SL/R230: SRS Light on
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
SL350
If you are still monitoring this thread HSESL500MB I have been informed by
a local Indy that the fault is in the Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS).
Replacement of this unit is about £600 (GBP). This is a security item so
requires registration docs etc and is encoded to the car.
This they say will definitely fix this fault
a local Indy that the fault is in the Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS).
Replacement of this unit is about £600 (GBP). This is a security item so
requires registration docs etc and is encoded to the car.
This they say will definitely fix this fault
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 451
Likes: 44
2007 E350; 2018 GLE350
I'll be returning my SL550 next week for follow-up service to correct the SRS problem. Getting a new key did not abate the problem ... the SRS warning, the roll-over bar yellow alert, and the loss of wipers reappeared. I will put the shop on notice that the EIS is the likely culprit and that it should be replaced. Many thanks to those of you who have participated in this thread; it has been most informative.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
2005 SL 500
EIS
I am thankful for this thread, I was reluctant on having my Ignition switch changed until I read this thread. Many of you had the same problem I'm having with my SL 500 (2005) the noise, roll bar, SRS light and wind shield wipers not working. I have dealing with this problem for a year now because no one could find out what was going on until now and MB suggested I change the EIS but could tell me this would fix the problem. BTW before the suggestion MB changed Relay Key Starter and I purchased another key.
Wish me Luck & Thank you!
Wish me Luck & Thank you!
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 451
Likes: 44
2007 E350; 2018 GLE350
I'm betting the replacement EIS module will cure your problems. MB put a new EIS in my '07 SL550 in mid-March. All the problems you and I experienced--roll bar warning light, no wipers, etc.--disappeared immediately and have not returned. Good luck, Mate.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
1998 clk320
EIS Replacement Worked?
Hi,
I have the same problem with my 06 SL500. Is the consensus the EIS? Most of you have had it change since last year. Please let me know. Has anyone removed it and tried to repair it? Does anyone have a DIY for removal?
Thank you very much!!
I have the same problem with my 06 SL500. Is the consensus the EIS? Most of you have had it change since last year. Please let me know. Has anyone removed it and tried to repair it? Does anyone have a DIY for removal?
Thank you very much!!
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
1998 clk320
I am thankful for this thread, I was reluctant on having my Ignition switch changed until I read this thread. Many of you had the same problem I'm having with my SL 500 (2005) the noise, roll bar, SRS light and wind shield wipers not working. I have dealing with this problem for a year now because no one could find out what was going on until now and MB suggested I change the EIS but could tell me this would fix the problem. BTW before the suggestion MB changed Relay Key Starter and I purchased another key.
Wish me Luck & Thank you!
Wish me Luck & Thank you!
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Newbie
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
SL 350
A risk worth taking. It saved me hundreds of pounds.
I have had for some time all of the above symptoms on my 2007 SL 350 with SRS light, roll bar light, command system not working, clicking noises behind drivers seat and windscreen wipers not working. I am not recommending that you do what I did to rectify these faults but it worked for me with no further problems for 3 months now. My car was also not used much before I bought it and I believe damp was the cause of the fault on my Eis
Note....this is an overnight fix and you will need a hair dryer inside your car the next day. Yes...really ! Bear in mind you probably won't get the ignition key to turn at all to start the engine, so you will need an extension lead ready to power the hair dryer inside the car depending where the car is parked overnight.
1. Obtain a spray can of switch cleaner (also known as contact cleaner) .2. Gently depress the aperture of the ignition switch (not using the key). ( The red lens area which mates with the key).
3. Liberally spray switch cleaner inside the ignition switch/ Eis for about Four to five seconds.
4. Clean any switch cleaner off the red lens and leave car over night.
5. Don't panic the next morning if your key won't turn to start car.
6. With hair dryer working, gently depress lens of ignition in and spend five minutes making sure that the hot air is going into the ignition switch,and make sure the hair dryer does not burn any plastic parts.
7. Insert ignition key and start the car.
i admit that what I did was risky to say the least and it was the "last chance saloon" before i spent out big bucks, but it has totally cured the annoying srs problems which would have cost me hundreds of pounds to fix.
Note. This fix is only related to the posts above regarding to the srs faults as described in the related posts.
