Jayhawk

A certain range of about 36,000 VIN #s are involved and you might want to check w/ MBUSA to see if yours is one of them. It probably is since yours actually went out, but it may not be. Your dealer might actually be able to tell you.

Here’s a copy of the DOT letter mandating the light cluster recall: http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/A...6V028-9264.PDF

Skylaw

I tried to post this a few days ago, but had some minor delays setting up a new ISP account.

Benzlovr's "****" number was an error, I believe - if you look closely, the last 4 digits of the NHTSA 888 number in the DOT post were transcribed to the MB 800 number and its exchange in the same post. I doubt if benzlovr did that deliberately.

Jayhawk

As usual, you are correct! I figured it was something like that. I have run into a number of spam posts here however, that try to trick us into visiting a particular vendor or trying to increase "traffic" on some sites or phone exchanges. When he said the letter was out (a very big deal around here) and posted a phone number for some "conversation hot line," I just ***-u-me d it was another spammer. Thanks for checking that out...

Skylaw

On Nov 4 the Workshop MB provided the flollowing link to the recall campaign bulletin provided to dealers, listing the VINs and providing additional information on the specific clusters to be replaced.

http://www.theworkshopmb.com/TheWork...ter_Recall.pdf

jmiaebrown

Not sure if I understand where to get the VMI# I think mine is...A090595.
Would mine be included in the recall? I don't think it does but I have been experiencing a suddle light flicker. I can especially see it when at a light and behind someone in a dark car. My headlights dim and then come back up. It happens so fast I blink to make sure its not my eyes.

Thanks.

Skylaw

The pdf The Workshop MB provided in the link indicates the VMI number is at the top of the cluster. Reading it requires removal of the instrument cluster. Best bet may be to see if you are in the affected VIN range, and let a dealer check the VMI number.

newguy2008

link is busted.

Jayhawk

Yes, I see it is. They don't keep them up forever, but I found this old thread that may have more/better information: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...l-s-class.html

And here is a copy of the actual letter they sent to me a few months ago:

newguy2008

Excellent.

Does this apply to CLKs?
Thanks.

whoover

No. The recall was for S and CL classes only.

gixxerblack

where can I get instrument cluster removal tools for 2002 s500 w220? because dealership takes about 2 weeks to get it and I need it right now... I can buy used ones too

whoover

You do know the dealer will replace a faulty cluster for free, right? All W220s have an extended warranty (10 years, unlimited mileage) with respect to the instrument cluster.

If you insist on doing it yourself, the removal tools are available from any tools supplier. Just google mercedes tools. They're probably on ebay as well.

gixxerblack

on my cluster check engine light doesnt come on when you start the car, so is it still covered by warranty? nothing on ebay, i'll try google

Skylaw

It would be helpful to us if you would complete your profile by providing the model year of your car (and where you live - at least the continent - it can be important to answering electronics questions).

The original cluster recall in the U.S. (replaced by the extended warranty) was for failure of the background lighting, not individual warning lights. I do not know whether MB will cover failure of a single light - but I'd give it a try.

However, your CEL is connected to a complex set of sensors, and troubleshooting it requires diagnostics and savvy - it's not a DIY job for most of us - and even many dealers don't do it well. See http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...EL#post2463723 and the imbedded link, http://www.aa1car.com/library/2003/cm70336.htm before you unnecessarily replace (or damage) the instrument cluster and get stuck with a $2000 bill because it was something other than the cluster.

whoover

The warranty extension covers all failures of the instrument cluster. If your light is out due to "natural causes" you're covered. If a previous owner disabled it to avoid fixing an engine problem, that would not be covered.

gixxerblack

so I got the tools, I put them in, but how hard should I pull to get it out? I tried few times and its not coming out and I dont want to break it.

gixxerblack

are you sure all w220 covered by the 10 years, unlimited mileage warranty? because they looked up my VIN and said its not covered

whoover

Call Mercedes (1-800-FOR-MERCEDES). Tell them your dealer is not honoring the W220 cluster warranty extension. They will rip your dealer another one. Your dealer is looking at the older recall, which was by VIN. MB replaced this with a simple 10-year extended warranty for all W220s, cluster only. The dealer failing to honor this is putting an agreement between MB and the NTSB in jeopardy and MB could wind up in court.

https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...0&d=1183565138

Jayhawk

Hey! That's my letter...

whoover

It was easier than scanning mine.

Jayhawk

No problem!

gixxerblack

nice, thanks alot, Im going to print it out and show it to them, but I want to make sure, will they still fix it under the warranty if its just one light, not the whole thing?

whoover

You're a hard man to convince!

This is warranty extension page that the letter refers to. One gets attached to the inside rear cover of the warranty book of every W220. It's beautifully produced. It matches the layout of the book, to the extent of knowing it will be placed on a right-hand page. Only Mercedes.

Note the text: it doesn't say anything about the kind of failure covered. It just says the instrument cluster warranty is now 10 years, unlimited mileage, any subsequent owner. It's real clear.

The two possible hangups: 1) your profile is not very detailed, but this is only for US cars, and 2) there can't have been any abuse, like someone messing around with the cluster to suppress a check-engine light. Other than those possibilities, you're covered.

gixxerblack

thanks, just been burned before by a dealership, when they told me it covered by the warranty, and at the end they charged 500$ because it wasnt, I was lucky, some of the ppl I hear got screwed like that for few grand

MSackson

For what it is worth, I did not need to produce a recall letter. I took my car to the dealer and they replaced my failing cluster without issue.

I find it scary that there is such inconsistency in the way dealerships work. You would think they were all working for the same company.