[VR1]

Hello! I'm here today specifically for help with my grandpa's 2007 S550 4matic (~89,500 miles).

We went on a drive, and what seems to be separate systems started going haywire.

Red battery, engine, ABS, and ESP lights and warnings going off, power steering issues, window buttons not working, some shaking, and weak acceleration and little to no reverse ability (sometimes!).
I even felt the ABS not work in the brakes. Also, the car actually cut off during the drive but we were able to restart. Luckily we were close to his house and able to drive it home, called MB Roadside and had it towed to MB Manhattan.

First symptom seemed to be the red battery logo appearing earlier this week. Next symptom was the AC. Only this past week it chose to not work some days. It did work today of course of all days while this commotion was going on. Also, today was the first time the COMMAND went completely blank.

It's really a strange phenomenon. I guess after 13 years with little problems, we knew this day might come.
Hopefully, it's not as expensive as it seems to be or as complicated of an issue.
Please note that after a restart, it sometimes operates fine.
I have a feeling it's computer related.
My dad thinks it's as simple as the belt and said I should've waited for him to come see it before we decided to tow it lol.

Any guidance would be appreciated! I'd like to have some background knowledge before the dealer calls me about the situation tomorrow.

It's also due for Service C in 15 days.

Also, if anyone has any good experience with third party extended warranties, I'm interested to learn more!
My grandpa got the extended warranty from Mercedes at the time, but of course it's expired at this point.
I don't believe there was even an option to get another one from them after that.

Thank you very much, and I hope everyone is well and safe!

 

[chevota]

I'm curious what it ended up being, which I know wasn't the belt but the fix info is helpful to others that may be in the same boat so they can search and find your story and fix.
If I had to guess I'd go with the alternator is acting up leaving low voltage causing all kinds to things to stop working right, but just a guess since these things are overly complicated. It could some little microscopic transistor on one of dozens of IC boards hidden somewere nobody knows about. Or Gremlins, which you may laugh about until you have one, then it's not funny at all

 

[brbhan]

Hello! I'm here today specifically for help with my grandpa's 2007 S550 4matic (~89,500 miles).

We went on a drive, and what seems to be separate systems started going haywire.

Red battery, engine, ABS, and ESP lights and warnings going off, power steering issues, window buttons not working, some shaking, and weak acceleration and little to no reverse ability (sometimes!).
I even felt the ABS not work in the brakes. Also, the car actually cut off during the drive but we were able to restart. Luckily we were close to his house and able to drive it home, called MB Roadside and had it towed to MB Manhattan.

First symptom seemed to be the red battery logo appearing earlier this week. Next symptom was the AC. Only this past week it chose to not work some days. It did work today of course of all days while this commotion was going on. Also, today was the first time the COMMAND went completely blank.

It's really a strange phenomenon. I guess after 13 years with little problems, we knew this day might come.
Hopefully, it's not as expensive as it seems to be or as complicated of an issue.
Please note that after a restart, it sometimes operates fine.
I have a feeling it's computer related.
My dad thinks it's as simple as the belt and said I should've waited for him to come see it before we decided to tow it lol.

Any guidance would be appreciated! I'd like to have some background knowledge before the dealer calls me about the situation tomorrow.

It's also due for Service C in 15 days.

Also, if anyone has any good experience with third party extended warranties, I'm interested to learn more!
My grandpa got the extended warranty from Mercedes at the time, but of course it's expired at this point.
I don't believe there was even an option to get another one from them after that.

Thank you very much, and I hope everyone is well and safe!

Multiple electrical failures 'at the same time' also indicative of bad main ground. Possibility!

Some models utilized a mesh-like steel ribbon for main GND; oil-pan area. Ribbon deteriorates over several years. Chassis GND point (screw to body area) rusts w/age. We all know that . On older vehicles I have sprayed CRC Electrical Cleaner on the several grounds as part of regular maintenance. Good shop manual provides model-specific ground-point map. MB's have them all over the place, including behind the instrument panel. [FYI: avoid jump starts. CAN blow away three-phase alternator in a jiffy.]

Extended Warranty: MB is the only reliable provider w/very strict terms w.r.t. mileage. Others: scams abound, fed by gulibles. Just my tuppence.

 

[Annebrad]

Hi. The same thing is happening with my 2010 S550, and we are stumped. Did you find a solution?
Thanks!

 

[BoatWaco]

@Annebrad - this is a pretty old thread and may not get you a reply. I don’t recall the cutoff in years for the S class (is 2010 a W221?) but you may have better luck asking in our sister forum site - W221 S-Class