W203 Multi-Function Display Fading Class Action Suit

[slammer111]

Had the problem in my 2003 W203, MFD replaced under warranty. They put in a 2004 cluster, which gives you "Sunroof Open" warnings, and does away with the Distronic lights.

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[MW_ATL]

We had the MFD replaced on the 02 Coupe under warranty, or extended warranty, I don't remember which. I had not noticed, but the DTR light is gone now. We also get the Close Sunroof warning, and I noticed that the visit refueling station warning has been changed to "visit gas station" or something similar.

I would guess that those that have a documented service complaint on the issue should easily be able to get it replaced now, even if they are out of warranty. Good luck with the lawsuit I would guess.

[LILBENZ230]

What are distronic lights in the pre-04 cars? Also the 2005 should be noted not to have any sort of "visit refueling/gas station" warnings. The 2006+ shows "Reserve Level" but the 2005 just has the yellow light under the needle of the gas gauge.

[splinter]

Hard to fault an ambitious attorney seeking to take it to the man. Erin Brockovich comes to mind.
How many class action suits has your firm previously successfully settled - and from whom?

One of my most lucrative accounts was into Ford for millions.

[fanito]

still worth a shot, let's do this

[ChrisBrown]

Originally Posted by LILBENZ230

You have a 2005 with this problem? The 2005s have completely different gauges and displays. I have no issue, even in GA heat.

The rest of you are not alone with this issue. We had a 2008 G37 coupe that did the fade-away thing in the heat, too. So it isn't just Mercedes.

I have a 2005 facelifted C240 4MATIC. I have the redesigned cluster, and I had the same problem. It was replaced under my extended warranty. My SA already knew about the issue, but I was the first face-lifted car to come in with the problem. I received a 2007 model cluster. I don't get the reserve fuel level display, just the amber light still. The word "Distance" did change to "Range" once they loaded the current software onto the new cluster.

[c230kracer]

same problem here! thank god i park my car inside a garage or who knows how much of that screen i can read after it gets baked in the sun even longer....-_-

[STLcoupe]

Everyone,

I've only one email of information. Please forward the information below. Also, if you've had the cluster replaced already but still had the problems, please sign up as well. Thanks!

EMAIL ADDRESS FOR CLUSTER PROBLEMS:


w203pixelproblems@gmail.com


Please send your:

1. Name
2. Location (city/state)
3. Model and year
4. Approx mileage
5. Any additional info related to the problem (when you noticed the failure, what temperatures you have the most fading at, etc)

[fanito]

Info sent but no spamming my email... you've been warned

[LILBENZ230]

Originally Posted by ChrisBrown

I have a 2005 facelifted C240 4MATIC. I have the redesigned cluster, and I had the same problem. It was replaced under my extended warranty. My SA already knew about the issue, but I was the first face-lifted car to come in with the problem. I received a 2007 model cluster. I don't get the reserve fuel level display, just the amber light still. The word "Distance" did change to "Range" once they loaded the current software onto the new cluster.

Wow. I had no idea face-lifted cars ever suffered from this issue. But Arizona heat can do weird things. It's clearly not as widespread on the 05+ cars.

[TruTaing]

I will send you an email right now!

[PA_Pete]

Wow, this is something. As you can all imagine, I too have this problem with my MFD. When hot outside, I get lines across the top and the bottom of the display. I should probably send you an email. 75,XXX miles, I'm the second owner.

['91 300CE]

Quite honestly, you could include W202, W210 and W208 owners in this too... since our pixels all fade out... strange that my ML is still good and no one has ever complained of that issue with a W163.

I am just waiting for something to happen where MBUSA will cover the cost... I have to guess by what pixels I see the temp outside and the mileage on my car.

[STLcoupe]

Everyone,

We've about 8 emails. Sign up, please!


EMAIL ADDRESS FOR CLUSTER PROBLEMS:


w203pixelproblems@gmail.com


Please send your:

1. Name
2. Forum handle
3. Location (city/state)
4. Model and year
5. Approx mileage
6. Any additional info related to the problem (when you noticed the failure, what temperatures you have the most fading at, etc)

[krisv420]

Email sent!

[mbpc320]

Email sent.

[mbpc320]

Originally Posted by C320Jeff

My '02 C320 did the same exact thing a couple of years ago, and it was replaced under warranty. I seem to remember being told then the part was something like $800 to replace out of pocket.

When it was replaced, I had one new "feature" of the MFI - if I go to leave the car with the sunroof open or tilted, an alert apears that I didn't see originally.

Am I to understand from the OP's comment that the replacement part *should* not result in the same fade problem over time?

Can someone address this question? I have an extended warranty and am planning on getting a replacement but don't want to get a cluster that will just burn out again. Thank you.

[ggong5150]

e-mail sent

[C230 Sport Coup]

I could think of more irritating issues than the MFD, like the
Valeo radiator leaking into the tranny, which has cost lots of people a bundle.
Or the poor head design for 2003....

[WaveyKat]

Email Sent.. i have this Same Problem!!

[tommy]

Originally Posted by mbpc320

Can someone address this question? I have an extended warranty and am planning on getting a replacement but don't want to get a cluster that will just burn out again. Thank you.

My guess would be that it would be a crapshoot, as you're replacing a badly engineered part with the same exact part, only new (AFAIK, no changes to the actual design of the screen). And anyone who has had their car long enough to have this problem probably hasn't had their replacement long enough for the problem to reoccur. But, if you've got an extended warranty, I'm not seeing why you wouldn't want to have it replaced anyway. It'll kick the problem down the road another 4-5 years or so.

[SilverBulletAMG]

STLcoupe, what firm are you with?

[STLcoupe]

Looks good, I'm going to give this a few more days/bumps before compiling the list.

We're around 25 names right now.

Mods: sticky?

Everyone: could you spread this info to the other forums?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EMAIL THIS ADDRESS WITH YOUR CLUSTER PROBLEMS:


w203pixelproblems@gmail.com


Please send your:

1. Name
2. Forum handle
3. Location (city/state)
4. Model and year
5. Approx mileage
6. Any additional info related to the problem (when you noticed the failure, what temperatures you have the most fading at, etc)

[hammertime21]

I can promise you, Mercedes Benz is not going to give everyone new instrument clusters, or even fix them if you are out of warranty. sounds like people trying to get something for free. Lawsuit.... good luck with that one.

[STLcoupe]

In conversations with the people that got things done with the 7-Series pixel problems, I was told to expect responses like the one above.

I think the ultimate response is that BMW, in the end, did give not just new instrument clusters, but entire new climate control/radio/etc panels to those that contacted them prior to legal action.

That is the model I am attempting to replicate.

I am not doing this out of self interest, other than the sense that I was sold a systemically defective part in a car built by a company that purports superior engineering. I am working on this issue because I feel a strong debt to these forums and the many other contributors that have posted a wealth of information that has saved me money or improved my ownership experience in the past. From illuminated door sills to an '05 front end, to Bix, I've done many things I would not have been able to without this forum. I want to give back.

For those that don't think it's possible to hold a company accountable for something like what's happening with our clusters, I acknowledge your dissent. However, I ask you to refrain from posting in the thread.

Thanks.