Last edited by Spudface; Mar 3, 2019 at 09:09 AM. Reason: tidy up broken text, thank you.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
SL500
I just found this thread, and if anyone's still around I have a couple of questions:
1 - I've been having this SRS problem for more than a year now, and thanks to this thread I now know what to tell my mechanic what to look for. However, I'm concerned about the bellow quoted message about this EIS part being a security item that will need registration docs and special coding for the car if it's going to be replaced. This is the only user who posted this security detail, and I'm wondering if anyone else thinks I/we need to do this part replacement through an MB dealership repair to get these codes done correctly? My local MB repair shops are pretty shady and have done me more harm than good on my cars, and I'd rather use my own specialist mechanic if I can.
2a - Also, there was another user reply saying that I/we should replace both EIS and the SAM at the same time:
2b - Does anyone think I can just replace the EIS and be done with it? Or should I do both EIS and SAM at the same time? If there is a security code needed to replace the EIS, does the SAM need one as well?
I have an '05 SL500 that I maintain regularly, and other than this SRS problem it still runs great.
Thanks so much
1 - I've been having this SRS problem for more than a year now, and thanks to this thread I now know what to tell my mechanic what to look for. However, I'm concerned about the bellow quoted message about this EIS part being a security item that will need registration docs and special coding for the car if it's going to be replaced. This is the only user who posted this security detail, and I'm wondering if anyone else thinks I/we need to do this part replacement through an MB dealership repair to get these codes done correctly? My local MB repair shops are pretty shady and have done me more harm than good on my cars, and I'd rather use my own specialist mechanic if I can.
If you are still monitoring this thread HSESL500MB I have been informed by a local Indy that the fault is in the Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS).
Replacement of this unit is about £600 (GBP). This is a security item so requires registration docs etc and is encoded to the car.
This they say will definitely fix this fault
Replacement of this unit is about £600 (GBP). This is a security item so requires registration docs etc and is encoded to the car.
This they say will definitely fix this fault
2a - Also, there was another user reply saying that I/we should replace both EIS and the SAM at the same time:
If the dealer is not finding the EIS code your SAM needs to be replaced as well. I had this issue as well and thankfully my service advisor had the same car as me with the same problem a few months earlier. The SAM wasn't reading the code but we changed the EIS and the problem went away.
I would advise anyone NOT to go that route and to change the SAM at the same time. A faulty SAM causes lots of major problems including complete brake failure while driving. Very Scary stuff.
I would advise anyone NOT to go that route and to change the SAM at the same time. A faulty SAM causes lots of major problems including complete brake failure while driving. Very Scary stuff.
I have an '05 SL500 that I maintain regularly, and other than this SRS problem it still runs great.
Thanks so much
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 365
From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
SAMs on the R230 do not have security. Coding should be transferred from the old unit if possible. If the old SAM is dead, review the variant coding and correct it. Note that there are three SAMs on R230's, I believe that the above posts are referring to the Driver's Side front SAM. Your problem is more likely the EIS, but it should still be properly diagnosed.
The EIS is a theft relevant part. Mercedes intends for these to not be transferrable, so you can't just buy a used one and install it. You have at least 4 options: 1) Buy a new one (this either needs to be installed by a Mercedes dealer, or you need to convince them to loan you the workshop key which is necessary for installation). 2) Send yours in for repair 3) Have someone clone your immobilizer info into a used one or transfer chips. 4) Install the full immobilizer set (ECU, EIS, Shifter) from a like car. However, with the 7-speed transmission, you have to virginize the TCU and also need to virginize the cluster if you want mileage to display. The TCU is internal in the transmission, so if you don't have someone local to virginize it, it is a fairly big job to remove and send in.
The EIS is a theft relevant part. Mercedes intends for these to not be transferrable, so you can't just buy a used one and install it. You have at least 4 options: 1) Buy a new one (this either needs to be installed by a Mercedes dealer, or you need to convince them to loan you the workshop key which is necessary for installation). 2) Send yours in for repair 3) Have someone clone your immobilizer info into a used one or transfer chips. 4) Install the full immobilizer set (ECU, EIS, Shifter) from a like car. However, with the 7-speed transmission, you have to virginize the TCU and also need to virginize the cluster if you want mileage to display. The TCU is internal in the transmission, so if you don't have someone local to virginize it, it is a fairly big job to remove and send in.
