Mercedes Reset and Synchronisation Procedures
(E-Class W210 and other models)

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    • This guide describes how to reset, synchronise and calibrate the various electronics in your Mercedes E-Class. It covers the systems that need to be synchronised and calibrated after a battery disconnect, as well as some reset procedures for your ECU that will restore factory default settings that may increase available power output. These are procedures you'll need to know if you remove the E-Class instrument cluster (click here), repair fading pixels on the instrument cluster LCD displays (click here), replace instrument bulbs or upgrade to an LED instrument cluster (click here). You may also need to perform these procedures to reset electronics that might otherwise cause you to fail the MOT, click here for a handy pre-test MOT checklist to avoid getting caught out.
    • When I first got my E-Class it was a mystery to me why some electronics stopped working when I disconnected the battery for various repair procedures - I quickly found out about the temperamental Mercedes ECU and the synchronisation procedures. There was lots of info out there which proved very useful. However, the postings were either incomplete or I could never find the one with the right procedure again through Google (like when my automatic wipers stopped working). So I made this list, as much for my own reference as anything - but maybe others will find it useful. A huge thanks goes out to all the original posters who found this information out.
    • Index to procedures
    • The following Reset and synchronisation procedures for your Mercedes are covered in this guide, clicking a heading below will take you to that sub-section. The table is laid out with a procedure and a symptom (related issue). If your car is experiencing any of the symptoms below it is possible that the procedure listed will solve the problem:
    • Index to Reset or Resync Procedures

      Procedure Symptom requiring reset or resync
      • Remote control key fob will no longer lock and unlock doors and/or open boot.
      Summer Opening (Global Opening) and Express Opening does not work.
      Summer Opening (Global Opening) and Express Opening does not work.
      Windscreen wipers do not function automatically when on position (I).
      Head restraints are locked in the forward position & no longer adjust automatically.
      Easy exit feature no longer functions.
      Driver information screen displays "service due..." message
      The car doesn't seem to be as powerful as it once was
      Click on the procedure to go to the relevant section in this guide
    • Synchronise and Calibration Procedures usually required following battery removal
    • If the power supply has been interrupted for any reason, either because it has been disconnected or because it has become drained, it is likely that some or all of the following systems need to be reset in order to function correctly. Each subsection below describing a synchronisation procedure has a "Related Issue" which you are likely to experience if the electronics in this area require synchronisation.
    • How to synchronise remote control access with your key fob
    • Related Issue: Remote control key fob will no longer lock and unlock doors and/or open boot.
    • To reset simply insert the key fob into the ignition. Turn ignition on but not the engine. Turn off and remove.
    • How to synchronise the power windows.
    • Related Issue: Summer Opening (Global Opening) and Express Opening does not work.
    • When the windows become unsynchronised Summer Opening will cease to function. In addition, later E-Class models have an Express feature that automatically opens your windows when you fully depress the window switch (past the first click), this often stops working if the car is deprived of power and needs to be synchronised . To synchronised close the windows by pressing the switch to the first click (i.e. do not fully depress switch if you have an Express feature). When the window has fully closed, continue holding down the switch for a further 2 seconds. Repeat for each window. Once synchronised Summer Opening (Global Opening) from your key fob and the Express feature should be restored. If you are still having an issue with Summer Opening make sure that all your doors are fully closed as this will inhibit the feature.
    • How to synchronise the slide and pop-up sunroof (Optional accessory)
    • Related Issue: Summer Opening (Global Opening) and Express Opening do not work.
    • You may need to synchronise the sunroof if it has been blocked and jammed, or the power has been lost. The procedure is similar to synchronising windows. To synchronise close the sunroof. When the window has fully closed, continue holding down the switch for a further 2 seconds. Once synchronised Summer Opening (Global Opening) from your key fob and the Express feature should be restored. If you are still having an issue with Summer Opening make sure that all your doors are fully closed as this will inhibit the feature.
    • How to synchronise the automatic windscreen wipers (Optional accessory)
    • Related Issue: Windscreen wipers do not function automatically when on position (I).
    • Not all car's have this feature, but it can be annoying when you do have it and lose it. First get a mate over (you need two people) on a dry day when rain isn't likely to occur and have a bucket of water ready. Make sure the windscreen wipers are turned fully off and your windscreen and surround is dry. Next locate the windscreen wiper relay locations on the fuse card. You'll probably find your fuse card either in the fuse box under the bonnet or in the tool roll in the boot. To reset the windscreen wipers simply pull and then put back these relays. Finally, get in the car and start it up. Turn the wipers fully on to position (III) and then off to position (0), then on again to position (I). With the wipers still in position (I) get your mate to throw water over the windshield - the wipers should now function automatically.
    • How to synchronise fully adjustable electric seats (Optional accessory)
    • Related Issue: Head restraints are locked in the forward position & no longer adjust automatically.
    • If you have fully electronically adjustable seats you may need to synchronise the head restraints. To synchronise the head restraints, turn the ignition on but do not start the engine, then move the seat fully forward and the head restraint fully down. Continue to hold down both adjustment buttons in this position for 2 seconds after the adjustment is complete to synchronise.
    • How to synchronise "easy exit" steering wheel and seats feature (Optional accessory)
    • Related Issue: Easy exit feature no longer functions.
    • I have not tested this procedure as I do not have this feature on my car and so I have no idea whether it works. I'm including it for completeness only as it seems rather dodgy to me - use with caution! First check whether you are able to safely use this procedure by moving the steering wheel down a little and then moving it back up - don't move it down more than a little as it may get stuck leaving you unable to drive the car. If it moves down but will not come back up, take the car to a dealer to have it reset. If it goes down and successfully bring it back up again then you can try the following steps to synchronise the assembly. To synchronise the steering wheel move it fully "up and out" and continue to hold switch for a further 2 seconds, then move it fully "down and in" and continue to hold switch for a further 2 seconds. The seats can be synchronised in the same way by moving them to their limits. If I remember rightly, there were a number of posts that said you needed to apply this procedure several times before you had successfully synchronised the "easy exit" feature.

