Ecivilized

To all: The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHSTA) just completed an investigation on the coil springs and spring perch failure in E class Mercedes build years 1997-1999. (Report completion Aug 9, 2007). The Action Number is PE07021 and the report can be viewed at NHSTA's site. There is no recall to date; however, the more people register complaints at the same site or at the hotline number 800-327-4236, the faster MB might move to issue a recall.

This just happened to my car recently so have you cars checked annually to make sure it does not happen to you. MB dealer service center cost to fix: $1,900.00. If this has happened to you MB might reduce the cost if the mileage is under 150k. FYI

E420SportGT

I keep hearing about this spring perch failure to E class cars...but I never hear about it here in California. Could it be due to that most East Coast cars rust because of all the salt during winter months? Or has anyone here in California experienced that? Maybe I should just take it to a muffler shop and have them weld the perch just in case.

amgqmp1

Thanks for sharing this info. Any thoughts on the way we can push for a recall online? You mentioned submitting a complaint through a web site...any direction on that?

Max Hughes

way to scare man oh well my 97's only got 38K ill let the next owner worry

ohlord

Got news for you,miles have nothing to do with it.Moisture getting in behind the factory mastic,leads to the failure,not miles.Inspect,esp if you live in the rust belt.As for passing it on,that kind of thinking is bound to bite you in the a** everytime.
ohlord
"GOT CODES?"

uberwgn

http://mercedesshop.com/shopforum/sh...18&postcount=1

Max Hughes

Indiana isnt exactly the rustiest place on earth, but my kind of thinking(in my experience) has been good for me and worrying just makes things seem to break faster.

Turbofroggy

The spring perch on my 1998 E300 was repaired no 1/16/2006. It was about 3/4 of the way torn off on the driver side. MB paid for half the repair, total repair about $600 (which I paid $300). The dealer didn't actually do the repair, it was farmed out to a body shop. So that time it was caught before it failed.

However:

This Saturday it failed, about a year and a half later. When the perch ripped off, it sounded like my tire exploded. (scared the crap out of my wife and I.)
Luckly it did it as we were exiting the freeway on the off ramp, I was only going about 35mph at the time (but going 70 just before that.).
My tire was touching the top of the inside of the fender and I could see the spring sticking out from behind the brake rotor. It also took my ABS sensor with it according to the ECM.

Representatives from MB and the body shop took pictures of it already and I am awaiting a response from them. I have already filed a compaint with the NHTSA about this. I am expecting no less than 100% repair with no cost, but we will see.

I have had 4 Mercedes's so far, 1982 300D, 1984 300D, 1987 300SDL and this 1998 E300. Two of the others I have had went over 300K, I doubt this one will make it. It will be the last Mercedes I own.

ohlord

a dealer and inquire about a recall/free inspection/what the hell are they doing?

found this link to a pic,spring popped out and suspension collapsed in his garage,he had just been on the hway doing 60plus a few minutes before!!!!!!!!!! imagine what would happen if you were going 60 or better.......
Call them in the A.M.
ohlord
link http://www.rupelli.com/dump/driverssideperch01.jpg

loubapache

Turbofroggy: Was this one the same one they repaired?

The Spring perches on my 1997 E320 were replaced 03/2007. Both sides were done and MB paid 50%. They broke the upper control arm.

They also replaced the lower ball joints and did an alignment. My out of pocket cost was $1100.

I wonder if the post 2000 models use a spray on sealant. Can anyone with a non-4Matic take a look? The 1996 - 1999 model years use a chalk like sealant that will peel and crack.

amgqmp1

Based on this thread...I finally got around to checking mine today. They appear to be fine. There are a couple very small spots (< 1in.) that have a dusting of "the rust"...on both sides they are on the raised lip of the inner circle. I have to reiterate that this is obviously one thing every single owner of the affected years should check. Springs are amazingly dangerous when they pop off...

