SBC Noise
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2
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From: Florida
2004 E320
SBC Noise
Hi I'm new to the forum and appreciate all of the knowledge that all of you give.
I'm also a new MB owner and I am very excited about owning a luxury car. I recently purchased a 2004 E320 with 48k miles and needed to replace the front drivers ball joint and boot (the boot was split).
After picking it up I noticed that the SBC pump seemed to cycle on much more frequently than before and it is louder than what I recall from before. My mechanic said that the SBC pump was for keeping the brakes engaged when the car was stopped and the doors were open??? But that was why it would cycle on at starting the car and when you applied the brakes... again???
Could any of you give me any insight as to why this may be occurring?
Thanks in advance!
I'm also a new MB owner and I am very excited about owning a luxury car. I recently purchased a 2004 E320 with 48k miles and needed to replace the front drivers ball joint and boot (the boot was split).
After picking it up I noticed that the SBC pump seemed to cycle on much more frequently than before and it is louder than what I recall from before. My mechanic said that the SBC pump was for keeping the brakes engaged when the car was stopped and the doors were open??? But that was why it would cycle on at starting the car and when you applied the brakes... again???
Could any of you give me any insight as to why this may be occurring?
Thanks in advance!
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 413
Likes: 3
2003 E320
The pump can be triggered by opening a door, jostling the car (leaning against a fender)pressing the brake pedal, switching on the ignition etc. It is tasked with maintaining hydraulic pressure on the brake system Bosch was using this available pressure to electrically control the brake system. This allowed them to add wet weather drying of the rear pads, preloading the calipers in anticipation of a panic stop, hill control (in Europe) and some other safety features. This pump cycles on and off at will and does make a noticeable throbbing sound. The pump has a counter and when it reaches a certain number of starts , it takes itself offline and a replacement is required. There is a kit to isolate the pump line from the chasis. It supposedly makes the noise less noticeable. I too own an older version W211 and the cost of replacing this thing after the 10 year warranty is a concern. Search this forum. There is a ton of information about this. It is not the most desireable feature of this model.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
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If you reach this cycle number one with knowledge can reset it with SDS. I did it before at a friend's E500. You can also get dampers installed so you won't feel the brake pedal vibration anymore or significantly less. I had mine put in under extended warranty and my pedal is virtually not vibrating anymore.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 53
Likes: 1
From: South Africa, Centurion
W211 E200 Kompressor
Dampers
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...my03-06-a.html
Had the above dampers installed and the vibration and noise is less intrusive.
Had the above dampers installed and the vibration and noise is less intrusive.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Cali
2003 E500, 2004 S430 w/BT-Puck/Tail
Hill Control
What is "Hill Control" in Europe. I have a European delivery 03 E500 and was wondering what it is. Once I was on a very steep hill with TipTronic in 1st...and using the engine resistance to creep at 3 to 5 mph while viewing some nice houses. My foot was off the brake and it felt like once the car got to 5 mph the brakes would activate and slow the car down a little no jerking. Could this be a form of hill control?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 413
Likes: 3
2003 E320
Hill control is my feeble description. May be called hill hold or stop. Apparently the Euro spec cars have a feature where one can "set" the brakes while at rest and the SBC system will hold brake pressure until the accelerator is pressed. Kind of like using the emergency brake with a manual tranny. I believe an extra push on the brake after full stop engages it. Sorry, there is a better description somewhere in this forum. I believe some obscure DOT law prevents it from being available in the US. I have a poor man's version because the car will not roll back on hills here in Atlanta while in "W" mode (car starts in 2nd).
As for SDS and the SBC pump. I guess I should just let it go but why is it better to trash an expensive part by programming it to shut down at a pre set count rather than allowing it to function to the absolute end of its service life? The results will be exactly the same
Oh S--T. No brakes!
As for SDS and the SBC pump. I guess I should just let it go but why is it better to trash an expensive part by programming it to shut down at a pre set count rather than allowing it to function to the absolute end of its service life? The results will be exactly the same
Oh S--T. No brakes!
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: WMSBG, VA
1991 F-150, 1976 912E, 2006 E500 Wagon
Our '86 USA spec Subaru had a hill holder
so it must have been legal then. They were also much advertised options for Studebakers 50 years ago. It's very useful in hilly towns if you have a stickshift.
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Florida
2004 E320
Also, do you know the criteria for getting it repaired?
Thanks again,
Matt
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 413
Likes: 3
2003 E320
I think the knowledge in the US is limited because:
M-B takes care of SBC failures to date: 10 years and unlimited mileage.
They keep the failed parts so no one is able to crack them open.
The Europeans use these cars for taxi and they were first to discover this problem.
It is incredible to me that M-B/ Bosch elected to place a counter in the unit and apparently after 350,000 cycles (I have heard) it shuts down. This is to keep it from failing due to wear. The results are the same either way (limited or no braking ability).
On the internet, I have seen "new " units on e-bay for as little as $450. I have also seen "rebuilt" units which may only involve resetting the counter. I would bite on one for a spare but my luck we will wreck the car so:
M-B takes care of SBC failures to date: 10 years and unlimited mileage.
They keep the failed parts so no one is able to crack them open.
The Europeans use these cars for taxi and they were first to discover this problem.
It is incredible to me that M-B/ Bosch elected to place a counter in the unit and apparently after 350,000 cycles (I have heard) it shuts down. This is to keep it from failing due to wear. The results are the same either way (limited or no braking ability).
On the internet, I have seen "new " units on e-bay for as little as $450. I have also seen "rebuilt" units which may only involve resetting the counter. I would bite on one for a spare but my luck we will wreck the car so:
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 0
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There is no getting it "repaired". MB does not replace it precautionary but only if it actually failed.
