I bought my 2000 C280 Sport with a cracked drivers side mirror. I bought the glass (2108100121P, I don't know if the P means anything) for about $100 less than the MB dealer wanted(BuyMBparts, Inc). Then the dealer wanted $110 to install it, so I brought it to my windshield guy. He had a hell of a time figuring it out, and couldn't get the old glass out w/out destroying it. He got the new one in, and it seemed to work fine, but doesn't get hot. I'm afraid that if I went to the dealer, I might still have had the problem, cause maybe the part is defective. It was new in the box, and Rusty at MBparts says I can send it back, but how would I get it out? Nobody seems to know how it can move but not get warm. I hate to go to the dealer after all, but what are my options? Any ideas?

 

i'm guessing the wires aren't connected right?

EDIT: I see your from Milton. There's actually a pretty good independent MB dealer in Wayland, MA. They are Hatch & Sons (www.hatchandsons.com) and they're pretty good at repairs and stuff, plus the labor is better than dealerships around (they charge $60/hour instead of the $95/hour from other dealers around MA)

 

all I saw was one fat wire with a multi-pin connector, that IS connected. Super Member Mark Cummins seemed to indicate that there's a separate defroster wire (I posted the thread to C and E forums as well. Thanks for the tip on the MB place in Wayland---Chambers in Somerville charges $110 an hour, and quoted me an hour for the install.

 

No prob. Yea, if you do check out Hatch & Sons, ask for Ed in the service dept, nice guy. They also give loaners ('bout a week notice) doesn't matter if you've bought from them or not.

Damn, Chambers is up that high? They've gotta be one of the highest around the Boston area. The dealer I use to go to was $95 (Foreign Motors West in Natick)

 

I dread going to a dealer, in general. I've been going to a great mechanic for 8 years, with my VW, Nissan, and Toyota. He owns 3 MB's, works on his and others, and he referred me to the broker I bought the C280 from. He wanted no part of the mirror, though, and thought the glass guy would be better qualified. I'll probably beg him to look at it once before I suck it up and go to Hatch.

 

See, what's different about Hatch is no pressure to fix stuff. They are totally independent from MB (they are not an authorized MB dealer, so no warranty work). They are not dictated on what to do from MB, so they have the freedom to do as they please.

An example is I brought in my car for the first time to do an oil change, figure I would try them out. They were cool and honest, did the job and went over the car for me to point out what needed to be replaced and such. They gave me time frames on when and what would be needed to replace and estimates on the jobs.

So they'll take care of ya. Good luck!