2002 C230 Coupe Ignition Switch
11-01-2009, 04:56 PM
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2002 C230 Coupe Ignition Switch
So, I let my cousin borrow the car to go to a party. Came back home drunk. Stopped by at a QT for gas. When he got out he went from D to N and thought he was at P. Since it has that little stop, he thought he was at D, my guess is he thought it was like a regular car that the D N R and P are all in a straight line. So he stopped at N and forced the key out. He went to pay for gas, pumped it, got back in the car, and smarty pants thought it was on P right, so he put the electrical key in and tried turning it on. Since it was on Neutral, of course the car wasnt going to turn on, so he tried about 4 or 5 times and got frustrated. The next time he did it with all the might he could and ended up twisting the ignition switch! So my car wont turn on any more considering the coils inside the switch are broken. Whats the best economical thing i can do? and help? I already went to Mercedes Benz and got an estimate. About $800! I know they are the only place to get an ignition switch. Or so from what ive heard. What else can I do to save some money?! Im only 18 and not much money considering I pay for all my things....
Any help what so ever would be appreciated!
Any help what so ever would be appreciated!
11-01-2009, 05:42 PM
#2
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So, I let my cousin borrow the car to go to a party. Came back home drunk. Stopped by at a QT for gas. When he got out he went from D to N and thought he was at P. Since it has that little stop, he thought he was at D, my guess is he thought it was like a regular car that the D N R and P are all in a straight line. So he stopped at N and forced the key out. He went to pay for gas, pumped it, got back in the car, and smarty pants thought it was on P right, so he put the electrical key in and tried turning it on. Since it was on Neutral, of course the car wasnt going to turn on, so he tried about 4 or 5 times and got frustrated. The next time he did it with all the might he could and ended up twisting the ignition switch! So my car wont turn on any more considering the coils inside the switch are broken. Whats the best economical thing i can do? and help? I already went to Mercedes Benz and got an estimate. About $800! I know they are the only place to get an ignition switch. Or so from what ive heard. What else can I do to save some money?! Im only 18 and not much money considering I pay for all my things....
Any help what so ever would be appreciated!
Any help what so ever would be appreciated!
either way you are screwed because the dealer has to put in a new eis and i think new keys. my aunt's clk had the eis go out twice and both times warranty paid 1100 to fix it. 350 of that was for two new keys. if it was your cousin why isn't he paying for the damage? btw is the car in your name because you could be held liable if he hit someone which if he was drunk was not that hard to imagine. and did you know he was going to a party to drink because if you did i really don't feel sorry for you.
drinking and driving is so f**king stupid. 
and i know it is hard when you are young paying for everything. i got my car at 16 and have paid for everything since 17 it can be hard. i do have a good job so it isn't a problem anymore because i live at home still so my expense are the car and food. but if you don't have the income a Mercedes or really any car is stupid to have.
gl fixing your car
Last edited by samaritrey; 11-01-2009 at 05:45 PM.
11-02-2009, 01:54 PM
#3
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The EIS is coded to the VIN, must be ordered from Mercedes.
And once installed, must be coded via the Mercedes Computer,
ie Star Diag, or SDS using a USB key that comes with the switch.
An indy shop can do it, if they specialize in Mercedes.
It's still gonna cost $$$.
The only other thing I can think of, and no idea if this would work, is to get a used
EIS from a junkyard, take it apart, remove yours, and see if the broken parts can
be repaired in the existing switch, or parts swapped from the broken one.
The unit will likely have a chip or some sort of circuit board that stores the VIN data.
That would need to remain intact.
There is no guide to assist you with this, it would be OJT !
You could try that before shelling out the big time bucks.
If you sign up for alldata you could likely get instructions at least to remove the
switch (EIS) Electronic Ignition Switch, disassemble the steering column.
1st thing I'd do is to find some place that has an EIS in stock, so you can get a look at it, see if
there's a way to disassemble it.
