<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial>My investigation into an on-going SRS problem (described in other postings) has revealed an alarming wiring issue.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial>It seems that, between 1993 and 1995, MB used wire with insulation that disintegrates when heated, in effect meaning that the whole wiring loom under the bonnet will eventually need replacing.<SPAN style="COLOR: black"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Apparently, the wiring harness fails due to the use of recyclable/biodegradable plastic as the insulating material for the copper wires.</SPAN><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial>Supposedly, i</FONT><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT face=Arial>t's a common problem with the M104 wiring harness and this problem is widely documented by many W124/202/210 owners and technicians.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If so, why hasn’t a manufacturer’s recall been issued?<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o></o></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial>I came across three owners of 94/95 C280 models with electrical problems who were <SPAN style="COLOR: black">told that the insulation on the wiring harness was breaking down.<o></o></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Also, the owner of a 94 Mercedes (model not mentioned) claimed that, when an </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">independent mechanic opened the loom up, he was staggered by the extent of wiring decomposition.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The same mechanic maintained that he had replaced hundreds of these engine looms on the 1990 to 1995 300's and E-Class.<o></o></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"><FONT face=Arial>Would anyone like to add his or her own experience?<o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>

 

<DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><FONT face=Arial>Addendum: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)</FONT></H3>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><FONT face=Arial>Reports of M-B engine wiring harness failures</FONT></H3>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt"><FONT face=Arial><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt"><FONT face=Arial><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 1.2pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.8pt 1.8pt 1.8pt 1.8pt" cellPadding=0 width="100%">
<T>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">Make : </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=navsub><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">MERCEDES BENZ</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><o></o></SPAN></FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">Model : </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=navsub><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">E CLASS</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><o></o></SPAN></FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">Year : </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=navsub><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">1994</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><o></o></SPAN></FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">Crash : </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=navsub><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">No</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><o></o></SPAN></FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">Fire : </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=navsub><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">No</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><o></o></SPAN></FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">Number of Injuries: </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=navsub><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">0</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><o></o></SPAN></FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" colSpan=2>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">ODI ID Number : </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=navsub><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">10026308</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><o></o></SPAN></FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">Date of Failure: </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=navsub><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">June 15, 2002</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><o></o></SPAN></FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" colSpan=3>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">Component: </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=navsub><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><o></o></SPAN></FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.8pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 1.8pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.8pt; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 1.8pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" colSpan=3>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN class=nav><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><FONT face=Arial>Summary: </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt">
<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shape id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" oreferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:ulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:ulas><vath o:connect="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></vath><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shape><v:shape id=_x0000_i1025 style="WIDTH: 15pt; HEIGHT: 0.6pt" alt=" " ="#_x0000_t75"><FONT face=Arial></FONT></v:shape><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=navsub>THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED WHILE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A HIGH SPEED MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL TO ENGAGE. THIS REDUCED THE ENGINE'S POWER TO APPROXIMATELY 20%, SLOWING THE CAR DOWN, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. 1994, MERCEDES BENZ, 320.*AK</SPAN><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P></TD></TR></T></TABLE>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt"><FONT face=Arial><o></o></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=Msonormal style="MARG

 

I have a 1995 E280(124) and encountered serious starting problems. Checked by Mercedes garage in Israel they found the same problem with my car - the engine
wiring harness insulation disintegrated! Luckily I did not encounter any safety situation
but the price of this harness is about one grand (not including work).
Does Mercedes recognize its responsibility?
P.S. My son has a 2001 A190 (secondhand,no warranty)and he had a problem with the
gearbox computer which caused a gearbox failure - they accepted the responsibility and
changed the whole thing without pay. Sometimes they are O.K.