Well, this isn’t exactly a tech question, as it’s too late for his car… But what about other 124 owners out there? (Including myself.)

He called me to ask what to do – his car “smelled funny”, and then as I was on the phone with him, acrid smoke started to come out below the center vents, just above the upper portion of the center console. He turned the car off, yet it burst into flames. Well, maybe “burst” is too strong of a word, but the car is now a smoldering wreck. He said the flames were “at least 8 feet high” as they came through the sunroof.

Any ideas as to what may have caused this? There was obviously some sort of short-circuit, but apparently it wasn’t stopped by a fuse blowing, as it should have. Has anyone else heard of an incident like this?

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Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.