Arnie

For years I've been reading horror stories about the engine wiring harness and thought that I was lucky. Not exactly. Today I repaced the spark plugs (135K on the odometer), and after I put it all together, one cylinder quit working. To make a long story short, my wiring harness is fried, but I got it fixed temporarily with electric tape. I have several questions for the veterans who went through it:

1. What's a good place to buy the harness.
2. What is acceptable in terms of a price?
3. Do I need just the upper harness or more that that?
4. How difficult is it to replace it?

Thanks.

Eliot

I believe the six cylinder harness is sold as one piece. Try www.buymbparts.com for a quote. Rusty (the proprietor) has given me the best quote on everything I've bought so far. Also try www.Mercedesshop.com

I've read that replacing it isn't difficult although it will take you some time. All your doing is unplugging leads and attaching the new ones. Some have laid the new harness on top of the old one to during the swap, plugging it in as they go.

Kestas

I believe the going price is aound $900-$1000 for the harness.

Mine took 4 hours. I like to work slowly and methodically.

Arnie

Thanks for replies. $1000 - ouch! Now, what about the throtle actuator's wiring? I noticed that its harnes is short but kind of massive too and I suppose that MBZ used the same crap for the insulation all over the car. Is that going to be my next project or does the throtle actuator' wiring survive?

Kestas

The throttle actuator also has the same problem. Since it doesn't get jostled during repair as much as the engine wiring harness, it doesn't present itself as a problem as quickly.

Here's a link to info and pictures about this problem:
http://www.v12uberalles.com/throttle...tor_rewire.htm

I haven't done mine yet.

bluecoupe

I have the same issue wit the harness - I had Motorwerks order one, though my contact at the Benz dealer told me that MBUSA is showing a little more sympathy lately.

I would put a call into your local dealership & ask what they think (make sure to speak with the service manager as they are the only one that MBUSA will recognize). They should be reasonably helpful as they are the ones who make money from the issue - MB will reimburse them for any labor...

If you do have to purchase one yourself, make sure to get the delphi harness.

Kestas

Mercedesshop has a thread on the wiring harness issue that has turned into a campaign of sorts. I urge everyone involved to read throught the thread and at least file a complaint with the NHTSA, citing the potential safety issue with this design defect.

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforu...d.php?t=128181

Arnie

Does anybody know the part #? My last 7 of the VIN are C140196.

Kestas

You can find the part number yourself, and I suggest you do so before ordering to avoid the hassle of returns.

The number is on a tag on the wire bundle located about one or two feet down from the bulkhead connector.

Arnie

I decided to call Mercedes Customer Service, just for the fun of it. I asked them if they had any discounts for the wiring harnes since it it a design flaw and they pretty much told me to take a hike, and that it is not a common problem. I then called my local dealer and the service advisor quoted me $2800 for replacing wiring harness. I think he was on crack or something when I called. The dealer in Portland, OR quoted me $1700 for everything, of which $1100 was for the harness itself. I called my cousin in Germany and over there they go for 650 euros, which is about $850. I called the local dealer again and spoke to the parts people. They had a harness in stock for $1040. Luckily, I know a mechanic in town and he bought it for me with 20% wholesale discount, so I ended up paying $836.

This is going to be my weekend project. I still can't understand how Mercedes can justify that insane price for a bundle of wires, especially if they were the ones who screwed up designing it. The whole experience left bad taste in my mouth. This is my third and last Mercedes, unless they get their **** together and started building quality cars that last. Lexus GS350 sounds more and more attractive.

Eliot

12 years is a pretty good lifespan for a component in your average car. You'd expect more from a Mercedes but there isn't much you can do about it. At least it isn't some sort of dodgy lucas setup.

OJ's DNA

Are these harness issues just from 93-95? I ask because I have replaced the harness on my 95 300D but I just bought a 92 300TE - this wasn't the years with the bio-harness troubles, right? Should I be okay?

shadowgriffen

Hey OJ - I have an 88 TE and have (knock on wood) not had any trouble what-so-ever with my harness, you may want to keep an eye on the alternator harness though, mine looked like ***** when I first bought my TE

Oh yea, I've had my TE for 4 years now.

my baby

'91 300CE

If you don't mind driving to Portland... Call Sig at MBI Motors at 13th and Hawthorne... get a quote from him... he has never steered me wrong on repairs... and he has been in business a LONG TIME

Eliot

Your in the clear

Kestas

The harness problems are for chiefly 93-95 model years, though there have been a number of reports from people with 92, 96, and 97 model years. It is best to examine the engine wiring harness for your individual car to make the final determination.

I think 12 years is an embarrassingly poor lifespan for a wiring harness. This is a part that should last for the life of the vehicle, just like many other parts on the car.

Arnie

My e-mail to Mercedes USA:

"Dear Sir or Madam
am an almost happy owner of a '94 MBZ
E320. So far I had very few problems with the vehicle. However, recently I started having minor electrical problems which led me to discovery that the
engine wiring harness is falling apart. After doing some research on the
Internet MBZ forums and chats I realized that the wirning harnesses on '94-'95 E320 have almost 100% failure rate. Obviously, the insulaton material used in the wiring harness built during those two years was not up to Mercedes standards. After checking with local MBZ dealers I learned
that the price of a new harness is around $1000. I realize that expecting
any kind of warranty repair on a 12-year old is unreasonable. However,
paying $1000 for a poorly designed part on an otherwise perfectly good
automobile is pretty painful as well. I am not aware of any recalls on the
wiring harness. I wonder if Mercedes has any sort of a discount program
for its customers for repalcing the defective wiring harnesses on '94-'95
vehicles, or at least selling the replacement harnesses at a discounted
price.

Respectfully,"

And their responce 5 day later:

"Dear Mr. XXXXXX:

Thank you for your Internet message.

We regret to learn of your disappointment with your 1994 E320. However,
lacking direct involvement in the operation, maintenance history, or being
privy to facts that may have some bearing on the repair history, it is virtually impossible for us to comment with specifics on your experience.

At your request, we reviewed our records and find that there are no outstanding recalls on your vehicle. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer
is in the best position to evaluate your concerns.

The opportunity to correspond is appreciated.

Regards,
Lois G
Customer Relations"

Arnie

Okay, I did it. I took me 1 hr and 10 min from the time I opened the hood to the time I finished replacing the harness and closed the hood. And the bastartds service advisors at two different dealerships told me 7 hrs, "if everything goes well".

Not only Mercedes screws us on the price of the harness, but they also just bend us over and rape us mercilessly on labor. Man, I am so mad. By the way, I cut some of the harness open and it was completely shot. I don't know why I didn't have an engine fire or something like that.

Now, the folks who replaced their harnesses: how many of you ended up replacing or re-building the throttle actuator? I want to figure out the odds of having to deal with it.

Thanks.

Koolwipski

Arnie: I got the same response from MBUSA - I have sent a formal Deceptive Trade Practices Act notice to the president and general counsel (Probably wasting my time - but worth a shot).

For what it's worth...
Throttle Body - My 1992 400E has been throwing a code for a faulty Throttle Body sionce I have had the car - two different benz mechanics have told me the problem is the wiring harness, not the throttle body.

Good luck and good job on the DYI harness replacement - If I can find an affordable one, I will replace mine as well.
Steve