If you do, post a few pics of it, and keep us in the loop.
You'll need to invest in set of torx bits, and inverted torx sockets to do anything on these
cars, if you haven't already.
Good luck.
You might ask the dealer if they have any EIS's that they removed that are broken that you could practice on, open up and see whats doable.
I have a local guy, next time I drive by, I'll ask if he's got a broken on laying around.
And once installed, must be coded via the Mercedes Computer,
ie Star Diag, or SDS using a USB key that comes with the switch.
An indy shop can do it, if they specialize in Mercedes.
It's still gonna cost $$$.
The only other thing I can think of, and no idea if this would work, is to get a used
EIS from a junkyard, take it apart, remove yours, and see if the broken parts can
be repaired in the existing switch, or parts swapped from the broken one.
The unit will likely have a chip or some sort of circuit board that stores the VIN data.
That would need to remain intact.
There is no guide to assist you with this, it would be OJT !
You could try that before shelling out the big time bucks.
If you sign up for alldata you could likely get instructions at least to remove the
switch (EIS) Electronic Ignition Switch, disassemble the steering column.
1st thing I'd do is to find some place that has an EIS in stock, so you can get a look at it, see if
there's a way to disassemble it.
If you do, post a few pics of it, and keep us in the loop.
You'll need to invest in set of torx bits, and inverted torx sockets to do anything on these
cars, if you haven't already.
Good luck.
You might ask the dealer if they have any EIS's that they removed that are broken that you could practice on, open up and see whats doable.
I have a local guy, next time I drive by, I'll ask if he's got a broken on laying around.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 11-02-2009 at 02:10 PM.
11-02-2009, 03:57 PM
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
At least this put the car out of service and kept him off the street. I don't see why he wouldn't be responsible for this? But then again Trey is probably correct in his assumption that the "cousin" is you.
C230 Sport Coup has given good advice here. But the EIS is a tricky thing and this is going to cost you.
Learn from your mistakes.
C230 Sport Coup has given good advice here. But the EIS is a tricky thing and this is going to cost you.
Learn from your mistakes.
11-02-2009, 05:49 PM
#5
Super Moderator
C230 Sport Coup that is a good idea you have. i bet the mechanism that the key turns in is separate from the computer/ir stuff. if you can get a broken eis to take apart you could fix yours possibly. i have not heard of anyone attempting to take apart the eis but it is worth a shot if you can pick up one for free ore cheap. that would also be nice because you should not have any codding problems or any dealer visit if you can keep all of your boards and stuff.
11-03-2009, 01:57 AM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
I can relate...I broke the key off in the ignition of my VW when I was 17...
pay was $2 an hour....the parts and labor something like 150.....
so lets see, working pt at the local Burger King, that was about 4 weeks wages.....
I drove all over town to find the part....I got royally screwed on the deal....
Ah, live and learn. It's all just nuts and bolts.
pay was $2 an hour....the parts and labor something like 150.....
so lets see, working pt at the local Burger King, that was about 4 weeks wages.....
I drove all over town to find the part....I got royally screwed on the deal....
Ah, live and learn. It's all just nuts and bolts.
11-03-2009, 11:29 AM
#7
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02 C320 Sedan
So you let someone take your ride??
Just to show off at a party?? But yet driving drunk is okay?? WOW
The key broke for a reason.. You shouldn't have let someone drunk drive YOUR car..
Btw I'm stoned all the time.. i tend to leave it in N and turn my car off.. The thing is if you don't have it in gear.. THE EIS will not even accept the key if its not in park. It spits it back out =P
I dunno.. i would make him pay for it. As he wanted to drive your car.. But its kinda your fault in a way when you could have just said NO.
Why don't you just go back and say no.. ( only if time travel was possible )
Just to show off at a party?? But yet driving drunk is okay?? WOW
The key broke for a reason.. You shouldn't have let someone drunk drive YOUR car..
