Tried searching but didn't find much. Is anybody here replacing just the motor inside the ESL? Or is everyone just replacing the unit itself?

Haven't tried to actually open one up and replace just the motor, but I don't know how well that would work. It's definitely not designed to be serviced. Would be a real ***** to open it all up and try to repair, then put it back together and still have issues or have it fail again in short order and be stuck again.

It's actually not that bad to open up and swap the motor. They sell the motor all over the internet. I have a couple on the way and was thinking to take pics along the way if there was any interest

Interesting. I have to change one tomorrow, i'll look into it a little more carefully. I won't be able to give customers the option for a motor only repair though, as the dealership would never warranty an outside sourced repair like that.

I meant it would be a pain to pull the column and experiment, being that you have to put it all back and hope for the best, or do it multiple times. I know they aren't the cheapest part but it's not like they fail every year.

I have a box full of them, I'll probably make a thread later. They don't fail repeatedly but for a DIY guy that is out of warranty it is a much cheaper and easier option than getting a TRP part and an orange key. I could easily do the job in under an hour and a motor is around $30 it may be worth the "hassle"

Here is what happens to the motors when they go bad, brushes in the motor turn to dust

That's essentially how every electric motor fails, makes sense. I've rebuilt several Bosch intercooler pumps like that, where a set of $6 brushes instead of a $100 pump accomplishes the same thing.

Not sure if you will find the brushes for this motor, I'm sure they're out there but if you go through all the trouble just get a whole new motor

Question, how do you remove the locked up units without damaging them? If you intend to replace just the motor.

I'm assuming once it's out you knock in the 4 roll pins on the sides and it opens? I didn't have a small enough punch in my box at work to open it up today.

Have to drill a small hole in the case to manually turn the gear. Roll pins wont punch through. Use a torx T6, tap it in, twist and pull pin out. Gently separate the two halves. I'll post some pics tonight

Hey Knowbenz,

I have the same problem as you. I searched around the web and saw people replacing the actual motor.

Were you able to successfully swap the motors and have the car turn on? Also, is it necessary to do any sort of reprograming to the unit or key? Or is it just as easy as swaping the motors and installing back the unit back in the car?

Thanks

Something I fail to understand is why the best engineers must design a weak spot only to frustrate the person giving them an income. Myne failed and had it replaced. Hopefully the new one has upgraded brushes. I have a drill thats years old has worked a million times more than this motor ever will, and still has the same brushes(It is a good drill, probably comparable with a merc).

yes just swap it out. Didn't need to program anything. As long as all the bits and pieces go back in the right spot it will work

i don't think the engineers made the brushes. It's probably poor quality from the Chinese manufacture.

Just drope ESL sytem out and put this:http://ces24.com/immo-emulator/19-me...-emulator.html, perfect sollution to your problem.

have you tried this emulator yourself before telling people to buy this.
because emulator for w204 needs to be programmed plus I don't see w204 in there compatible list.

No, I think its not W204, this emulator works for these only:supported W202, W203, W208, W209, W210, W211, W639, A-class, W906

Every one should have an emulator, the esl will fail its just a mather of time, It can fail electronically or mechanically. Emulators are around 80$ for w204 on ebay but they need to be programmed(coded to you're key, you can remove you're ignition switch and send it out with your key and they program the emulator to the ignition switch, takes 10min with a 3000$ mercedes tool.)

I have someone locally in canada but you can find people that program keys to mercedes that are able to program the emulator to the car.

Mine failed electroniclly and it was on unlocked so it was easy to get out so do it before it fails, emulator and programing will be no more then 300$ and you wont ever have to worry again, its is a 1000$ job an indy or 1200 minimum at the dealer and it may fail again. Also I wouldnt recommend changing the motors, opening it up might damage the board.

If any one needs emulator or there original esl fix I can offer that service as I have all the necessary tool to do that job and will charge way less.
all you have to do is send me eis and working key.

I'm in Saskatchewan and sending to you would be pretty quick so if mine calls it quits anytime soon I will do that.

I replaced my ESL motor. My steering wheel was locked up because the motor seized up and left me stranded. The ESL motor is only $13 usd. I will upload photos. I have videos of it as well. This is my first MB DIY. I figured I'd give it a shot. What do I have to lose. The hole replacement is like $1200 plus new key and flashing your new key, labor, maybe a new steering column for those of you that had the same situation as me.

---------------------------
My ESL failed just past Sunday evening in a dark section of a Costco parking lot surrounded by the homeless sleeping a short distance away and my wife in the car. --- BCAA towed it two hours later.

Q1: Why did Charles make it so hard for us to contact him? Grumble .. I did not get the idea to respond to his post until now, over 24 hrs after first searching all over including FB for his contact details.
Pelican parts.com say it's a 5 hour job to RE & RE the ESL. MBZ dealer Vancouver wants ~ CAD800 for a new ESL control module.

Question 2: (I guess if ESL emulator is programmed by Charles soori the EIS could still go bust but since the EIS does not have any moving parts but only the I.R. there is a low chance of it busting.) Can some preventive EIS emulator be installed aswell?

Q3. And how does the insurance corporation look at an emulator if the car gets stolen? I guess they won't cover the theft, right? Perhaps separate and extra insurance would have to be taken out for the life of the ownership to ward off an insurance failure since the ESL is considered a TRP (Theft related part).

You just have to pm me and I get back to you.

​​​​​​

People, you need to find someone locally or have the ESL, ignition switch and key shipped to these people :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-W2...-/232253477608

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-W2...-/253001851407

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-EI...-/263286667821


Make sure you get the "Emulator" aka this https://www.abkeys.com/abk-3893-merc...or-fatal-error

You can buy that and just send it to them, they will need to code it to your key. This will eliminate the mechanical part of the lock so your steering wheel will never lock again and will never leave you stranded, I've hurd of people paying 2000$ at the dealer only for the ESL to fail again in a few years, get the emulators and never worry about it again.

IMO, ItwargSSF, the emulator/ESL fixing cost of USD300 can not be compared to the whole job cost of about 2k at the dealer or CAD1,600 at a certified indy, because the emulator/repair_ESL mailing out route + 2-way shipping still requires pulling out and then later reinstalling the EIS & ESL. PelicanParts.com rates the labor to pull out and put back in place those units at 5 hrs of VERY PATIENT working and with a skill level of 3 out of 5 which patience and skill few of the average owners possess. Certainly time is of the essence when you break down and need towing unless you have a second vehicle to transfer to.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...eplacement.htm