Jun 15, 2015, 02:47 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
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2008 C300 won't start
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 55
From: LA LA Land
'08 C300 MM Pano
hi CodeBlue - not sure where you came up with your numbers...
Kbb.con shows nearly double for my car - 2008 C350 with 75k miles in the SF Bay Area.
$15,145 as trade-in and $16,553 in very good condition - which covers the top 26% of cars.
Where did you find your abysmal $8k number?
Kbb.con shows nearly double for my car - 2008 C350 with 75k miles in the SF Bay Area.
$15,145 as trade-in and $16,553 in very good condition - which covers the top 26% of cars.
Where did you find your abysmal $8k number?
For example, codeblue will tell you:
Mercedes-Benz and Lexus Top Customer Satisfaction Survey
Mercedes-Benz ranks highest in sales satisfaction among luxury brands
I am not sure what his point or goal is... I mean, as far as we know, he still owns his C-Class and yet the crap he continues to post, all the criticism, if it is going to hurt anyone, it will end up hurting him equally when he tries to sell or trade in!
Seriously, I don't know whether to laugh at some of the nonsense he posts or whether to feel sympathetic...
Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
2008 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic Sport
I cited the source: Edmunds dot com. Input 2008 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic with 90,000 miles in average condition.
IGB is a known troll in this forum, who takes up bandwidth accusing people who complain of the EIS/ESL problem of wanting freebies and not wealthy enough to own a Mercedes. He is a useless parasite.
IGB is a known troll in this forum, who takes up bandwidth accusing people who complain of the EIS/ESL problem of wanting freebies and not wealthy enough to own a Mercedes. He is a useless parasite.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 74
Likes: 4
From: Ontario, Canada
2014 ml63 and 2014 ml350 bluetec
Anyone here just tried changing the elv motor before it stops working?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/new-ELV-ESL-s...item1c4c869c52
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/new-ELV-ESL-s...item1c4c869c52
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 65
Likes: 4
C350
2009 C350 same problem
My 09 C350 same problem at about 78K miles.
Talked to MBUSA. The guys there are not the least helpful. I am within the extended warranty mileage limit, but am outside the warranty date by about 9 months.
I can't believe MB is getting away without doing a proper recall for this issue.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 65
Likes: 4
C350
Bad electronic steering lock = cam solenoid problem ?
Hey JBailey, i kinda of had the same situation you did when i went to start my car in the morning, and this happened to me once prior to the final dead start. What i found out was my dealer told me that the 2008 C300 are recalled for a Solenoid Cam, and this was covered under that recall. I would check that out with them if you can still.
Is the bad electronic steering lock and the cam solenoid problem the same ?
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 65
Likes: 4
C350
I drive a 2009 C350 and everything was working fine. Nothing was wrong with it. Today I parked it in front of my In-law's house for a few hours. When I got back in the car to start it, nothing happened. It did exactly what was mentioned in the other posts. Lights turn on, dash turns on, I can turn on the radio. The windows wont roll down and the car wont start at all. the Steering column is locked.
I bought the car used at Acura of Fremont here in California. I was wondering since I bought their extended warranty, will it cover the cost? Can I take it to a MB dealer? My car has less than 70k miles.
I bought the car used at Acura of Fremont here in California. I was wondering since I bought their extended warranty, will it cover the cost? Can I take it to a MB dealer? My car has less than 70k miles.
Hi, I have the same car and problem. How did things turn out with the MB Fremont dealer ?
Thanks
Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
2008 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic Sport
The most common reported problem in the won't start scenario is the ESL failure, which will run about $1200 to fix. Several people including myself have negotiated this cost down with the dealer on grounds that it's a manufacturing defect.
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Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
2008 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic Sport
I wound up paying around $750, but I didn't go straight to the dealer. I had the car towed to an indy shop which in turn negotiated with the dealer. If you read through this thread you will see some owners did better than others. Indeed, some owners found miraculous cures, like cleaning the key, changing the battery, or shaking the steering wheel. If you get stuck somewhere, shaking the steering column may unlock the ESL and allow you to drive to the dealer. Good luck.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 435
Likes: 81
From: New Zealand
W204 C200, BMW E30 M3, 1980Gt Mini, Toyota Corona, KTM 200 EXC.
Photos please
Hi Guys,
The old parts please ask for the parts replaced and take them home and photograph them put them on this thread, they are yours by the way.
Most likely these parts are repairable by someone possible by replacing the $35.00 drive motor, kindly linked by charles.soori
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/new-ELV-ESL-s...item1c4c869c52
I am new to Mercedes this and problems sound like it is repairable.
Photos in detail of, if they were disassembled all the better.
ESL:
ELV:
Dave.
The old parts please ask for the parts replaced and take them home and photograph them put them on this thread, they are yours by the way.
