Hi guys my 2011 ml350 rear trunk / tailgate started to have some problems it stopped closing. It opens just fine but is not closing, i scanned it with a reader and it says rear trunk anti-pinch strip, does any know how to fix that? I took off the code and it started working but the next day it stopped working and same code.Thanks

Explain further. When you press the closing button, do you hear the sound of the closing attempt or no sound at all?

Yeah it makes a sound, the lock clicking sound. the code says
Contact strip 1for anti-pinch protection has a malfunction. There is an open circuit.

Have you checked to see if there is any water in spare tire cargo area?

Yeah i checked today there is no water, the motor looks brand new it was working perfectly fine yesterday all day and today its not.

where does one find the anti-pinch strip?

I checked online but i can't seem to find it the error code on the obd2 scanner is 988613.

They are located on either side of the tailgate.

Still looking to find theses replacement parts for our 2009 ML350. I made a little progress but still looking for some help. Traced back both sensors and there is a part number label on both sides attached to the wire at the connector.
Left = A1648600118
Right = A1648600218

Also tested them with my ohm meter as compared to the sensor strips on our 2010 ML550. The ML550 liftgate works every time. After attaching the ohm meter, the ML550 right strip registers when pressing the sensor strip. Both left and right on the 2009 ML350register nothing - so I’m confident that they need to be replaced.

Was really excited and came right inside to order the two part numbers. Unfortunately, these part numbers don’t yield any results on multiple, multiple MB parts sites. I did find a used pair on eBay in Australia, but the shipping cost was really high.

Makes me wonder if this is just a part that does not fail often enough to even be listed - and if so, why did both sides on our ML350 fail.

Any insight or assistance is appreciated. I’ve emailed with Autohaus for a couple of weeks and they can’t find anything. Will hit them back with these part numbers next.

The pinch strip, although it can be pulled off, is sold with the complete plastic trim that it's attached to. You'll also need to replace any rubber sealing rivets that may secure it. They do fail occasionally.

Got this project finished. New pinch strips solved my issues. The newer ones were noticeably more “pinchable” vs the old ones.

It was an fairly easy job. I did each side one at a time. Took about an hour to do both sides.

Detached the lower attachment for the lift cylinder to slip off the old panel and to install the new - need a stick to prop it up as the single remaining side would not hold up the liftgate by itself. Its a mystery to me how the hydraulic fluid gets to the cylinders - no visible hoses, just two attachment studs.

On the right side, also had to temporarily detach the lift position sensor to allow removal of the old panel and install of the new. Used blue lock tight to reinstall the lift sensor screws - was obviously used on the original install and don’t want this vibrating loose. Pic below.

There are rubber grommets at the very top and very bottom - four in total. Only one came out clean, and I could not match them at the auto parts store. I got plastic as a temp solution and will go to the dealership this week to match them up - don’t want any water intrusion.

For our 2009 ML350 the part numbers were:164-690-16-30-9051 and 164-690-15-30. About $105 each vs. $150 each at the dealership.

You can test the sensor by separating the connector and replacing the sensor with a 3.9 kOhm (Orange White Red Gold [5%]). However, this part seems impossible to source in the USA anymore.

Where did you find these for $105 each??!! Thank you!!

I got 2.2K ohms (2%) and connect them in parallel and that was enough for the door to work properly on my 2009 ML550

I love this website it helps me a lot hopefully this helps somebody else as well I uploaded pictures showing how I made my adapter . I use the tube waterproof wire coat that was on the original harness cut off a piece that was right for me soldered resistors together and then pull the waterproof slip over it and zip tight with electrical tip works perfectly I've never had anything that I've taped up and zip tied like this fail







Please note that the resistors have to be wired in parallel and pay special attention to not wire them up backwards it won't work won't damage anything but it won't work

I have just fixed mine this morning , exactly as mentioned by bridging out the connector plug with a 3.9 kOhm (Orange White Red Gold [5%]), on the left side on my 2008 GL. Worked perfectly
Bought a pack on ebay for less than £3 and the job took all of 10 minutes.
Brilliant information as always on these forums. Thanks

Hi , Hopefully some of those that commented on this thread or someone who can help will read this. When I try this fix I get the error message "no signal change" without the resistor I have the message "there is an open circuit".
My tailgate works perfectly opening but will not close on the button. It is a 2009 ML.
It started acting up a few weeks back, having to push the button twice then it would start to close and re-open as if something was blocking it and the safety kicked in . The third photo are the resistors I am using.

You bought a 3.9 Ohm resistor but it needs to be 3.9 kOhm.

Thank you, are these the correct ones ?

Yes, they will work just fine.

Thank you to all that replied and to this forum. I fitted the resistor yesterday and the tailgate is now functioning again. A very quick , easy and cheap fix ( if you have access to this forum).
The actual sensors are no longer sold separately here in the UK. I contacted Mercedes Edinburgh ( who supplied the ML) and they told me you now have to replace the whole section at the side of the tailgate that incorporates the sensors. Close to £600 +vat . This fix has cost me £10 and if I had bought the correct resistors first time less than a £5..
Thanks again.

Great to hear it all went well, brilliant inexpensive job

Man, I can get these to you for about $130 UDS plus shipping. and well worth the spend if your soft rubber seals are dry rotted like most W164's are.

https://www.buymercedespartsnow.com

Part numbers

164-690-16-30-9051

164-690-16-30-9030

Just replaced my pump (old one died under water) and the gate would open, not close. Error code for the right pinch strip, the only resistors I have are for alarm systems and are 5.25 kOhm....Thought I had nothing to lose and installed one, bingo, closes perfectly!