w211 estate boot door heavy

[merc estate]

Hi, I have had the 2006 e class estate car a few months now, the boot door seems a bit heavy, it has the electrical locking and tightens the door when you close it softly, i wondered why it was heavy we had a c class estate and various estate cars but it just seems heavier (does not have the electric open or close button i cant find it normally on bottom of tailgate) so i don't think it has that maybe because it has hardly been used, its like new in the back. It is the 7 seater model and it has a locking switch on the inside panel maybe all the locking system to open from the inside for that is making it heavy. Any thoughts anyone or am i just looking for trouble, thanks.

 

[merc estate]

Any clues anyone, thanks.

 

[developer]

Can you try another?

What area are you?

 

[GordonTarling]

If you lift the tailgate to about the half open position, does it stay there or rise? If so, the gas struts are good. If it tends to sink back down, you need new struts.

 

[davidjpowell]

They are heavy when the stuts get tired. Ask my head how it knows....

 

[merc estate]

Yes if you open half way it will stay there, it does not fall, do you think i need new ones??? or should i buy a bullworker i had one before but i could not get it out the box, thanks.

 

[merc estate]

Went to look at struts on tailgate door, i cannot find them are they inside the door or roof on this estate E class 06 Facelift, any clues anyone.

 

[hondo]

Unless my memory is playing tricks I think they run horizontal in cavity between outer roof skin and inner roof cloth

 

[merc estate]

That makes it sound difficult to check it out.

 

[hondo]

Iv only ever had problems with this once before and it was few years ago so I'm trying to jog my memory but I think you can remove the plastic trims which cover tailgate hinge in top corners and you will see the ends of the rams however to remove them I think roof cloth has to be dropped which wil require removal of inner b/c/d post trims

It was the auto open /close type I was dealing with and the tailgate was sticking out at the top corner bout an inch the ram had actually jammed all together so the owner of the car forced it shut when he couldn't get auto close to work in turn bending hinge and destroying rams for auto open close ,whole job took me about 8hrs including diagnosing problem 2xhinges/2xrams/2xauto open close rams was an absolute marathon to set it all up ,considering just about any other tailgate /bootlid you could change hinges and rams on a bad day in an hour

 

[merc estate]

Its sounding that this tailgate door seeming heavy is already a bit too much to fix, i don't think it has had a lot of use, maybe getting the dogs in and out every day will loosen it up, i don't fancy taking it all apart for nothing and what you describe sounds too much for me, it would be different if it was falling down, thanks for all you help.

 

[hondo]

Are you sure it dsnt hav the auto open close and it has failed thus meaning ur having to pull push the lifting rams when you open /close tailgate ?is it difficult to close ?
Another thing I forgot to mention is the tailgate it's self ways an absolute ton ! ,it truly was 1 of the most complicated hinge setups Iv ever come across but it should b possible to get wd40 with a straw on nozzle and squirt it on to hinge under the plastic covers incase it has just seized but with the weight of this tailgate the rams are very powerful it would take a good bit of seizing on the hinge to prevent them from doing there job

 

[merc estate]

Hi, thanks for your answers Hondo, its just does not go up on its own, you open it half way then it does not rise on its own to have to push it up, its not megga hevey i am just used to once cars are open half way they seem to go up on there own. As for auto open close there is no buttons on the bottom edge of tailgate where they should be its got the blanking plugs and also no button on centre consul where the other buttons are, BUT if you close it slowly/gently when it touches you here motors in door closing lock and pulling the door shut like on soft close, if that makes sense. it is not had to close at all, i have only had the car about 8 weeks so still a bit lost, i must arrange more time in my life to play with this car, does any of that make any sense?

 

[hondo]

Ok I think if it was a problem with the rams it would b difficult to closes As well or it would drop like a stone ,try the get some lubricant into the hinges and fingers crossed it will free up

 

[davidjpowell]

I suspect tired struts. Dog walking twice a day has done for mine.

In the S210 there is a bit of roof trim that I am hoping gives access so that I can avoid dropping the whole trim.

 

[Troon]

Tired struts for sure. Mine's the same - it will stay in position from about 1/3 of the way up but needs a stout lift to get it up to the top position. I plan to replace them sometime - but replacement struts are about £90 a side from MB. ECP and SGS do pattern parts for significantly less: I might take a gamble on those.

Struts are inside the roof lining as mentioned. If you don't have the power closing door, the front fixing is accessed behind the retainer for the cargo net - no need to drop the headliner. I can send you the instructions if you PM me your email address.

Update: this has prompted me to do something, so I've just ordered the SGS struts. Watch this space for a write-up...

 

[nap27]

Hi have same prob would you please also send me the instructions !

 

[Troon]

Well, that's a faff. I stripped down one side to have a shot at fitting the SGS struts.

It seems to be impossible to remove the top hinge cover expansion plugs without destroying them - 2 off A0009002592 per side with a colour code - 9051 for my black car. I could not remove the hinge cover without taking unacceptable risks to my roof paint, but the work can be done with it in place. The side trim takes 5 off A0009915940 per side, although these are simple to remove non-destructively.

The SGS website lists GSC1672 as the replacement part. The parts I was sent don't have this number on them, so I'm awaiting clarification if there's been a simple mistake, but they're totally the wrong size.

I've refitted the original part. This isn't an easy job, trying to get the ball joint over the stud through the luggage net retainer trim hole.

I need a nice glass of wine to calm me down...

 

[davidjpowell]

Cheers Troon, keep us updated would be appreciated,, as I'm waiting to follow in your footsteps. Mines ok unless it has morning dew on it, which is enough to upset the apple cart...

 

[Troon]

Harumph.

Hi Mark,

Unfortunately, we cannot supply the part you require.

You will need to return the struts to us, and provided they are in good condition, as you have stated, we will be able to give you a refund on the struts.