It seems, based on this and other related forums, that many Mercedes models dating between 1992-1995 have a problem with disintegrating wiring harness, mine included.

Could this problem be considered a safety hazard? My wiring harness started smoking the other day. I temporarily fixed a 6" section of it.

Did anyone ever approach Mercedes for help with repairs to their wiring harness (out-of warranty). If so what did Mercedes say or do to help out, if anything? Was there ever a recall for this issue.



Thanks

Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

I would recommend looking up your vehicle through the Canadian Government websites dealing with vehicle recalls. If the wiring harness was indeed covered by a government mandated safety recall, MB will be required to replace the part, regardless of the age of the car - provided that your vin number was not already marked as having the recall work performed on it in MB's database. If the harness was an in house safety campaign, then they do have the descretion of expiring the free replacement policy.

If the harness is a government recall, MB can run your vin.

There was indeed a wiring recall for my model car, and I took advantage of it. However, it did not deal with the engine harness. Rather It dealt with a wiring harness under the driver's side foot rest inside the car.

I am referring to the engine harness wiring. The one that so many people have complained about. The one that if a search is done on this, and other forums than hundreds of hits show-up.

Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

Phil:
Look at this site if you have not already done so, maybe find some help here???
I think IF it is a safety recall the manufacturer has to do the recall, no matter what year your ride is, or the miles.
www.alldata.com just enter your vehicle data and you will get a list a mile long on Technical Service Bulletins and any recalls for that model and year.
Have fun and good luck.

I called MBUSA and gave them my Vehicle Ident number and they told me no outstanding recalls on my ride.
Can you believe them??????????????????????????

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Den
1993 MB 300D 2.5
2001 VW Jetta TDI 5 spd.
2001 new bug TDI 5 spd.
Motorcycles

Had this problem earlier this year on my '95 S320. (Do a google search on biodegradable wiring harnesses in early to mid 90's Mercedes for some background on the problem). After being told by the dealer that I was on my own, I persisted and called 1-800-for-merc and spoke to the customer service people. They handed me off to someone who politely told me I was on my own. It seems that this issue never resulted in a recall, just a service note for cars whose wiring harnesses degraded during the factory (or Starmark) warranty periods.

I was courteous, but insistent that my car only had 9 years and 85,000 miles on it and that this was unacceptible for a Yugo, much less an S-Class Mercedes. Hell, I had once a 30-year-old Ford with perfect wires.

After about fifteen minutes of arguing, they called the dealer and agreed to pay for the wiring harness as long as I paid the labor. Seemed fair to me. $300 later, all my wiring gremlins disappeared.

Regardless of who pays, I'd get the harness replaced. It will save you untold aggravation and possibly a few $$$. Sure would hate to burn out an engine computer because of a short...

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'87 300D 183K
'06 E320 CDI 10K

Is their any way I can look at the TSB's for my car without paying?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200