yes it should still be covered
SBC Failure STOP Warning.
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 1
From: BAY AREA
2003 MERCEDES E500,2003 Porsche ,2001 BMW 740i,1999 m3,1997 Mercedes C280 ,1999 4Runner daily driver
SBC Failure STOP Warning.
While On I5 driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco big red flash on the dash Stop BRake Failure.!!! My brake failed as I was driving over 70MPH down the grapevine. I am amazed how fast it happened. My brake system are almost new and never a sign of bad brakes, in a second all lights came on saying the Brake Malfunction, stop the car. I tried to use the brake and nothing was there. The pedal went all the way down.. I'am glad no one got hurt . Thank God i have AAA premier to tow it 200 miles no charge. Can anyone confirm that SBC Pump Failure is still covered BY MBZ 10 year warranty. Thanks in advance
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Bay Area
08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
Beshoff replace my SBC at 90k mile last year mine is an 04 It's a safety issue, your SA advisor should be able to get MBUSA to approve the repairs with $0 cost to you.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 811
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From: Bay Area
08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
The engine shuts off and slows down at this point, mine failed on the inside road. I can't imagine how scarey would it be on the highway.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 811
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From: Bay Area
08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
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From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
While On I5 driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco big red flash on the dash Stop BRake Failure.!!! My brake failed as I was driving over 70MPH down the grapevine. I am amazed how fast it happened. My brake system are almost new and never a sign of bad brakes, in a second all lights came on saying the Brake Malfunction, stop the car. I tried to use the brake and nothing was there. The pedal went all the way down.. I'am glad no one got hurt . Thank God i have AAA premier to tow it 200 miles no charge. Can anyone confirm that SBC Pump Failure is still covered BY MBZ 10 year warranty. Thanks in advance
- Have you ever had the SBC unit replaced?
- Have you had the SBC service bulletin's completed during service
- This is more common that you might expect
- This is a major safety issue in my opinion. (This system is known to fail)
Work with your service advisor to have this problem corrected and a new SBC system should solve it. Remember the dealer didn't design this system but only provides service so work with them on the resolution.
I would also recommend you provide your data to the National Transportation Safety Board for record keeping on safety. The NTSB does this for repeat safety failures. If there are enough failures the safety board will get involved as they did on other brands with "throttle runaway" issues.
It is important to provide the data.
Best of luck. I will never own a Fly By Wire SBC brake system.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 57
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From: WMSBG, VA
1991 F-150, 1976 912E, 2006 E500 Wagon
Isn't anyone else here old enough to remember
when "parking brakes" were called "emergency brakes"? I think that everyone should practice using a soft touch on that pedal or lever whenever they change cars, regardless of what type of main system the new car has. That's something that was included in drivers' training 53 years ago in the midwest states.
Exception: '50s and '60s Chrysler products with the parking brake on the input shaft of the differential might break the driveshaft u-joint if you used it as an emergency brake with any vigor at all.
Exception: '50s and '60s Chrysler products with the parking brake on the input shaft of the differential might break the driveshaft u-joint if you used it as an emergency brake with any vigor at all.
Last edited by Ichabod; Jun 2, 2011 at 12:30 PM. Reason: xtra info
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From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
when "parking brakes" were called "emergency brakes"? I think that everyone should practice using a soft touch on that pedal or lever whenever they change cars, regardless of what type of main system the new car has. That's something that was included in drivers' training 53 years ago in the midwest states.
Exception: '50s and '60s Chrysler products with the parking brake on the input shaft of the differential might break the driveshaft u-joint if you used it as an emergency brake with any vigor at all.
Exception: '50s and '60s Chrysler products with the parking brake on the input shaft of the differential might break the driveshaft u-joint if you used it as an emergency brake with any vigor at all.
If you need to use them I recommend only pulse them don't lock them up.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2009
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Car free at the moment
No, that's not how it works. Probably he had an electrical problem resulting in a dead battery. The SBC won't work without electricity, and neither will the engine.
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
- Alternator failure or engine stops turning
- Main battery dead
- Aux battery dead.
I would not assume all 3 failed on his car. If he got the red STOP NOW warning he still had power to operate the lights and my guess enough to operate the brakes if they had not failed.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Austin, TX
'13 E550 W4
Happened to me too, scary as hell....In my case on the highway in rush hour traffic on Friday, Battery Control Module (BCM) goes out, then all power to consumer electonrics including power steering, brakes, 7-g transmission, etc goes to almost nothing. Replaced BCM, both batteries, and SBC pump (covered). Never had another brake problem. Listen to these cars, they will tell you exactly what is happening. Blew a right front shock on Friday going 70 mph and car told me - CAR TOO LOW - STOP!!! in RED. Pulled over to find the right front was sitting on the rim. Happened in an instant. No other damage because I was able to safely pull over right away and call tow. I have 167k miles on this 04 E500. Bought it brand new with 9 miles on it.
