INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RECALL 220 and 215 series

[hawk20]

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There is a recall on SOME 220 series S class and 215 CL class instrument clusters in the UK.

In the US the recall was by build dates -all cars built between 200x to 200y. In all about 36,000 had to be changed. Yipes!

The UK instrument clusters are different. There is a recall in UK but it is for 3 faulty batches which are not date-related but can be isolated from the VIN numbers. Ask your dealer. They check the VIN with Mercedes. Several postings here and there suggest they are being very generous under goodwill as well to cars not strictly in the recall.

Before anyone gets too upset, you should see the amazing number of recalls by Toyota, that paragon of reliability. Or try my Dell computer which has now had new hard drives 5 times in one year.

Here is the alldat link where the recall is posted: -

http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Mercedes-Benz/1162540800000_1163491200000_2006080004A/index.html


Here is the link to one of the main US threads: -
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...l-s-class.html
And here's a link to details of the recall on another UK site
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=32065

 

[eric242340]

Instrument cluster

I checked out all three threads and could not get connected. Im in Asia and understand the last earthquake caused problems with the undersea internet cables. However I can connect to this forum - no problem why?

 

[television]

The links do not work here Eric, Hawk will have to re do them.

Malcolm

 

[Blobcat]

The last link works and I have updated the first one, pls let me know if they work.

 

[daveenty]

Yep....top & bottom working here.

Middle one dead as you are probably aware

 

[Blobcat]

Yep....top & bottom working here.

Middle one dead as you are probably aware

I cannot see the middle one from here :-(. Firewalls and all that jazz :roll:

 

[hawk20]

I cannot see the middle one from here :-(. Firewalls and all that jazz :roll:

Try these: they work for me.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w22...all-s-class.html?highlight=instrument+cluster

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220-s-class/1254940-instrument-cluster-recall-s-class.html

 

[hawk20]

I would like to revive this topic for a brief while. Seem to be quite a few Cluster problems on other models of Mercedes as well as just those on the S class and the CL. Seen a few postings on different forums.

Interesting to note that Mercedes have issued a ten year guarantee on Instrument Clusters in the US on all S class and CL class cars produced from 2000 to 2006.

Here are the links (hope they work this time. The first is the opening of the thread
http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=141872

The second is postings on the 10 year guarantee: -

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2304513&posted=1#post2304513

Postings from 121 onwards are of special interest I think.

I'd like to ask those of you more knowledgable than I am on these things, what this means. Why would this be done? Just good PR and to reassure people or could it be Mercedes not too sure the new ones are bulletproof?

 

[hawk20]

I'll attach one of the MB letters from US. Hope it is readable.

 

[television]

I believe that the fault on the S class clusters is the back lighting that goes, and not the same fault as the other cars where it is the temperature and clock that go out.


Is it that the USA have more S class cars than we have E class, it still seems very wrong to discriminate on a country basis

 

[hawk20]

One theory on the MBWorld thread is that Merc told US agency in charge of recalls that they did not know which cars by VIN number were affected and to avoid recalling all 36,000 (and the problems of finding that huge number of Clusters at speed) they agreed to issue a ten year guarantee on all S class and Cl class cars from 2000 to 2006 and replace the clusters as and when they came in. No idea if this is the truth or speculation.

Over here they recalled by VIN numbers but the UK instrument cluster is different in many respects from the US one.

 

[duraman]

Had mine replaced because of the back lighting issue. Mercedes payed in full even though it was out of warranty and was not part of the recall!

 

[television]

Over here they recalled by VIN numbers but the UK instrument cluster is different in many respects from the US one.

The clusters here are the same as the US versions

 

[hawk20]

Had mine replaced because of the back lighting issue. Mercedes payed in full even though it was out of warranty and was not part of the recall!

This is the sort of thing that is happening that makes me think the problem is more widespread.

Malcolm, I do not think they are the same. US gallons are different size and a number of other differences. Mine offers imperial or metric: no option for US. Do you have any further info?

 

[television]

This is the sort of thing that is happening that makes me think the problem is more widespread.

Malcolm, I do not think they are the same. US gallons are different size and a number of other differences. Mine offers imperial or metric: no option for US. Do you have any further info?

They are the same Hawk from a working and electrical point of veiw, they are programed to read different things dependent on the country that they are used in, see the link
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...633722.635&CT=F&cat=66H&SID=54&SGR=585&SGN=18

there is only the one cluster as such, the differences in the link is only the printed matter in the display, the workings are all the same

 

[hawk20]

Don't they have things like a fahrenheit temp dial (engine temp) unlike mine in Centigrade. And they wouldn't have the speedo in miles and kms would they?

And their recall and ours did not coincide. And when I contacted MB to ask why recall in US and not here they said ''their instrument clusters are different''. As Manuel said: 'I know nothing'. Just reporting what I was told.

 

[television]

Don't they have things like a fahrenheit temp dial (engine temp) unlike mine in Centigrade. And they wouldn't have the speedo in miles and kms would they?

And their recall and ours did not coincide. And when I contacted MB to ask why recall in US and not here they said ''their instrument clusters are different''. As Manuel said: 'I know nothing'. Just reporting what I was told.

If you look in the link I put up they are the same basic units with only cosmetic differences, most displays can be changed in STAR, so from the contruction side they are the same, I am sure that it is a bigger problem in the States due to the amount sold

 

[eGuru]

Something to be aware of if you have had the cluster replaced under recall.
Took car in to Parkham Garage today for a service. While waiting for parts to be delivered I asked the guys if they could make the auto-fold work on wing mirrors.
Also asked them to find out why I could not switch off the parktronic.
While running the diagnostics they discovered that the parktronic, one touch folding of mirrors and the car alarm among other functions had not been activated on the Star.
This could only have happened when the cluster was replaced and re-programmed by local MB dealer. So, if you have had cluster replaced make sure all is working as it should. Especially the alarm!
Oh and could not get the auto-fold to work.

 

[SusanSeenan]

Instrument Cluster Failure C180 (2003)

HI, I'm new to this but wonder if anyone can help - the instrument cluster on my Mercedes C180 has failed and the dealer wants alomst £900 to fix it! I understand Mercedes may have this as a recognised fault/recall but am getting no where trying to claim. Does anyone have an info here in the UK on this?
Thank you

 

[colechelle]

sorry Susan, the recall was for the S and CL model, i have seen a couple of c,class clusters fail now, oh, and welcome!!!