Since mine are overall very good for a 10 year old car, and, I know I can sand down the very small spots with a rotary tool...does anyone have any advice on what to spray on after I've sanded? I was thinking good ole' rubberized undercoating spray would work...but I'll wait for advice before proceeding.

loubapache

Did you peel the sealant when you saw "very small spots (< 1in.) that have a dusting of "the rust""? If yes, then you can use something like POR 15 to seal it first, then paint it over.

If you saw the dusting of rust with the sealant on, there is sad news. Mine were like that without peeling the sealant. Once the sealant was peeled, there was much more than just dusting of rust.

Zackb911

NHTSA Action Number : PE07021 NHTSA Recall Campaign Number : N/A
Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
MERCEDES / E320 1998
MERCEDES BENZ / 300E 1997-1999
MERCEDES BENZ / 320E 1997
MERCEDES BENZ / E 320 1997
MERCEDES BENZ / E CLASS 1996-1999
MERCEDES BENZ / E320 1996-1997 1999
MERCEDES BENZ / E430 1998-1999
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Component :
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Date Investigation Opened : April 19, 2007
Date Investigation Closed : August 9, 2007
Summary:
ODI HAS FOCUSED THIS INVESTIGATION ON ASSESSING THE RISKS POSED BY A SEPARATED SPRING AS (1) A ROAD HAZARD AND (2) THE POTENTIAL FOR VEHICLE CONTROL TO BE COMPROMISED AFTER THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IN THE VEHICLE. BOTH RISKS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CORROSION, FLEXING, AND FRACTURE OF THE UPPER FRONT SUSPENSION MOUNTING BRACKET. TIME-IN-SERVICE FAILURE RATES ARE NOTABLY HIGHER IN SALT BELT STATES SINCE CORROSION IS A PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FAILURE MODE. SINCE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, ODI IS SKEPTICAL THAT OWNERS CAN ALWAYS DETECT THE SUBTLE SIDE TO SIDE DIFFERENCE IN RIDE HEIGHT AND/OR INSPECT OR NOTICE THAT THE UPPER SUSPENSION BRACKET HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY CORROSION. (1) ROAD HAZARD - ALTHOUGH THE (APPROX. 7 LB.) FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING THAT MAY BE EJECTED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD POSE A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD TO PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES, THE OCCURRENCE RATE HAS BEEN LOW (.03% BASED ON 51 REPORTED INCIDENTS OCCURRING AND AN INITIAL POPULATION OF 172,781 VEHICLES AFTER 9 - 12 YEARS OF USE / EXPOSURE) AND THERE ARE NO KNOWN INJURIES, FATALITIES, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE REPORTS DUE TO AN EJECTED SPRING. ALSO, MANY OF THE 51 INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OR PARKED. (2) VEHICLE CONTROL - VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL COULD BE AFFECTED BY THE FRACTURE OF THE UPPER SUSPENSION MOUNT AND/OR THE ASSOCIATED SPRING EJECTION. ODI FIRST IDENTIFIED ITS CONCERN ABOUT CORROSION IN THE UPPER SUSPENSION BRACKET OF SUBJECT VEHICLES IN 2002, AT WHICH TIME MERCEDES PROVIDED A VIDEO THAT SHOWED THAT A VEHICLE COULD BE STEERED, STOPPED, AND CONTROLLED THROUGH VARIOUS MANEUVERS AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH A FRONT COIL SPRING COMPLETELY MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. DURING PE07-021, IN ADDITION TO REVIEWING THE 2002 VIDEO-TAPE, ODI ENGINEERS DROVE AN EXEMPLAR VEHICLE WITH THE SPRING REMOVED AND SIMULATED VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF STEERING ANGLES TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE WERE ANY POSSIBLE CONDITIONS / DISPLACEMENTS IN WHICH THE SEPARATED SPRING MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE WHEELS. IN A VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT SPRING REMOVED, THE TOP OF THE WHEEL CAN LIGHTLY CONTACT THE BOTTOM AREA OF THE WHEEL FENDER DURING HIGH ANGLE TURNS TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SLOWER SPEED MANEUVERS SUCH AS CITY DRIVING. THE LIGHT TIRE CONTACT GENERATED AN OBVIOUS "GRINDING" NOISE AND WOULD LIKELY ABRADE OR BEND THE EDGE OF THE FENDER WITH CONTINUED USE. HOWEVER, THE EXTENT OF THE INTERFERENCE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO AFFECT VEHICLE STEERING AND DOES NOT OCCUR AT SMALLER TURNING ANGLES ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHWAY DRIVING. ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME. FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING THAT A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT

