ESL Anxiety
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2025
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From: CT
2010 GLK350 4matic
ESL Anxiety
I recently learned about the ESL failures on the X204 GLK350s. My 2010 has 79,000 miles and seems like it’s entering the time for failure. I’m thinking about being proactive and removing the ESL from the steering column and zip tying it up under the dash. If it fails, I could then easily remove it and replace the motor or install an emulator. I’m trying to avoid the emulator at this time as it looks like removing the ignition switch is a bit of work. Am I overreacting? If no, is removing the ESL from the steering column a good idea? What would you do?
Member
Joined: Jun 2015
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2013 GLK350
Sheesh...now you have me worried. I have a 2013 with 201,000 miles. Just watched a video on replacing it with an emulator. I guess the question is. If you get it unlocked, can't you just unplug the wiring harness and leave it installed. Then get an emulator programmed with a key? and install the emulator? or do you need the old ESL to program the emulator?
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I recently learned about the ESL failures on the X204 GLK350s. My 2010 has 79,000 miles and seems like it’s entering the time for failure. I’m thinking about being proactive and removing the ESL from the steering column and zip tying it up under the dash. If it fails, I could then easily remove it and replace the motor or install an emulator. I’m trying to avoid the emulator at this time as it looks like removing the ignition switch is a bit of work. Am I overreacting? If no, is removing the ESL from the steering column a good idea? What would you do?
Haven't done it to my GLK, yet, due to procrastination :-( It's kind of like doing a full backup of your computer - not important, until it is.
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Joined: Mar 2025
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From: Bloomington, IN
2010 GLK350, 2021 Taco, 2019 Lexus GX460, 2009 BMW 335d, BMW 328xi
I’ll be going through the ESL motor replacement next week. I’ll document the process with as much detail as I can. I’m (actually my 16 yo daughter) is having intermittent problems with it. Not sure how it typically fails, but mine has been a gradual decline. The brushes on the motor wear down, and contact degrades, so the motor becomes less powerful (hence my intermittent fails) and eventually just stops. Sometimes it stops in the locked position, sometimes in the open position. It will eventually fail, just a matter of when.
Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, it’s a matter if the lifespan of carbon brushes on a very small electric motor. I haven’t seen anyone do a brushless motor swap, but it has to be possible. It would need a separate (but tiny) control board.
Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, it’s a matter if the lifespan of carbon brushes on a very small electric motor. I haven’t seen anyone do a brushless motor swap, but it has to be possible. It would need a separate (but tiny) control board.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 68
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From: CT
2010 GLK350 4matic
@mogulman From the number of videos I’ve seen, you have to send in the key and ignition switch to program an emulator. Obviously the ESL needs to be removed from the column as well. If it’s in locked position, the column typically has to come out. If unlocked, the ESL can be removed by loosening the column a bit.
@MBKLUE Procrastination is my problem too. I really don’t want to sink a ton of money into a car that old if it fails and locks up.
@Sgt Pepper Please post the link to the thread with the write up when you do your car.
@MBKLUE Procrastination is my problem too. I really don’t want to sink a ton of money into a car that old if it fails and locks up.
@Sgt Pepper Please post the link to the thread with the write up when you do your car.
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Joined: Sep 2025
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From: CT
2010 GLK350 4matic
Update. Well procrastination has gotten the better of me. I’m traveling about 200 miles from home and the ESL has decided to act up. The car wouldn’t start nor unlock the steering wheel. I removed and replaced the key while banging the steering wheel from side to side and it unlocked. I left the key in the ignition after I got to the place I’m staying. The ESL shouldn’t relock but do you think the battery will go dead overnight with the key in the ignition in the off position? I’ll make a run back home tomorrow to remove the ESL and replace it with an emulator. Car has 81K miles on it.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 68
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From: CT
2010 GLK350 4matic
Well boys, I can tell you removing an unlocked ESL is a rather pain in the *** for a late 50’s overweight man. I’m going with the emulator route and sent the EIS and key to a programmer I found on eBay. I may disassemble the ESL and replace the motor as a just in case but it won’t be going back on the steering column.
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Well boys, I can tell you removing an unlocked ESL is a rather pain in the *** for a late 50’s overweight man. I’m going with the emulator route and sent the EIS and key to a programmer I found on eBay. I may disassemble the ESL and replace the motor as a just in case but it won’t be going back on the steering column.
Sorry to hear about your situation with this but thanks for letting us know. Good move deciding not to put the ESL module back on the steering column!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 68
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From: CT
2010 GLK350 4matic
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 68
Likes: 19
From: CT
2010 GLK350 4matic
Aaannnnddddd, we’re fixed. Emulator is zip tied up under the dash. I’ll replace the motor in the ESL just to have as a spare seeing that a replacement is under 13.00 from Amazon. One word of caution for anyone doing this in the future and reading this thread. Don’t crank down the ring that goes around the ignition switch with the special tool. You’ll shear off the plastic nubs easily…
I hope I never have to take it apart again!
I hope I never have to take it apart again!
