I have a 96 E300 that used to have a very slow crank....it turned out it was the starter motor. I had previously replaced the battery as well, but that didn't speed it up....after I installed the new starter the difference is like night and day:-)

BTW, I followed the instructions provided Jeremy to replace my ignition switch & it went flawlessly!!!...thanks again very much!!

Also, I wanted to mention that instead of buying the official tool to remove the ignition switch bezel, I went to Lowes hardware plumbing department and purchased a straight metal sink drain tube...i think the size was either 1.25" or 1.5". It fit right over the bezel & I was able to unscrew it as well as replace it that way:-) If anyone show interest, I will publish a photo of the drain tube

Cheers,

Brian

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1987 560SL - 95K
1996 E300D - 183K
1997 E300D - 162K
1982 240D - 160K

Thank you very much Jeremy 5848 Tallguy and Dusty88 you have hopefully saved me loads of money, I have been having intermittent problems with my wipers radio cigarette lighter heated seats ETC in the last couple of months they would all stop working and then for no reason at all they would start again and come to the conclusion that the ignition switch was faulty having checked k40 relay unit.
I ask Mercedes for a price on a new switch plus fitting they came up with a price of around £350.00 pounds I thought if its not the switch it would have been a waste of money so I took the plunge and said to my self I’ll have a go myself.
So I proceeded to remove the switch I had a small emergency key (see picture) so I could slide it thought the key hole easy, striped the switch down looked at the contacts they looked pretty good apart from the fact the gap looked a little wide on a couple I cleaned them and adjusted closed them up little
Then put it back together,
I then went to fit it but it would not go in short by an 1/8 in funny thought must have put it back to gather wrong took it apart again and then the penny dropped HO NO THE BOLT HAS BIT ME
And slammed shut!
So I thought lets see if the switch works connected it up and it started the car thank god for that I said to myself, had me tea 6pm went out cleared up,
Then sat down with the computer and read up again had a bad nights sleep, up at 7am to see if the Tallguys hole in unit works.
Made a drill extension and a drill template so I could drill the hole thought the key hole I also fitted a collet on the drill so it would not go in to far and damage anything inside (see picture) drilled the hole had a cup of tea! Now for the easy bit looking thought the key hole ( no dolly bird there ) I got a thin screw driver and poked around in the hole saw the spring, (good job I put the collet on the drill) after poking around I found the pin thing in the top left hand corner you have to kinder poke it in hard and lever it over towards the steering column and at the same time turn the round bit after a few attempts I was beginning
To panic then it went click easy really said he with sweat running down my brow. Popped the switch in put the big car key in turned NOTHING HO MY GOD then I connected the battery and gave it another go that engine was sweet music to my ears, had a bomb down the road everything is working fine at the moment. I will have to wait and see if the fault returns will keep you posted thank you all for this posting (This switch No 2105450604 fits all cars in the list below) PS when I started this fix the SRS light would not come on now it comes on every time I start the the car now.

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Congratulations -- a clever fix. Thank God for tea and let's all dance the Bristol Stomp.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-biodiesel family
1995 E300D (W124) 200,000 miles My car
1996 E300D (W210) 289,000 miles Wife's car

"Politicians are the same all over the world;
we build bridges where there aren't any rivers."
-- Nikita S. Khrushchev

Hi, all you Mercedes owners, My car is still going fine the fault has not raised its ugly head yet and it was pretty hot today so it looks like the switch was the problem, So anyone out there clean the switch first before Buying a new one.(SRS light still coming on) I will start slowing down on the Bristol Stomp soon!

For those too young to remember The Bristol Stomp, our sympathy and this link to YouTube.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-biodiesel family
1995 E300D (W124) 200,000 miles My car
1996 E300D (W210) 289,000 miles Wife's car

"Politicians are the same all over the world;
we build bridges where there aren't any rivers."
-- Nikita S. Khrushchev

I remember that song my old stomping ground was Warrington Nr Manchester, Them were the days when you could fix anything on car with a hammer!5896.pdf 6243.pdfThis may help someone