Most likely these parts are repairable by someone possible by replacing the $35.00 drive motor, kindly linked by charles.soori
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/new-ELV-ESL-s...item1c4c869c52
I am new to Mercedes this and problems sound like it is repairable.
Photos in detail of, if they were disassembled all the better.
ESL:
ELV:
Dave.
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
08 c300
steering lock sensor gone bad
Please how much does it cost to get the chip replaced and coded with its keys now. I am really getting frustrated now. The car wouldn't start not recognizing the key and engine lights not coming on on the dashboard.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
2008 C300 luxury sport 4matic, C280 2000 sport
Add another C300 2008 luxury sport 4matic with locked steering, won't start to the list. $980 total replacement cost, tax included. This is being done by one of my former students who runs a Mercedes only repair shop. He has treated me very well through the years. The part that angers me is that it only has 35K on it. I'll be talking with my state's consumer complaint department since this seems to be an on going issue with this model. See what becomes of it I guess.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
2008 C300 luxury sport 4matic, C280 2000 sport
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicl...nt/index.xhtml
Please go here and fill out a complaint if the electronic ignition has gone bad, they wont recall it if we don't let them know this is happening.
Please go here and fill out a complaint if the electronic ignition has gone bad, they wont recall it if we don't let them know this is happening.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 55
From: LA LA Land
'08 C300 MM Pano
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicl...nt/index.xhtml
Please go here and fill out a complaint if the electronic ignition has gone bad, they wont recall it if we don't let them know this is happening.
Please go here and fill out a complaint if the electronic ignition has gone bad, they wont recall it if we don't let them know this is happening.
Quoting NHTSA's "Motor Vehicle Safety Defects and Recalls Campaigns"
When is a recall necessary?
When a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment (including tires) does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.
When there is a safety-related defect in the vehicle or equipment.
When a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment (including tires) does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.
When there is a safety-related defect in the vehicle or equipment.
What Is a Safety-Related Defect?
The United States Code for Motor Vehicle Safety (Title 49, Chapter 301) defines motor vehicle safety as “the performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring because of the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle, and against unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident, and includes nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle .” A defect includes “any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment .” Generally, a safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that:
➧ poses a risk to motor vehicle safety, and
➧ may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture .
The United States Code for Motor Vehicle Safety (Title 49, Chapter 301) defines motor vehicle safety as “the performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring because of the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle, and against unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident, and includes nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle .” A defect includes “any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment .” Generally, a safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that:
➧ poses a risk to motor vehicle safety, and
➧ may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture .
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
'93 SL600, '12 X5 35D
I hope my first post doesnt look look like advertisement. I see it more like helping the fellow Mercedes owners to save a few dollars here and there. I do a lot of electronic parts repairs for Mercedes and BMW and this includes the W204 and W212 steering locks. The price is much lower than what the dealers are charging. I also offer the unique option to program emulator instead of the actual steering lock. This is a "simple" electronic board that send and receives the required signals to enable car start, but no moving parts. This means no more steering lock problems, ever.
Main problem is that Mercedes put a $0.10 motor inside the steering lock which draws 3-5 amps, almost as the first generation W202/208/210 steering locks, but the size of the motor is 1/2 the size. You can see W204 ESL motor on the left and W210 motor on the right.
The motors are available for sale, but the biggest problem is that when the ESL stops moving after a few attempts a software flag is set and the ESL is disabled. Even if the motor is replaced it will not work. usually the ESL can be programmed by the dealer only with the orange/blue key, but I have special equipment that can extract the required information from the ESL and EIS, reset the ESL and then re-program it.
W204 ESL:
Main problem is that Mercedes put a $0.10 motor inside the steering lock which draws 3-5 amps, almost as the first generation W202/208/210 steering locks, but the size of the motor is 1/2 the size. You can see W204 ESL motor on the left and W210 motor on the right.
The motors are available for sale, but the biggest problem is that when the ESL stops moving after a few attempts a software flag is set and the ESL is disabled. Even if the motor is replaced it will not work. usually the ESL can be programmed by the dealer only with the orange/blue key, but I have special equipment that can extract the required information from the ESL and EIS, reset the ESL and then re-program it.
W204 ESL:
Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
2008 Mercedes Benz C300 4matic Sport
Thanks for posting the clear pictures bawareca. It's useful to see exactly what the problem is - that cheap little undersized motor, which has caused thousands of dollars in repairs, lost time, aggravation and loss of confidence in the car and the MB brand.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 74
Likes: 4
From: Ontario, Canada
2014 ml63 and 2014 ml350 bluetec
Welcome to mbworld. I remember emailing you 2 to 3 weeks ago about my buddies lock failure.
We still didn't fix the problem yet I'm in the process of just buying the software and hardware and doing it myself and then going to help other in Canada as everyone I ask wants the same prices as a dealer, but your price is reasonable.
We still didn't fix the problem yet I'm in the process of just buying the software and hardware and doing it myself and then going to help other in Canada as everyone I ask wants the same prices as a dealer, but your price is reasonable.
