AMGangster

It feels like I am coming here more and more to get insight on problems with this car. A sign that it is time to get out from under it.

Long story short, my car is at O'hare short term parking with a dead battery. Several attempts by tow truck companies to jump it have been unsuccessful. My research says that when the battery goes, it goes and they are unable to be revived. MB USA has sent 3 companies out there to tow it and they have all be unable to get it due to clearance reasons and the car being lowered.

Full disclosure, I may have left the fog lights on as a headlight went out the day before I had to leave so I was using only fogs on the way in.

The real problem is that I live 2:20 away in Michigan. I have found someone to drive me into Chicago tomorrow to swap the battery, but I am worried it will not work.

Anyone have some insight? Will the battery solve my issue?

Thanks for your time.

AMGangster

This is very similar symptoms to what I have experiencing. It will say take the key out when I cycle through.


Is this a definitive sign the steering lock is bad?

betrezra

You might contact a local to airport autoshop/dealer to help if youhave issues.
Tow compnies have some cool jacking dollys that can move your car. Gl

gmaschine

I had the same problem leaving the parking lights on. I was able to jump the battery back after a few tries as it wasn't drained for long and I am on a newer MB battery.

Any "Exotic/Classic" specialty towing company should be able to do it. Lowered C63's don't have too much overhang even when you are slammed. Just make sure to request for a flat bed and have them bring a few 2x4's. I've ask for this method to tow extremely low cars 1-2" ground clearance. They should be able to slowly angle and bring the car up slowly without damaging anything but ... 2x4's are a must or a dolly. Its more tedious than hooking it up to a regular car and reeling it up but it can be done if you let them know beforehand.

Since you are near O'Hare, try these guys. They are Exotic/Classic car qualified.

Tomatow Towing & Transport
1322 W Irving Park Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
P: (630) 595-3100

Good luck.

jrcart

Do you have keyless go? Swap out he battery in the FOB.

tpliquid

did you try 2 jumper cables? sometimes single pair cannot carry enough current and will need 2.

zcct04

Nothing personal, but

Sometimes a cable with crappy clamps won't make a good connection and you will need to use a better cable, and sometimes you need to be patient while the battery builds charge, but have never seen a need to two cables.

AMGangster

Roadside sent out a technician with a brand new battery and it wouldn't start. Back to trying to get it towed out of there.

Arjy

hope it is not your ignition switch. my c300's went in a mall parking lot, huge hassle

AMGangster

It finally turned up at a Chicago area dealership. The battery and Ignition switch are both bad according them. Thankfully (I hope), because I wrecked my car in Janurary and all of those items were replaced, I will get it under some sort of warranty. I am waiting to hear back from the dealer that repaired the car when wrecked. As it stands now the quote is just under $2,000 to fix.

otakki

Miss the good old days of manual when you can just push start the car and be on your way. Why can't life be easy like that?!

So how much are you getting charged for the parking? Are you at one of the long-term lots at the airport?

AMGangster

I ended up about 250$ deep in parking at the short term garage. $120 of it was because of the car being disabled.

QWKSNKE

Feel your pain. My 08 has been in the shop all week getting either the ignition module (what the key goes into) or the steering wheel lock replaced. No indication it was going out. Just walked out one morning and nothing happened when I turned the key.
Apparently this is common failure on the 08-09 years of the w204's.
Fortunately my local indy shop is only charging around $900

AMGangster

Well I just get a call, the car was supposed to be done by tomorrow. It appears that have NO CLUE why it won't start. They are requesting my other key which i offered to send to them 10 days ago.

They are also stating that the Midcity Engineering remote start could have been the problem, which I am 99% sure is BS. I feel like they are positioning themselves to get out of warranty these parts that were replaced in the wreck back in JAN.

bhamg

Gain a solid technical understanding of the MCE mod before you go in to discuss it. I.e., be knowledgable about it and therefore able to intelligently counter their arguments to the contrary if that's possible even. I hate to say it but if trouble-shooting yielded nothing conclusive if I were in their position and saw that mod I'd be hard-pressed not to point my finger in that directions also. Contact MCE.

AMGangster

Update: they are saying it is the SAM control unit. They don't know which one it is yet. Anyone have any this issue before?