W212 Erratic Window Switch Problem
 

I had this problem on my 2010 E350 and now my 2012 E550. The problem occurs when the car has been sitting outside for a couple hours in the cold. It also happens when it cool and raining.

The problem:

I put a window down half way by pushing down on the lever to first position until the window part way open. When I let off, the window stops. This works correctly as expected

I pull the lever up all the way to AUTO close the window. The window starts up, but when I let go of the switch, the window "springs" back down BEFORE it closes and continues on its way all the way down. When I let go of the switch, it should keep closing on its own. Even, assuming that the auto mode is not activated for some reason, the window should just stop in place when I let go. INSTEAD, IT GOES BACK DOWN.

This is especially problematic if there is snow on the window. Because once it starts going down, the snow get compacted. If the window goes down all the way, all the snow falls in the window. (sometimes I put my window part way down and then up to push up the snow and clear the bottom half of the window)

Today it happened with blowing rain and it took 4 attempt to get the damn thing to close and stay closed. By then, I was wet.

Like I said in the opening paragraph, it happened on my 2010. I figured it was a bum switch set. But it also happens on my new car. It pisses me off. But if it happens on both of my cars, there MUST be others here that are experiencing the same problem. Has anyone found a fix or even a reason for this? I am willing to put up with a lot, but this is a total fail for this caliber of car.

FYI, This has never been a problem in any other model of MB I've ever owned nor our current R350; only in the E Classes.

There is a procedure in the Owner's Manual to reset the windows. It is really simple to do. Press, but do not engage auto-down button until the window is all the way down. then press the auto down and hold for a couple seconds. repeat the procedure fir raising the window. All done. I am not looking at my manual right now, so verify I am correct in your manual.

check out page 92 of the manual and it might solve your problem.

http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalA...-and-Wagon.pdf

Question: Do you have window tints?? Every car I've owned that I tinted had this problem. And every one of those cars was fine in the days/weeks before I put the tints on. Lastly, every car I've owned I've bought in December, so it's always been cold out. My Benz was perfect, and then the minute I put the tints on, it started with this crap.

W212 window issue
 

I'm glad that I'm not the only one with this issue, I have 2010 E550, my issue is with the front windows only, the rears work fine. I have the exact same issue as you do and my windows are tinted. I also have a 2011 Gl450 & 2010 C300 both w/tinted windows and they work fine in the cold/rain. I brought the car to the dealer 6 times for this issue which is ridiculous. the first couple of times the resynchronized the front windows and blow smoke up my butt, the 3rd time they replaced the regulators, the 4th & 5th time the replaced all the seals around the windows, nothing has worked to date, brought it in again 2 weeks ago and the response from the dealer was that's how it was designed to work, so I contacted MBUSA and opened a case with them and they worked with the dealer directly and now replaced the front window glass on both sides and the issue seemed to be resolved for a week until the temperature hit 40, now they are doing the exact same thing again (btw, the front windows were not re-tinted yet, which to me rules out the tint issue). I am so pissed off that a 60K+ car is doing this. following the resync procedures does absolutely nothing for me....

212 up to VIN A519818 front door windows intermittently reverse direction when closing reference bulletin LI67.30-P-050613 – cause excessive resistance, replace and align side window under warranty.

Tinting doesn't make a difference because my 2010 was stock and the 2012 is tinted. Both acted exactly the same.

Hallelujah!!!! And Thank YOU.

thanks for the info, my benz dealer did try to realign the existing glass and when that didn't work they replaced the glass with thinner glass according to mbusa but my car is still doing the same thing..

So you are saying that the "reference bulletin LI67.30-P-050613 – cause excessive resistance, replace and align side window under warranty."

didn't do any good? Now you have THINNER glass?

yes, the bulletin did nothing to resolve my issue, in my opinion something else is at play. I am still waiting for MBUSA to respond back to my MB dealership...

I have the same identical issue with my front windows. For some odd reason the issue seems to be more apparent when the weather is colder. I'm taking the car in next week. Now I'm fed up. Been dealing with it forever.

Yes. Definitely happens when its cold. Never when its warm.

I have the same problem on my 2012 wagon. I will try the reset. Thank you

I've yet to have a Benz (4 of them, 2 Used and 2 New) that doesn't have fussy driver side windows. Even mine now, it "hiccups" just before it closes.... it gets up to the very very top, and stops for a quick millisecond, then continues the very small rest of the way and seals completely. WTF?

ok, i don't have the problem that you guys are having (knock on wood) but i do have another issue. i've noticed the other three windows are quiet both open and close but the driver's one is noticeably louder than the other three which is unacceptable in any car, let alone a car is over $70k :X. anyone has the same problem :confused:?

My car does the same thing and it's extremely annoying. My Benz dealer reset the windows and it did nothing. My brother's '10 E350 does the same thing. We both have tints but this doesn't seem to make any sense as to being the cause (only the front windows do this only).
I notice that if I don't try to put the window up quickly after putting it down it functions fine. However, quick button action results in the window going down first before going up. Truthfully, I think it's a big problem that MB is ignoring to recall (like their key batteries that go dead in short periods). I'm not sure I'm going to take it back and have them mess with it when it seems like most people haven't found the fix.

Mine is doing the exact same thing. Ive had my dealer reset it 3 times already. I made a huge stink last time I was there and I'm waiting for them to call me back in to service it. They said they would research the issue, whatever that means to them.... Mean while I just have to deal with it.

I Knew it! I just knew this had to be a common problem. Well, at least I dont feel cursed anymore.

I've had this same issue. They replaced my windows and now I have thinner glass, more highway wind noise than before, and still the problem is not solved. They are researching this and believe that MBUSA will eventually introduce a recall for the window control module :nix:

What makes matter's worse, is that they replaced glass that was tinted with 3M color stable film, without my approval. Dealer recognizes that this is a wide spread issue.

Any updates from anyone else?

same thing 2010 e550...

I've had tints from day one and this just started to happen 2yrs later. Have to reset windows almost every time now. I know as soon as i take it in they'll just say its because of the tints. I almost think the regulators aren't getting the juice that's required. I notice a slight pulsing in my dome lights at night like there is something wrong with the alternator. If the car sits for a week or so the steering wheel doesn't automatically come down after i start the car. Have to do it manually. Maybe the battery?

Glad this is not normal, I will be taking it to the dealer.

Same exact problem on my 2010. Driver's side only. When I reset the window it works for a little while and then the problem comes back up. If anybody is able to get the issue fixed please post the remedy.

I had the exact same problem from my 2011 CPO E350....I have never opened the window (due to the -20*f temp here in Chicago) until 2 days ago for a drive-thru McDonald and realized that I cannot do a auto-close on the driver side window...and when I pull the button all the way up manually, it will bounce back down for a little gap and I have to pull up the window 1 more time to close it...

I just came back from the dealer, and he reset my driver side window and now it can do a auto "UP" and close without a back down with a little gap. All he did was pulled up the switch (all the way up) for like 5 seconds and reset the UP position....it seems to fix now.

But I am sure the problem will come back again....after reading from all these threads. I can't believe this will happened on a $60,000 plus car. My minivan does not have that problem for sure...not even my 15 years old Toyota with 300,000 miles on it...