Good Morning Everyone!

My 07 S550 has suddenly developed a problem where the steering wheel will telescope in and out but will not tilt up and down which as you can imagine is annoying.

Outside of checking the fuses are there any other "simple fixes" for this issue?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Someone might suggest a temp/simple remedy however, for permanent solution need to check motor (m20/2) & shaft (4b).

 

I'm always about the permanent solution.

Is there anyway to get the part number for both of these?

Thanks!

 

 

Last question, I assume these parts can be changed independently, is that correct?

Thanks

 

Yes.

 

Mine went when the car was under warty, same symptoms. Dealer said they replaced motor and prb still there. Car was approved for a complete steering column, sounded excessive to me and i refused to pay the 3k for a car that was still under warty. It was changed and the prblm was fixed. I hope you can get it fixed.

 

If any of you recall I was in shock when MB replaced the steering column in my car to fix the problem. It was $3500 under warranty. If that fixed the issue forever it was worth it.

 

Having the same problem with my 2013. Asked dealer service and replacing the motor for the movement is abt. $1000 job.

I have tried to search but cannot find info how to remove the paneling under the dash to get access to this all. Can someone help to point me in right direction as I’m sure it has been posted here before.

 

See attachments.

 

Thanks konigstiger again.

is it possible to get to the motor with removing only the black plastic top panel in the footwell?

 

Doubt it, but if you succeed document the repair process.

 

Hi

Happy to share my experience, hope it will help

It happened to me 3 times, Twice on out of warranty 2008 S550 and once on 2013 S550 with warranty.
Yes, all dealers will not try to fix a simple issue but require you to spend $3000+ on the whole steering column. Not that they are overcharging because the steering column is super expensive plus labor. The problem is that no part is this situation went bad, just one long screw (I think there is a special name for it, a "worm" screw) just went to far, and needs little help to start going again and needs some lubrication.
Here is a test you can perform, if you pull on the lever that is corresponding to function that is not working, and you can hear a very faint click, that means the motor is good, just doesn't have enough juice to pull through.

So first time it happened on 2008 I didn't even bother calling a dealer and took the bottom of the console apart myself. It is a lot of work, but if you have some $10 plastic prying tools for panels its just time consuming but not that hard. I am sorry, I don't have any pictures but if you take it apart and take a couple and send it to me I will point you to the right location. Like I said you just need an allen ranch to help it move again.
Second time it happened for obvious reason, I didn't think of it first why it happened and then it came to me, why is this getting stock on this "worm" screw? well it just needed some lube, few drops of WD40 or some heavy grease.

Ok, now on to the 2013 that was certified (and under warranty) when it happened, I didn't bother to do this myself, and brought it to the dealer. Spoke to service advisor about how exact the same problem happened to me on 2008. He looked at me and said 2013 is completely different system then 2008 and the whole column have to be replaced (they surely do know the best . I said ok, it was under warranty and I got a free loaner. I think it took them couple days to do this and I picked up my car and surely it works, but there is a grinding noise when the steering wheel is getting adjusted. So now they said they have to order another one, and I need to schedule another appointment. Few days later I got a call, the part is in. So after few days after dropping of the car, I got another call that one they ordered and installed is defective, and they have to order another one. After a week or so I got another call, its ready. During a pickup we did a test for noise and its operational functions, finally all good. My advisor told me that I have exhausted all available steering columns available in the US, and next one would have to special ordered from Germany. Also when I picked up my keys at the cashier I obviously did not pay a single cent, but I saw the charges to the MB Factory, First one was close to $3K, and second one over $6K, totaling in almost $10K for little grease that could have been applied.
One last thing I noticed, that since my lower panel is white (since I have designo, white leather covering pretty much all plastics) was little scuffed up, not a big deal, but a dealer with all the tools couldn't do the work in a clean way?

Sorry for a long story, but If you still have this problem I will walk you through it.

Andrew

 

 

It's been awhile but I finally had time to look at the problem. I took the panel out from the foot well and after twisting myself in this very tight uncomfortable space was able to see both column mover motors. The non-functioning up/down movement motor is the one on the left side. As the motors are in hanging down position I took the up/down motor out and it works fine. I put the motor in place without the two screws and it kicks the motor out when I hit the up switch. I have to hold it in very strongly to keep it in place during this test so I believe the motor is good.

It obviously is that the movement mechanism has locked in place when someone ran the down movement all the way down. The

The motor has a worm gear on so I tried to push down on the gear wheel inside the round hole that the worm gear goes in but I could not make it move. I'm not sure I was pressing at right part. It felt little soft so thinking if it is plastic it could break if pressed too hard so I stopped.

So, it seems removing the steering column is the job to do now to get to it. I have learned that this issue is quite common with these cars so even a new steering column could have the problem very quickly so if I remove it I.m quite sure a mechanical stop can be added to it so that it cannot run in the end to get jammed like it does.

konigstiger posted instructions about the column but there are several other parts that need to come out around the cluster first. Any instructions for that part?

But, the good info from all this is that if it is a motor problem the motor can be changed out thru the foot well without removing the column.

 

mine is like the door mirrors …. turned off and only used when needed - things wear out wires snap... they are built to get to 5 to 7 years on limited use. Use every day over 10 years you will have issues

 

Everybody knows everything that mover will wear out one day. This is just a fact of life, no need to be telling about it here in this forum. Your comments about the S-class have been so negative I cant wrap it around my head why you are in this forum? Hoping MB gives you a new ride to shut you up?

Steering wheel tilt movement locking up seems to be an issue as many in this forum has had problems with it. I don't hate MB for this though, but I want to fix it and sometimes a fix from someone else is actually better than from the company who built the car. I have a feel that even a brand new steering column could lock up right after install.

If a man built it, a man can fix it, just need to find the right man to do it!

 

they have an initialisation phase after comms interrupt... where it must move throughout its full range of movement or things misbehave

I post here to help others know how the designers chose to build the car (so the experience is miserable and costly) - hopefully so prospective owners do so with their eyes open. I try not to have personal attacks on fools, its easy and doesn't help

 

Hi andrewk-S550, I have S550 with same issue. What did you do to fix? How did you fix with allen wrench? Wd40 and grease to where?

 

No problem, take a picture of underneath when you take the cover out from under the steering wheel, and I will point you to the right area. I think you might have to take the wood trim out too.

One thing, make sure you do hear a very tiny click noise when you try to adjust the steering column, this means exactly that the motor is working just not strong enough to make the column to move

The type of gear that you are looking for is a "WORM Gear" basically its long and attached to the motor, and it simply went too far, and it just needs a little "push" twist in the right direction, plus some lube so it won't do it again.

You can either grap the end of it with pliers, or there might be so other way. Just do not take the thing apart,
If you like, we can do a video chat. send me a private message

 

Hi Andrew,

attached video of issue.

 

Another tip to keeping things healthy is not to lean or pull on the steering wheel in any way shape or form. Don't use it as leverage to enter or exit the car. The added pressure on the worm wheel and the gears don't need the extra stress,

 

hi, I know it’s old post but I do have the same exact problem with my steering wheel and the video you posted. If you don’t mind sharing what have you done to fix it? Thanks.

 

Read the thread, what is posted here are the only known solutions.

 

thank you for replying. I decided to take out the whole column.