This Mercedes-Benz E350e W213 plug-in hybrid sometimes charged and sometimes did not. Our first check pointed to the charging port. The owner then asked us to replace the plug-in control unit, which we did. After the work it charged in our test, with no fault shown. At least 6 months warranty on the repair.
Job completed: August 2026
| Car | Mercedes-Benz E350e W213 plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|
| Symptom | Plug-in battery charged only some of the time |
| Fault found | Intermittent fault, not pinned to one part. The fault showing pointed to the charging port. |
| Repair done | Plug-in control unit replaced at the owner's request. It charged in our test afterwards, with no fault shown. |
| Parts | Quality replacement plug-in control unit, ordered in |
| Time taken | Timeline confirmed when you book |
| Cost | Quoted before ordering, with a deposit on order |
| Warranty | At least 6 months on the electrical repair |
The owner messaged us about the plug-in hybrid battery. Sometimes it charged, and sometimes it would not charge properly. The owner wanted an honest diagnosis and a clear quote.
A fault that comes and goes is hard to pin down, because it may not show up while the car is being checked.
The Mercedes-Benz E350e W213 pairs a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor fed by a high-voltage battery pack. You charge that battery by plugging the car in, and control units manage the charging and the hybrid drive.
When charging works only some of the time, the cause can sit anywhere along that chain: the charging port and its wiring, or a control unit. The car can still run on petrol, but you lose the benefit of plugging in.
Our technician needed to see the car in person, so the owner brought it in. Because the fault came and went, we could not be 100% sure of the cause.
It did not look like a battery fault. With a battery fault, the car would not start or run, and other functions would be limited too. The fault showing pointed to the charging port, so we suggested replacing the charging port first. The owner agreed, and we ordered one.
The owner then asked about the plug-in control unit. No fault was showing from it, and we still advised doing the charging port first. The owner asked for a quote and wanted everything sorted in one visit. We quoted the plug-in control unit, and the owner asked us to order it.
A plug-in hybrid charges through a chain of parts: the charging port and its wiring, then the control units that manage the charge into the high-voltage battery. A fault anywhere along it can stop the car charging.
When the fault comes and goes, it may not show up while the car is in the workshop. On this car we could not trace it to one part with certainty.
Once the plug-in control unit arrived, the owner dropped the car off.
The job carries at least 6 months warranty on the repair.
From our team's record of this job. Number plates are pixelated.
The price depends on which part the car needs. On this E350e we quoted each part before ordering it, and took a deposit when the owner gave the go-ahead. The plug-in control unit was not in stock, so it was ordered in.
We quote before we start and do not begin work without your approval.
A few habits help when a plug-in hybrid starts acting up:
This Mercedes-Benz E350e (Plug-in hybrid control unit replacement) was handled at 1 Car Service, an independent workshop in Sin Ming AutoCity, Singapore. For Mercedes-Benz, we use dealer-level XENTRY diagnostics. The work is backed by a warranty of at least 6 months. We hold a 4.9★ rating from 1,836+ Google reviews.
WhatsApp us what fault code or warning light you are seeing on the E350e. We will tell you honestly what it likely needs and quote before any work begins. Electrical and hybrid faults are our everyday work.
It depends on which part the car needs. On this E350e we quoted each part before ordering it. We always quote before starting any work.
Yes. We use dealer-level Mercedes XENTRY diagnostics which reads the same fault codes and HV system data as the authorised dealer. A PHEV charging fault scan is a standard diagnostic procedure at our workshop.
The plug-in control unit replacement we carried out is backed by at least 6 months workshop warranty. The manufacturer's original vehicle warranty covers factory defects for the warranty period; once that expires, an independent workshop backs its work with its own warranty; ours is at least 6 months on this repair.
Charging problems can come from the charging port and its wiring, a control unit, or the charger or power supply you plug into. When the fault comes and goes, it can be hard to trace. On this car the fault showing pointed to the charging port. The owner chose to have the plug-in control unit replaced, and afterwards the car charged in our test with no fault shown.
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