W203 sunroof recall
Discussion
Had a letter today from The dvla. Quite surprised tbh that a 15 yr old car is eligible. Letter suggests a recall is required due to bonding of the sunroof glass potentially deteriorating. Possible consequence is the glass becoming detached! Just wondering if anyone else has had a letter, or had work carried out? Or know any further details?
Just a bit concerned about handing my car to a dealer, rightly or wrongly. I don’t really trust them. And I also know that any work on a sunroof can cause more issues than resolutions.
Car is a C55. S203. Not w as per title sorry! Not sure if it’s model specific or all ...203?
Just a bit concerned about handing my car to a dealer, rightly or wrongly. I don’t really trust them. And I also know that any work on a sunroof can cause more issues than resolutions.
Car is a C55. S203. Not w as per title sorry! Not sure if it’s model specific or all ...203?
Edited by mini me on Saturday 25th July 17:05
Yeah I got a letter on Friday about my S211 ie E class estate, 2007. To be honest I was home late so just scanned the letter to read fully again. I think you've just to phone the dealership and get it scheduled.
Reading between the lines it seems they blow off the roof and cause damage or accidents.
Mine doesn't leak or squeak so like yourself I'm a little concerned that they poke at it and make an issue.
I'll maybe give them a call tomorrow.
Reading between the lines it seems they blow off the roof and cause damage or accidents.
Mine doesn't leak or squeak so like yourself I'm a little concerned that they poke at it and make an issue.
I'll maybe give them a call tomorrow.
Had one for my 2004 E-class... 16 years old!
As it's about the bonding of sunroof glass to frame, I too read it as "they can get blown off". TBH I don't know where the line is drawn between a car falling apart due to age and where it is the manufacturer's responsibility, but presumably it says something for the longevity of 2000's Mercs if we are getting recalls in the 2020s.
As it's about the bonding of sunroof glass to frame, I too read it as "they can get blown off". TBH I don't know where the line is drawn between a car falling apart due to age and where it is the manufacturer's responsibility, but presumably it says something for the longevity of 2000's Mercs if we are getting recalls in the 2020s.
I rang the dealer today to see if they could slot me in Friday as I'm on leave but oh no. Earliest is 20th August, I'm off that week so no big deal but they aren't chauffeuring me anywhere I'll just have to wait for it. It's surrounded by shopping outlets so I'll kill time that way. Said it would be couple of hours just to check if it was faulty! Then more time to fix. Not sure if that's same day or a rebook I assumed same day.
They also wash and hoover them out but that's suspended too due to Covid-19. No coffee bar either or papers. Bring your own. Bottled water though.
I'm really looking forward to it hahahaha.
They also wash and hoover them out but that's suspended too due to Covid-19. No coffee bar either or papers. Bring your own. Bottled water though.
I'm really looking forward to it hahahaha.
When I booked mine in I asked about what it entails, and they started reading through the procedure. It seems that the first step is to check the manufacture details (the "dials" you see marked on components to show manufacture dates etc) on the sunroof itself and only carrying out further work if the dials reflect particular information, so it seems to be a batch issue rather than a design issue.
In reality it could be a five minute job and then on your way.
The repair, if necessary, can entail a new sunroof unit, so they would need to order parts. Hence a second appointment being necessary.
It's inconvenient for me too, but the alternative is a sunroof that may or may not fly out without warning
In reality it could be a five minute job and then on your way.
The repair, if necessary, can entail a new sunroof unit, so they would need to order parts. Hence a second appointment being necessary.
It's inconvenient for me too, but the alternative is a sunroof that may or may not fly out without warning
I think I'll be lucky to even get sitting in the showroom cars never mind a test drive of anything.
Oh the nice lady in the phone told me it would be 1-3 hours I was only half listening as per usual.
So talked more about the wiping down and social distancing measures in place. I'm all for that very good but I'd still appreciate my car getting a jet wash afterwards.
