W204 Steering lock mechanical fault diagnosed

[Marcus1212]

Best price i had was 650

I dont have much option as the car towed to mercedes and how id get it repaired elsewhere is going to be alot of hassle. The cheapest quote i had was £650. But that means i have to get car to them and spend more money paying someone to tow it. Its a loose loose situation and most u happy with Mercedes who frankly got some harsh criticism from me to the manager. There attitude stinks and mercedes really think they are something special when all there cars is breakdown with poorly made parts that shouldnt be failing at 75000 miles.

 

[Bustermou]

At The Stealers

My 2009 C200K is at MB right now for this steering lock/ignition problem, they just called me to say its the steering lock system and with reprogramming its going to cost me £1,037 inc VAT........I am gutted, that was my holiday booking money!

 

[Marcus1212]

Im Stuck at a grand and not best pleased

Considering my car has full merc service history 7 years old 75k on the clock its harsh with mercedes. Poor build quality and the customer is expected to put poor quality right for them . Dealership was rude and very cocky in attitude. Its as if mercedes still believe they are something special . They defo aint that anymore. Very average and thr ford mondeo is built better .. Only merc styling wins which drew me tovthe carcin th first place. Very disappointed with the car.

 

[jaymanek]

Maybe too late for the above but replacement Mercedes keys now fix these at a fraction of mb cost..
http://www.replacementmercedeskeys.co.uk

 

[Bustermou]

Maybe too late for the above but replacement Mercedes keys now fix these at a fraction of mb cost..
Mercedes key specialists- Need new Mercedes keys? Replacementmercedeskeys.co.uk

I contacted them, they said their charge would be around £600, plus I would have to get the car to them in Birmingham........

 

[vijilants]

This fault is concerning, and as an owner of a W204 of that era is there any preventative action that can be taken before the problem occurs ?

I'd hate to be stuck somewhere with this issue.

 

[Stardelta]

Speaking about my experience, when you put the key in the ignition you get the sound of the steering lock releasing, if this is not fast then you have a impending problem looming, when I took my car to get it serviced at Wayne Gates last june he said that mine had not been replaced because it sounded lazy and when the first time I get no ignition lights book it in to get the steering lock replaced, well this happened last week, went to start the car and nothing, retried and still nothing, banged underneath steering column and car started, drove to work and when I went to start it again steering lock was really slow and sluggish, immediately booked it in to get it sorted as I didnt want to get stranded as when it finally gives up the car is immobilised and then will require trailering in at considerable expense.
I really feel that mercedes should have done a recall on this part as it isnt a case might it fail but a case of it will fail and there is no pattern as to when this will be, just doesn't fill you with confidence that one day you could be stranded in the middle of no where.
So bottom line is that when your car doesnt start ie no dash lights and ignition, retry and give under the steering column a sharp wack, them make it a priority to get the steering lock replaced, this will cost anything from 400 upwards but if you leave it and it completely fails in the locked position this will require the steering column to be removed and the added costs of the car being trailered to the repairer.
The other rough part is it isnt really a diy repair as the new part needs to be coded and only mercedes can supply the key to do this.

 

[vijilants]

The other rough part is it isnt really a diy repair as the new part needs to be coded and only mercedes can supply the key to do this.

So is it the lock tht needs coding ? Did you get the job done at MB ?

Many Thanks

 

[Stardelta]

I got the job done at a great place in North Harrow called wayne gates, really top notch service and value, as for the steering lock it does need to be coded and this entails mercedes issuing a key, this will require full id from yourself ie driving licence, log book etc to prove ownership

 

[vijilants]

I'm having the motor in the ESL replaced today as a precautionary measure.

The repair company is coming to my house to do the job.

It hasn't broken as yet nor is it showing symptoms, but I really don't want this happening one day when I'm out.

Will post later with the results.

 

[Stardelta]

Let us know the outcome, the other thing worth thinking about is, has it already been changed by a previous owner?

 

[Marcus1212]

Amazing news !

To cut a long story short i complained to mercedes head office about the steering failiure and costs. Low and behold mercedes have waived my bill in full.

 

[Stardelta]

That's great news, they should of all been done for free

 

[Marcus1212]

I count myself as being very lucky . But the car has been fault less to be honest.
Hence full merc service history and added warranty by merc we took out only expired last year. So when mercs head office looked at my low milege, full history etc i think they must have thought its a bit harsh on this customer having to pay out £999

Mercedes said if i had serviced the car elsewhere they would have contributed a set amount based on age and milege. I urge everyone to ring mercedes head office if you had the same issues as myself. Mercedes will contribute to repair costs as long as your honest and professional.

 

[Marcus1212]

Very lucky indeed

I count myself as being very lucky . But the car has been fault less to be honest.
Hence full merc service history and added warranty by merc we took out , only expired last year. So when mercs head office looked at my low milege, full history etc i think they must have thought its a bit harsh on this customer having to pay out £999

Mercedes said if i had serviced the car elsewhere they would have contributed a set amount based on age and milege. I urge everyone to ring mercedes head office if you had the same issues as myself. Mercedes will contribute to repair costs as long as your honest and professional.

 

[vijilants]

I'm having the motor in the ESL replaced today as a precautionary measure.

The repair company is coming to my house to do the job.

It hasn't broken as yet nor is it showing symptoms, but I really don't want this happening one day when I'm out.

Will post later with the results.

Done...Job took approx 1.5 hours :bannana:

Thanks ovidublue !!!

 

[Stardelta]

Hope you dont mind me asking but was it expensive?

 

[vijilants]

Hope you dont mind me asking but was it expensive?

£200 done at my home.

 

[Stardelta]

Was that a completely new ignition lock unit coded or did they replace the motor in the old one, as that is a superb price, I paid more than that for the part alone

 

[zipdip]

What amazes me is that Mercedes could fit such a crap part in one of there cars,if you ask me us Mercedes owners have too much patience ,Mercedes who are supposed to be a premium brand but fit inferior parts such as this ignition module,not much point having a car that looks good but important parts are made by cheapo manufacturers.