ECU Problems on E50 AMG

[Tig]

I've recently had some bodywork done and whilst in the bodyshop they let the battery go flat. Stupidly they used a jump pack to start it without taking precautions and spiked the electronics.

They sent the car to our local dealer (Rycroft Oxford) who diagnosed the problem to be the immobilzer ECU behind the instrument pack and so changed it for a new one from Germany and charged £720. This didn't work. They have done further diagnostics and say that the problem is the main ECU not returning a "start" signal back to the immobilzer ECU. Therefore Rycroft now say that the main ECU under the bonnet is to blame and want to charge £4500 for the work.

The bodyshop obviously want to avoid paying £4500 for no reason and have sent the ECU off for testing and repairs to 2 seperate Bosch specialists, who have both returned it with a clean bill of health.

The car still does not start and flashes the red and green lights on the interior mirror when you try.

Can anyone recommend someone who can sort this out and fix it?

HHHHEEEELLLLLPPPPP!

 

[jaymanek]

What year is the car?

 

[d w124]

What year is the car?

Most likely 96-97 w210

 

[nick.ged]

oh dear oh dear... garages need to know not to jump modern electronic controlled cars.

so sorry to hear this, its criminal, hope you get them to pay for it, i would be on the war path if it wa mine.

 

[Tig]

I know what a load of cowboys!

Its a 97 "R" W210 E50AMG.

The problem I'm having is that the garage want to claim on their public liability insurance - which in theory is fine - but the problem is that its probably going to be an insurance write-off as the cost at MB will be £4500 and the car probably isn't worth much more on paper! Trouble being (as with lots of people on here) is that i've spent a lot of time and money on it which I won't get back and I don't really want it scrapped.

So if anyone knows anything that may help - i'd be gratefull.

Cheers

 

[Howard]

I think you can insist it is repaired to your satisfaction , after all it wasn't your fault.

Don't think they can just write it off because they want to , it's your car after all.

I would be frothing personally.

Does it share that ECU with any other cars ? E/CLK 55 maybe ?

 

[Tig]

It may well share the same Bosch ECU part numbers as other cars? However as I understand it the ECUs are pre coded from MB when ordered and are locked on AMG cars for security reasons! - More like money reasons? Therefore I'm told they are not interchangable - even an identical car with the same options will have individual coding that will only work on the car its meant for. Seems a bit strange but I am not an expert.

As I say I've had mine tested with a clean bill of health by 2 different Bosch places, but the car won't start and Rycroft are insisting its still the main ECU. I don't really know what to do next.

 

[Howard]

Can you not swap the main ECU with a friendly AMG owner and see if it works ? or search Ebay for a junk E55 and get the part ?

End of the day mate , it's their problem , not yours , it's your car , they can't just write it off.

I would just stick to your guns , and maybe now is the time to get a friendly solicitor to write them a letter stating that the car was perfect when it was given to them , you want it returned that way and wont accept anything less .

Why should they write it off because they buggered it up ? makes me mad

 

[Tig]

You are right - its been going on and on, all I want is it fixed!!

Thanks for your friendly advise.

All the best - I'll keep you posted!

 

[jaymanek]

I wouldnt jump to conclusions on the cause of the failure. Using a jump pack rarely blows ecu's, its a bit of a myth really.

I see many many cars get jumped at auctions, dealers etc and never seen a problem.

Its exactly the same as putting a new battery on.

Its when the jump pack is incorrectly attached..i.e. the wrong way around that problems occur.

 

[evdok]

Give this chap a call} Jayson 07815501867 (www.viezu.com)

Mention you are a mate of Oggi!

 

[nick mercedes]

The car still does not start and flashes the red and green lights on the interior mirror when you try.

Can anyone recommend someone who can sort this out and fix it?

HHHHEEEELLLLLPPPPP!

Has anyone tried another mirror on it?

 

[jaymanek]

I really think that if two ECU specialists have given it a clean bill, you should be looking for other explanations.

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
I,m with Nic, I would be looking elsewhere for the fault, as far as I,m aware this car at this age and rear view mirror configuration with the red and green lights on it, would have an early DAS system, I believe the car has a flip out style key which will have a chip in it, when the key is in the ignition switch, the proximity of the chip to the transponder coller around the ignition switch will disable the immobiliser.
My understanding of this system is has only three main components, the key, the rear view mirror, and the immobiliser box.
Do both red and green lights work in the rear view mirror?
Have you tried new batteries in the fob?
It could be the chip in the fob has become loose and is not close enough to the transponder coller when the key is in the ignition to deactivate the immobilser.
Your dealer I believe is treating this car as a later vehicle with DAS 2 system.

 

[andy27168]

deleted reason duplicate post

 

[d w124]

Have you tried new batteries in the fob?

I was going to say the same thing,but would the dealers be that Dull?!!The same thing was with my friend`s W202 and yes,it was the batteries on the rcl

 

[andy27168]

I was going to say the same thing,but would the dealers be that Dull?!!The same thing was with my friend`s W202 and yes,it was the batteries on the rcl

Hi,
On my W202, the fob would still operate the central locking ok but not deactivate the immobiliser, new batteries and the immobiliser would be operating normally.
Just because the fob operates the central locking, doesn,t mean that the immobiliser will work.
As i have said before, the dealer i believe is trying to diagnose this as a later vehicle, the dealers knowledge on this sort of problem and age of car is very sketchy, you might be better off talking to a local Indy, someone whose old enough to have worked on this age of vehicle when they were new.

 

[Tig]

Hi

Yes, the mirror has been changed in the car but to no avail. Also I have bought a new key and had that programmed in too - just in case.

The red and green lights flash alternatly if that means anything?

 

[jaymanek]

I think its something on the immobiliser side in that case. On our C class, I had a local alarm fitter come and bypass it..

Does the key operate the central locking ok?

 

[Tig]

Yes the key works the locks OK.