I was just browsing through Fastlane. What caught my eye is that Fastlane added the engine wiring harness to its online catalog. Before it was a special order item. I guess the volume of sales justifies it.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

After thousands of dollars and months in the shop fixing things that were not actually the problem with my car, turns out it is the wiring harness. MB dealer had my car for a week and could not find anything wrong with it( I guess they didn't look under the hood.)
My mechanic doesn't want the job of replacing harness(probably more than one), I don't want to take it to MB service. Some one on this board posted the number of a mechanic in Glendale, CA that fixed their car, could you please post or email to me, maybe it was removed by moderator? I need to fix this crappy car so I can get rid of it. I'v had it for 1 1/2 yrs, nothing but problems, never ever another MB.
I will file complaint with NHTSA
Thanks for any help

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/good-mb-shops/

Sorry you happened to have a MB made in a bad year
Dealers are often very bad for elusive problems like this, its hard to go into details without getting into the philosophy of making profits and utilizing underskilled mechanics that have been "factory trained to think like a German"
Ten miles West of Glendale is a highly recommended shop, Mr. MB Motors, the owner's name is Enrique.
MR MB Motors Tarzana, CA

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Just posted my NHTSA compalaint !!

1995 C280 59187 miles. bad wiring harness.

(update-bought new harness from Fastlane -Phil- Car runs fine now.)

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

There maybe a small amount of hope to this situation. See the following post.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/194018-cash-dead-6-12-cyl-ecus-connectors.html#post1562377

John Roncallo

I guess by that line of reasoning, the engine is also a consummable item.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

How infuriating. The rep's statement would make sense if they sold engine wiring harnesses alongside brake pads and alternators at PepBoys and AutoZone!

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

I guess if a wiring harness is defective, it might be considered a "normal wear and tear" item.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Reading that, makes me angry enough not to want to buy another MB. Those kinds of statements reinforce the notion that MB is being run by baby-boomers who do not give a darn about anybody, but themselves.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Just kidding. But you all will probably be interested in cheaper ones. I've found a guy on ebay.co.uk who sells them at a pretty nice discount. His user name is robparkerw123 and if you email him with your cars vin he will likely have your part even if it's not listed. He offered 185 GBP plus 8 GBP shipping for my US 95 E300D. That comes to $380 USD which is way less than the $650 rip off at the dealer and $500 at the euro parts shop. It's still expensive but I'm sure you can haggle with the guy. I didn't buy one because I decided to repair it myself. Just thought I'd let you all know.

Note: buying stateside from across the pond in the UK may save you some money but it takes longer to get the part and if there is a problem, it'll take alot of hassle to manage a claim and return across the pond.

penny wise, pound foolish.

just buy from Fast Lane. Phil and Roy !
do it right the first time !

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

I can't beleive people are still complaining about these stupid things on 15+ year old cars.

I can certianly see why the dealer would want to install a part for free on an old car. Did you buy it from them?

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Hat, I may not understand your real opinion, but the point is that the wiring harness was defective since the materials were composed of

product that disintegrated under heated environment.

The results are costly and potentially life threatening.
Now had Mercedes accepted the use of this biodegradeable material they should have created and electronic system to isolate any other components from failure once this one vital wiring harness began to fail. Also shielded against fire.

Think about this, do building codes allow home wiring to be shielded by material that is not heat rated and not durable and resistant to heat ?

NO.
Why?

Fire hazard.

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

I just don't see it to be as big of an issue as everyone is making it out to be. Old cars have problems, this is just another, and at what $500 or so not so bad.

The wires should have lasted longer but they didn't.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200