2001 Mercedes Benz Slk

INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR FADES, BLOTCHED, FOGGED. DESCRIPTION: THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 320 (R170 MODEL) IS AN ELECTRO CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRROR CONTAINED A FLUID WHICH LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE SELF-DIMMING MIRROR TO FAIL TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR AWAY WHICH GREATLY ELIMINATES REAR VIEW CAPABILITY IN THE INTERIOR. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING IN VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS AS A RESULT OF USUALLY FROM THE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKING. IN A VEHICLE OWNER FORUM, OTHERS HAVE POSTED THAT THEY CONTACTED THE OEM MIRROR MAKERMAGNA DONNELLY , WHO REFUSED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. THE OEM ADVICE WAS TO PURCHASE ANOTHER MIRROR AT APPROXIMATELY $200, AND PAY FOR INSTALLATION, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY $100 FROM THE DEALERSHIP. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THERE IS DOCUMENTATION THAT MAGNA DONNELLY WAS REPLACING THESE MIRRORS FOR FREE BUT STOPPED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. *TR

YEAR, MAKE, MODEL: 2001, MERCEDES BENZ, 170 FAILURE MILEAGE: 65000 THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 320 (R170 MODEL) IS AN ELECTRO CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRROR CONTAINED A FLUID WHICH LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE SELF-DIMMING MIRROR TO FAIL TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR AWAY WHICH GREATLY ELIMINATES REAR VIEW CAPABILITY IN THE INTERIOR. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING IN VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS AS A RESULT OF USUALLY FROM THE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKING. *TR

VEHICLE TYPE IS 2001 MERCEDES BENZ SLK320 (R170 MODEL). THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AN ELECTROCHROMIC SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS FAIL LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR UP AND HAVE NO REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. I KNOW OF MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING INCLUDING MY OWN. SOME FAIL BY JUST QUITTING WORKING WHILE OTHERS LEAK THE INTERNAL FLUID. *TR

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2001 SLK 320. I HAVE HAD CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH HEADLAMPS AND BRAKE LAMPS GOING OUT , BULBS MELTING IN LAMPS ON BRAKES AS WELL AS HEADLAMPS. IN THE BEGINNING THESE REPAIRS WERE PAID UNDER MANUF. WARRANTY. HOWEVER, I AM PAYING FOR REPLACEMENT BULBS, MOST RECENTLY A HEADLAMP PROBLEM I WILL HAVE TO HAVE REPLACED AT A COST CLOSE TO $600. TODAY I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM MERCEDES NOTICE FOR THE BRAKE LAMP PROBLEM. I QUESTION THAT THE SAME MAY BE TRUE OF HEADLIGHTS. MY CONDITION OF BRAKE AND HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED AS WELL AS A BRAKE LAMP REPLACED IN THE PAST, WAS SO CHRONIC, I ORDERED AND PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR ELECTRICAL TESTING ON MY CAR WHERE NOTHING WRONG WAS DISCOVERED. MY POINT HERE IS THAT I FEEL IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM ADDRESSED BY MERCEDES IN MY RECALL # 2006-080005, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE REMISS FOR SAFETY PURPOSES TO NOT ANNOUNCE THAT I BELIEVE THE SAME CONDITION APPLIES TO MY SLK HEADLIGHTS. ALSO, FOR SUCH PROBLEMS ON THE BRAKE LIGHTS THAT EXISTED IN THE PAST, WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE IN MONIES I LAID OUT OF POCKET, PERTAINING TO THE CHRONIC BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM IN MY SLK 320. THANK YOU. *NM

MERCEDES BENZ AUTOS HAVE SHIFT LEVERS THAT CANNOT GET WET, OR THE CAR IS INCAPACITATED...I.E. WON'T MOVE OUT OF 1ST GEAR (5 MPH) OR AT ALL. RAIN ON AN OPEN CONVERTIBLE SHIFT LEVER (MY PROBLEM) AND/OR COFFEE OR BEVERAGE SPILLS FROM HOLDERS POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE SHIFTER CAN TRIGGER VEHICLE INCAPACITATION.. CONSUMERS HAVE TO SELF-INSURE AGAINST THIS HAZARD AS BENZ WON'T COVER THIS WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM BY WARRANTY. REPAIRS TYPICALLY COST MORE THAN $1000 WITH TOWING. THERE'S NO WARNING TO KEEP THE LEVER DRY TO PREVENT VEHICLE INCAPACITATION, NOT BY THE LEVER NOR IN OWNERS MANUAL; THERE'S NO EMERGENCY BONNET FOR QUICK COVER. THERE'S NO CONSUMER WARNING. MANY BENZ OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM BUT BENZ MAKES NO RECALL. THE CONDITION IS A STANDING JOKE WITH TOW TRUCK DRIVERS..."ANOTHER BENZ". ALL BENZ PERSONNEL CONTACTED BY CELL PHONE (NY & CO) KNOW THE PROBLEM, BUT "CONSUMER BEWARE." A SMALL AMOUNT OF FLUID INCAPACITATES THE VEHICLE AND SUBJECTS THE DRIVER TO POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS AND ROADSIDE THREATS&THE CAR MUST BE TOWED/PARTS ORDERED. WE LOST FIVE DAYS RUINING OUR VACATION. THE IN-TRUNK SHIELD TO RECEIVE THE RETRACTING TOP WAS AJAR BECAUSE WE HAD JUST REMOVED LIGHT BULBS TO RETURN TO A STORE&THE TOP WOULD NOT RETRACT UNTIL THE SHIELD WAS ADJUSTED. THE CAR HAS AN EXTENDED LEASE WARRANTY BUT BENZ DOESN'T COVER DAMAGES AS (THE 2 MINUTE DOWNPOUR) THEY VIEW THE RAIN AS AN ACT OF GOD AND I SHOULD CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR TOWING AND REPAIR. TO ME, THIS IS INSURANCE FRAUD. THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDED NEITHER THE PARTS NOR THE BILLS, BUT CHARGED COSTS OF REPAIR AND TOWING ON MY AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD WITHOUT MY SIGNATURE. THE CARD WAS PROVIDED THE CO DEALER TO COVER ANY POTENTIAL COSTS OF A LOANED VEHICLE. I STILL DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL INVOICES THE FOR APPROX $600 REPAIR AND $300 TOW (ALTHOUGH I HAVE REQUESTED THEM BY FAX). NEITHER KEELER BENZ OF LATHAM NY, GAUZER BENZ OF WESTMINISTER CO, NOR MERCEDES BENZ WILL RECTIFY THE PROBLEM...25K MILEAGE. *JB