Before I begin, let me say I've gone through hundreds of threads dating back to 2011..

Bit of a back story. 2011 C63 randomly had intermittent starting problems starting in August. I’d put the key in the ignition, the column would go up and down but no start - the wheel could be turned freely. A few times I'd shake the wheel back and forth while pushing the push button and WHALLA she'd start. (after reading this helps while stuck in the parking lot). I figured I'd park the car while I still had it running, knowing the ESL was "unlocked". I followed all the procedures on here (key in ignition, unhook the battery ect.)

I pulled my column this morning thinking it had to be the ESL. Fortunately the bolt could be pushed in, I removed it with ease. Upon opening the ESL as many other have notices the motor was black. I carefully pulled everything apart, put the new motor in. Once buttoned all back up eagerly put the key in only to have everything light up and say "remove key from ignition".

I pulled the ESL back out to test it with everything plugged in, the lock is not going in or out with the old motor or the new motor installed, and still get "remove key from ignition"

My question is does this sound like a faulty EIS? Could it have been a faulty EIS from the beginning? I understand there is emulators, coding ect.. Hoping some one has been in the same boat as me and will shed some light.

Cheers.

 

To follow up on this, it was in fact the ESL.

I had fellow board member Charles.Soorie program my EIS/Keys with an emulator and had the car running in 5 days! Fantastic service.

 

Dealers like to replace EIS, they did mine, was not that, was the ESL, luckily the thing was under gurantee.