Keyless go door handles keep breaking
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 28
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2003 c240, 2008 e350 4matic
Keyless go door handles keep breaking
I have a 2008 e350 with keyless go and for the past 3 years now I have had to replace the drivers door handle annually almost to the exact week and the passenger or rear handles once each. The drivers handle seems to start having problems when there is a lot of wet weather and then it gets cold. You can usually hear water squishing out of the long rubber switch on the inside of the handle when it goes. Are there any secrets to making these things last longer, its getting annoying sine the car is out of warranty. Any word of them correcting this obvious defect. I'm a pro at replacing them now and can do it in 5 minutes or less.
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Socal
06' w211 E500 Sport
I have a 2008 e350 with keyless go and for the past 3 years now I have had to replace the drivers door handle annually almost to the exact week and the passenger or rear handles once each. The drivers handle seems to start having problems when there is a lot of wet weather and then it gets cold. You can usually hear water squishing out of the long rubber switch on the inside of the handle when it goes. Are there any secrets to making these things last longer, its getting annoying sine the car is out of warranty. Any word of them correcting this obvious defect. I'm a pro at replacing them now and can do it in 5 minutes or less.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 9
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2008 E350 Sedan
I think the only way to make them last is not to use them. I had my passenger side replaced a year ago and the drivers side just recently. Water is the main cause of these going bad. Before I had them replaced, every time I washed the car, the system was flaky for a few days afterwards. Since the dealer replaced mine under warranty, I'm not familiar with the internals, but I would look for a way to use a bit of silicone sealer to make the assembly more water resistant.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
I had to replace the two on my driver's side when I first purchased the car in May 2010. Since then, I haven't had any problems, but I suspect it's because I don't open them like normal door handles. When I tug on them, I do it just enough to get the button to release the lock first, and then I put enough force to actually open the door. In other words, in a typical unlocked car, I would immediately apply full force to the handle because the only job it is doing is pulling the door open. On these, I apply very little force until the doors sort of unlock and pop open, and then I open them normally.
Other than that, I've had mostly garaged parking where I live and where I work, so I suppose that helps. I've also never had an issue with them after washing the car or driving through rain..
Other than that, I've had mostly garaged parking where I live and where I work, so I suppose that helps. I've also never had an issue with them after washing the car or driving through rain..
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
I had to replace the two on my driver's side when I first purchased the car in May 2010. Since then, I haven't had any problems, but I suspect it's because I don't open them like normal door handles. When I tug on them, I do it just enough to get the button to release the lock first, and then I put enough force to actually open the door. In other words, in a typical unlocked car, I would immediately apply full force to the handle because the only job it is doing is pulling the door open. On these, I apply very little force until the doors sort of unlock and pop open, and then I open them normally.
Other than that, I've had mostly garaged parking where I live and where I work, so I suppose that helps. I've also never had an issue with them after washing the car or driving through rain..
Other than that, I've had mostly garaged parking where I live and where I work, so I suppose that helps. I've also never had an issue with them after washing the car or driving through rain..
If you don't have a special color (for designo like mine, i need to have the handle painted), its about $150 a pop and replacement isn't terribly complicated.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
usually its not the unlock handle sensor that fails, but rather the button. The button rubber tears, you get water in there, and after a while, its all she wrote.
If you don't have a special color (for designo like mine, i need to have the handle painted), its about $150 a pop and replacement isn't terribly complicated.
If you don't have a special color (for designo like mine, i need to have the handle painted), its about $150 a pop and replacement isn't terribly complicated.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 2
2003 c240, 2008 e350 4matic
I got my last one from mymercedesparts.com which is Mercedes-benz of south Atlanta for $151.89. the part numbers are according to the color and mine (capri blue) was 211-760-11-70-5359
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
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From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
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