Hopefully it's just a quick batch number check and on we go. My sunroof seems solid. Only issue is when closing it when slid back it gets to last inch and retracts about 3. Keeping the finger on the button until it's closed does the trick. I think it's when it meets the wind deflector it thinks it's an obstacle and goes into safety mode.
Would they fix that whilst they're at it?
Oh the nice lady in the phone told me it would be 1-3 hours I was only half listening as per usual.
So talked more about the wiping down and social distancing measures in place. I'm all for that very good but I'd still appreciate my car getting a jet wash afterwards.
Hopefully it's just a quick batch number check and on we go. My sunroof seems solid. Only issue is when closing it when slid back it gets to last inch and retracts about 3. Keeping the finger on the button until it's closed does the trick. I think it's when it meets the wind deflector it thinks it's an obstacle and goes into safety mode.
Would they fix that whilst they're at it?
donkmeister said:
Had one for my 2004 E-class... 16 years old!
As it's about the bonding of sunroof glass to frame, I too read it as "they can get blown off". TBH I don't know where the line is drawn between a car falling apart due to age and where it is the manufacturer's responsibility, but presumably it says something for the longevity of 2000's Mercs if we are getting recalls in the 2020s.
Was telling my mate last night about our recall. He said he read or saw a video of some guy who had an early new shape mini I think year 2000. He'd bought it recently and took it to Mini dealership for something or other and it had missed a recall in 2002! So even 18 years after the recall the dealer booked it in to get the recall done.As it's about the bonding of sunroof glass to frame, I too read it as "they can get blown off". TBH I don't know where the line is drawn between a car falling apart due to age and where it is the manufacturer's responsibility, but presumably it says something for the longevity of 2000's Mercs if we are getting recalls in the 2020s.
Thought that was a good one.
MercedesClassic said:
I think I'll be lucky to even get sitting in the showroom cars never mind a test drive of anything.
Oh the nice lady in the phone told me it would be 1-3 hours I was only half listening as per usual.
So talked more about the wiping down and social distancing measures in place. I'm all for that very good but I'd still appreciate my car getting a jet wash afterwards.
Hopefully it's just a quick batch number check and on we go. My sunroof seems solid. Only issue is when closing it when slid back it gets to last inch and retracts about 3. Keeping the finger on the button until it's closed does the trick. I think it's when it meets the wind deflector it thinks it's an obstacle and goes into safety mode.
Would they fix that whilst they're at it?
With the whole not closing properly thing. Sounds like it needs to perhaps learn its end stops again. They do that if you disconnect battery for example. Bit like the windows. You just need to get it to closed position and hold the switch for say 5 secs whilst it’s there. Then it learns the closed/ open positions and should do the one touch thing. Could be different if it has genuine resistance which is stopping it. Oh the nice lady in the phone told me it would be 1-3 hours I was only half listening as per usual.
So talked more about the wiping down and social distancing measures in place. I'm all for that very good but I'd still appreciate my car getting a jet wash afterwards.
Hopefully it's just a quick batch number check and on we go. My sunroof seems solid. Only issue is when closing it when slid back it gets to last inch and retracts about 3. Keeping the finger on the button until it's closed does the trick. I think it's when it meets the wind deflector it thinks it's an obstacle and goes into safety mode.
Would they fix that whilst they're at it?
mini me said:
MercedesClassic said:
I think I'll be lucky to even get sitting in the showroom cars never mind a test drive of anything.
Oh the nice lady in the phone told me it would be 1-3 hours I was only half listening as per usual.
So talked more about the wiping down and social distancing measures in place. I'm all for that very good but I'd still appreciate my car getting a jet wash afterwards.
Hopefully it's just a quick batch number check and on we go. My sunroof seems solid. Only issue is when closing it when slid back it gets to last inch and retracts about 3. Keeping the finger on the button until it's closed does the trick. I think it's when it meets the wind deflector it thinks it's an obstacle and goes into safety mode.
Would they fix that whilst they're at it?
