With the MoT on the Mercedes scheduled for the end of the month, a fly landed in the ointment last weekend.
I opened up the boot to hoover it out following a tip run and was greeted with the sound of something metallic falling off inside the bootlid. Nothing fell out, but something that was previously attached now wasn't. I finished hoovering and shut the boot as you do, then later on I needed something out the back so went to open it and was rewarded with an inoperative boot handle. You can press it, it moves, but doesn't engage the release. Not ideal.
After much head scratching, I found that putting the key in the lock, turning it clockwise and shaking/lifting the boot handle then it would release. Seizing the moment I had the foresight to take the inner boot trim off while the boot was open so that I could get at the lock gubbinz. It turned out the thing that had fallen off was a metal finger that presses on the boot release microswitch. with this snapped off, pressing the release handle made the whole mechanism move, but not actuate the microswitch so it wouldn't release.
pressing the microswitch from inside the boot with my grubby finger made it release fine, but the metal part is 100% broken and not repairable.
I took the rear numberplate off, took the surround thing off too and then unbolted the boot release handle so I could have a look for a part number. No such luck, which is annoying because there were several part revisions over the life of the W203, and I think the estate is different to the saloon, so its quite a narrow range I'm looking for.
On the plus side, I was able to adjust the mechanism so now it smoothly undoes on the handle with the key inserted and twisted left. Its not ideal, but it works for now, and should stay working for the MOT which is the important bit!
I'll keep looking for a replacement part - its only held in with 2x torx bolts and a bowden cable - for now, but I think the poor old girl might be up for sale soon, and a new Stanky-mobile procured. If anyone wants a 2001 W203 estate with FSH, a years MOT and a short list of foibles then step this way.
