Familiar E55 W211 Moved to New Home Further North

[pmcgsmurf]

This is the thing, You would have expected MB design tobe right up there but its no where near, My Business partners Lexus 2001 LS430 has keyless and that works fine lol. Also i dont like the feel of the handles compared to the regular non keyless go ones they do feel a little flimsy.

Dont get wrong im in no way taking anything away from your Totally superb car bud, and it is lovely! And i love mine to bits too.

Just frustrates me some of the ways Mb have gone about things. They used tobe so much better.

But they did develop the M113 so can do somethings right, but....these handles are pure crap.

Pulled the handle off today, it is knackered, tested the circuit with a couple of resistors into the connector and it locks and unlocks ok so if I want the rear handle to work I will need to fix it or replace it.

I don't really need this to work do I ? Then again it will only bug me so need it fixed as soon as.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Decided to pull the handle apart to today.

Both tact switches not working and showing some high resistance (100k) over them.
Measured the resistors in the circuit and these are ok at 300 and 470 Ohm.
Think I'll stick a couple of new tact switches in for now till I can get a new(er) one.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

I've come to the conclusion those little tact switches have an IP rating of zero.

Had some tact switches from one of our products with an IP67 rating so have put these in for now and epoxied around the joints and switches.

Tested the circuit and this is working ok, will seal up the outer shell tomorrow and try back in depending on the weather.

 

[merc85]

is there nothing you cant do with cars Impressed buddy

 

[pmcgsmurf]

is there nothing you cant do with cars Impressed buddy

This is easy stuff, electronics design and assembly is our game so this is a walk in the park.

I'm not a fan of power tools if truth be told and fabrication/welding is not for me.
Luckily my mate is excellent at this, same guy that welded half a wing back onto an Imp back in 1984?
I just couldn't see what he was doing but it was amazing results.

It's now kind of like when the wife asks you to do the dishes, you break them all then don't get asked again.

If we're doing any sort of "heavy" work with a tool I say "like this" he says, "no like this" #10minutes #repeat and by the time we go round the loop a few times the job is done.
There is a mutual understanding that i can do it but it's not for me so I stick to what I'm good at/like and vice versa.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Put the handle back together today and used some epoxy to seal things up.



Buttons tested and working ok, have to press a little bit harder for the release but I can live with that for now.




Back in tomorrow (bit of a head today).

 

[merc85]

Amazing stuff !!

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Handle fitted back in today, time for a beer (or a few).

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[merc85]

Haha Top work Sir!

 

[simon1966]

Nice work So if I take my drivers one off, will you sort mine too?

 

[pmcgsmurf]

I've got plenty of switches.

The button parts is a pig to come apart.
You do that, send it to me and I'll solder in 2 new switches then you can put it back together.

Mine is not back together perfect but it will do for now, I guess I'd get better at these the more I did.

 

[Bryan Allman]

What a brilliant read!! The car looks stunning and you must be well pleased. I dread to think how much it must have cost in parts and your labour but I guess it also comes down to what else could you have got for the same money that would give the same pleasure.

 

[simon1966]

I've got plenty of switches.

The button parts is a pig to come apart.
You do that, send it to me and I'll solder in 2 new switches then you can put it back together.

Mine is not back together perfect but it will do for now, I guess I'd get better at these the more I did.

I was only joking Patrick. Good to know that they are repairable though as I think new handles are a few quid. It never really bothered when mine gave up, but would be nice to having it operational again. I'll have a better look at what you've done I think before I attempt dismantling. I'm fairly useful at stuff, but have to say electronics isn't my thing! I don't want to knacker it beyond repair

 

[AMGeed]

I was only joking Patrick. Good to know that they are repairable though as I think new handles are a few quid. It never really bothered when mine gave up, but would be nice to having it operational again. I'll have a better look at what you've done I think before I attempt dismantling. I'm fairly useful at stuff, but have to say electronics isn't my thing! I don't want to knacker it beyond repair

Simon, if you don't want to strip the handle down yourself, these guys in Sweden will recondition your keyless door handle and send back by return post.
Haven't used them myself, but read of someone using them with favourable reviews.
Welcome to the Frontpage!

 

[simon1966]

Simon, if you don't want to strip the handle down yourself, these guys in Sweden will recondition your keyless door handle and send back by return post.
Haven't used them myself, but read of someone using them with favourable reviews.
Welcome to the Frontpage!

Nice one Roger I'm not entirely sure of cost of a new handle from MB, but thought about £200 and then needs painting. That said I read that Patrick ordered one previously in correct finished paint code.

Patrick - any idea of cost for new one?

Sorry hijacking your thread!

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Nice one Roger I'm not entirely sure of cost of a new handle from MB, but thought about £200 and then needs painting. That said I read that Patrick ordered one previously in correct finished paint code.

Patrick - any idea of cost for new one?

That's easy, last one I bought Oct./Nov. 2017.

A2117601270 9744 (colour code 744U silver / front right)

£181.26 MB Grangemouth
£177.44 MB Newcastle
£156.46 MB Edinburgh

I bought from Edinburgh.

I've looked at the repair option but think that for the ~£50 more a new handle is a better option.

 

[simon1966]

Patrick - many thanks. Same colour code as mine too. As you say for cost difference would be better to just get a new one especially if it doesn't need to be painted. Those prices are less than I thought too

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Patrick - many thanks. Same colour code as mine too. As you say for cost difference would be better to just get a new one especially if it doesn't need to be painted. Those prices are less than I thought too

What gets me is some of the prices being asked on ebay for second hand parts, in some case more than a new part!

 

[Will]

Yes unless prices/availability have changed recently I paid around £135+VAT a few years back for a 744 silver (OSF) handle. I have heard mixed posts on here regards availability though (pre painted) so you would need to check.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

For anyone in the market for a new handle there is a German company on ebay selling quite a few.
These are new genuine Mercedes and showing about £90 delivered but some strange colours.
They don't have any rear right though.

Hajus Autoteile GmbH

Given that it's the switches that fail it would be very easy to buy one in the wrong colour and just take your existing handle to bits (assuming this is in good condition) and replace the inside part.