2000 Mercedes Benz SLK230

I HAVE A 2000 MERCEDES SLK230 SPORT, COPPER DESIGNO EDITION. I HAVE HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IN THE YEAR I HAVE HAD IT. THE BACK BRAKE LIGHT WAS MELTED AND BURNED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM THAT. I HAD THE CAR RUNNING FOR ABOUT 1 MIN. AND 30 SECONDS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING THAT SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC BURNING, I THOUGHT FOR SURE IT COULDN'T BE MY CAR AND WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. I HAD THE HEAT ON NOTCH NUMBER 2 BUT NOTHING WAS COMING OUT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HEAT CAME ON THEN JUST CUT OFF AGAIN, I THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD. THE SMELL BEGAN TO GET WORSE. SO I PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO A CONVENIENT STORE PARKING LOT. AS I PULLED IN I NOTICED SMOKE SPIRALING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD VENTS, SO NOW I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE SMOKE IS FILLING UP THE CABIN. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND POPPED THE HOOD. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM JUST UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I RAN INSIDE THE STORE TO GET POSSIBLY SOME WATER OR SUCH FOR THE CAR. I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW OF THE STORE AND MY CAR HAD 6 FOOT FLAMES RUSHING OUT THE FRONT RIGHT UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. THE STORE MANAGER AND I RAN OUT AND PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND THE FIRE DEPT. CAME AND NEW YORK STATE POLICE. THE FIREMAN DRENCHED IT WITH WATER AND PRETTY MUCH FLOODED THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE HOLE BEHIND THE FIRE WALL WAS QUITE BIG WITH THE WIRE HARNESS BEING BURNT TO A CRISP. THE FIREMAN SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE HEATER BLOWER HAD A SHORT THE WAY IT WAS ALL MELTED. I HAVE HEARD TONS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR ABOUT ELECTRICAL SHORTS, A FEW COMPLAINTS EVEN WAS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR, BUT THEY PULLED THE HEATER FUSE JUST IN TIME TO PREVENT FIRE. WHAT IF A PARENT LEFT AN INFANT IN THERE FOR A MINUTE WHILE THEY RAN IN TO PAY FOR SOMETHING , NEXT THING YOU KNOW THE PASSENGERS SEAT IS IN FLAMES, I BET SOMEONE WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THEN!! THANK YOU, JOSH *TR