W169: SRS sensor failure in passenger seat, no spare part available

[anyweb]

so, my new 2012 model W169 to replace the previously dead W169 which had the cam chain slip/stretch, has an issue, when i purchased it the SRS light was on, and it was identified by the dealer as a sensor in the passenger seat, they promised to replace it within the 3 month warranty period

problem is, it's not as simple as they claimed and they are 1.5 hours drive from me, i'd have to drive there, leave the car, take a spare car and come back when the job is done, which could be weeks away... especially considering as they don't have the part and MB says it'll take 2.5 weeks before they even know if the part will be in stock...

so i contacted a close mechanic whom i trust to see what the story was, he read the codes and agreed that it's the passenger seat SRS sensor has failed. He called MB and MB said the part is out of stock, how can this part which is fitted to millions of W169's be out of stock ?

indeed this german Mercedez Benz website also shows it out of stock

SCHALTMATTE

SCHALTMATTE -A169870341064 in den Abmessungen 0,68 × 0,40 × 0,01. (Mercedes-Benz Originalteile). Das Ersatzteil SCHALTMATTE hat die Originalteilenummer A169870341064 und ist der Teileart Verschleißteile zugeordnet. Mercedes-Benz...

originalteile.mercedes-benz.de

my mechanic says the part number quoted by Mercedes (which is out of stock) is A169870341064 Mercedes-Benz, SCHALTMATTE

so what should i do, i still have the original (now dead) W169 parked in my driveway, it has a working SRS sensor in it's passenger seat...

it's 4 years older than the current 'new' W169 i bought...

I'd like to get this fixed as it will fail the MOT in the current state... but i have no faith in the dealer i bought it from to do the job properly (i'm guessing they'll fit something to make the srs light go away but i just don't trust they'll do it right...) plus the idea of driving back and forth (and then back and forth again) for this job is not appealing...

so, does anyone have any advice for me ? and any ideas as to why is this part out of stock ?

 

[mersum1es]

Could be due to world wide component problem?

Anyway, go to local indy/tuning shop and code sensor out. Air bag will deploy regradless passenger or not.

 

[EmilysDad]

I'd suggest to the supplying dealer that you get the job sorted locally at your preferred mechanic & he pays for it.

 

[anyweb]

I'd suggest to the supplying dealer that you get the job sorted locally at your preferred mechanic & he pays for it.

i already suggested that and he told me he wouldn't pay for it, my fear is that if i leave the car to the dealer i bought it from, that i might not see it again for weeks as he claims the part is not available (which i now know...)

 

[LostKiwi]

So you're covered by the Consumer Act currently as the car has a fault that makes it unroadworthy (it won't pass an MOT as is) and therefore not fit for purpose.
That's a pretty hefty lever to use on the dealer if necessary.

Part looks to be available here:

Fixparts-online.com: Spare parts wholesale and retail trade

Wholesale of spare parts for trucks and cars. Order online, fast shipping, low prices

www.fixparts-online.co.uk

 

[EmilysDad]

i already suggested that and he told me he wouldn't pay for it, .....

Doesn't inspire confidence ....

 

[anyweb]

agreed it doesn't inspire confidence, but we need this car and it's bought and paid for. So I just want to get it fixed and be done with it.

 

[anyweb]

So you're covered by the Consumer Act currently as the car has a fault that makes it unroadworthy (it won't pass an MOT as is) and therefore not fit for purpose.
That's a pretty hefty lever to use on the dealer if necessary.

Part looks to be available here:

Fixparts-online.com: Spare parts wholesale and retail trade

Wholesale of spare parts for trucks and cars. Order online, fast shipping, low prices

www.fixparts-online.co.uk

I live in Sweden, the rules here are different to the UK. But I'll see what he says...

 

[EmilysDad]

agreed it doesn't inspire confidence, but we need this car and it's bought and paid for. So I just want to get it fixed and be done with it.

How much is your friendly garage quoting to fix properly? It might be as well to just pay for the repair yourself, take it on the chin & chalk it up to experience .... At least you'd know it had actually been fixed correctly.

 

[anyweb]

How much is your friendly garage quoting to fix properly? It might be as well to just pay for the repair yourself, take it on the chin & chalk it up to experience .... At least you'd know it had actually been fixed correctly.

the part alone was quoted at 270 euros or so, plus labor, yes I'd prefer my 'known' guy to fix it, i'd trust him, the problem is the lack of the actual part....

 

[mattkh]

..... the problem is the lack of the actual part....

In that case, and also because you need to use the car, I would remove the passenger seat from the car.
Then your car will pass the MOT test.

 

[LostKiwi]

In that case, and also because you need to use the car, I would remove the passenger seat from the car.
Then your car will pass the MOT test.

He's in Sweden. It may be different there but here he still wouldn't pass as the SRS light is on.

 

[LostKiwi]

the part alone was quoted at 270 euros or so, plus labor, yes I'd prefer my 'known' guy to fix it, i'd trust him, the problem is the lack of the actual part....

Fixparts-online.com: Spare parts wholesale and retail trade

Wholesale of spare parts for trucks and cars. Order online, fast shipping, low prices

www.fixparts-online.co.uk