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.

I would think wiring harness related - was it the original?

Goodness gracious! Thank goodness he wasn't harmed.

It sounds like the car and an electrical short in some wiring or something. I have seen other early 90 E-Class cars with engine fires, but never a fire in the instrument panel. There was someone here that said their mother or mother-in-law had a 98-00 Mercedes ML320 SUV that burned to a turn. That fire also started under the instrument panel. I am guessing en electrical short in the wiring in that Mercedes as well. That is what I do not understand- is why a car would have an electrical fire, if is supposed to be protected by fuses, unless someone added an accessory, without fusing it.
I have seen several cars in the past, with burned out interiors. Who knows why? It is very strange, but the majority I have seen have been 80s-90s European cars (especially Porsche and Ferrari- engine fires), as well as many 80s-early 90s American cars- especially Chryslers. One thing I can say about Japanese cars- I have never seen one that had an interior fire.

Here is another fine example of a late model European car that had a fire. This is totally UNACCEPTABLE- this is a 2002 high $$$$$ LUXURY car. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2458974881&category=43915

I am assuming that your father had comprehensive insurance on it?

__________________
2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd
1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1988 Mercedes 300SEL
1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon
1973 Pontiac Grand Ville
(Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL)

Have they figured out what sparked the blaze yet?

__________________
2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd
1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1988 Mercedes 300SEL
1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon
1973 Pontiac Grand Ville
(Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL)

There have been numerous links to the harness problems. He needs to preserve the car and have a cause-origin expert examine it, Sounds like a product liability case. If it is a defect with all the cars out there this could be a classs action suit that should be undertaken as MB has not been agressive enough in taking care of these cars.

Starting a C.A.L. for the harness problem would be a waste of your time.

Runningtoohot-
Does you father use the cigarette lighter?

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

A fuse will protect a wire from getting too hot from too much current running thru it. It cannot protect a bad connection from getting too hot if the current is within the range of the fuse. I have seen connections melt down to nothing. Usually in a high current circuit like lights or fan.
Porsche had an even neater problem with warm electrics. In early seventies, 914s had small heated rear window. Switch was a timer as I recall. Supposed to shut off after x-number of minutes. Didn't always work. Very common to see a 914 with the back window all busted out. The safety glass could not take the heat.
If you get a bad connection, the plastic body of the connector can start burning or the dash padding can ignite if it is against the connection.
Glad no one was hurt. MB will make more cars.

Indeed. It seems like I have seen more Porsches burned up than any othe car. At least late models. I seen a late model Porsche burn up in the parking lot @ work last summer. I would say that Jaguar and Range Rover run close behind. I have seen MANY late model (as new as 2003s) of these makes that have burned to a turn.

__________________
2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd
1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1988 Mercedes 300SEL
1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon
1973 Pontiac Grand Ville
(Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL)

Why so?