My experience is with my 98 C class, but it does have the CAN bus (first year for the C class). In mine when I put the key in there is a "ker-chunk" sound when the Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) unlocks. Did yours ever have that sound and if so does it now?

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra