My mom has an '05 E320W4 she bought new a few months ago. I've driven it a few times and noticed a somewhat unnerving phenomenon with the brakes. It feels like I am applying the right amount of pressure to the brake pedal to stop until the last 10 feet or so when the car does not seem like it will stop in time which, in turn, forces you to press the pedal even further, which seems like another inch or so. It does not inspire confidence and this is just normal, everyday braking. It feels like you're pushing against an air bubble in the brake lines but I don't really know. The dealer says that this is normal. Does anyone else experience this? Thanks.

 

That is supposed to be a smooth stop feature.

 

Welcome to brake by wire.

 

Thanks for your responses. I assume from your comments that this is normal but the "feature" is not well-liked?

 

The allegedly non-linear "feel" of the SBC brakes is the one thing that gets mentioned in every review of the W211. Some of the more astute reviewers also note, accurately, that the driver adjusts to it after a while. They still feel "touchy" to me, but I've learned to compensate and have no trouble making smooth stops now. Your dad's car, the '03 S-Class, should also have SBC braking, though perhaps with a different calibration.

 

Neither the current C-Class (W203) nor the current S-Class (W220), have electro-hydraulic brakes. The current S-Class has normal Bembo hydraulic brakes.

The new S-Class (W221) is supposed to have some of the features of SBC w/o using a pump in place of a master cylinder to generate braking force.

So far as I know, only the SL, Maybach and E-Class have SBC.

 

Very distinguished company for us E-Class peasants. Never mind what Groucho Marx said about belonging to a club that would accept him as a member.

 

Thanks everyone. This clears alot of things up. My dad switches between the E and S often so it may take him longer to get used to.

 

I've never gotten used to the feel of the brakes. For me, I always have to apply extra pressure right before I'm about to stop, and then the brakes "grab". I have a hard time coming to a smooth stop.

 

I know this is such an old topic on the w211 forum but I have to admit this is the #1 reason I ordered an 06' A8L. The SBC really put me off on MB for now. I'm sure I'll be back to it some day. I feel like my car rides like crap for $60k and it's all due to the brakes.

 

How do the brakes effect the ride of the car? There's no correlation between the brakes and the suspension.

I suspect the tires or the air suspension are the things that might be giving you a problem.

BTW, I'm not sure which models of the Audi have the Bosch SBC braking system so you might want to check things out.

 

I guess I'm strange, but I find nothing at all wrong with my car's SBC brakes. I am told there were problems with early implementations, but apparently they've been fixed as of 03/05 cause I find this car brakes better than even my 05 Volvo.

Also, as for ride and handling, .85 on the skid pad is better than most Audi's and the car is very sure footed and has a sure feeling at the wheel. Maybe I'm missing something again without the airmatic suspension, but I'm very satisfied.