Well, im about at the end of my rope. I just purchased a 2000 c230K from a local used car dealer with 55k miles or so.

Here is the problem(s). Every once in a while, the BAS/ESP light comes on. This causes the car to act really funny. Sometimes it doesnt want to shift out of 1st (limp home mode?), it shifts hard, and sometimes when its doing this I turn the key and nothing happens. At all.

This problem happens intermittently, but once it starts to happen, it gets more and more frequent. Taking it to a dealer and having hime "clear the codes" seems to take care of it for a week or so but it always returns.

When the problem started, I took it to the dealer, and they found a host of problems, mainly the electronic shifter assembly. Its replaced, and does nothing to correct the problems.

I take it to another dealer and they say "we will fix this, oh yeah well find it, were the best". That lasted about a day. They cant make the car reproduce the problem. So they want me to authoreize 10 hours of diagnostic work for htem to try to run it down.

I got them to pull the history on the car, and it looks like its been having these problems since about 20K miles. The same parts have been replaced several times, leading me to believe that they have no idea how to fix this.

The dealer says that there are codes in the computer, but what its telling them to do doesnt make any sense to them.

Finally they have told me that if I bring it in while its faulting again, they will contact the factory and possibly the factory with authorize them to fix this problem that seems to be very elusive.

So like I said, im at my wits end. If they cant fix this soon im going to just sell the car. Its made me very dissapoined in Mercedes (also in myself for not checking the car at a dealer rather than my local mechanic)

Does anyone have any experience with these problems? Any leads?

Thanks in advance,
Chris
ctorto1@lsu.edu.uk (remove the UK to email me

 

From what I've seen, generally the w202's are reliable. In some cases, a few of them may be problem-matic. I'm guessing you got one of them. If the problem has been repaired or attempted repair of 3 or more times, it may be a lemon...why not go back to the used car place and see what they can do for you. Was it a MB used car so that it was Starmarked (used car certified)? Did you get any kind of warranty on it?

 

Well I did get an aftermarket warranty althought the car was not starmark certified. Its a decent one but it does not cover diagnostics unless they are related to a warrantied part. So basically they want me to front 10 hours of labor for a problem that they admit they may or may not find.

Upon further talking with them, they say that they will call the factory to authorize the repair since the car has had so many problems. I hope this works out. I really like the car, but when I get in it and it wont crank or holds 1st gear down the block its dissapointing.

I have a feeling its a simple sensor or computer problem that just is not easy to run down. Any ideas of things I could try or check on my own? After reading the forums Im thingkning about looking at

1) MAF sensor - seems to be a recurring theme
2) O2 sensors?
3) checking transmission fluid
4) resetting the car by pulling the battery wires (I have the radio code)

You know that the dealership told me that the problem may have been in the values in the smart transmission system? They told me that for $250 the could reset the system to factory for me (I E it would forget about the previous drivers). From what im reading simply disconnecting the battery will do this.... is this the case?

Thanks for your advice
Chris

 

MAF sensor will bog down you car and sometimes throw a check engine light at ya. O2 sensors also have to do with the idle and gas mileage. But these two don't have really to do with starting the car. I mean, you can run it without the MAF sensor as well as the O2 sensor. Maybe Ignition Coil Packs...may want to check that out or run a search on that. Those at times are common too on the w202's.

Pulling the battery will reset EVERYTHING. All the codes from the computer, clock, radio, adaptive transmission settings. So yeah, u can pull it, let it sit for about 30 minutes then re-attach it. For the tranny to learn your new settings, take about 200 miles or there of.

May want to change the tranny filter...that helps shifting as well. If the thing is clogged, then yeah, u'r gonna get rough shifting probably. I'm not sure if you can change the tranny fluid yourself...as you need special tools I think (may be on the S-Class) but check around on that.

Have you checked the FSS (flexible service system) in the cluster to see how much longer before the next service?

Are you getting these things checked out at a MB dealer, independent MB dealer or just a regular garage?

 

Im getting these things checked at the dealer. I tried the dealer here in baton rouge (Audubon Imports) and also the dealer in New Orleans. Neither have been very helpful. The FSS system says the car is something like 2000 miles overdue, although it has been in several times they dont reset it. I just had the oil changed with synthetic but that s about the only maint that has been done on the car.

From the MB records on the car it looks as if it sat upf ro 6 months or so while it was sold (700 mi in 6 months).

I really dont WANT to get rid of this car, hell I just wrecked my GTI and bought this, I love the car, its so clean. I feel like if I just can get past this stupid problem the car will be fine.

Ill keep ya posted.

Chris