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 65
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From: BAY AREA
2003 MERCEDES E500,2003 Porsche ,2001 BMW 740i,1999 m3,1997 Mercedes C280 ,1999 4Runner daily driver
After taking my car to AUtobahn Motors in Belmont the Service Advisor has told they have tested the brakes and they cant duplicate the Brake failure that happend so they are telling me they will not replave the SBC pump. They said its not throwing any Fault codes at this time so they suggested taking the car and bringing it back after the Fault happens again.
So i replied u want me to bring the car back after i crash and then u can replace it. He said its not acting up now so they cant do anything for me. Any suggestions Or Any Help ?
So i replied u want me to bring the car back after i crash and then u can replace it. He said its not acting up now so they cant do anything for me. Any suggestions Or Any Help ?
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,086
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
After taking my car to AUtobahn Motors in Belmont the Service Advisor has told they have tested the brakes and they cant duplicate the Brake failure that happend so they are telling me they will not replave the SBC pump. They said its not throwing any Fault codes at this time so they suggested taking the car and bringing it back after the Fault happens again.
So i replied u want me to bring the car back after i crash and then u can replace it. He said its not acting up now so they cant do anything for me. Any suggestions Or Any Help ?
So i replied u want me to bring the car back after i crash and then u can replace it. He said its not acting up now so they cant do anything for me. Any suggestions Or Any Help ?
Not right what they did (and they all know about this problem with the cycles in the system programming).
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
After taking my car to AUtobahn Motors in Belmont the Service Advisor has told they have tested the brakes and they cant duplicate the Brake failure that happend so they are telling me they will not replave the SBC pump. They said its not throwing any Fault codes at this time so they suggested taking the car and bringing it back after the Fault happens again.
So i replied u want me to bring the car back after i crash and then u can replace it. He said its not acting up now so they cant do anything for me. Any suggestions Or Any Help ?
So i replied u want me to bring the car back after i crash and then u can replace it. He said its not acting up now so they cant do anything for me. Any suggestions Or Any Help ?
I had to do this on one of my failures to convince the Service Advisor there really was a problem.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,173
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From: Puerto Rico
2005 E55 AMG
I can't believe the NHTSA hasn't forced MB to make a more reliable system. Granted, mine has yet to fail but the horror stories make it pretty clear there is a serious problem. What I have yet to read though is people crashing from it so it kinda makes you wonder if that's the reason why it's accepted.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
I can't believe the NHTSA hasn't forced MB to make a more reliable system. Granted, mine has yet to fail but the horror stories make it pretty clear there is a serious problem. What I have yet to read though is people crashing from it so it kinda makes you wonder if that's the reason why it's accepted.
I was told on this site to quit being so negative and asking people to report data to the Natiioinal Transportation Safety Board.
So now I just mention I filed a safety report with NTSB and they have to figure out how to google it to find the location as I got my brandished for telling the link to the site.
Apparently there is someone out there not wanting to tarnish MB image with my data point of just one person as I have been told so many times.
But ah,,, "the truth will set you free".. stay with actual data you have on your own car, don't provide emotion and use engineering data. That's is the best you can do. Others have to file the report then the goverment has to take action.
Yup I totally expect fall out from this post also, but it afterall just my opinion of course.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 612
Likes: 2
From: NY
'12 Mustang 5.0, '89 Supra Turbo, C55,
To the original poster, how did you stop? It must have been frightening @ 70 mph? Glad noone was hurt.
I am sooooo tempted to get rid of my SBC equipped W211 now, even though she has been flawless for 3.5 years. Its just tooo risky.......
I am sooooo tempted to get rid of my SBC equipped W211 now, even though she has been flawless for 3.5 years. Its just tooo risky.......
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 25
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From: SoCal, USA
95 s124 Estate, 69 911RS (tribute), 93 Toyota Pickup (DD)
Hmm, SBC. I have a MY04 W211 with SBC, got me thinking. I'm kind of an aggressive driver and that's one thing I don't want to quit on me...MY BRAKES!!! I have 2 track cars that stop on a dime. I will not take any of my cars out on the road if I feel there is an issue with me being able to stop that vehicle! Now I have some concerns... :[
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Hmm, SBC. I have a MY04 W211 with SBC, got me thinking. I'm kind of an aggressive driver and that's one thing I don't want to quit on me...MY BRAKES!!! I have 2 track cars that stop on a dime. I will not take any of my cars out on the road if I feel there is an issue with me being able to stop that vehicle! Now I have some concerns... :[
Last electronic brake system I will ever own. I planned to buy a new car this year, but the economy has not recovered enough to allow me the $$ to do it yet, but I have narrowed my selection down to 2 both, RWD, over 300 hp and conventional brake set up.
