Maybe it's the weather, but every time I get out of my '83 300D and touch anything metal (i.e. when locking the doors) I get a static electricity shock. Never had this happen with good old Eduardo! What gives??

I have this too no matter whether the car/MB comes with extra earth linking and anti-static links.

Maybe its because we have more electrolits in our body than others?

Wearing synthetic clothings,contributes too
static electricity.
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Clauser1

As you're exiting the vehicle, grab hold of the door before placing your foot on the ground. Keep your hand on the door until you are out of the car. This works for me.

I do that, i.e. grab hold of the door before I climb out. It doesn't work. Maybe I will be more vigilant and do keep my hand on the door until I get out completely.

I do notice the frequency of shocks especially during a particularly warm sunny day.

Have a great day. :)

static charges build up as your tires roll down the road. If there is not much moisture in the air, as in the winter months, the static charges build up.

when you step down your car and touch any metal part, the static charges drain off the car through you, into the ground.

to prevent being shocked, i make sure i don't hold any metal part of the car as i step down into the ground (holding the interior plastic parts of the door will do). I then hold the metal part of my key and touch the surrounding metal of the keyhole. You can see a small spark generated (if it is sufficiently dark) as the static charges drain off.

when filling up the car at a gas station in the winter, i make sure that the static charges are fully drained, because i don't want to do that and generate a spark with the fuel filler nozzle as it makes contact with the area around the gas tank opening (!)

some cars have static drain strips hanging off their chassis and touching the ground at all times, to prevent static buildup. Benz uses plastic-coated doorhandles and this helps prevent shock a little.

i get more shock when i get my bill after major repairs or maintenance ... :-0

When I (or my car) suffer from Electro Static Discharge, I get out while touching the inner plastic door handle, close the door by pushing the glass and push my remote control to lock the car...

just to let you know...
3000 Volt ESD can be felt
4000 Volt ESD can be heard
5000 Volt ESD can be seen

greetingz,

Sounds like tires. Try fastening a piece of steel cable to the chassis and let it drag on the ground. If the problem goes away, it was the tires.

[Edited by Palangi on 03-27-2001 at 02:41 AM]