Could be a harness issue. My drivers side rear door window has been unplugged from the main switch since I found out the blue wire was giving 12 volts to the instrument cluster when i use the switch. It took out my cluster. Look inside the rubber accordion thingy in the door hinges. Maybe its just there. Mine is somewhere between the hinges and switch. I havent fix it yet.

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'85 300D Cal 280,000 miles
'14 GLK 350 60000 miles

I have power everywhere, and my problem seems to be grounds. The wiring diagrams really aren't clear on where the windows ground, or thru which wires, or which contacts the switches actually make in up and down mode.

Your problem sounds like someone got the wires in the wrong spot on a switch- OR maybe yours was trying to ground through the harness to the cluster.

Am going to pull the well worn but working OEM console switch out of the '82 today and see if that fixes anything. The fact that these non- illuminated aftermarket switches actually DO illuminate when the switches are depressed and the safety switch is unplugged is spooky.

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1968 230S Automatic, Elfenbein
1975 O309D Executive Westfalia Camper Bus, Blau/ Weiss
1972 280SEL 4,5 Dunkelrot
1966 VW Type 34 "Grosser" Karmann-Ghia
1963 VW 1500 Variant Pearlweiss
1969 VW Variant Automatic, Perugruen
1971 VW Squareback Automatic, Clementine Orange
2001 E320 4Matic Wagon- Our belated welcome to the 21st century! Polar White
1973 280SEL 4,5 Sliding Roof "The Bomb", Dunkelblau.

Annnnnnnd... I pulled the old OEM switch out of the '82, plugged it in, and it fixed it... two- count 'em, two BRAND- NEW AFTERMARKET SWITCHES were defective right out of the box!!!

Why did I have two?

I bought the first one from my regular parts supplier and it fixed neither window. Also, I noticed that it didn't light up with the lights... so I ordered a more expensive one from an eBay seller that advertised it as an OEM illuminated switch... and it didn't light up, either. Seems they "forgot" to "update the ad"... grrrr.

Gotta love parts!!!

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1968 230S Automatic, Elfenbein
1975 O309D Executive Westfalia Camper Bus, Blau/ Weiss
1972 280SEL 4,5 Dunkelrot
1966 VW Type 34 "Grosser" Karmann-Ghia
1963 VW 1500 Variant Pearlweiss
1969 VW Variant Automatic, Perugruen
1971 VW Squareback Automatic, Clementine Orange
2001 E320 4Matic Wagon- Our belated welcome to the 21st century! Polar White
1973 280SEL 4,5 Sliding Roof "The Bomb", Dunkelblau.

Don't throw the old Mercedes switches out! Take them apart and clean /lube the contacts. They'll be good as new.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Also, when you are in the PNP yards, remove the rear door window switches from W123, W201 and W126, (first gen). pop off the rocker part and use it for the front switches when the logo get worn off.


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I chased this scenario before on the SD. A brand new aftermarket switch would not work and an old OE switch will work.

This was procured from a decent supplier, however no discussions with the supplier could get the problem resolved back to the manufacturer. The switch was not defective from a manufacturing standpoint. Their logic for continuity across various pins was erroneous and I'm positive that every switch they made would not function.

Sad sign of the times..............

One was a Meyle and the other a Uro, both from different suppliers. My logic function took over when the switches both ILLUMINATED with the child switch plug removed and bridged as a test. This tells me the switch is configured incorrectly.

I think ALL of these switches are now products of the Sum Ting Wong Mfg. Co. ...

On a side note, the aftermarket rear door switches seem to be OK.

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1968 230S Automatic, Elfenbein
1975 O309D Executive Westfalia Camper Bus, Blau/ Weiss
1972 280SEL 4,5 Dunkelrot
1966 VW Type 34 "Grosser" Karmann-Ghia
1963 VW 1500 Variant Pearlweiss
1969 VW Variant Automatic, Perugruen
1971 VW Squareback Automatic, Clementine Orange
2001 E320 4Matic Wagon- Our belated welcome to the 21st century! Polar White
1973 280SEL 4,5 Sliding Roof "The Bomb", Dunkelblau.