dickcarl

Two months after purchasing my '01 C320, I just paid over $2000 to fix an electrical drain.

The shop claimed it was the "overhead unit" and the "seat controller unit", $785 and $489 respectively. The overhead unit is a circuit board that they described as what controls a little fan in the area above my head. The seat controller manages the multiple-setting electric seats.

I did find part number #2038201626 on the seat controller unit for $204 on one site, but can't find the "overhead unit" anywhere.

Can anyone point me to a good source for pricing info, or tell me if I've been had?

Love the car, otherwise...

RoninAG

shandy2550

Dick,
$785 does seem a bit steep for the overhead unit, as they said ,it is a circuit board in the interior light unit which has a small fan drawing air from the car interior over a temperature sensor connected to the climate control.
Can't find this unit on my system so can't help with part no. or price , but if they replaced the whole overhead unit and not just the circuit board that may explain the price.
Geo.

Sickwitit

I too had the amazing and famous electrical drain, mines my done under warranty and the invoice showed that they replace a unit under the seats and was priced out as a little over $710.00.
Good luck with your problem

phattbam

I paid 1400 to repair my driver side seat memory module along with the passenger side seat something. prices are ridiculous.

TA-9FF

Is stuff like this not normally covered under warranty???

rlee02135

i saw a few on ebay the other day.

phattbam

my car was out of warranty when this issue came about.

coin

I agree the maintenance of a benz is sky-rocket high ..

But with that much amount of money spent, don't you think it is worth it to purchase an extended warranty?

I thought the extended warranty should cover all these but I am not sure ?

No Malfunctions

Oh yeah. I had that famous electrical drain also. With mine it was the passenger seat control module that needed to be replaced. My dealer charged me $452 for the part and $315 for the labor. Ouch! Tap out, tap outttt!!

It's worth it though, since it's part of the sophisticated PreSafe System. If your car detects an unavoidable collision, it will open the sunroof and eject your a$$ out.

chase720

You think thats bad. I had to replace a window motor which was 300 and just brought it in with broken power steering (600) the same battery drain problem and a non syncing A/C vent (supose to be like 500-1000).

phattbam

You got lucky with the AC thing. I got was suppose to get charged $2k but my SA that I was cool and "took care of it".

patrick_y

Who's your service advisor? What dealership?

phattbam

It was at Beshoff in San Jose. I don't think I should reveil his name but I haven't gone back to the dealership since my car had way too many miles to bring it back for any warranty work.

patrick_y

Oh, I don't like Beshoff, poor location, too far away from the major freeways. Fremont Mercedes is a bit better. Close to I680, I880, and 8 miles away from 101.

I'm glad that they took care of that for you though.

I try to avoid Smythe. They use Penzoil, at least they did when Smythe himself used to own it. Now that Autonation owns the place, I don't know.

phattbam

I live in Livermore. I"ve been to Fremont, that's where they reamed me for $1400 on that battery drain issue and to top it off they didnt offer me a loaner or rental car at a discount.

patrick_y

Yikes. I guess you might wanna stick with Beshoff.

The only problem I've had with my dealership (not a small one) was that I had called in advance for them to wash a friend of mine's Lotus Elise, he had driven it all the way from LA for a wedding. They promised that they would wash it over the phone. When I got there, they wouldn't wash it. Had a huge argument with Lee Cressio, the sales manager, and he treated me with gross disrespect. In the end, the car wasn't washed and they embarassed me in front of my friend.

chase720

I just got my car back for the second time and they repaired my power steering pump for $430 including labor and quoted me $600 for the battery drain problem and the A/C noise. I was kind of in shock buy didnt argue. They just said we will order the parts and bring it in wednesday morning and it will be done by the afternoon. Whatever works.