"Presafe inoperative"
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
"Presafe inoperative"
My daughter just had some body work done on her 2017, minor but I believe it involved removal of the front bumper. The body shop had her car for nearly a month and when they finished their work the main battery was dead and needed to be replaced, after which the alert "Presafe Inoperative" appeared. The dealer wants $3000+ for the repair, and they state that it's rare for "both sides" of the system to fail simultaneously, and that it's unlikely to be related to the body damage or the body work. Has anyone here experienced issues with this system?
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From: Australia
2014 ML63, 2018 GLC43, 1929 DB victory six sports roadster
My daughter just had some body work done on her 2017, minor but I believe it involved removal of the front bumper. The body shop had her car for nearly a month and when they finished their work the main battery was dead and needed to be replaced, after which the alert "Presafe Inoperative" appeared. The dealer wants $3000+ for the repair, and they state that it's rare for "both sides" of the system to fail simultaneously, and that it's unlikely to be related to the body damage or the body work. Has anyone here experienced issues with this system?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Like I said, she brought it to the dealer, so they'd be the ones scanning codes. Since they're scratching their heads over what would cause "both sides" of the system to go bad I have to assume no telltale codes were found. The dealer is submitting a supplemental claim to the insurer so there must be some connection they're making to the accident impact or bodywork repair; we've requested a copy of the invoice.
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Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 163
Likes: 57
From: Australia
2014 ML63, 2018 GLC43, 1929 DB victory six sports roadster
Like I said, she brought it to the dealer, so they'd be the ones scanning codes. Since they're scratching their heads over what would cause "both sides" of the system to go bad I have to assume no telltale codes were found. The dealer is submitting a supplemental claim to the insurer so there must be some connection they're making to the accident impact or bodywork repair; we've requested a copy of the invoice.
Have you got a scanner that will read body modules?
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I agree that you need to find the root cause of the problem. AND I would not trust the dealership to diagnose the problem when it might be a calibration issue (< 1 hour labor) or submit a supplemental to the insurance company for $3000.
I've had the PRE-SAFE warning message in heavy rain that cleared up when the rain stopped. I've also had it with a weak battery. Lastly, I had it when I was futzing around with my scan tool and erased the radar calibration settings for Distronic Plus. All self corrected when I replaced the batteries in the car and ran the calibration routine for my radar.
I've had the PRE-SAFE warning message in heavy rain that cleared up when the rain stopped. I've also had it with a weak battery. Lastly, I had it when I was futzing around with my scan tool and erased the radar calibration settings for Distronic Plus. All self corrected when I replaced the batteries in the car and ran the calibration routine for my radar.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
If you don't already, you may want to get a BenzNinja Club Membership and let Peter @BenzNinja help diagnose the problem and maybe even perform the "repair" if it is a calibration issue. Peter knows his stuff.
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I reached out to @BenzNinja and shared this thread. He says he can fix your daughter's car.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 222
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
I appreciate all the replies! When one’s only daughter is 2000+ miles away it’s nice to have someone looking out for her, even when she’s 31! Turns out that Allstate approved the supplemental so even if it’s overkill it’s fixed!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 222
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
Presafe is the auto-tightening of the front seat belts; there's one on each side lol.
See attached; looks like they replaced the front seat belt assemblies (both sides lol).
See attached; looks like they replaced the front seat belt assemblies (both sides lol).
