E320 S211 boot not latching shut

[KnackeredKnees]

Hi Guys,....and Gals of course!
This is my first post so be gentle with me please!

I have an E320 S211 53 plate 247K miles, 7 seater. It goes so well, pulls like a train, does everything I need of it and more. It has most of the bells and whistles that were available 'back in the day' (as they say), and as a 'gadget man' thats great and I love the car (most of the time)!
We have had age/mileage related issues, 'Black death', air suspension on its knees, most recently a clogged Cat which was cleaned and the engine is back as good as it's been since I owned the car (5years).
Anyhow, the problem I would really like some help with is this.

The electric boot latch will not lock. If I shut it gently it does not 'pull in' as it always has previously. There is NO NOISE of the actuator trying pull in as if its not getting power to it! If I shut it harder it still does not latch so basically we cannot secure the car. This has happened on the odd occasion in the past but within a few open and closes soon sorts itself out (not really sure how or why).
I would have thought if there were a broken piece within the actuator there would still be noise as the mechanism tries to latch.
Just to give you the full 'sit rep' in case its relevant, since I've had the car the red 'boot close' and 'boot lock' buttons on the boot itself have only ever worked rarely. I've always put this down to a dodgy switch (corrosion), or connection. Whist this has been unfortunate its not been a big enough issue to get it fixed 'professionally' but having taken all of the trim etc. off today I see that the 3 wires that go to it have been repaired previously so I think those connections just need re-making.
Sorry this has been a bit long it didn't seem this complicated in my head!!!!
Many thanks in anticipation of any help.

 

[Dec]

Possibly the below?

Dec

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[toolman1954]

Hi,
You say you have a 7 seater, so obviously you have a wagon (and you do quote S211). If you take off the rear door trim inside the latch is a small electric motor, similar to that found in a duo valve, which is another story. This wee motor after many openings and closings either burns out or strips the teeth. When mine went I just bought a new latch assembly off of Ebay which sorted it. Did not take long to fit. Somewhere on the net are photos showing this assembly.
try this, or there is a pic of one in Poland.

2004 Mercedes-Benz E Class 02-09 Estate Tailgate Boot Latch Locking Solenoid | eBay

You have 2,000 more miles on yours than mine !!! 53 plates must have been a good year.

Steve

 

[KnackeredKnees]

Sorry for late response guys, been away for a couple of days.
Thanks Dec for your thought though my boot does fully open from the fob and inside (drivers door switch), it just doesn't latch closed so when I close it, the car isn't secure. All the other 'bits' work ok, wiper, lights etc.

Thanks toolman1954. I was thinking it may be the latch (or solenoid) itself but I would of thought it would make some sort of noise (whirring/clicking/grinding) as it attempts to 'pull in'. According to 'you tubers' there are two small motors a load of plastic gears and an aluminium armature thingy inside the latch, so I thought, even if the armature thingy or one of the two motors weren't working or a gears had lost some teeth, it would still try to do something. But there is nothing at all, as if the latch was completely 'dead'. I was sort of hoping someone would identify a fuse or something simple but that was maybe wishful thinking. So may be it will be a new/second hand latch mechanism.

Thanks again guys but if there are any other thoughts particularly if they are simpler, 'I'm all ears'.

 

[Dec]

Talking of your ears, put a smart phone inside next to the lock with the video camera or voice recorder recording, you might hear locking noises/motors running that you can’t hear from the outside.

Dec