Btw I'm stoned all the time.. i tend to leave it in N and turn my car off.. The thing is if you don't have it in gear.. THE EIS will not even accept the key if its not in park. It spits it back out =P
I dunno.. i would make him pay for it. As he wanted to drive your car.. But its kinda your fault in a way when you could have just said NO.
Why don't you just go back and say no.. ( only if time travel was possible )
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11-03-2009, 02:16 PM
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1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
Whoever did the damage should have to pay for it, but you have no way to force them to unless you want to take them to civil court. KrisV, yours must be broken too. You cannot take the key out of the ignition while the car is in neutral.
11-03-2009, 03:38 PM
#9
MBWorld Fanatic!
So you let someone take your ride??
Just to show off at a party?? But yet driving drunk is okay?? WOW
The key broke for a reason.. You shouldn't have let someone drunk drive YOUR car..
Btw I'm stoned all the time.. i tend to leave it in N and turn my car off.. The thing is if you don't have it in gear..
Just to show off at a party?? But yet driving drunk is okay?? WOW
The key broke for a reason.. You shouldn't have let someone drunk drive YOUR car..
Btw I'm stoned all the time.. i tend to leave it in N and turn my car off.. The thing is if you don't have it in gear..
Drew - you're correct. You could probably yank it out but I wouldn't.
11-03-2009, 05:19 PM
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
Newbs. Why do I bother.
Ask a question, get us to answer and disappear.
Troll alert!
Ask a question, get us to answer and disappear.
Troll alert!
11-07-2009, 12:07 AM
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Let me guess The Cousin IS YOU!! lol
either way you are screwed because the dealer has to put in a new eis and i think new keys. my aunt's clk had the eis go out twice and both times warranty paid 1100 to fix it. 350 of that was for two new keys. if it was your cousin why isn't he paying for the damage? btw is the car in your name because you could be held liable if he hit someone which if he was drunk was not that hard to imagine. and did you know he was going to a party to drink because if you did i really don't feel sorry for you. drinking and driving is so f**king stupid.
and i know it is hard when you are young paying for everything. i got my car at 16 and have paid for everything since 17 it can be hard. i do have a good job so it isn't a problem anymore because i live at home still so my expense are the car and food. but if you don't have the income a Mercedes or really any car is stupid to have.
gl fixing your car
either way you are screwed because the dealer has to put in a new eis and i think new keys. my aunt's clk had the eis go out twice and both times warranty paid 1100 to fix it. 350 of that was for two new keys. if it was your cousin why isn't he paying for the damage? btw is the car in your name because you could be held liable if he hit someone which if he was drunk was not that hard to imagine. and did you know he was going to a party to drink because if you did i really don't feel sorry for you.
drinking and driving is so f**king stupid. and i know it is hard when you are young paying for everything. i got my car at 16 and have paid for everything since 17 it can be hard. i do have a good job so it isn't a problem anymore because i live at home still so my expense are the car and food. but if you don't have the income a Mercedes or really any car is stupid to have.
gl fixing your car
i know having any kind of luxury car is hard to have. at the time i had spare cash to buy the car so i did but with school and everything, it ended up spending what i had saved
i figured it would be something expensive :/
11-07-2009, 12:10 AM
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The EIS is coded to the VIN, must be ordered from Mercedes.
And once installed, must be coded via the Mercedes Computer,
ie Star Diag, or SDS using a USB key that comes with the switch.
An indy shop can do it, if they specialize in Mercedes.
It's still gonna cost $$$.
The only other thing I can think of, and no idea if this would work, is to get a used
EIS from a junkyard, take it apart, remove yours, and see if the broken parts can
be repaired in the existing switch, or parts swapped from the broken one.
The unit will likely have a chip or some sort of circuit board that stores the VIN data.
That would need to remain intact.
There is no guide to assist you with this, it would be OJT !
You could try that before shelling out the big time bucks.
