Luckily the problem hit when trying to start in our apartment parking lot and not somewhere else. Replaced RCM, replaced cam and crank sensors with new ones (kept all 3 new as spares). Wow, did I ever cut up my arm on that heat shield getting to that crank sensor until I realized what was happening and put a towel over it... Looks like a tried to pick up a stray cat! Anyway, after all that I have 3 used "spares" now that I assume are all good. I still have the tell-tail sign of 3 cranks and you're out... disconnect and re-connect battery... get 3 more and you're out. Fires and revs up every time and then dies. Tried both keys... same thing (only 1 will still transmit to lock and unlock - other transmitter is shot and has to open and close manually). Battery strong, terminals and ground polished and checked. Already watched a video on how to get to this thing. Can't be the fuel pump as I can hear it build pressure and if that were shot after several start attempts the pressure would be bled and it wouldn't continue to rev up when it fires just before dieing again. My question is has anyone replaced theirs recently and does Rob at NeedsWings still have them if you provide the VIN#? Haven't contacted him yet as I just finished replacing the 3 majors and testing again. I see something on their website: Crossfire/SLK SCREEM Repair/Refurbish for $699.95. My God. Is this the only way to go? Anyone cheaper? It seems to be the easiest getting one programmed to my VIN # than another route from what I've researched as the keys stay with me and the ECU stays in place.

 

Josh at Mercedes Swap Shop is the best and most reasonably priced to deal with.

https://themercedesswapshop.com/

 

I think Josh's charge is $400. But I gotta say, with a convertible top at $750 and a set of tires at $900, I'm not afraid of a SKREEM failure. I've replaced one top and at least seven sets of tires - a SKREEM wo'nt break the bank if the top and tires didn't.

 

After I deal with this SKREEM issue, new rear tires are on the horizon as they are about down to the limit. Such fun... and I don't ever get to drive this car! Somehow (and I don't know how it happened) this turned into my wife's daily driver! I'm still driving my 2002 Crown Vic and 2005 F-150. Go figure. How the heck did this happen? Oh well... My wife had to drive the CV and F150 for enough years so if she wants to scoot around in the XF I've no problem other than to keep the thing running (which can be a challenge at times such as this).

 

I have a 2005 Ranger that is my daily. $450 for a set of tires that lasts FOUR TIMES as long as the tires on the Crossfire. And the six-in-one coil pack set me back $88 - I"ve seen the Crossfire's packs as high as $49 for just one.
I"d never buy the new "Ranger" or F150. The new Ranger is crap and the F150 is way overpriced.

 

Just looked at themercedesswapshop.com and I found this. It looks like he needs the keys, ECU and the SKREEM. I hate to lose these keys or ECU somewhere in shipping and have an even bigger mess on my hands. Can he not program a SKREEM to my VIN# like NeedsWings can and the keys and ECU stay with me?

 

I do not think so, I was thinking Rob also needs all three items as well.

 

At one time, Rob only needed a copy of your state registration as proof of ownership. I don't know if that still true, but from my recollection he had access to all the information required to program a SKREEM to your VIN.

 

I'll find out soon enough.

 

I believe that was when you could purchase a new skreem module. They are no longer available. James

 

I don't think HE had access, I think he had to provide proof of ownership to those who DID have access.

But I cannot say for sure.

 

Didn't even bother screwing around with NeedsWings and that crazy pricing. Called MSS... Got a recording from Josh to contact James at another number if my problem involved keys or SKREEM or one other thing. He answered. I texted him my name and email address. $315 payment request sent in a few minutes via email. Paid it. Gave me a shipping address to send it to Josh Chase and done. Tomorrow AM I pull the SKREEM and the ECM and ship those with both keys. Turn around time will be a few days. I asked about putting insurance on the package in case it was lost and he said put $500 on it. If it is all lost that will be enough to get replacements of all... SKREEM, ECM and 2 Keys. So far VERY EASY.

Watched this youtube vid... This isn't difficult and it is a great follow up to his sticky key video that I followed and fixed that problem. That video shows everything that needs to be done to drop the lower dash kind of where this SKREEM video starts.

 

Got to give a shout out to Josh at Mercedes Swap Shop. Shipped everything to him on a Friday, he received it all Monday night, and it was delivered back to me on Friday. 1 week turnaround and I live in Virginia so most of the time was spent in the shipping to and from California. Way faster turn-around than I ever expected. Haven’t installed everything yet as weather isn’t good right now. Will update if the car fires back to life.

 

Sweet! let us know if we can be any more help

 

Update... Put the ECM and SKREEM back in and fired the car. It started and ran. However, I had a very rough idle, the car was missing and check engine light came on. I cleared the 2 dash lights (BAS and ABS maybe they were) by resetting the steering wheel with the crank-to-crank and back to center recalibration. I traced the rough idle problem wiggling on wires and those 5 or 6 connections that get plugged into the ECM. Pressing down on the 2nd to the furthermost rear (the first one that has the "flip to release") and it returned to a smooth idle while pressing on that one. I pulled that one and checked connections, pushed wires down into it couldn't find anything lose so I plugged it back in and problem fixed. Running perfectly. I must have had a bad connection there. I cleared the check engine light that was probably thrown due to the misfires by disconnecting the battery again for a few minutes and then reconnecting and re-firing.

Anyway, great job by Josh at Mercedes Swap Shop! Can't recommend the service he provides highly enough. He even repaired one of my 2 keys that wasn't transmitting to lock and unlock the doors for free. Thank you Josh! (probably that battery connection he posted a video about how to fix).