SLK350 R171 2005 - Vario Roof ECU - Can anyone help?

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IanShepherd

New Member
Joined
May 12, 2021
Messages
4
Location
Bristol
Car
SLK350 R171 2005
Hi everybody,
After a period of heavy rain during lockdown last year I opened the car door to the depressing 'Vario roof visit workshop' message. Being an eternal optimist I thought it might be a one-off event as the car had not been used for some time. I disconnected the battery, checked the relevant fuses and reconnected it hoping that things might sort themselves out but no such luck. I realised that the heating system had stopped working as well. Curses!
I've subsequently taken it to be diagnosed and the Vario roof ECU module is apparently the culprit (my well respected Mercedes garage tells me that this module can also cause a knock-on effect with the heating). The total cost of getting this done is going to be £400+ as they will only install a new module. They are not able to book it in for at least a month due to their high workload so, before I spend this amount of money it seems strange to me that a module has failed simply because the car has got damp? The interior of the car got so wet that mould was growing on the leather seats and the inside of the trunk lid was dripping with water. I've tried to access it to see if any of the connectors have have become corroded but something that looks simple on a PDF never turns out that way in practice.
Does anybody have any thoughts on what might be the problem or indeed how to get to the ECU. I'm in Bristol and very disappointed with my Mercedes experience after years of trouble-free motoring with Lexus.
Thanks in advance.
Ian
 
Have you taken it to Ben at Parkway Mercedes in Filton ?
Hi Pete, I use Parkway Mercedes in Parnall Road, Fishponds as they are walking distance from me. Thanks for replying as I'm getting a bit frustrated by the whole situation!
 
Oops , I meant to type Fishponds. And it was Ben on Parnall road that I was referring to. I am surprised at your surprise at the unit failing because of damp. The way you describe the car interior I am surprised any of it is working.

if I had a month to kill while waiting to get the car in I would be taking all of the carpets up and unplugging and cleaning every electrical connection I could find especially any of those in the boot and generally have a massive drying out session with a dehumidifier.

Hope it all works out
 
I have indeed dried it out with a dehumidifier... for me it's actually finding out where the relevant parts are and it's all compounded by the fact that I don't have anywhere to investigate off-road.
 

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