2002 E430 (W210.070, M113.940), 115K miles

Arrived this morning to find the antitheft alarm sounding out a rather loud but atypical sound, as well as an:

* unresponsive central locking system (had to access the vehicle with the blade key)

* inoperative Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS) (no click noise can be heard when inserting either of the two Smart keys and neither key is free to rotate within the EIS)

* inoperative headlight switch (no external lights are present in any switch position)

Neither removal of fuse #11 from the rear seat bench fuse box nor disconnecting the starter battery silenced the alarm.


When activated, does the control unit for towing protection (210 820 87 26) or the alarm unit for towing protection (202 820 38 26) exercise functional authority over the EIS? Can a failure in either of these units prevent the engine from starting?