SBC Voting
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
Originally Posted by Jakpro1
E55 with NO BRAKES!!
After this event occured, I would check the car's maintenance history too. Somewhere there's got to be a dirtly little secret about this car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,092
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Yes true...granted.
However, I know everyone thinks the same thing as you are sitting behind the flatbed trucks with the bed right at "head chopping level", thank GOD for my brakes.
Bottom line, we can debate this forever, but SBC is toast on the E Spring 06 and slowly will be phased out in all models. Benz would not have spent tens of millions to just drop it...something is wrong. If it revolutionized the industry, they would slap it on all models and all other makers would follow suit. No biggee.....just didn't work as consistently as they thought.
Honestly, I love mine...no complaints and no worries when driving. I trust Benz...whatever comes after will rock for sure.
However, I know everyone thinks the same thing as you are sitting behind the flatbed trucks with the bed right at "head chopping level", thank GOD for my brakes.
Bottom line, we can debate this forever, but SBC is toast on the E Spring 06 and slowly will be phased out in all models. Benz would not have spent tens of millions to just drop it...something is wrong. If it revolutionized the industry, they would slap it on all models and all other makers would follow suit. No biggee.....just didn't work as consistently as they thought.
Honestly, I love mine...no complaints and no worries when driving. I trust Benz...whatever comes after will rock for sure.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,794
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
One thing I'll always wonder about is what if there was no fail-safe system that reverted to back-up when it thought there was a problem? I wonder how many times the real failure was the fail-safe system. In other words, is this system crying wolf more than it should?
Maybe there are situations where the fail-safe system should display a message saying slow down and stop w/o shutting down the system. Of course a power failure will cause SBC to go to back-up but then nothing on these cars work when there is no electrical power.
I really hate these drive-by-wire vehicles. As an example, if you do have a brake failure, you can't simply pull the shift lever back to low, you have to tap the lever sideways to work your way down to a lower gear. My wife didn't even know that's how you have to downshift these cars.
I bought the E320 in part because I wanted my wife to have a reliable car if something should happen to me. It turns out that the reliable car is our 1991 300E.
So what do you buy today that isn't an electronic marvel? I don't know what it is. The new diesels are even more complicated than the gas engines.
Maybe there are situations where the fail-safe system should display a message saying slow down and stop w/o shutting down the system. Of course a power failure will cause SBC to go to back-up but then nothing on these cars work when there is no electrical power.
I really hate these drive-by-wire vehicles. As an example, if you do have a brake failure, you can't simply pull the shift lever back to low, you have to tap the lever sideways to work your way down to a lower gear. My wife didn't even know that's how you have to downshift these cars.
I bought the E320 in part because I wanted my wife to have a reliable car if something should happen to me. It turns out that the reliable car is our 1991 300E.
So what do you buy today that isn't an electronic marvel? I don't know what it is. The new diesels are even more complicated than the gas engines.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
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From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
I think the good news is that the electronic system do check themselves and report malfunctions to the driver before the driver notices a problem. This is a great safety feature for me.
BudC poses the question of what cars aren't drive-by-wire anymore. I don't think you can find a car that doesn't have multiple computers to control just about everything in the car. The engine management systems of all cars are now computer controlled. Whether it is throtle-by-wire or a sensor like the MAF that sends a signal to the computer, the fuel flow, fuel distribution, and ignition is controlled by one or more computers. Good news and bad. Fuel economy and engine efficiency is better but any failure will shut you down.
The post by DJ about his total failure of the braking system is quite interesting. This would indicate that the manual system was what failed and the SBC sensed the loss of brake fluid. The question I would ask is what other car would have sensed this failure before the driver hit the brakes and noticed the failure.
BudC poses the question of what cars aren't drive-by-wire anymore. I don't think you can find a car that doesn't have multiple computers to control just about everything in the car. The engine management systems of all cars are now computer controlled. Whether it is throtle-by-wire or a sensor like the MAF that sends a signal to the computer, the fuel flow, fuel distribution, and ignition is controlled by one or more computers. Good news and bad. Fuel economy and engine efficiency is better but any failure will shut you down.
The post by DJ about his total failure of the braking system is quite interesting. This would indicate that the manual system was what failed and the SBC sensed the loss of brake fluid. The question I would ask is what other car would have sensed this failure before the driver hit the brakes and noticed the failure.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 37
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From: Cambridge, UK
2005 W169 A150
Originally Posted by BudC
That's what's happening with the facelifted E-Class due next year.
