Electric hand brake on a W221 fail £1200 sir!!!!

[TopTrump]

I tried to press the handbrake on the other day to be greeted by a loud graunching and every dash light known to man coming on. It worked a week later and then stopped working next time after that!

Makes me think it's nothing too serious. The graunching to me is the sound of the motor working but the pulleys not or something like that. Merc want £1200 after discount to rectify. I find that crazy. I wonder if anyone has any ideas on a workaround. I know you can get replacement motors etc.. Worth a shot?

[VX0075]

TopTrump said:

I tried to press the handbrake on the other day to be greeted by a loud graunching and every dash light known to man coming on. It worked a week later and then stopped working next time after that!

Makes me think it's nothing too serious. The graunching to me is the sound of the motor working but the pulleys not or something like that. Merc want £1200 after discount to rectify. I find that crazy. I wonder if anyone has any ideas on a workaround. I know you can get replacement motors etc.. Worth a shot?

That's steep (after discount too!) have you had a second opinion from another merc dealer, or perhaps try an independent? Maybe someone has just given you the cost of a complete replacement.

[TopTrump]

Thanks VX. Yeah it's a complete replacement including cables and shoes. They just don't want to take it apart and make good where a new one will just go in and work. I've since found somewhere on eBay that can fix your unit in 1 business day- I just need to post it to them. I'm sure as the motor is audible that it just needs some reworking.