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W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 OM642 ; R107 M117, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Mercedes-Benz agrees to massive settlement after mold found growing in HVAC systems
Was planning on taking my car in this spring for a warranty repair on my HVAC because it's smelled god awful since I purchased the car certified last March. I've tried cleaning it several times but the smell never goes away. I've read various remedies posted here but haven't tried anything more than opening up the intake and spaying chemicals into it. Glad to know this is now an acknowledged problem that we'll get support for post warranty. Anyone have any idea what the flaw is and how they fix it from reoccurring?
If this does indeed extend the warranty on the HVAC to 10 years and they do not have a long term fix, maybe I'll just get them to dig apart the dash and replace the same faulty components every spring. What a time sink.
Awesome.
My wife's 2015 E400 AC almost stinks upon startup.
Wished they have remote start, so it can run for a minute before we have to enter & suffer thru the awful moldy stink.
MB (& our previous BMW) needs to install a UV light deodorizer to kill mold inside the AC unit....
Awesome.
My wife's 2015 E400 AC almost stinks upon startup.
Wished they have remote start, so it can run for a minute before we have to enter & suffer thru the awful moldy stink.
MB (& our previous BMW) needs to install a UV light deodorizer to kill mold inside the AC unit....
There is a remote starter solution that we make. Click this LINK for more information.
It would certainly help the situation, but clearly doesn't solve the problem itself. Hoping the dealership comes correct in helping you with the root issue.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...5-finally.html
topic already exist.
I live in dry climates, but for years members living in dump weather report that turning AC about 3 minutes before reaching the house dries everything nicely.
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 OM642 ; R107 M117, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Originally Posted by kajtek1
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...5-finally.html
topic already exist.
I live in dry climates, but for years members living in dump weather report that turning AC about 3 minutes before reaching the house dries everything nicely.
I've tried the heat method as well as simply not running the AC condenser for weeks at a time, no amount of drying it out works for me.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...5-finally.html
topic already exist.
I live in dry climates, but for years members living in dump weather report that turning AC about 3 minutes before reaching the house dries everything nicely.
Even in damp climates, it is always recommended to have the AC running, irrespective of the temp setting. love the idea of having any kind of warranty extended but the truth is I have never experienced this issue in any of the German cars that we have had. I am actually a bit surprised that in the 2016 e class, setting the climate control to Auto does not turn the AC compressor on.
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 OM642 ; R107 M117, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Originally Posted by ClasseMiaMadra
Even in damp climates, it is always recommended to have the AC running, irrespective of the temp setting. love the idea of having any kind of warranty extended but the truth is I have never experienced this issue in any of the German cars that we have had. I am actually a bit surprised that in the 2016 e class, setting the climate control to Auto does not turn the AC compressor on.
. It does turn it on, I turn it off because of the smell. I haven't had this problem on any of my previous mercedes.
Sorry if I am being repetitive or ignorant .. My E-350 is a 2016. No mold smell . Should I do anything preemptively?
Also, will there be a an engineering fix so that problem does not occur?
Sadie has not had this problem, but it looks easy enough to resolve. The solution is cleaning and disinfecting with a cleaning solution.
I like working with refrigeration systems and have been doing so since I was a teen. I've completely rebuilt auto systems of several cars one the years. I hate driving without A/C. Also have done component level repairs of home central A/C, window A/C, refrigerators, dehumidifiers, etc. So, pretty good with air conditioning. Not sure exactly why this happens, but it seems more prevalent in newer cars than older ones. Never had this problem with the A/C systems in my cars from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I think those evaporators drained off condensate better, but since I've never disassembled a newer system, I don't know what makes them different. I suspect more fins per inch than the older cars, but I've never checked.
You'll need evaporator cleaner and a new combination filter. I use DiversiTech's Pro-Green coil cleaner. It's a "light-duty" cleaner, but it's very effective and I've never needed anything stronger. If you've not done this before, I would not use anything stronger. Pro-Green is what my local distributor carries; it works for me on the A/C in the cars, on the boat, and my central A/C systems. It does require mixing and a sprayer, but it works really well for me. It's not tricky to use, but you do need a sprayer. I think they also make a version in a spray can, too.
