Frank Wiesmann

I read on a German MBForum that dealers in Germany have a list of 11 fixes and updates including radio, telephone, Comand and water entering the car issued from Mercedes that they are required to perform on W211s they get in for servicing or repairs. Some German customers have said they received notice from their technician that their car will be in for an extra day due to "extra work". Does this aplly to US cars as well? Has anyone heard anything about this or gone through this at their dealer?

RJC

Only once did a US dealer do this for me and it was on my 03 CLK500. The dealer performed all the service campaigns that were pertinent for my car...it was an impressive experience and was never offered again.

This type of attention to a customer's car should be inclusive if not when the car is in for warranty repairs but for scheduled service for sure. This would also help to avoid future trips to the dealer and increase customer satisfaction...

ATS

http://www.alldata.com/TSB/35/0435BUAS.html

Flitzer

What is the URL for that German MBforum? I'd like to read up on that one ...

Frank Wiesmann

the forum is in the Mercedes W211 section of www.motor-talk.de. The article should be on the second or third page by now.

ajm0824

I have my car in for service 1-3k mi initial check and am doing a couple of checks..one of which is that I smell stale water/air each time i start up the a/c.

Don't know if this is related, but my car has been in since Fri morning.

I'll ask tomorrow about any mandated checks.

spyderbret

I had my car in the shop about a month ago for a regular service and when I scheduled the appointment they said it would only take a few hours. When I dropped it off that morning they said they would need it overnight. I had a loaner so I didnt care but I also didnt see anything extra on the paperwork when I picked up the car. Do they have to let you know when they do TSB's etc?

takeshi

Took my car in for service (fix wipers and Sirius reception) today and they are performing 2 software fixes that came up on the system.
1. Campaign 2004050014 211/230 SBC RECODING
2. Campaign 211 FLASH CGW 200407019

HotWheels500

I get the same odd odor when the A/C first goes on. Will be very interested to hear what you learn. Thanks.

X72

I get a musty smell from my AC too!! I would also love to hear if there is a permanent fix. The dealership sprayed the evaporator coils with a "glorified Lysol" (my term) type product, but the smell rapidly returned. I learned by reading this forum that if I (a) turn on the defroster for a couple of minutes before turning off the car (I lower the fan speed to the middle of the range) or (b) use the REST feature after turning off the car (I turn it to max heat and change the air flow to go through the dashboard vents) that this solves the problem.

Since doing either (a) or (b), I don't get the "odd odor" which I believe is mildew (i.e. fungi). I thank whoever it was that posted that info for it helped me greatly!

I also had this issue in a New Beetle I drove for a while. There, I could just turn off the AC for a few minutes before stopping, but as has been posted many times before, turning off the AC in a W211 takes (in my case) about 6 minutes from the time I press "AC off" to the time the compressor actually turns off (or as off as it can be). I prefer doing (a) or (b).

William
2003 E 320

ajm0824

Thanks X72 that is very helpful and sounds bout right.

I picked up my car yesterday and the service ctr said that they didn't smell anything but sprayed a deoderizer, i think?
BS, the smell is there they just have no idea on how to get rid of it, I say.

Also, I brought it in for radio problems I have HK Logic 7- upgrade)

They said that they provided a radio software patch, upon my request, but no other mandetory patches/work.
Don't want to get too much into it but IMO all stereos are crap in E. I really expected more. Peak Volume too low, rattling hissing from front center channel, rear sub cracks with any appriciable bass, sound on radio cuts out on occasion.

They said the cutting out was due to a faulty ground, but the radio is no louder, no clearer, and speakers still crack. My oem radio in my old Nissan was better.