Hi, I need help from the forum’s SMEs, Subject Matter Experts. I am the 2nd owner with an extended warranty (not MBZ). I recently took my 2001 S430 to the dealership for service and warranty work. The warranty work is my steering wheel no longer goes up and down for Easy Exit. This my wife’s car and we can’t remember if it did, or not. So I asked the dealership to inspection. They came back with yes, found failure in the electronic ignition switch control and will be replace under warranty, however you have a deductible and reprogramming charge. I questioned the reprogramming charge (not on extended warranties) but decided to have it done in an event it goes out later or worsens, most likely after my warranty expires. The dealership had to order the unit, I returned and they kept it of 2 days and return my car because they were unable to re-program the unit with the memory. The dealer is in contact with a main office back east for further instructions. It was nice of them to provide a rental vehicle during their delays.

Here is the problem, I came back the 3rd time in a 4 week period and at the end of the day, I was told by the service advisor that since my instrument panel was replaced, someone replaced with the wrong unit and my car should not have the easy exit feature and they have restored my car back and disable it. My computer indicates a “Convenience” selection for my steering and seat, right side mirror backing and remote close and opening of all my windows. Now this selection is locked out. My steering control is able to adjustment per manual. I question the validity of this service but have no support.

Has anyone heard of this?
How can I check if my car VIN has the “Easy Exit” feature or should I at least have the “Convenience” selection?
Any other research I can do?

I would like to believe them, but willing to challenge the dealership and escalate this matter if this is incorrect. Any thoughts would be helpful? I guess this is why people call them the Stealership.

Thanks in advance, great forum.

 

I have a 2002 s430 and it has the Easy Exit feature. However, you won't have the auto folding mirrors. I think yours has it the Easy Exit feature.

 

Your "easy exit" is not controlled by the cluster but that little switch under the steering. You could have some type of electrical problem that is not easy to find. Also you dont have the wrong cluster. Afterall MB stopped making those bad clusters and replaced them with the new clusters found in the 06 model. Convenience is locked because your car is 01 and does not have those features so you cant do anything about that. Why replace a bad cluster with one of the same kind? Sometimes you just learn to live with it.