I have also, although rarely, used Nu-Calgon, Evap-Fresh coil cleaner on a boat. It was easier to get it locally than to drive home to get my gallon bottle when a friend's A/C needed cleaning. Evap-Fresh is easy to use because it is in a spray can that will squirt a stream a good distance, and it foams, so you can see what's been treated and what has not.
Anyway, on to cleaning... On a W212 the task is not too awful. Throw some shop towel around the floor area. If you're the messy worker type, throw a lot of shop towels down. It's easier to protect than to cleanup a mess. Pull the under-dash trim on the passenger side and remove and discard the combination air filter. Locate and remove the evaporator temperature sensor, too. Spray the evaporator with your selected cleaner allowing the cleaner to run into the drip-pan. It's important to get a good amount of solution into the drip pan. You may wish to remove the under body pan near the transmission so you can see when the cleaner runs from the condensate drain. It may be easier to spray from the blower motor area, which means removing the blower motor. Follow directions for product use. Allow to drain.
Reinstall the temperature sensor and a new combination air filter. If you removed the blower, reinstall it. Replace the under-dash trim.
Not sure exactly why this happens, but it seems more prevalent in newer cars than older ones. Never had this problem with the A/C systems in my cars from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I think those evaporators drained off condensate better, but since I've never disassembled a newer system, I don't know what makes them different. I suspect more fins per inch than the older cars, but I've never checked.
Big difference is that cars of last 20 years have filters, who tend to be badly neglected. I experience it and lot of members too that 10-15 years old car still had factory charcoal filters.
Smart members not only replace filters, but if they live in moist climate- they turn AC off couple minutes before reaching home. That will dry all the moisture from the system.
I live in dry climates, where AC works a lot, but even without shutting the system off for drying, I don't have any smells. Meaning my AC button never gets touched.
I brought this up at my service appt on 4/21 and the dealer offered to clean the system and replace the filter for $275. He said Mercedes had not yet offered any guidance on this.
I declined and will address next time. I have since changed the filter to the biofunctional Mann unit and that seems to have stopped the odor for now. Car has 35k miles and this is its 3rd filter so it is not neglected.
I was having the same issue and noticed that the cover behind the battery under the hood was loose. Tighten that sucker up and after a couple weeks it smelled good again. Someone at the dealership must loosen it up.
I received my postcard today from JND Legal Administration, with terms of the settlement, to be visited (finalized) in court Sept.9, 2020.
ATM, I have no (mold smell) problems with my 4-year-old HVAC system. So I have no need to file for a repair reimbursement. Instead, the way I read the notice, the warranty for the HVAC system will be extended 10 years or 125,000 miles from in-service date. For my 2016 (in service Oct.15,2015), that means to me that my car is covered until Oct.15, 2025 (mileage cutoff will never be achieved). As long as my MB dealer will honor this timeline, I am satisfied.
^ yes, I agree. I got the postcard today also and I read it the same way. You don’t need to file anything and if you develop a problem within the extended warranty period they will pay to fix it, even though it doesn’t appear they have a fix in place. I’m pretty **** with changing out the cabin filter regularly and have not experienced any smell/ mold problems. Mold is one of the many things I’m allergic to and if it’s in my HVAC system I would know.
Had this problem with a 3 year old used 2006 E Class not long after purchase. Forget what MB charged to chemically neutralize the mold odor but believe it was in the $300 - $400 range. Residing in a humid summer climate caused me to run AC on Recirculate for extended periods which I was told exacertated the problem as little or no fresh air entering the system to prevent moisture accumulation was the cause. My previously-owned Lexus GS400 had AC continuously on Recirculated setting for 7 years and never had this issue. After MB fix, never ran AC on Recirculate setting and never experienced issue again. I believe this is why MB'sn are programmed to automatically switch from Recirculate to Fresh Air setting after 10-35 minutes depending on model. Owned both Lexus and MB seven years each and have subsequently owned a 2015 C300 and currently own a 2016 GLE 350.
So what's the latest solution?
Since all the way back last 15 years, from our 2 previous BMW 7 series, to our latest 3 Mercedes, there's always been a moldy stink from the AC. Dealership always sprayed or tried to "fix" the smell every time we bring it in.
So can we just bring our vehicle in for Mercedes dealership to finish fix, repair, replace the AC ducts or anything at this time?
Or we have to wait until after lawsuit, or wait for recall...?
Mercedes should change their slogan to: The best "Stink" or Nothing...
12-23-2019, 10:32 AM
