Help! Mercedes e550 steering wheel lock! Won't disengage!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 42
Likes: 2
From: NJ
2011 Mercedes E550 Cabriolet Sport, 2019 GLE400 4MATIC
Help! Mercedes e550 steering wheel lock! Won't disengage!
Hey yall,
I have a 2011 E550 convertible and the steering wheel and locked and will not disengage! It happened to me before and after a day kinda fixed itself and started again....this time no luck...any tips? Or should I just tow it and get them to replace the steering column lock? I can't shift into neutral to tow either so idk what I'm going to do! Any help would be appreciated! Thank you! Also sorry if this is the wrong thread!
I have a 2011 E550 convertible and the steering wheel and locked and will not disengage! It happened to me before and after a day kinda fixed itself and started again....this time no luck...any tips? Or should I just tow it and get them to replace the steering column lock? I can't shift into neutral to tow either so idk what I'm going to do! Any help would be appreciated! Thank you! Also sorry if this is the wrong thread!
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 377
Likes: 92
2000 c230 kompressor special edition, 2012 E550 coupe (sold), 2017 C63 sedan (sold), 2018 C63S Coupe
Common issue, will probably have to get it towed and replaced. It may start working again on it's own, but eventually it will stop all together. There is a manual neutral switch below the shift boot similar to
.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 42
Likes: 2
From: NJ
2011 Mercedes E550 Cabriolet Sport, 2019 GLE400 4MATIC
Mercedes dealership wants to ballpark $2400 for this repair? Is this common? My key turns in the ignition but the steering wheel is still locked and I get no crank...lights and everything work in the car though...
Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 182
Likes: 34
From: Georgia
2011 E550 Cab
The ESL (electronic steering lock) motor is dead. You can replace it yourself if you have general automotive skills. It isn't hard to do, just time consuming. You can buy just the motor for $20.
When you put the key in the ignition, you can hear the motor unlock the column. If you don't hear it, it's dead. Try tapping/banging under the column near the dash, it might unlock the column when putting the key in the next time. Worth a try. The fix is much harder if the column is locked.
When you put the key in the ignition, you can hear the motor unlock the column. If you don't hear it, it's dead. Try tapping/banging under the column near the dash, it might unlock the column when putting the key in the next time. Worth a try. The fix is much harder if the column is locked.
