DavidShipman

I've owned a 53 plate w211 avantgarde for all of 3 weeks. Electrics have all been fine, but Yesterday I turned on the ignition and everything went haywire, pretty much all the instrument panel lights started flashing on and off, although not necessarily all together, sometimes fading in and out and sometimes flickering. My headlights kept flashing on and off as the instrument panel flickered and the stereo also kept flashing. The car drove home without mechanical fault, but Headlights were flashing like a Christmas tree. This morning I turned on ignition and everything was normal, for about 5 seconds and then everything started going bonkers again, flashing all over the place and sometimes the instrument panel would completely black out. Any advise, other than take the car back to the car garage I bought from? many thanks

VII

Probably battery control module, should also check the batteries. A dealer diagnosis may be your best option before buying anything as the parts are expensive.

vettdvr

Main battery died, Now why? Age or the BCM in trunk failed.

03'55AMG

BCM or battery issue for sure. These E class cars love throwing tantrums when the electrical isn't perfect. Find someone local to you that has STAR diagnosis to help you out, or pay the stealership

DavidShipman

Many thanks for the advise!! I've found a local specialist with a diagnostics who's going to hook it up. Latest update: The whole instrument panel and steering wheel controls are now dead, there appears to be no power to the dash at all and I have no use of indicators and cant see fuel levels, rev counter or speedo, but thankfully the headlights have stopped flashing on and off, so at least I can get it to the garage without everyone flashing their lights at me

Incidentally before I bought the vehicle it had a problem with the steering wheel controls and the dealer fitted a new steering wheel, which was working perfectly for my first couple of weeks of ownership. Could this be connected to that? I'm thinking its quite probable!!

DavidShipman

.....Air con/ command system are all still working though.