slk55lvr

I saw this article in autoblog today:

Mercedes is said to be dropping the Bosch-developed Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) by the middle of next year, with a conventional hydraulic braking system to appear on the CLS and facelifted E-class.

The brake-by-wire system is probably best known for causing two of the largest recalls in Mercedes history, with software to blame in the first and ominous “unspecified problems” triggering the second campaign. SBC was thought to be a significant competitive advantage when introduced four years ago, but quickly fell behind relative to technology advances in conventional brakes. Customers were said to be wary of the by-wire system’s reliability, and I don’t recall ever reading a review where the system received praise.

Will this mean that the future of brake-by-wire in general is in doubt? Certainly, this doesn’t bode well for any other manufacturer that’s looking to put the technology into production. In the auto industry, there’s typically little tolerance for failed attempts at early adoption.

Anyone care to comment?

Spartan

Yeah, I care to comment.....

We might as well drive the cars into the ground because their resale values will be worth something less then a pile of dung.

Why the hell am I dissing dung? At least you can dry the dung and use if for fuel......

Barry45RPM

Don't forget the people who post here are a pretty well educated bunch regarding our cars. The average Dude buying used or taking the trade will have no problem with the SBC Brakes The car will resell on a dealer's lot right away. I find SBC really pretty nice. (Of course, they've never failed either, though...)

cdiken

I would like to get into some different colors (Barolo Red/Charcoal Interior) and get Xenon lamps, sport package (with 17" wheels and 4-pot brakes), get away from SBC, all before the switch to the new V6 aluminum diesel.

The timing would have to be precise, if it would even be possible.

Anyone know if the W211 will lose SBC anytime soon?


BTW my brakes have been just fine, so maybe I'm paranoid, but if the car ends up being a "keeper"...over 5yrs+, I would hate to be stuck with SBC for fear of repair costs and inconvenience, and inoperative brakes.

DWP

If DCX is retreating from SBC, then it could be interpreted at least two ways so far as the value of our cars is concerned:

1. DCX is deleting baaaad, bleeding-edge, unreliable technology, and so cars with said technology are less desirable and worth less.

1. DCX is saving money by cutting features, yet again, and so cars with the advanced technology being eliminated are more desirable and worth more.

Only time, as they say, will tell.

StapleGun

I guess you guys have not read on this very forum about the several models, specifically the E55, that came equipped with SBC and had COMPLETE failure of their brakes. I'm guessing DCX is cutting out SBC because in this litigious country, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when a lawsuit is gonna happen - and this time they're gonna be class action.

CJ_E350

Question...
I am close to pulling the trigger on my first Benz - an E350...this has me rethinking this.

Thoughts? Would it stop you from buying the product?

DWP

It wouldn't stop me ...

Concerning the "feel" of the brakes - the SBC did feel unusually "touchy" or sensitive at first, and difficult to modulate, but I got used to the feel in a few days and don't think of the feel as unusual now. Most of the automotive writers who complained in writing about the feel of SBC probably drove the car for only an afternoon.

The possibility of total failure? People here have reported total SBC failure, and I don't question their veracity, but if it were a frequent problem (like the Audi unintended acceleration of 20 years ago) then there would be something in the press about it. No corporate conspiracy could keep something like that quiet. Of course, once is too often if it happens to you, but the car will stop in the event of a total SBC failure; it just requires standing on the brakes really hard, or so I'm told.

jschade

Yeah, it's in the first post of this thread:

CE750

I vote for this option... I think now that SBC has matured a bit on the W211 and most (probably all) outstanding issues are resolved it's going to be a PLUS in the resale column on my car vs a car without it.. at least for me.

As for getting a non-SBC I-6... I would imagine it's all but impossible to time it, assuming one will even be available.

Scambo

It might not be the braking system necessarily, because in my '04 E500, it was the battery control module that failed causing the brakes to fail. I almost got into a serious accident.

slk55lvr

It would certainly stop me. You have a completely new car coming out in 6 months ( the 2007 E-Class) and they're walking away from a major tech underpinning of the car. Also, your in the LAST YEAR of that car, it's going to drop in value like a stone.

aceman

The current car (mine included) hasn't changed much in 4 years (2003-2006). While i have NO ISSUES w/ SBC, it does seem like there are quite a few changes coming for 2007. Now while the changes won't turn heads, i think they may have made some big time changes to the electronics (SBC included) geared toward getting the customer satisfaction up.

I would definately wait!

Aceman

StapleGun

I could not have said that better myself! major tech underpinning????It's the friggin brakes!!!!

mendez210

Ok I have a question...I have a 2007 C230 I bought brand new, last week I bought a 2006 E350 CPO from the MB dealership. I noticed a noise resembling a humming noise, this would occur when I would press the brake ever 5 times or so, or if I was in park and hit the brakes the noise would start again (lasts about 5-10 seconds each time).

I took the car into the dealership and the techs quickly said, its the brake-by-wire system, this is a noise they make. Now this struck me as odd, why would MB install a system that makes a noise you can hear from both inside and outside of the car. Does anyone have experience with this? Or were they simply trying to pull something over me, and succeeded thus far?

Your help will be very much appreciated.

Davel

MB is still planning to continue use of SBC on its more upscale models SL, S, SLR, etc...

Polar Bear

Very old thread, but this is completely normal. There is a device they can install to dampen the noise. It will be rather loud with the engine off, but with the engine running, it is typically difficult to hear.