With the whole not closing properly thing. Sounds like it needs to perhaps learn its end stops again. They do that if you disconnect battery for example. Bit like the windows. You just need to get it to closed position and hold the switch for say 5 secs whilst it’s there. Then it learns the closed/ open positions and should do the one touch thing. Could be different if it has genuine resistance which is stopping it. Oh the nice lady in the phone told me it would be 1-3 hours I was only half listening as per usual.
So talked more about the wiping down and social distancing measures in place. I'm all for that very good but I'd still appreciate my car getting a jet wash afterwards.
Hopefully it's just a quick batch number check and on we go. My sunroof seems solid. Only issue is when closing it when slid back it gets to last inch and retracts about 3. Keeping the finger on the button until it's closed does the trick. I think it's when it meets the wind deflector it thinks it's an obstacle and goes into safety mode.
Would they fix that whilst they're at it?
If you don't get your car checked are there consequences? Would it fail MOT or would a buyer have recourse if they bought it and sunroof flew out of it? Or is it a box ticking exercise that Merc have been made to do by regulators?
MercedesClassic said:
Yeah I saw a video on YouTube about this recently and tried it but didn't seem to help. I'll try again and still no go then I'll lubricate it. Worked for a while after I squirted WD-40 around it. Might need greasier stuff next time.
If you don't get your car checked are there consequences? Would it fail MOT or would a buyer have recourse if they bought it and sunroof flew out of it? Or is it a box ticking exercise that Merc have been made to do by regulators?
It's not a box ticking exercise. Recalls are for safety reasons, even if the chances "your" car actually having a problem "appear" to be low, it's something that needs to be inspected. Given the inspection and repair with a recall is free of charge, I don't see what the issue is. If you don't get your car checked are there consequences? Would it fail MOT or would a buyer have recourse if they bought it and sunroof flew out of it? Or is it a box ticking exercise that Merc have been made to do by regulators?
With regard to consequences, it's outlined on the government website
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-recalls-and-faults/reca...
MercedesClassic said:
Yeah I saw a video on YouTube about this recently and tried it but didn't seem to help. I'll try again and still no go then I'll lubricate it. Worked for a while after I squirted WD-40 around it. Might need greasier stuff next time.
There's a special colourless/clear grease that Mercedes use. I couldn't locate it when I did mine and stupidly used brown grease. It is very visible when the sunroof is open so if you are going to use anything apart from the special Mercedes sunroof grease, make sure it is colourless!donkmeister said:
My appointment ended up taking 5 minutes... No sooner had I started leering suggestively at an AMG GT, when the chap reappeared with my keys and told me my car isn't affected.
So far that's what I've done about 3 times a week! There's a very short window in production dates, early 2006. We had a late 2006 C class in today, production date of the sunroof was almost a year earlier in late 2005. Unfortunately there's no way of us knowing till we see the car! As far as I know we haven't come across an affected car yet. raspy said:
MercedesClassic said:
Yeah I saw a video on YouTube about this recently and tried it but didn't seem to help. I'll try again and still no go then I'll lubricate it. Worked for a while after I squirted WD-40 around it. Might need greasier stuff next time.
If you don't get your car checked are there consequences? Would it fail MOT or would a buyer have recourse if they bought it and sunroof flew out of it? Or is it a box ticking exercise that Merc have been made to do by regulators?
It's not a box ticking exercise. Recalls are for safety reasons, even if the chances "your" car actually having a problem "appear" to be low, it's something that needs to be inspected. Given the inspection and repair with a recall is free of charge, I don't see what the issue is. If you don't get your car checked are there consequences? Would it fail MOT or would a buyer have recourse if they bought it and sunroof flew out of it? Or is it a box ticking exercise that Merc have been made to do by regulators?
With regard to consequences, it's outlined on the government website
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-recalls-and-faults/reca...
donkmeister said:
My appointment ended up taking 5 minutes... No sooner had I started leering suggestively at an AMG GT, when the chap reappeared with my keys and told me my car isn't affected.
The least they could do is offer you a weekend with it eh,... this is why I’m downhearted. Wouldn’t hurt them would it 😂Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff