3.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,000 miles

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problem #1

Sep 012009

E320 6-cyl

  • 43,000 miles
On turning the key in the ignition with foot on brake pedal, car started, immediately red-lined, and started shaking as the RPM limiter kicked in. The brake pedal was depressed, not the accelerator. Removed foot from brake and visually confirmed correct foot placement before reapplying pressure to the brake pedal. During removal of foot from brake pedal to visually confirm, car continued to redline. Turned engine off via key within 5-10 seconds of occurrence. Verified that floor mat was not between the floor and the accelerator. Engine restarted without incident. Mentioned the occurrence to local mb dealership but no codes were found when car was taken in for routine service a few months later. It is possible that the accelerator was actuated slightly via the all weather mb floormats that had recently been installed in car migrating forward and getting wedged between the floor of the car and the bottom edge of the accelerator. The included alligator clips had not been installed with the floor mats. However, with the engine on and car in park, manually wedging the floor mat between the floor and the pedal did not duplicate the engine redlining. Regardless, the clips were promptly installed after this occurrence and the floor mat has not migrated forward under the gas pedal since. It is unclear if the unintended redlining on starting the engine was due to the pressure of the floor mat between the floor and the accelerator or some other issue. Either way, the unintended redlining has not recurred since. Note: The web interface insists on offering "headlight lens" as the only option under equipment. The above has nothing to do with the headlight lens.

- Webster Groves, MO, USA