For me, I find the SBC works perfectly when driving, and I never even think about it. However, I really struggle when crawling along. I need to inch my way up my driveway, very close to the wall (so the wife doesn't graunch my paintwork with her A class) and I find it impossible to "inch" smoothly. I let the pedal off as gently and slowly as possible, and there's an almost digital transition from stationary to going too fast for my liking, and similarly when applying the pedal.
Is it just me?
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by Jakpro1
Benz would not have spent tens of millions to just drop it...something is wrong. If it revolutionized the industry, they would slap it on all models and all other makers would follow suit.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,794
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal
Doesn't the BMW 3er come with some features of SBC?
http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e90/6820146-1.html
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
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Originally Posted by BudC
Yup, and it looks like it's got it's own problems..
http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e90/6820146-1.html
http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e90/6820146-1.html
I would think the braking systems would have the most reliabilty!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal
Wow that is a really really dangerous problem!
I would think the braking systems would have the most reliabilty!
I would think the braking systems would have the most reliabilty!
Anyway, if Mercedes replaces the SBC pump with a normal vacuum brake system, it won't necessarily eliminate the potential for problems. Maybe that's why Mercedes dropped things like soft stop from US models.
I think I'd avoid buying into a new brake system until we know it's not going to have it's own set of problems.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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06 320E CDI, Porsche 911 C2, Pontiac Montana
Fazooley, DJe55 and myself,
Now that is 3, REPEAT, 3 members who had COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE.....and no deaths....YET! And if there was any deaths, did the people know that they died because of brake failure?
How many members are there with SBC on this board? 500? 1,000? 2,000? Three in 2,000? Think about it.
I am not a Mercedes test driver and if I have a recurrence, I am not going to be so nice next time around. Money back and hello BMW....
Now that is 3, REPEAT, 3 members who had COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE.....and no deaths....YET! And if there was any deaths, did the people know that they died because of brake failure?
How many members are there with SBC on this board? 500? 1,000? 2,000? Three in 2,000? Think about it.
I am not a Mercedes test driver and if I have a recurrence, I am not going to be so nice next time around. Money back and hello BMW....
Last edited by Spartan; Aug 9, 2005 at 12:24 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 223
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From: Hong Kong
E350 Sport Package
Originally Posted by Spartan
Fazooley, DJe55 and myself,
Now that is 3, REPEAT, 3 members who had COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE.....and no deaths....YET! And if there was any deaths, did the people know that they died because of brake failure?
How many members are there with SBC on this board? 500? 1,000? 2,000? Three in 2,000? Think about it.
I am not a Mercedes test driver and if I have a recurrence, I am not going to be so nice next time around. Money back and hello BMW....
Now that is 3, REPEAT, 3 members who had COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE.....and no deaths....YET! And if there was any deaths, did the people know that they died because of brake failure?
How many members are there with SBC on this board? 500? 1,000? 2,000? Three in 2,000? Think about it.
I am not a Mercedes test driver and if I have a recurrence, I am not going to be so nice next time around. Money back and hello BMW....
So how will we know the death rate about the SBC failure.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by baubaulu
If the the driver is dead because of SBC failure, how could he report to us? Will his family report the error to Mercedes Benz? Will they post the message in this website?
So how will we know the death rate about the SBC failure.
So how will we know the death rate about the SBC failure.
Lets calm down now... if there were ANY deaths from SBC failure, there would be a major DOT effort to recall the cars and repair the failure. Last checked the death rate in an E-class was the lowest of ANY car sold in the US, so enjoy your car.. and if your brakes ever do fail, stomp on them with both feet, and the car WILL stop.
Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 95
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From: Dallas Area
2004 E500 AMG Sport and 2020 GLC300
I normally drive the W211, but today I drove the W210. I have to say i like the brakes on the W211 the best. I don't have any of the problems reported by people on this forum. The cost of service is the only drawback I can see.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 223
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From: Hong Kong
E350 Sport Package
Originally Posted by CE750
Lets calm down now... if there were ANY deaths from SBC failure, there would be a major DOT effort to recall the cars and repair the failure. Last checked the death rate in an E-class was the lowest of ANY car sold in the US, so enjoy your car.. and if your brakes ever do fail, stomp on them with both feet, and the car WILL stop.
