mjr24

When I bought my SL it had 1 malfunction error.....SOS need authorization.
Anyone heard of this error code?

elbowyeish

did you buy a CPO? either way, the SOS malfunction message is for the TeleAid. when you buy a MB, they should've asked you if you want to subscribe for the SOS/TeleAid option. if you buy a new MB, they give you the first year for free. on CPO cars, you have to pay... i think it's a little over $200 per year. anyways, when you purchase the car, they ask you to accept or deny the option. if you deny it, the message will show no matter what. i asked the dealer to turn it off but they said they couldn't (although i still don't believe them). i think there should be a way to turn it off. they told me it can't be deleted because it has to alert the driver that the SOS function is off and not available for that driver when they drive. it's really annoying and i hate it. i've had a 2003 CPO SL500 and it didn't have that malfunction message and i didn't even have to decline the SOS feature!!! i only believe 50% of the dealers tell me. most of them know so little about the cars it's embarassing.

mjr24

I agree that is BS. I am going to take it to the dealer and demand they fix it. I had never had this issue with my CL.

Silver_Lana

Just FYI, the message can be removed by any dealer.
The will usually say no just to avoid having to do any work on the car.

elbowyeish

i took my car to a dealer and they took off the 1 Malfunction message. when i first mentioned it to the dealers, they said they couldn't take the message off. they said it's built into the system and there's no way to take the message off. but i kept on insisting that they could go into the computer to erase that message. the dealers don't want to do it bcuz it's a lot of work and they have more "serious" problems the service guys need to attend to. i HATE incompetent dealerships!!! i had to actually go into the service department and ask the techs to see who would get rid of it. luckily one guy said he could so he got rid of the malfunction message. is this what we as SL owners have to go through to get things done? do we pay $100,000+ on our cars to get dicked around like this?

Sgooter

How long did it take the tech to complete that arduous task?

elbowyeish

he did it pretty fast once he connected to the car's computer.

mjr24

Yep....took it to dealer today and they denied it could be removed

elbowyeish

those *******s! TRUST me, they can remove it. they just don't want too cuz it's a lot of work for them. two different dealerships told me it couldn't be removed until i found that guy. too bad you don't live in Los Angeles so you can take it to my guy. anyways, just tell them your friends car had it and they removed that malfunction error and give them hell. tell them you feel insecure and the car will break down, tell them the error message makes it seem like the car is broken, etc etc! they can get rid of that error message. i bet if they did some other computer work on your car they will get rid of the message while they're fixing that other problem.

vantage78

Personally, I think the $200/year Teleaid option is worth it just for the monitoring of the car alone. Teleaid will call a phone number of your choice to alert you that your alarm has gone off. Nice way to be notified if you car is being jacked....

dogma

I was told that the SOS malfunction had to stay on when I took my car in. When I got it back the notice was off. They had to do work on a malfunction notice on my tire pressure monitor at the same time. Maybe while working on the second they took it upon themselves to correct the SOS notice. All I know is it is off now and I did not set up for Teleaid.