W203 Multi-Function Display Fading Class Action Suit
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,124
Likes: 223
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 380
Likes: 5
From: So Cal
2003 C230
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 380
Likes: 5
From: So Cal
2003 C230
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 50
From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
My replacement display is starting to do the same thing again now - fading around the outside edges. You guys who had it replaced under warranty like me, beware!
So, any new news on this?
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: California
2001-CLK55AMG 2004-C230KS
2004
If it's warm out, my screen is faded so bad that you can't even read a single digit... Luckily it's fine at night...
It has to have something to do with the cheap orange pixel screens- the newer model's white screen seems fine...
It has to have something to do with the cheap orange pixel screens- the newer model's white screen seems fine...
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
C320 Wagon
W203 Multifunction Display Fades
My 2002 C320 just started having this problem. The car had been garaged up until recently. Now it’s been sitting parked in the sun (Southern Calif) most everyday, coincident with the fading of the display.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,174
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From: SoCal
...a panty dropper...
STLs last activity was Aug 04 2009 so unless he went on a vacation I think he gave up on this. Looks like he has a lot of email addresses now so maybe we will all get myspace and facebook requests from him lol.
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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Hopefully he will resurrect from the dead and share the information he collected so we can at least use the draft letter or whatever information he had as leverage at our local dealers if not at MB headquarters.
This is clearly poor engineering/quality control. I'd argue other issues that fall in this category include:
pano sunroofs breaking left and right (I had this)
door lock actuators going kaputz (had this)
cam sensor leak (had this)
leaking suspension bushings
radiator leaking into tranny
vent control stepper or whatever
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
...a panty dropper...
That blows.
Hopefully he will resurrect from the dead and share the information he collected so we can at least use the draft letter or whatever information he had as leverage at our local dealers if not at MB headquarters.
This is clearly poor engineering/quality control. I'd argue other issues that fall in this category include:
pano sunroofs breaking left and right (I had this)
door lock actuators going kaputz (had this)
cam sensor leak (had this)
leaking suspension bushings
radiator leaking into tranny
vent control stepper or whatever
Hopefully he will resurrect from the dead and share the information he collected so we can at least use the draft letter or whatever information he had as leverage at our local dealers if not at MB headquarters.
This is clearly poor engineering/quality control. I'd argue other issues that fall in this category include:
pano sunroofs breaking left and right (I had this)
door lock actuators going kaputz (had this)
cam sensor leak (had this)
leaking suspension bushings
radiator leaking into tranny
vent control stepper or whatever
Dont forget that lovely CPS sensor.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
Likes: 18
From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
LMAO... that's why I gave it a 
from the beginning.
he probably took all your email complaints and showed it to his own dealership and got himself a new cluster instead of following through and actually forward them to a qualified lawyer.
from the beginning.he probably took all your email complaints and showed it to his own dealership and got himself a new cluster instead of following through and actually forward them to a qualified lawyer.
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
I wanted to emphasize that unless STLcoupe died, he is an utter shthead for not passing along the information that was volunteered to him.
If you gentlefolk would like to start this process over I created a private/password protected 'writeboard' collaborative document. It won't be indexed by search engines unlike these forums so your privacy should be of less concern should you be hesitant to share information. Feel free to edit it as you wish.
post your info as a comment.
password is : badmfd
http://123.writeboard.com/f76cf5df65cfff505
btw, i don't think a class action lawsuit will be all that fruitful but perhaps this could be leveraged at the dealership/MBUSA since the MFD is indeed a critical component of driving the vehicle safely.
If you gentlefolk would like to start this process over I created a private/password protected 'writeboard' collaborative document. It won't be indexed by search engines unlike these forums so your privacy should be of less concern should you be hesitant to share information. Feel free to edit it as you wish.
post your info as a comment.
password is : badmfd
http://123.writeboard.com/f76cf5df65cfff505
btw, i don't think a class action lawsuit will be all that fruitful but perhaps this could be leveraged at the dealership/MBUSA since the MFD is indeed a critical component of driving the vehicle safely.
Last edited by govertime; Feb 24, 2010 at 08:47 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 587
Likes: 13
From: The Windy City
'02 C32, '10 135i M-Sport, '10 E63, '17 GLE63S
Just posted too. I'll speak to my attorney and see if he knows anybody who has experience in class-action suits. Should we cross-post this to the smaller C-forums?
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 167
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 5
From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
It does get pretty hot here as well even if only for a few months, and we have the ****ty MFD problems then as well.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Daytona Beach, Florida
2007 CLK 500
I was looking at replacing just the display as others have done on the forum on a 2001 C320. I was looking for a used part and wanted to find one with the lowest mileage and age on it so that it would last the longest. My question is since I just need to swap that one part, and don't need the rest to fit, what is the newest model year and class cluster I could buy and have it work? To me some of the E's look like they have the same size and thought they might not have the fading problem and I could just swap one of those.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
C230KM 2002
Cluster fade
When my 2002 CKM first acted up - about 10 miles over warranty- I had seen a recall notice. Brought to dealer and he said it was not for my specific car. But I definitely recall there was a recall on this for some models.
So I still have the same unit, same problem and as time goes on fades top and bottom and even lower temperatures, no about 20C.
So I still have the same unit, same problem and as time goes on fades top and bottom and even lower temperatures, no about 20C.
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,295
Likes: 22
From: VA
THE C350
I doubt this was even going to work because it is not a safety issue more of a annoyance. Personally i don't really care that it fades i have the music up and windows down in the summer anyway i am not staring at the screen. Hopefully in my next car this won't happen but i am moving on. also most of us are 2nd and up owners the only people that might have a chance are original owners imo.
Last edited by samaritrey; Apr 17, 2010 at 03:32 PM.