    • Useful Mercedes E-Class Reset Procedures
    • The following E-Class reset procedures can be very handy in the right circumstances, but make sure you fully read the information about them before attempting the procedure. They follow the same pattern as the synchronisation procedures in the above section in that each has a "Related Issue" listed that the reset procedure is designed to solve.
    • How to reset the service indicator reminder message
    • Related Issue: Driver information screen displays "service due..." message
    • You will find this procedure in your owners manual which you should either already have or can download in electronic form from the web. However this is the procedure for my E-Class:
    • 1. Turn on the ignition but do not start the car.
    • 2. Go to the main odometer screen on the driver information display using the multifunction steering wheel buttons.
    • 3. Scroll through this screen using the multifunction steering wheel buttons until it shows the service indicator (FSS) sub-screen.
    • 4. Press and hold down button 'R' on the instrument cluster corner for 2 seconds.
    • 5. The driver information display will show the message "DO YOU WANT TO RESET SERVICE INTERVAL? - CONFIRM BY PRESSING R"
    • 6. To reset you need to press and hold button 'R' (on the instrument cluster) until you here a beep and 'SERVICE INTERVAL HAS BEEN RESET' will now appear on the display.
    • 7. The new service interval will now be displayed as10,000 miles
    • How to reset the gearbox adaptive learning to add some "power"
    • Related Issue: The car doesn't seem to be as powerful as it once was
    • You're getting a great MPG, the car is very efficient, but somehow it's not as 'fast' as it once was - does that sound familiar? The gearbox's adaptive learning feature quickly learns your driving style and cleverly (or rather annoyingly depending on your point of view) maximises your fuel efficiency by matching gear shifts to your style. So if you fancy adding a bit more "grunt" to your daily grind, then you can sacrifice some fuel efficiency and reset the adaptive learning feature. Typically it will feel like an extra 5-7 HP has been added. Don't worry, it's (sadly) fully reversible. After about 40 gear shifts your Mercedes gearbox will have re-learnt your driving style and it will be back to maximising its fuel efficiency at the expense of power. Anyway, if you want to have a go resetting your gearbox to factory settings simply follow the procedure below:
      1. Get into the car and close all the doors.
      2. Turn on the car's ignition, but do not start the engine.
      3. Press the accelerator pedal fully down .
    • 4. Wait for 5 seconds.
      5. Turn off the ignition but do not remove the key
    • 6. You can now take your foot off the accelerator pedal and let it come up.
    • 7. You can now remove the key from the ignition.
    • 8. Wait for approximately 2 mins for your ECU to reset and reboot - then go for a test drive!
    A complete list of Reset and Synchronisation Procedures for Electronics in your Mercedes E-Class W210 (they will also work with other models)  @ www.jamesandtracy.co.uk

    Fix those electronic glitches on your E-Class with a simple and safe ECU reset or sync!

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