If your Mercedes-Benz C300 trunk won’t open, it is likely due to an inadvertent activation of the car’s “valet mode,” which restricts access to the trunk. This can be turned off with the valet mode switch found inside your glove compartment.

Although this is the most common, there are still several other causes of a troublesome trunk. That’s why

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Mercedes-Benz C300 insurance

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What to do if your Mercedes-Benz C300 trunk won’t open

If your C300 trunk won’t open with its key fob or trunk latch, it could be a good idea to troubleshoot on your own before bringing your car to a Benz dealership.

Most common cause: valet mode accidentally activated

Your trunk may not be malfunctioning at all—it may be as simple as one of its security features accidentally being turned on.

Mercedes-Benz includes a valet mode feature on the C300 to disable access to different parts of the car, including the trunk. Of course, this feature gets its name from the act of giving the valet your keys, but it can be a smart security measure anytime you temporarily hand over your keys to someone else.

Unfortunately, it can be very easy to flip on valet mode without realizing it—and just as easy to forget it was on in the first place. Valet mode can be switched on when you reach into your glove box to grab something, or the result of having it jam-packed and one of the items clicking the button without you ever knowing.

Take a peek inside your C300 glove box to see if valet mode has been turned on—you should see a trunk icon button along the top, on the left side. If the trunk button is moved to the lock icon, then valet mode has been activated and you have found the cause of your problem. Just slide the button to the unlock icon and you should be given access to your trunk.

Other possible causes

If valet mode isn’t the culprit for your trunk woes, you could be facing issues such as a busted latch or electrical malfunction. Here are some potential causes to keep an eye out for:

Broken key fob: If the buttons on the driver’s door or the trunk itself are able to open the trunk, your key fob may be the problem.

Faulty door switch: If your key fob is the only thing that opens your trunk, the driver’s door switch or trunk switch may be broken.

Electrical malfunction: A blown fuse, faulty wiring harness, or failing actuator could be the reason your trunk won’t open.

Broken latch: If the actuator is working but the trunk still won’t budge, you might have a broken trunk latch.

If you believe any of these issues are to blame, bring the C300 to a Mercedes dealership so an automotive diagnostic specialist can find the root of the problem and repair it. They will inspect the door locks, electrical system, fuse box, and anything else that could be causing your trunk mishaps.

MORE:

How to know if a mechanic is taking too long with car repairs

How to manually open a Mercedes-Benz C300 trunk

Going to the dealer is always a good idea to get the best fix for your car—but what if you need your trunk open as soon as humanly possible?

Don’t worry, we have a couple of ways to combat opening your trunk in the event your key fob won’t work or your battery is dead.

You might not even know it, but your key fob actually has a second key inside of it, called the valet key. To access it, find the black tab on the bottom of the fob and push it up. This will release the small metal key which can then be used to open the trunk. Next, locate the keyhole above your back license plate and insert this key.

On the other hand, if you have a dead battery or misplaced your key, you can still jump-start your C300 to open the trunk. To do so, follow these steps:

Release the hood by pulling the lever under the steering wheel

Open the trunk and locate the jump start terminal inside the engine bay

Connect a positive jumper cable to the positive terminal and the negative cable to a safe ground point or frame

If you have never used jumper cables before or feel unsure about the process, ask around for a helping hand! Chances are someone nearby has used them before.

MORE:

How to protect your car key fob from theft or damage

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Cost of trunk repair for Mercedes-Benz C300

The cost of your C300 trunk repair will vary depending on the exact cause of the issue and where you take it in for repair.

A trunk actuator motor, for example, will cost you around $238 if you purchase it from the

MB online parts store

—but adding in the cost of labor could bring the total closer to $300. You can expect similar costs for a trunk latch release cable replacement and

trunk lift support shock replacement

If all you need is a

trunk latch adjustment

or the deactivation of valet mode, though, you’ll probably only be looking at a bill of about $100 or less, since you are only paying for labor and not parts.

Mercedes-Benz has a reputation for expensive maintenance costs, but all things considered, C300 trunk repairs are on the more affordable side. If your trunk suffered considerable body damage from a collision, however, you’ll likely be facing a bill nearing $1,000 just for the part alone!

MORE:

Are Mercedes-Benz expensive to maintain?

How to save on Mercedes-Benz C300 insurance

Repair costs are just one piece of the expensive Mercedes ownership puzzle. Throw in general maintenance and part replacements and you could be facing steep bills in a hurry. The worst part of all is that’s not even including your

Mercedes-Benz insurance costs

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