SBC pump failure
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 34
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From: New York metro area
2003 E320 W211
SBC pump failure
The SBC pump failed on my W211 E320 2003 and it is covered by Mercedes-Benz under the 10-year SBC warranty. No issue there. Now the dealer service dept. called me to tell me they could not bleed the fluid due to a defective bleeder valve. They quoted me $650 to replace it. Is this reasonable? I went in thinking my brake repair would be fully covered but now due to this bleeding valve it would still be a substantial amount to spend on an older vehicle. Thanks.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
2006 E320CDI
The SBC pump failed on my W211 E320 2003 and it is covered by Mercedes-Benz under the 10-year SBC warranty. No issue there. Now the dealer service dept. called me to tell me they could not bleed the fluid due to a defective bleeder valve. They quoted me $650 to replace it. Is this reasonable? I went in thinking my brake repair would be fully covered but now due to this bleeding valve it would still be a substantial amount to spend on an older vehicle. Thanks.
I would ask them to show me the defective bleeder valve and if it is the bleed screw on the caliper they are incompetent or trying to rip you off.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: New York metro area
2003 E320 W211
It is the one on the caliper and it is a stuck screw. MB says 'it will not budge'. How much is the cost of a new W211 caliper? For now I told them to try harder.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
2006 E320CDI
If it was me I would keep telling them to try harder. They may have twisted off the bleed screw but they should be able to remove it with a little mechanical skill. However, most of these guys are parts changers and lack that kind of skill. They should have been able to see that the screw was frozen and try heating it or using some WD40 to loosen it.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 612
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From: NY
'12 Mustang 5.0, '89 Supra Turbo, C55,
If you can, take it to a local shop, have them "unbudge" the bleeder, pay them (how much can they ask for that task?), then take it back to MB for the SBC pump replacement.
This is assuming the car is roadworthy.
I'm curious, did your pump fail while driving? Tons of scary stories here with SBC failures.
Good luck!!
This is assuming the car is roadworthy.
I'm curious, did your pump fail while driving? Tons of scary stories here with SBC failures.
Good luck!!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: New York metro area
2003 E320 W211
The "BRAKE visit workshop" came up one day after starting the car. The brakes feel normal, so unless the difference is imperceptible they did not go to non-SBC backup mode. The pump made harsh noises as of recently. So probably what happened is that it still works a bit, but is not producing the correct pressures, which is detected by the onboard computer. Take this as pure speculation of someone without star diagnose system. Anyway, I hope the dealer gets his wd40 out and loosens the bleed valve screw instead of hitting me with an expensive caliper replacement.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 612
Likes: 2
From: NY
'12 Mustang 5.0, '89 Supra Turbo, C55,
okay, your "Brake visit workshop" is very different from the "Stop immediately!" type of error that comes up when folks experience a major problem with the SBC system. According to many of those that have experienced this, the car is VERY difficult to stop once this happens.
I'm very happy this did not happen to you.
PS, there's a DIY sticky post about resolving the "brake visit workshop" error. Did you take a look at that?
I'm very happy this did not happen to you.
PS, there's a DIY sticky post about resolving the "brake visit workshop" error. Did you take a look at that?
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