Paculdo

I started the car and then this message appeared: ESP malfunction (and then visit workshop notice.. or something like that). Is this normal (to appear once in awhile)? I was thinking of having the dealership check this (i have a CPO so I guess this - checking and fixing - if there's any problem they see, is included in the warranty?). I drove about 15 miles, and then when I came back home, turned off the car, and (out of curiosity), turned it on again (after about 1 minute), the message was gone.

Is this something I need to be concerned about? or just some glitch?

e1000

if it's CPO, just take it to the dealer. Better to get it checked out.

C230 Sport Coup

Yeh, ESP is a PIA.
I've had mine in the shop more times for ESP errors, now at 123K miles, I've given up and live with it. Doesn't seem to effect anything.
Even when it says it's offline, I can still feel it working, so who knows.

So yes, get it fixed under warranty!
Mine was very infrequent and gradually became continual.

Paculdo

would the mechanic (dealership) require to have the message still in the display? I tried to have it 'appear' again and it doesnt show anymore... i am just wondering if there's a 'log' or messages that is kept (somewhere) in the car's computer so when the mechanic checks the car, he can still verify that the fault/message have (indeed) appeared. I had a nissan 350z before and when I tried to explain the problem (whining noise), the mechanic was insisting that he can't hear the noise and that I need to comeback when the problem occurs (again) - meaning, i need to replicate the problem and (hope) comeback to the dealership and show to them the problem. would this be the case with the MB?. I'll try to contact them Monday and have it scheduled. I'll probably ask them to have the car serviced too (even though the computer display indicates I still have 6000 miles before service A). I had the car since september 2007 and drove about 6000+ already - had never done anything with the car (for service, oil change, etc).

Paculdo

update: i went to the dealership and told me that they need to replace the sensor? also, the brake pads are worn out and that they need to replace that too, as well as the rotors (all in the front). car is about 26700 miles now, 6700 miles since I got it CPO (11/2007).they charge me 520 for parts and labor. is that fair? is that what caused the ESP malfunction message?

merc200k

look this..maybe help you !!!!

C230 Sport Coup

Too bad you didn't read one of the many thread on how dealers scam people on brake jobs.

If you didn't have a light on, saying something about the brake lining,
you didn't need it.
No that doesn't cause the malfunction.
The 520 was likely just for the brakes.
No one need rotors at 27K miles, pads only shoulda covered it...
a 1/2 hour job with like 3 tools.

Sorry, looks like you been 'Stealer'd'.

Oh and incidentally the computer does store ESP errors.
The system uses many sensors, one at each wheel,
one behind the steering wheel, and a yaw rate sensor (that tells the relative position of the car to the road), usually...uh...
not sure where that is...but when they read the codes they can tell which is causing problems.

Paculdo

so, if the dealership says they need to replace the front rotors and install new brakepads, can i demand to get the 'worn' rotors? nothing to do with it really. is there anyway to know that the rotors are 'new' and that the stealership did replaced it with 'brand new' rotors? there were not warnings about having worn rotors or brakepads. the service staff said that it should have 'warned' about this, but apparently, didn't (so that's BS) this will be the first and last that i'll go there for repairs. i mentioned this to a friend that have owned MBz's for a long time (family drives a number of MBz's), he'll hook me up with a certified MB mechanic that runs a shop so i can pay for labor and just buy my own parts.

C240-Merc

I have been getting the "ESP Visit Workshop" error message on my dash as well, however my car does something very strange right before the message appears - which I believe is triggering it. It seems as if one of my front wheel's brakes grabs the rotor for a second as if it would if I was driving it recklessly, but I am not, in fact I was driving in a straight line going about 35 mph both times. Has anyone else experienced that?
The SA didn't seemed too concerned when I called and mentioned that it could be a brake switch.

Jack_2001C240

I believe Mercedes recommends that the rotors and brake pads should be changed together as part of routine preventive maintenance or when the pads are worn. My 2001 C240 has 29,500 miles and the A service at the dealer revealed they are 60% worn. I have never replaced the brake pads/rotors since I bought the car new.

Mercedes are luxury European cars that are expensive to repair. I have no problem with that. I realize Mercrdes automobiles are not economy cars like my 1990 Honda Civic or 1990 Toyota Celica. By the way those 2 older cars get to be expensive to keep running also because of their age. No, I do not do my own work, but I do work lots of overtime at my full time job and my overtime money more that pays for the maintenance costs for all 3 cars I own. By working overtime I am also increasing the money I put into my pension plan. For many of you complaining about the high costs of the stealership, IMHO you should just work harder at your full time job and make more money instead of nickel and diming the maintenance of your "pride and joy" automobile

ChuckinTucson

Jack, it's nice to know you're a hard working guy, but there is a difference between properly maintaining a car and getting screwed by a dealer for "repairs" that are not needed.

ohlord

that.The dealer is always looking for a way to up the ante.A rotor if not chewed into by neglecting a pad warning light will last two pad changes.There is not enough material to safely turn the rotors so if they are not mirror smooth change them.You can diy very easily and pads run about 80-100 bucks for both front and rear sets.DIY's abound or get alldatadiy.com for a year.
Jack,
DIY is not nickel and diming,and if you learned how to do it ,all that overtime would not be needed and the money you saved by not going to the stealer would put you far ahead in your portfolio.You could install a mass air sensor in you 240 in ten minutes time and $173 for the oem bosch unit.
You be sure to tell us how proud you are of your overtime when the dealer hits you for $880 for the same part and labor charges. The 600 bucks The diy guy saves I am sure for 10 minutes of his time is far more then you will ever sock away in a weeks worth of overtime.The dealers or shops you are taking all your old cars to are sucking your wallet dryyou're just working to hard to realize it
ohlord

timmified100

Thanks O'lord. I bought my Bosh MAF for $159 free shipping and it's not the VW knockoff. People are tired of getting raped for 10 min repairs; especially in these times. Also have put on new pads with the same rotors and the old lady is the ultimate brake tester; and if she can't warp the rotors, nobody can. They are definately good for pads at least twice.

Joonee

I have exactly the same probem, have you fixed this? Thanks

Amvahan

I have the same problem. Can anybody advise me how he could solve the problem.
Thanks.

ashton600sl

I have a 2004 SL600. I wanted to check its oil level the other day so I turned the car off, inserted the key, turned it to the ACC position and dialed through until I got to the oil check prompt. The car quickly shut down completely, gave me a ESP malfunction prompt, and now won't even start.

Any suggestions?

Plutoe

Worth a try-----disconnect\reconnect the battery---can you start the car, however if the problem still persists can you restart the car---if not, you need someone with DAS Xentry to diagnose the problem!!

ashton600sl

Thanks for you suggestion. I have disconnected the battery and then reconnected it. No luck. I'll check the fuses next. If that doesn't work, I'll have it scanned. Thanks for you advice.

pkaffe

Did anyone of you got it fixed ?


I changed my sensor in the trunk roughly a year ago and yesterday I got an ESP error and also the brake grabbed hold on the rotor slighly.