I bought a new E320 [my 5th MB] in July 2000, with an extended warrantee.</P>


In the 2000 E320, the sun visor [on both driver and passenger sides] has a built-in mirror that swings open and latches in both open and closed position. The mirror is hinged on both side by a plasticpivot about 5mm long with a 3mm diameter located on both short sides of the mirror. The latch function is performed by a piece of plastic located in the center of the long side of the mirror, pushing against the mirror housing in the sunvisor. While the forces on that latch piece are small when the mirror is in either latched positions, the force is <U>high</U> when the latch is in between these positions i.e. when the mirror is moving from open to close. It seems that -at least on my car- the force then <U>exceeds the shear force of the plasticpivot</U> that is only 3mm in diameter; I guess the designer of thepivot needs a strain refresh course and a calculator </P>


As a result, thepivot breaks often, shearing cleanly off the mirror side. I have now replaced the mirrors six times, twice under extended warrantee. In one instance, the weakenedpivot gave up while I was driving; the mirror fell right in front of my eyes, startling me; it then lodged itself under the gas pedal. Fortunately, the road was clear, but it could have been very dangerous.</P>


Anybody having the same problem? Have you found a way to repair the mirror pivot e.g. by inserting a 3mm metal rod? Have you written/told MB about the problem? Should MB recall these weak plastic-pivots? Any comment will be welcome.</P>

 

I had the same thing happen. 2000 E320. Both driver and passenger side gave out within 3 days of each other. The passenger gave out while my wife was putting on makup and mine gave out when stopped. I see how it could pose a serious safety hazzard if it fell when driving though! The dealership replaced them under my extended warranty. The plastic pivot piece seems very weak for long term use.

 

I have 2000 E320W and had the same experience on the right mirror. It went off during driving and flew in the traffic, I couldn't see any damage to other cars nearby as it was dark. Cost about CAD100 from the dealer, they installed it for free. Just few days later, the mirror popped out occasionally during driving, I had to pull of and pressed it in. Then I was tired to do so and use a tape to fix it. During the 2nd Maintenance Schedule, the dealer get it fixed and so far so good.

As quoted by E320QC, it is a design problem, the assembly is too weak to hold the mirror tight. When back up, the right mirror will incline downward to unable the driver to see the curb, it is very useful feature but could let the mirror pop out from its fixtures.

My E320 also has the following problems as of the first year of driving:

1. The Headlights: The bulbs blew up about 5 – 6 times, most of them in the low beam, and it was happened in the first year after I bought the car. The most bothering thing was that the malfunction alert of the lamp failure was really freaked me out. When it turned on, for instance, I checked that the right low beam was out but it was recovered with out doing anything, then the left beam turned out to be in malfunction the otherwise. Once about 2 and half years of the purchasing, with the said lamp malfunction alert on, I went to the dealer, when the service agent came out to see the alert, it was gone when he started the car. Then the car was sent to the workshop and was reported that the technician checked the car inside out but could not find any problem, no matter how, the technician changed all the bulbs and charged me for the replacement. (only after argument with the supervisor, he granted me free). After that, some of the bulbs of head lights blew up again and again, I have to buy and replace it by myself with the same part number of Mercedes. At the moment of writing, I got the alert again, I have to go to the garage to fix it again (I always have spare bulbs in the trunk).

2. The brake light bulb blew up once

3. The license plate light blew up twice

4. The cup holder not working and was replaced by warranty

5. the driver side door lock mechanism was replaced by warranty

6. The right mirror popped out and flew away during driving, I bought a new one and installed by your technician, I kept an eye on the stuff and found out that it popped out time ti time, I had to fix it by a tape to prevent from flying away. It was fixed in 2nd maintenance program.

7. The Gas gauge couldn’t show full tank even the tank was full, the sensor of the Gas Gauge was replaced by warranty.

8. Recently, the CHECK ENGIN light random kept on during driving and goes off after restart and went on again. Went to the dealer, said the AIR MASS SENSOR (A 112 094 00 48) was not working properly, cost me CAD 580 including labor to replace it (the cost just for a short pipe with one diode and one senor in it as shown by picture attached, The money is worth to buy an much more sophisticated older laptop PC)

9. CAT. Converters ratting during driving, replaced .by warranty