Odd happenings on my 2010 E350
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2009
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2023 XC60 PHEV, 2023 XC40 BEV
Odd happenings on my 2010 E350
Hi All ... sorry for this l-o-n-g p-o-s-t, but I would like your feedback.
I have been having "odd -
" intermittant, and randon issues over the years with my 2010. I have most all of the electronic goodies in this car and I want to know if others are also experiencing any or all of the same issues. And all of these are happening WITHOUT error codes being generated or stored within the COMAND systems, making the dealers act like nothing is wrong. I have already escalated to MBUSA, but they just say "take it to the dealer" and don't give me the time of day 
MBUSA has been contacted, and I have a case number, but the agent didn't really "get" that the issues extended beyond the "Key Not Found" to all of these other issues and basically just told me to "run to the dealer everytime I saw an issue". NOT HELPFUL AT ALL!
Any thoughts?
I have been having "odd -
" intermittant, and randon issues over the years with my 2010. I have most all of the electronic goodies in this car and I want to know if others are also experiencing any or all of the same issues. And all of these are happening WITHOUT error codes being generated or stored within the COMAND systems, making the dealers act like nothing is wrong. I have already escalated to MBUSA, but they just say "take it to the dealer" and don't give me the time of day - The car has unlocked itself twice while driving down the freeway
- With Keyless-Go the key fobs are not detected, blocking me from getting into the car ... even after changing the batteries, replacing the keys and "cleaning the receiver contacts". Sometimes it lets me into the car but refuses to let me start the car with "Key not detected" errors for both situations. Sometimes I get this message when the car is driving along.
- I have the P2 driver systems and the "Distance warning lamp" indicator flashes, and the car beeps when nothing is nearby at slow speed
- The two inside red "Front Parktronic warning indicators" flash and beep, when driving down the road at slow speed and NOTHING is nearby
- Sometimes the car displays an "DISTRONIC PLUS Currently Unavailable" or a "DISTRONIC PLUS Inoperative" message after a car wash
- On hot days, the car might show a Lamp Malfunction message but then it goes away
- The voice control is normally available after a minute or two when I start up the car, but it sometimes takes up to 10 minutes to become available.
MBUSA has been contacted, and I have a case number, but the agent didn't really "get" that the issues extended beyond the "Key Not Found" to all of these other issues and basically just told me to "run to the dealer everytime I saw an issue". NOT HELPFUL AT ALL!
Any thoughts?
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
2010 E350 4Matic
I have not experienced any of these issues but I haven't had my car that long either. It sounds like you are having an electrical issue somewhere. Stay on top of the dealer and if they won't help, find another one if that is an option. There is obviously something wrong. I had issues with my dealer and stuck on them and they replaced the car with another one. Good luck with it.
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Hi All ... sorry for this l-o-n-g p-o-s-t, but I would like your feedback.
I have been having "odd -" intermittant, and randon issues over the years with my 2010. I have most all of the electronic goodies in this car and I want to know if others are also experiencing any or all of the same issues. And all of these are happening WITHOUT error codes being generated or stored within the COMAND systems, making the dealers act like nothing is wrong. I have already escalated to MBUSA, but they just say "take it to the dealer" and don't give me the time of day
MBUSA has been contacted, and I have a case number, but the agent didn't really "get" that the issues extended beyond the "Key Not Found" to all of these other issues and basically just told me to "run to the dealer everytime I saw an issue". NOT HELPFUL AT ALL!
Any thoughts?
I have been having "odd -
" intermittant, and randon issues over the years with my 2010. I have most all of the electronic goodies in this car and I want to know if others are also experiencing any or all of the same issues. And all of these are happening WITHOUT error codes being generated or stored within the COMAND systems, making the dealers act like nothing is wrong. I have already escalated to MBUSA, but they just say "take it to the dealer" and don't give me the time of day - The car has unlocked itself twice while driving down the freeway
- With Keyless-Go the key fobs are not detected, blocking me from getting into the car ... even after changing the batteries, replacing the keys and "cleaning the receiver contacts". Sometimes it lets me into the car but refuses to let me start the car with "Key not detected" errors for both situations. Sometimes I get this message when the car is driving along.
- I have the P2 driver systems and the "Distance warning lamp" indicator flashes, and the car beeps when nothing is nearby at slow speed
- The two inside red "Front Parktronic warning indicators" flash and beep, when driving down the road at slow speed and NOTHING is nearby
- Sometimes the car displays an "DISTRONIC PLUS Currently Unavailable" or a "DISTRONIC PLUS Inoperative" message after a car wash
- On hot days, the car might show a Lamp Malfunction message but then it goes away
- The voice control is normally available after a minute or two when I start up the car, but it sometimes takes up to 10 minutes to become available.
MBUSA has been contacted, and I have a case number, but the agent didn't really "get" that the issues extended beyond the "Key Not Found" to all of these other issues and basically just told me to "run to the dealer everytime I saw an issue". NOT HELPFUL AT ALL!
Any thoughts?
Mine is a 2010 E550 with P2 and Driver assist packages.
- Have had the car unlock itself also twice during drive on a highway for no apparent reason.
- I have had "No Key Detected" a few times when sitting in the car but I always thought this was because the key is in my pocket and the system just can't see it. Always worked when I just moved a little bit and the key was detected. Never had this issue while outside of the car.
- I have had the collision warning to flash and beep a number of times. Usually happens when going under an over pass. Has happened twice with a car on right side lane going same speed as me.
- I have had "Distronic Plus Inoperative" once. Fixed itself when turned the car off and restarted.
What I find most disturbing is the collosion warning as if it activates for long time enough the car will apply the brakes (40% force) and if this happens with an 18-wheeler behind me it coujd present a very dangerous situation.
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 216
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From: Canada
E350 4Matic 2011
I had a couple of your issues but not to the same extent and not enough to compromise my safety.
1. The car unlocked once by itself while driving and never again.
2. On a few occasions the door won't unlock when touching the handle. Pressing the door unlock on the key fob though always worked.
3. One of my parktronic sensors goes off at random (not very often) at low speeds when nothing is around.
1. The car unlocked once by itself while driving and never again.
2. On a few occasions the door won't unlock when touching the handle. Pressing the door unlock on the key fob though always worked.
3. One of my parktronic sensors goes off at random (not very often) at low speeds when nothing is around.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 54
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From: Central Ohio
E350 LUX 4M P2 D+
Had doors unlock two or three times when going slow when engine is cool (just left garage). Has not happened recently and since then I have replaced the key battery twice. Did not bring it to attention of MB since it was impossible to duplicate and has not happened recently.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,616
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From: Southeastern USA
2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
Don't know your mileage, but you may be getting close to the expiration of four year normal warranty. I am and have a couple of things I plan to take my car in for so the complaint shows up before warranty expires.
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From: Boston Area
2021 Mojave Silver E450, 2024 Black on Black Jaguar F-pace P400, 2011 335d (RIP), 2010 E350 (sold)
I had the key not detected issue a few times just as you described. All within the first week of ownership of my CPO 2010. When I brought it in for the inspection and install of a couple goodies I told them about it and they upgraded the software and it hasn't happened since. I also had the distronic inoperative message twice, but that only happened in bad weather so that is to be expected.
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Update
Well, my MB has been in the dealer shop twice, one week for the dealer to clean the contacts and another week to follow up with assistance from MB corporate. They were able to duplicate the Parktronics issue and have updated the software. It hasn't been seen by them since.
The key not found issue is confounding them still, and Friday went past without an update from the MB corporate engineers. So my MB stayed there for the weekend.
ElCid, I've got about 49k on my odometer, but I had also bought the 100k extended.
I've got a loaner C, but nothing matches the safety of driving my E. I miss my E ... Maybe I can get visitation rights ...
The key not found issue is confounding them still, and Friday went past without an update from the MB corporate engineers. So my MB stayed there for the weekend.
ElCid, I've got about 49k on my odometer, but I had also bought the 100k extended.
I've got a loaner C, but nothing matches the safety of driving my E. I miss my E ... Maybe I can get visitation rights ...
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Joined: Feb 2013
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2011 E350 AMG Sport Package
If you put your smart key in the same pocket of your smart phone or within half a foot it completely interrupts the RF signal from the keyless go.
I used to have a Lexus that while driving would display the message key not detected, when I would put the keys and the Iphone together, or wouldn't open the doors when they were in the same pocket.
It happened again with the Mercedes key so I don't put them in the same pocket. Try it to see if that is what is happening.
I used to have a Lexus that while driving would display the message key not detected, when I would put the keys and the Iphone together, or wouldn't open the doors when they were in the same pocket.
It happened again with the Mercedes key so I don't put them in the same pocket. Try it to see if that is what is happening.
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2023 XC60 PHEV, 2023 XC40 BEV
Good thought. My keys are to my left, and my phone rides to the right. I have found that when both keys are in the car, I never see the issue.
When asked if they could just try replacing the radio receiver, The dealer said that there were multiple antenna and receivers and they wouldn't know what to replace.
Anyone have more technical knowledge on the Keyless Go technical setup?
When asked if they could just try replacing the radio receiver, The dealer said that there were multiple antenna and receivers and they wouldn't know what to replace.
Anyone have more technical knowledge on the Keyless Go technical setup?
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: on my way
2012 CLS63
wow samkimg, that is quite the list, I can't say I have seen any of these issues, hope you get them all sorted out......sounds very frustrating......and to have to have a C instead......blah!
good luck!!!!!
good luck!!!!!
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
If you put your smart key in the same pocket of your smart phone or within half a foot it completely interrupts the RF signal from the keyless go.
I used to have a Lexus that while driving would display the message key not detected, when I would put the keys and the Iphone together, or wouldn't open the doors when they were in the same pocket.
It happened again with the Mercedes key so I don't put them in the same pocket. Try it to see if that is what is happening.
I used to have a Lexus that while driving would display the message key not detected, when I would put the keys and the Iphone together, or wouldn't open the doors when they were in the same pocket.
It happened again with the Mercedes key so I don't put them in the same pocket. Try it to see if that is what is happening.
Do really you think manufacturers are that stupid to end up with RF interference between two common device systems that are always going to be within close proximity?
Hey, don't take my word for it, ask the experts: http://blog.remotesandkeys.com/blog-...y-Interference "Devices that may cause interfere with the RKE system include common items such as cell phone cords plugged into power outlets without the phone present."
How many women do you know who drop their RKE key into their purse along with their cell phone? That's right, just about 100%. And when I had my E63 I carried my phone and key together all the time. Come on, think before you open your mouth.....
And Frank Pineapple is the same person who also brought you this sage advice:
Per the manual the hold function engages the P in the transmission while maintaining the break lights on. At no point while the HOLD function is on, the breaks or parking break are being applied. It simply shifts seamlessly from P to D when applying pressure to the pedal, there is a camera there that follows your foot movement too
lol, it reminds me of that State Farm commercial where the woman accepts everything from the interwebs as reality, including her new boyfriend who claims he's a French male model. Duh, bonjour.
Last edited by 220S; Feb 27, 2013 at 04:42 PM. Reason: spelling typo, etc...
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2011 E350 AMG Sport Package
Diesel Benz thanks for pointing that out, I miss read pg. 189 of the manual. But I am right about the RF signal being affected by the IPhone
You can ask any Lexus owner that have the push start ignition and they will tell you that you can't put an IPhone and the remote transponder together because the IPhone kills the RF signal, I tell you from my own experience had two 3 Lexus with that feature and couldn't put the two together. So maybe the same applies to the keyless go feature in the Mercedes since it is the same technology, was just offering some sound advise, not sounding all pompous and arrogant like you.
You can ask any Lexus owner that have the push start ignition and they will tell you that you can't put an IPhone and the remote transponder together because the IPhone kills the RF signal, I tell you from my own experience had two 3 Lexus with that feature and couldn't put the two together. So maybe the same applies to the keyless go feature in the Mercedes since it is the same technology, was just offering some sound advise, not sounding all pompous and arrogant like you.
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
And: "I have an iPhone. When I was using the key fob, there were no prob even when the key fob and the phone in the same pocket. Now I have a card key kept in the wallet. No prob with that either."
Or: "I have tried iPhone 3G and iPhone 4 and both were fine. I even put the key sandwiched in between them and it was working fine."
They come from a Lexus forum in a response to someone having issues. Lexus SmartAccess system can interfere with some pacemakers and cardiac defibrillators but not cellular phones (or vice versa.)
You probably had another issue of RF interference and it wasn't related specifically to your iPhone. Here's a Lexus owner explaining RF interference issues: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/6960885-post5.html
Or you may very well have experienced premature battery depletion which is more common to Lexus Smart Access. The battery of the Smart Access key fob is always on; i.e., it's always transmitting. With Lexus Smart Access, the fob needs a strong battery to operate properly. And batteries can indeed be depleted by cellular phones; in fact in the Lexus manual they specifically say to keep it away from cellular phones to avoid battery depletion (see attached .jpeg from the manual.)
It's not about RF interference but about the magnetic field produced by a cellular phone.
I'm not being pompous and arrogant but I simply hate misinformation that does nothing to add to troubleshooting. That is not "sound advice." Assumptions are one thing and factual information is another. Just because someone might experience a headache every time they drink coffee doesn't mean that they can assume that "coffee causes headaches."
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From: Wichita
2011 C300 4MATIC
Diesel Benz thanks for pointing that out, I miss read pg. 189 of the manual. But I am right about the RF signal being affected by the IPhone
You can ask any Lexus owner that have the push start ignition and they will tell you that you can't put an IPhone and the remote transponder together because the IPhone kills the RF signal, I tell you from my own experience had two 3 Lexus with that feature and couldn't put the two together. So maybe the same applies to the keyless go feature in the Mercedes since it is the same technology, was just offering some sound advise, not sounding all pompous and arrogant like you.
You can ask any Lexus owner that have the push start ignition and they will tell you that you can't put an IPhone and the remote transponder together because the IPhone kills the RF signal, I tell you from my own experience had two 3 Lexus with that feature and couldn't put the two together. So maybe the same applies to the keyless go feature in the Mercedes since it is the same technology, was just offering some sound advise, not sounding all pompous and arrogant like you.
