W212 Estate Boot/Tailgate Issues

Johnjn2000

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E class Estate 2015 E212
Hi all please be gentle with me as I am a newbie looking for some advice.

I have had my E class estate from new and up until recently it has been trouble free. Over the past few months it has developed an intermittent fault with the automatic boot. When I open it, and this bit happens every time, I get a loud noise click, click, click, click as if the lock is struggling to open, and then it opens. I can live with that bit but the main issue comes when I try to close, it gets to the bottom of its travel and then pops back open again like it would if something was trapped in it. I can go through the opening and closing process 3 times before it closes correctly or I can be there for 30 mins, it is quite random in its severity. This I could also live with if I had a way of locking it manually but it appears that this isn't a thing?

Took it to my local mechanic who is a trustworthy sole and he wouldn't touch it as he couldn't guarantee how long the fault finding would take and electrics were not his expertise. I phoned a local Merc specialist and they said they would take a look but with things like this the fault finding could take hours and I could easily see a £700 bill racking up.

So I am now on a forum looking to see if anyone has experienced exactly this issue. Internet searching has identified that the locking mech can fail and it is 100 quidish for a new part. Loath to do that just yet as my issue doesn't sound the same as those who talked about this fix.

Any ideas anyone? Thanks in advance
 
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Johnjn2000

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Bump
 

Gazwould

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C250 CDI
The iCarsoft MB V2.0 has a diagnostic section for the electric tailgate .

You need fault codes .
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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Sounds like another pair of hinges sticking because they never get lubricated. Mine did just the same just after I bought it. The remedy was to soak the hinges in fully synthetic engine oil, you will need to do this a few times to be successful as the hinge pin is quite tight. If you do a search on this forum for sticking tailgate you’ll find more info. The design is quite agricultural certainly not up MBs usual standard, also make sure you oil the motor pushrod ball joint (looking from the back of the car it’s situated at the side of the left hinge)

Good luck with it and do persevere with the oiling

https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/...ass-tailgate-issue.172658/page-6#post-1734767
 
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Gazwould

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C250 CDI
Same arrangement for C Class too ?
 
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Johnjn2000

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Sounds like another pair of hinges sticking because they never get lubricated. Mine did just the same just after I bought it. The remedy was to soak the hinges in fully synthetic engine oil, you will need to do this a few times to be successful as the hinge pin is quite tight. If you do a search on this forum for sticking tailgate you’ll find more info. The design is quite agricultural certainly not up MBs usual standard, also make sure you oil the motor pushrod ball joint (looking from the back of the car it’s situated at the side of the left hinge)

Good luck with it and do persevere with the oiling

https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/...ass-tailgate-issue.172658/page-6#post-1734767
Thanks Malcom. I did see another post somewhere about lubricating but it didn't seem to be displaying the same characteristics of my fault. It's the chattering of the lock when i open and the lack of the lock engaging or even trying to engage that led me to think electrical rather than mechanical. I guess the mechanical elements working correct drive the success or failure of the electricla bits and vice versa. I will get myself some oil and give your suggestion a bash.
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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Thanks Malcom. I did see another post somewhere about lubricating but it didn't seem to be displaying the same characteristics of my fault. It's the chattering of the lock when i open and the lack of the lock engaging or even trying to engage that led me to think electrical rather than mechanical. I guess the mechanical elements working correct drive the success or failure of the electricla bits and vice versa. I will get myself some oil and give your suggestion a bash.

Yes do try oiling the hinges as you say the tailgate can stick at any point including when the electronics are trying to engage
 

Mooreyboy

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I have the same problem and went onto "ask a mechanic" who also suggested oiling the hinges. I have pumped WD40 and some spray grease with no success so far. Will see, it does seem a somewhat unsophisticated solution in a high tech car!
 
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Johnjn2000

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I should have updated this apologies. I have recently found a solution, albeit not perfect, to the issue I had. If the automatic boot pops open again like mine was/is try pressing the manual latch once, and if you hear a click then close the boot with the auto button. This solves my issue every time. Granted I would prefer it to be fixed so it never sticks but this is a free workaround rather than splashing cash at a repair shop.
 

Mooreyboy

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My Hinges now ooze with oil but lock still clicks like a good'un. I reckon it must be the locking mechanism but can see no other threads to suggest otherwise.
 

Mooreyboy

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I am afraid to say that oiling the hinges did not work. I therefore bit the bullet and paid £116 for a new tailgate latch. I fitted it today and it solved the problem. It is not difficult to fit, have a look on you tube. Basically there are four bolts in the two handles in the tailgate (two in each) once removed the rest of the tailgate is held on with press connectors. Unfortunately both panels have to be removed. The top large one pulls out at the top and slides upwards. Good luck!At least it saved paying a Mecedes garage £180 an hour or whatever!
 

DoctorMesmer

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E220 Bluetec Estate (S212) 2015
I had exactly the same problem and, like Mooreyboy, no amount of lubrication would fix it. My tailgate latch had chattering away like Johnjn2000's and a new latch fixed it completely.
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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Thanks for reporting back and it’s useful to know the latches are proving faulty - at least the hinges will be moving freely as well. My problem and a couple of other posters on here was the hinges
 

Styles997

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Try popping the gas struts off one at a time. Give them a bounce and see if one is weaker than the other. If you need to replace, do so in a pair
 

Mario paul

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I had same problem with my 2015 e350 estate. It started of intermittently struggling to open. I lubricated hinges as described in other posts but same issue until recently when boot wouldn't automatically lock when closed unless I applied pressure when closed. Turns out the locking actuator (part number A2047500060) had died and mercedes told me today that they have sold over 900 this year alone so a common issue.
 

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