I hope my first post doesnt look look like advertisement. I see it more like helping the fellow Mercedes owners to save a few dollars here and there. I do a lot of electronic parts repairs for Mercedes and BMW and this includes the W204 and W212 steering locks. The price is much lower than what the dealers are charging. I also offer the unique option to program emulator instead of the actual steering lock. This is a "simple" electronic board that send and receives the required signals to enable car start, but no moving parts. This means no more steering lock problems, ever.
Main problem is that Mercedes put a $0.10 motor inside the steering lock which draws 3-5 amps, almost as the first generation W202/208/210 steering locks, but the size of the motor is 1/2 the size. You can see W204 ESL motor on the left and W210 motor on the right.
The motors are available for sale, but the biggest problem is that when the ESL stops moving after a few attempts a software flag is set and the ESL is disabled. Even if the motor is replaced it will not work. usually the ESL can be programmed by the dealer only with the orange/blue key, but I have special equipment that can extract the required information from the ESL and EIS, reset the ESL and then re-program it.
W204 ESL:
Main problem is that Mercedes put a $0.10 motor inside the steering lock which draws 3-5 amps, almost as the first generation W202/208/210 steering locks, but the size of the motor is 1/2 the size. You can see W204 ESL motor on the left and W210 motor on the right.
The motors are available for sale, but the biggest problem is that when the ESL stops moving after a few attempts a software flag is set and the ESL is disabled. Even if the motor is replaced it will not work. usually the ESL can be programmed by the dealer only with the orange/blue key, but I have special equipment that can extract the required information from the ESL and EIS, reset the ESL and then re-program it.
W204 ESL:
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
'93 SL600, '12 X5 35D
Welcome to mbworld. I remember emailing you 2 to 3 weeks ago about my buddies lock failure.
We still didn't fix the problem yet I'm in the process of just buying the software and hardware and doing it myself and then going to help other in Canada as everyone I ask wants the same prices as a dealer, but your price is reasonable.
We still didn't fix the problem yet I'm in the process of just buying the software and hardware and doing it myself and then going to help other in Canada as everyone I ask wants the same prices as a dealer, but your price is reasonable.
If you are not used to precise electronics repair better stick with the emulators when the steering lock is blocked (software block).
If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 435
Likes: 81
From: New Zealand
W204 C200, BMW E30 M3, 1980Gt Mini, Toyota Corona, KTM 200 EXC.
Hi bawareca
Does the physical steering lock bolt and motor get removed from the housing when you go for a emulator set up.
And in your opinion what is best to do with a car which shows no problems, leave alone, replace the motor at x miles or x age and avoid having to buy a EIS?
Does the physical steering lock bolt and motor get removed from the housing when you go for a emulator set up.
And in your opinion what is best to do with a car which shows no problems, leave alone, replace the motor at x miles or x age and avoid having to buy a EIS?
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
'93 SL600, '12 X5 35D
^^^ Very interesting question, I never got in this line of thoughts yet. Usually emulator is installed after the ESL has failed, and they mostly fail in locked or intermediate position, which means the steering column has to be removed and the ESL extracted in non-ordinary way. However, if the ESL has stopped in open position, or one just wants to replace it with emulator, it can be left at the steering column. The way it is designed i cant imagine the locking pin moving by itself and locking the steering shaft accidentally.
I can see '08 models failing mostly now, but I have fixed some '10 and one '11 GLK. Looks like everyone of them will fail eventually. Preventative replacing the motor inside may fix the problem, or may create more problems. Most motors sold on the market have some small differencies here and there. Many have success with aftermarket motors, but i use OEM only.
I can see '08 models failing mostly now, but I have fixed some '10 and one '11 GLK. Looks like everyone of them will fail eventually. Preventative replacing the motor inside may fix the problem, or may create more problems. Most motors sold on the market have some small differencies here and there. Many have success with aftermarket motors, but i use OEM only.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Not MB
My mom's '08 C350 won't start but the symptoms seem a bit different than what people on this thread are talking about with the ESL. All electrical power seems normal with the key in ignition. But when you turn the key to crank the engine, there's a click/pop noise and all the lights go out and nothing happens. Remove the key and reinsert it, and power comes back and the same thing happens. Tried to jump start and no difference. Any ideas? Help my mom, bro!
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 55
From: LA LA Land
'08 C300 MM Pano
My mom's '08 C350 won't start but the symptoms seem a bit different than what people on this thread are talking about with the ESL. All electrical power seems normal with the key in ignition. But when you turn the key to crank the engine, there's a click/pop noise and all the lights go out and nothing happens. Remove the key and reinsert it, and power comes back and the same thing happens.
Have you checked fuses? The starter has multiple fuses that must be checked... And according to the attached pdf, check fuses 6, 7, 19 & 27 all of which are in the engine compartment...
Hope this helps!