If you sign up for alldata you could likely get instructions at least to remove the
switch (EIS) Electronic Ignition Switch, disassemble the steering column.
1st thing I'd do is to find some place that has an EIS in stock, so you can get a look at it, see if
there's a way to disassemble it.
If you do, post a few pics of it, and keep us in the loop.
You'll need to invest in set of torx bits, and inverted torx sockets to do anything on these
cars, if you haven't already.
Good luck.
You might ask the dealer if they have any EIS's that they removed that are broken that you could practice on, open up and see whats doable.
I have a local guy, next time I drive by, I'll ask if he's got a broken on laying around.
And once installed, must be coded via the Mercedes Computer,
ie Star Diag, or SDS using a USB key that comes with the switch.
An indy shop can do it, if they specialize in Mercedes.
It's still gonna cost $$$.
The only other thing I can think of, and no idea if this would work, is to get a used
EIS from a junkyard, take it apart, remove yours, and see if the broken parts can
be repaired in the existing switch, or parts swapped from the broken one.
The unit will likely have a chip or some sort of circuit board that stores the VIN data.
That would need to remain intact.
There is no guide to assist you with this, it would be OJT !
You could try that before shelling out the big time bucks.
If you sign up for alldata you could likely get instructions at least to remove the
switch (EIS) Electronic Ignition Switch, disassemble the steering column.
1st thing I'd do is to find some place that has an EIS in stock, so you can get a look at it, see if
there's a way to disassemble it.
If you do, post a few pics of it, and keep us in the loop.
You'll need to invest in set of torx bits, and inverted torx sockets to do anything on these
cars, if you haven't already.
Good luck.
You might ask the dealer if they have any EIS's that they removed that are broken that you could practice on, open up and see whats doable.
I have a local guy, next time I drive by, I'll ask if he's got a broken on laying around.
and i know how to open it up i helped a friend on his coupe to install a stereo camera stereo system etc its not really that hard to get to the ignition switch i already checked it out and the gold coils on the igntion switch are out of place along with some of the parts broken so i know for a fact i need a new ignition and alot of $$$$
11-07-2009, 12:11 AM
#14
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At least this put the car out of service and kept him off the street. I don't see why he wouldn't be responsible for this? But then again Trey is probably correct in his assumption that the "cousin" is you.
C230 Sport Coup has given good advice here. But the EIS is a tricky thing and this is going to cost you.
Learn from your mistakes.
C230 Sport Coup has given good advice here. But the EIS is a tricky thing and this is going to cost you.
Learn from your mistakes.
its packing like 125,000 and still going like nothing
until now lol
11-07-2009, 12:12 AM
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So you let someone take your ride??
Just to show off at a party?? But yet driving drunk is okay?? WOW
The key broke for a reason.. You shouldn't have let someone drunk drive YOUR car..
Btw I'm stoned all the time.. i tend to leave it in N and turn my car off.. The thing is if you don't have it in gear.. THE EIS will not even accept the key if its not in park. It spits it back out =P
I dunno.. i would make him pay for it. As he wanted to drive your car.. But its kinda your fault in a way when you could have just said NO.
Why don't you just go back and say no.. ( only if time travel was possible )
Just to show off at a party?? But yet driving drunk is okay?? WOW
The key broke for a reason.. You shouldn't have let someone drunk drive YOUR car..
Btw I'm stoned all the time.. i tend to leave it in N and turn my car off.. The thing is if you don't have it in gear.. THE EIS will not even accept the key if its not in park. It spits it back out =P
I dunno.. i would make him pay for it. As he wanted to drive your car.. But its kinda your fault in a way when you could have just said NO.
Why don't you just go back and say no.. ( only if time travel was possible )
and he forced the key inside so the car had no choice whether to accept it or not lol
if i could go back in time i would be a millionaire
11-07-2009, 12:14 AM
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08-14-2010, 01:13 AM
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Yep - EIS is an expensive exercise. I don't know anyone that has managed to repair one.
