I really have no business saying this - but I think that you deserve a better Dad. I would be very proud if I had a daughter with your attitude.

 

For the first post, it's pretty good 👌

You're talking about water in the doors, so I'd suggest that you take the DCM of the car and open it. If I remember correctly it's only clips that hold the cover on
You want to look for any corrosion on the PCB, which could damage the DCM.

Also whilst you're at it, check the connectors on the DCM and on the wiring harnass for corrosion, that could mess up things too

 

For the first post, it's pretty good 👌

You're talking about water in the doors, so I'd suggest that you take the DCM of the car and open it. If I remember correctly it's only clips that hold the cover on
You want to look for any corrosion on the PCB, which could damage the DCM.

Also whilst you're at it, check the connectors on the DCM and on the wiring harnass for corrosion, that could mess up things too

Have inspected wiring but not DCM INTERIIR. Good idea!

 

Tell Pops you don’t need any ‘elp from an old git anyway. It sounds like you need to take a ride on the CAN bus.

https://www.benzworld.org/threads/troubleshooting-the-can-bus.1989185/

 

Yeah! Exactly, I have the MB forum! … I am pretty sure there’s no need to go to the CAN, not yet anyway. I’ve already wandered down that path - I must say I truly enjoyed learning about this car’s network of communication and operation.

 

Not sure you need to dive into CAN bus just yet, sounds like the passenger DCM is just sperging out big time. It controls a crap ton of the functions that you've posted. They are pretty cheap to acquire on ebay although they aren't always fully functional. My mirror blinkers weren't working and I had to go through like two or three of them to find one that fully functioned.

Also, totally confused about 'ventilation and lumbar massage' on an S430. Sure it's not an S500? lol.

 

Yes, I agree. I anticipate needing a replacement so have I’ve poked around. This is also the point at which I consider and buying an additional S 430 for parts( mine needs some exterior pieces and a few other items)! Crazy but sort of genius if I found a good one!

 

My 2003 S430 had the full heat/ventilation/perforated leather/lumbar/massage option package - it was $3500 on the delivery sticker. Mercedes will build you pretty much anything you want, if you have enough money and patience.

 

Do a serious internet search for "pull-a-part" yards in your area. These are almost always the cheapest source for our parts, and you will greatly enjoy climbing in, over and under donor cars, pulling off a wide range of parts! Another advantage is that you get to practice disassembly on someone else's car - they usually aren't really concerned about collateral damage.

 

Okay! Thanks! That would be fantastic! Although I have done a search for area yards, I didn’t know the terminiology for one that allowed me to come in and disassemble. I often see entire vehicles for sale for parts at next to nothing.

 

Pull-a-part, pick-a-part, you-pull-it, u-pull-it, self-service parts, etc., et

A quick look shows a couple in the Ann Arbor/Detroit area, such as Ryan's. Good luck!

 

Yep, we've got a few of those in Virginia as well. I've got a spare DCM for pre-facelift (the wife's car or Dad's) and one for post-facelift (the other cars).

Just fixed an issue with the wife's car this weekend. She reported that the mirrors were acting up. Turned out a piece of the driver's side rubber door trim wasn't sealing like it should. So, I took it out, cleaned it and the doorjamb of all accumulated dirt over the last however-many-years. Reinstalled it with fresh silicone caulk. Also took out the driver's DCM and made sure it was dry inside.

Also, the passenger's window would not always go up reliably. Turned out to be the switch itself, so I put in a post-facelift switch/trim assembly (her car is pre-facelift), and it worked fine. Looks slightly different, but not out of place.

Now, it's just a matter of waiting for some rain to come so we can see how things go.