Four problems related to wiring have been reported for the 1996 Mercedes Benz E320. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Up until about 6 months ago, the only problems to my vehicle had been due to routine maintenance. About that time, my 1996 Mercedes Benz E320 began running rough. I took my vehicle to a reputable (Mercedes Benz only) shop who replaced 2 coils. Although the vehicle ran good for a few days, it soon began running rough. A follow up visit led c & g mercedes, in houston, texas, to find that the problem was related to it's wiring harness, that resulted from a common problem to this and other models, due to premature corrosion of the insulation of the wires. From what I understand this can cause the problems I have described and can results in fires too. I also understand that this occurs in 1990 -1996 models. The correction is a $1,000. 00 replacement part.
The wiring on the car is disintegrating harness wires every wire was a great car wiring causing various problems cost more to fix then its worth help me!.
Wiring harness defect, needs to be recalled and replaced.
I have a 1996 E320 and the first thing to go was the condenser fan, when you turn the ac on its the fans that help keep your car cool, but then that went out and my car would run hot if I constantly ran ac. Then my ac blower just went out one day. Then I took it to a mercedes specialist and he noticed that the wiring harness was frail and worn. He called my car a time bomb and said it would be a matter of time before it died on me. But I thought that mercedes last a long time. And then, about a month later, my check engine light came on and my car began shaking from time to time and I lost a lot of power to it. Sometimes I would have to pull over and turn the car off and then turn it back on to stop the shaking. He also said that it would cost about $1000 to replace and that it was a bad design by mercedes. And last Saturday night on my way home, I got into my car and tried to start it, but nothing happened, I couldn't even hear a click at all when I turned the key. I tried jump starting it, and still nothing, so I ended up having to tow it home. I called the mercedes specialist again and told him what was wrong and all the steps I took, and he said more than likely its the wiring harness. So now I have a nice looking car just sitting in my drive way doing nothing. Pooler, GA.