Recall Campaign 2005110001 DEC05 – SBC may shift to the hydraulic back up due to loosening of the ground wire harness connection over time, requires a bracket and ground wire replacement to be installed.

 

Yup, my R230 is in one of the VIN number ranges in this list - it had it's ground wire replaced at the end of September, together with a software upgrade and a replacement hose.

 

This makes sence to me. The issues where someone says that the brakes failed for no reason was hard for me to understand. I suppose that MB performed a root cause analysis on each of those cases and that pointed to this grounding failure. This makes me even more confident in the SBC brakes.

 

Does anybody know how this is different than Campaign 200507007 that I had installed in July? It consisted of a harness, clamp, two brackets and some misc. stuff.

I guess they've gone from a Campaign to a Recall on this. Thanks to Konigstiger, I've been able to stay ahead of the curve on keeping my car up to date.

 

Konig,
Great find and thank you. This does affect me also
You, like many others on this forum have been incredibly helpful in allowing me to stay ahead of the curve and enjoy my W211 CDI evn more so!
Best
Jay

 

As far as I can tell technically it amounts to the same repair however, expands the 211 model year to 2003-2005 - covers those vehicles that weren’t included previously.

 

Yea, I thought the samething the second I read this and agree about it being the possible culprit....


konigstiger, As always, your the answer man....

 

I believe my 03/05 build car doesn't need it according to the local dealer. Anyone with a 03/05 or newer car getting it?

 

Check your VIN number against the list above.

 

It falls inside the fist list A785891.. what is the 211.xxx mean? what's the last three digits?

I guess I'll be making an apt to get this done.. Problem is the idiots at my dealer told me I don't need it..

 

The first three digits are the car model - 211 is the E-Class, 230 is the SL. The next three digits signify variants for different markets - Europe, US/Canada, Japan, the last digits are the seria, number of the car - check out your VIN number.

 

Oh gosh not again

...and just like the E-Class (which we all know is a great car ) the CLS is going to begin copping **** in the press and it too will be avoided by many because of its SBC. How sad. Can't they just make available the brake system put on the new S...people would be willing to pay for it. It beats that mushy electronic feel.

 

Mine VIN falls within the range as well, but when I call the dealer, they told me that it doesn't apply to my car. It's an '05 model purchased in Oct '04. So, is it applicable or not???

 

211.026 = 320 CDI
211.065 = 320
211.070 = 500
211.076 = 55AMG
211.082 = 320 4matic
211.083 = 500 4matic
211.265 = 320 wagon
211.270 = 500 wagon
211.276 = 55AMG wagon
211.282 = 320 4matic wagon
211.283 = 500 4matic wagon
219.375 = CLS500
219.376 = CLS 55AMG

Read the notation under the VIN range and that should answer your question as to why your VIN is listed and the dealer is telling you the recall doesn’t apply to your vehicle.

It could very well come down to what was actually installed on the assembly line at the time your vehicle was built. On occasion different vendors provide the same equipment not to mention all parts stocked are installed to exhaust inventory (until the revised part is delivered and readily available) using the industry wide mentality: “we’ll replace it later”.

 

Yup.. (As always, thanks for the tip Dan)

Just talked to Mike (Blue Team) at Schumacher, whom I have the highest level of confidence in as a service rep.. and he "Cut and paste" my Vin into the MB Master Recall software which came up with "0" outstanding recalls... So I guess even though my serial number was inside the range listed, it's a car that was addressed at the factory. I know that it was one of the last '05's to roll of the line, so maybe it's got '06 updates included.

Anyway.. now I have to figure out of my mom's '06 E350 is effected, I assume it's not as the recall only says '05.. but then the only sure way to know is to run the VIN thru the computer.

BTW... sorry I haven't had the chance to chat with our friend at the Airpark yet, but I will for sure before my next oil change which I expect will occur sometime in Feb.

 

Hey Konigstiger,
Thanks for the post on this. I forgot to go to startekinfo.com this month to check out the recall list -- I don't depend on MB sending me letters on this stuff.

My VIN was included and I called the dealer who checked the VMI (don't know what it stands for) and my car needs the modification even though I did the other recall for the SBC software change.

Thanks again......

 

May I ask what your last 7 digits (X or Axxxxxx) of your VIN are, and what your build date is?

 

Hey CE750,
It's X098209, built Jan '03.

 

ok, makes sense then.. thanks.

 

I just got the notice yesterday for the SBC again To me, this system has no advantage over the regular brake system. On the contrary, it is now a liability!

 

Sorry you feel that way about the SBC system. At least DC is performing a recall to be proactive about fixing the issues before being forced to do something.

GM had problems with some of thier cars a few years back and wouldn't own up to the problems. I had a car where the transmission in a front-wheel drive car froze at 60 mph. No steering when the front wheels won't turn. GM said they had never seen the problem before. Somehow this wasn't a safety issue. Later they sent each owner a letter stating that if you had transmission, differential, or differential seal problems, send them the bills and they would consider repaying you for the repairs. By then, that car was long gone and all paperwork discarded.

I know that DC and GM are different beasts but I feel the SBC system has saved us from one accident already and is a good system.

 

We also got the recall notice on our 9/02 build '03 yesterday. It's going in to the dealer.

I'm deeply touched that MBUSA is "concerned about [our] safety", but I suspect that their lawyers also had something to do with the recall.

 

I had a total brake failure and transmission failure due to a battery control module problem. I almost got into a serious accident.

 

Look like this POS SBC is similar to i-Drive on the 02-04 BMW 745, only worse, at least if the i-Drive failed, the car can still stop.

Hydraulic technology is know to be reliable & proven for age. Brake by computer is still new, software driven, and anyone who have worked w/ software know, these's no such thing as bug-free software.

I'm happy that Mercedes finally decide to dump this junk SBC.

Btw, my W211 got into this round of recall too.

 

AGAIN

The only thing wrong with SBC is that it doesn't have a proper falesafe system, one with hydraulic assist that is.

The latest generation SBC is safer than normal brakes, and the feel issue is 100% resolved... so what reason is there to get rid of it other than to save money?