citruspilot

Well, there you have it folks! Looks like MB got off without a scratch, scott free, at least for now anyway. Remember the Explorer rollovers? Took many years, fatalities, and major news agencies reporting it on network TV programs to finally get this department to do something. I guess somebody has to die for this to become a problem for MB. Just hope its not me, my wife or my daughter...............or any of you!!!

I am taking my car in to get my local MB shop to show me that mines OK real soon. "AND" I am not paying them for this inspection either. I am sure that if I make a big enough stink about this issue they will look at it. Think they dont know about it? I bet they do. Anyway I take my car there often for service and to buy parts. I am sure they THINK I will be trading it in for a newer model one of these days because every time I drive up I get approached by a sale person, especially if I am in my pilot uniform......

Jeff

amgqmp1

Peeling the sealant...pardon my ignorance, but would you kindly elaborate?

ohlord

spring perches were robot welded at the factory and then coated with a coat of mastic.A glance of the spring area will not show the underlying rust if moisture did manage to creep in behind the mastic.Peel it back,off,to get to the frame and take a look,rust=repair,no rust=eastwood POR and cover it up,and never worry about it again..........

loubapache

amgqmp1: ohlord described it completely. The sealant covers the rust so you do not see it until the perches break off.

amgqmp1

Gotcha, guys...thank you!

Oh well, I guess I'm not in the clear yet...but, it'll sure give me something to do this weekend. The one dealer we have within 150 miles of me isn't worth going to...even if the inspection were free. They're worse than worthless...they are a liability. Now that I understand what is involved...I can understand why those of you with remotely decent dealers would be taking it in for an inspection.

So, based on the NHTSA inspection...they (unscientifically) tested a staged scenario...and didn't attempt to repro. what would happen in an actual failure scenario. That sounds like it wouldn't even pass muster on MythBusters(tm)...but, it's reassuring (hardly) to know that "it's good enough for government work".

Hmm...I still like my old W210...but they can be a pain.

MB Enthusiast

I had both done on my 1997 E320 at 60K

My mechanic who works only on Mercedes had fixed 10 before my all having fairly low milage

rdsaal

I don't know anything about cars so forgive this question.

I have a 1999 E320 with 106K miles. Yesterday the spring on the right front broke off while I was driving. Thank God I was only going 15 mph instead of 80 on the highway.

Does this sound like the spring perch? The dealer has the car but I haven't heard from them yet today.

I bought the car in July and specifically had the dealer look at the spring perch because I had read online that it would need attention. They told me it was okay. Does this mean I can come down on them for the repair cost?

Thanks.

jh225

So, am I to assume that 2000 model year cars are NOT affected?

Also, are 4Matic cars involved or are the springs mounted differently?

loubapache

The 4Matic does have different setup.

However, I am not sure if the 4Matic or 2000 later cars are not affected. Maybe less so.

PJbump28

Does anyone know a Mercedes mechanic in the Des Moines area who does not work for the dealership?:

ohlord

did not have the spring perch issue,different process was used on that model.


if a dealer or shop inspected the spring perches when you had it inspected,they did not peel back the mastic and even take a look !!!!!!!!!!!Stand on your head and spit nickles if they try to even charge you for the repair,if they looked at it properly they would have seen the rust compromising the perch,it did not happen overnight and it is ugly to behold.
if they dont do it for free,haul their *** to small claims court!!!!!!!!!!!
stealerships
ohlord
posted before but i will post it again,how on earth could they miss this?
http://www.rupelli.com/dump/driverssideperch01.jpg

SnowCub

ok, so how exactly do I check the areas? I am not that familiar with this car or MB's in general. Anyone have pictures of the general area of inspection?