Door handle electronics temp dependent?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 507
Likes: 25
From: Massachusetts
2014 Smart ForTwo Passion Cabrio
Door handle electronics temp dependent?
All frickin' winter my 2009 ML550 was giving me grief with the door handle sensors and buttons. Only the driver's side would work. Now it gets warm, and EVERYTHING works again. Another bit of "famous" German engineering? 
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 507
Likes: 25
From: Massachusetts
2014 Smart ForTwo Passion Cabrio
A lot of the technology in this car is very unreliable. I mean, seriously, door handle technology that doesn't work when it's cold or humid? WTF?
Thank goodness I brought the car with me when I moved to Germany. Over here, because this model is not sold in Germany (ML550), it's worth more than I owe. I have to wait until September because of a customs' requirement to wait one year to sell any household goods I brought with me, but after that I'm letting it loose and getting something else that isn't a Mercedes.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
ML550 2008
This past winter my doors started not responding, I had to spray in some contact cleaner every few weeks and that fixed the problem almost immediately. Now that the weather is warmer it only occurs once in a while but normally resolves itself on the next attempt.
If it wasn't a 550 I would have sold it but every time I hit the gas and place the car in sports suspension I forgot all the problems. Had a used v8 XC90 that had a little more issues than the ML550 and couldn't stand the car and sold it quickly.
If it wasn't a 550 I would have sold it but every time I hit the gas and place the car in sports suspension I forgot all the problems. Had a used v8 XC90 that had a little more issues than the ML550 and couldn't stand the car and sold it quickly.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 507
Likes: 25
From: Massachusetts
2014 Smart ForTwo Passion Cabrio
This past winter my doors started not responding, I had to spray in some contact cleaner every few weeks and that fixed the problem almost immediately. Now that the weather is warmer it only occurs once in a while but normally resolves itself on the next attempt.
If it wasn't a 550 I would have sold it but every time I hit the gas and place the car in sports suspension I forgot all the problems. Had a used v8 XC90 that had a little more issues than the ML550 and couldn't stand the car and sold it quickly.
If it wasn't a 550 I would have sold it but every time I hit the gas and place the car in sports suspension I forgot all the problems. Had a used v8 XC90 that had a little more issues than the ML550 and couldn't stand the car and sold it quickly.
And yes, the pull of that V8, especially on 102 octane non-ethanol gas here in Germany, is strong. I love the autobahn. Nothing like cruise control on the A at 120 mph.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
ML550 2008
After I read your post I tried all my door handles and buttons today. Now that it's 87F here in Berlin they all work fine! Go figure. i will certainly remember the contact cleaner tip, that is if I don't sell this beast in September. And yes, the pull of that V8, especially on 102 octane non-ethanol gas here in Germany, is strong. I love the autobahn. Nothing like cruise control on the A at 120 mph.
And yes, the pull of that V8, especially on 102 octane non-ethanol gas here in Germany, is strong. I love the autobahn. Nothing like cruise control on the A at 120 mph.
