W212 - Problem with rotary COMAND controller

[Londonscottish]

Hi All,

My 212 has the column shift and so has the rotary COMAND controller on the centre console. Like this

Repair Comand Controller Mercedes GLK Turn Knob Rotary Switch Button Switch | eBay

Yesterday the spin function stopped working. I can still select things by clicking the centre of it and I can still navigate through menus by nudging it left/right and up/down.

I just can't spin through menus using the rotary function.

Any ideas? Given that you can buy replacements on eBay I guess it's quite likely to be a failure with the controller?

 

[Will]

I think @clk320x Abs had this issue on his W212 and replaced the faulty parts, hopefully he can share what he had to do and where he got the parts from.

Should be a thread on here somewhere though

 

[clk320x]

Yes there’s a plastic shaft inside the controller which snaps (extremely common problem)

The controller is about £300 from MB, you can dismantle it and replace the plastic shaft with an aluminium part for around £15. It’s pretty straight forward.

Here’s how to remove it:
IGNORE HIS ADVICE ABOUT CUTTING THE WIRE TO DISCONNECT IT - This is not necessary and it’s very easy to simply disconnect the connector. This was the only part of the video I ignored.

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How to replace the shaft:

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An example of the part you need:
Mercedes Wave COMAND CONTROLLER KNOB DIAL w204 w212 Repair C-Class | eBay

It didn’t take me long to fix - it’s a bit fiddly but not too difficult. You’ll need plastic trim removal tools and small torx screwdrivers. All explained in the video

 

[Londonscottish]

Yes there’s a plastic shaft inside the controller which snaps (extremely common problem)

The controller is about £300 from MB, you can dismantle it and replace the plastic shaft with an aluminium part for around £15. It’s pretty straight forward.

Here’s how to remove it:
IGNORE HIS ADVICE ABOUT CUTTING THE WIRE TO DISCONNECT IT - This is not necessary and it’s very easy to simply disconnect the connector. This was the only part of the video I ignored.

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

How to replace the shaft:

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

An example of the part you need:
Mercedes Wave COMAND CONTROLLER KNOB DIAL w204 w212 Repair C-Class | eBay

It didn’t take me long to fix - it’s a bit fiddly but not too difficult. You’ll need plastic trim removal tools and small torx screwdrivers. All explained in the video

Thanks! This place is brilliant. Something to do in the long weeks ahead.

 

[artyman]

I had a similar problem with my W204 a couple of months ago, quite an easy fix with araldite, just had to buy some Torx screwdrivers as I didn't have any.

 

[Chrishazle]

A problem I also had with my S204 quite a while ago, bought the replacement aluminium shaft from germany (Mercedes Comand Knob Repair Set, and it came with a set of 4 plastic trim removal tools which have come in handy) but having watch both the "how to" videos I decided it was too tricky for my shaky sausage fingers so got it done by a local ICE company - cost me £120!

 

[clk320x]

cost me £120

I’d have done the repair and made you a cup of tea for that

 

[Chrishazle]

That would mean travelling north of Watford Gap, and getting an armed escort would be difficult!