pulling. Good luck man!

jevsays

Many thanks!