foreyes

I am seeing a lot of SBC brake failures here on the forum. I drive a 2003 E500 and am wondering if these failures have a high likelihood of occurring. What do you guys think? What can you do to lessen the chance of an SBC failure occurring? 1) Making sure the dealer has updated your car's SBC pump to the latest version (hardware and software)? Is this covered under the recall? 2) flushing brake fluid every 2 years, and 3)Replacing the aux battery

Do you guys trust your SBC-equipped MBs? I have a 2003 E500 with 118,000 miles, I like it a lot but am seriously considering replacing it with a 2007+ E550 or CLS550 much sooner than I had planned just to avoid any safety issues.

JarZ

This is the #1 reason that buying an E55 is worrying me a bit.

JDM_SXE-10

I have a 2003 E500 with about 160,000 miles and mine failed at about 110,000. Luckily, I was on local roads so I was only going about 40 when I noticed all the warning lights come on. It was definitely scary to know that my brakes failed, even at low speeds, so I can't even imagine how scary it would have been if I was doing 60+ on a highway.

It is surely a concern that a vital part in the car can fail at any given time. I am hoping that this unit will last me until the car is gone. If I would have known that this was an issue in this year/make/model vehicle then I would bought something else. It's hindsight now, but if I was given a choice I would have chosen a newer year or a different car all together.

gaazmon

I had my SBC unit replaced at around 60XXX miles. I don't remember if the software was updated as well. What do you guys think? I would hope so. All recalls have been performed.

Also, I'm replacing the AUX battery this week also.

But yes, if I knew it was this bad, I would not have bought this car or any other car with SBC system and now I would never buy an SBC equipped car (03 - 06 E, 06 CLS, R230 SL)

MercFiveHundred

I think the brakes are still able to work when the SBC fails, you just have to step in the brake pedal much more - almost to the floor as i've heard. So it doesn't scare me much.

I've also had the SBC save me from a couple accidents so it's was worth it too.

KEY08

I have not read of one instance where an SBC failure caused a major accident, howver I read every day about some dufus either stepping on the gas thinking it's the brake or their foot "slipped" off the brake onto the gas pedal and they plow into some storefront. My understanding is that there is still some stopping power through hydraulic action from the brake pedal to the SBC controller. Someone had posted a link to that explanation directly from Mercedes some time ago. I don't lose any sleep over it.

Barry45RPM

Your milage is high enough so that you should be thinking about replacing it proactively anyway.

lkchris

Not that this has any statistical validity whatsoever.

SBC is good for 10,000 brake applications. Then, replace it.

Ichabod

That's only about a year and a half of ordinary suburban driving (c. 15,000 miles). Did you leave off a zero?

mtrevelino

I just posted this a couple of days ago:

Without opening a can of worms or denying what actually happens during the SBC failure, but in the September/October Star magazine there is a article on braking systems. One paragraph regarding the SBC that I did find interesting said "What happens if the electronics fail? If a fault should occur in the electronics, a hydraulic link between the brake pedal and front wheels is automatically restored, and the system will still stop the vehicle using the front brakes only. The brake pedal will travel down much lower and a host of red warning messages will light up the instrument cluster like the Rockefeller Center at Christmas"
Again, without this happening to me or my wife (I hope it never does), I do not know if the above information is accurate, but I would assume that there has to be some fail safe mode in the SBC system.
Just my $.02!
Mike T.

komp55

There is; see attached.

KEY08

^Yeah, that is what I had seen before. At least knowing that you may encounter the fail safe mode at some point in time is good information. I have had cars go into "limp mode" at various times or interupt my forward progress with anti-slip controls, etc and have found those to be annoying and dangerous as well. If all else fails, I'll just stick my feet out the door, caveman style.

Sher Judge

Great to hear this. Thank you.

GT-ER

The failsafe is pretty much bullet proof...it's just scary but it brakes fine.

I personally hate SBC and this it's useless....but I don't lose sleep over it either.

boschk

When I was a teen, I drove around my dad's 65 ford truck. Drums all the way around and no power assist. A tick better than Flintstone brakes. I ain't skeeeeeered of no SBS failure.

gaazmon

Agreed. I hate how it feels, never have gotten used to it even after 4 years. love how our 02 cl500 brakes

bernard farquar

I think the braking power under extreme braking with this system is much better than any other ABS system I have experienced, I personally am convinced that I would have stuffed my car hard into the back of a Toyota that stopped short on I5 when I was looking at the car next to me, if not for the performance of the SBC system.

I am a bit leery of the concept of a 10,000 application life span for the system, but don't really understand how that is so, given that these are used as taxi cabs in Europe. I guess i have two more years of warranty on the system, before I am flying alone.

My feeling is that with one save under it's belt, the SBC system is already ahead in my book, so I call it good so far.

GT-ER

Yet cars with regular ABS consistently have shorter stopping distances.

Just because it feels safer doesn't mean it is.

For example, according to motortrend, the Audi RS6 braked 3 feet less from 60mph. I believe the BMW M5 also had shorter stopping distances.

jbec.keane

I'm not sure where the number of brake applications comes in. I have 275,000 miles on my 2003 E320 and have not had an SBC failure (knock on wood). The pump was replaced a few years ago under the recall, but the brakes on the car are the best I've ever seen or felt. I would not have any concerns about buying a car with these brakes again.

JK

KEY08

^ 275,000 miles

jbec.keane

I know It is at least 125,000 miles more than I have put on any other car I have ever owned. I'm planning on holding on to it for about another year and then picking up a new one with European Delivery. I may just get another high mileage award.

JK

gaazmon

Back then it was the best they could come up with, but after presafe was moved down to the E/CLS from the S/CL, it's even better now. I mean the presafe even detects when there is water on the brakes and actually moves the calipers to dry off the pads. also ive heard in the instance one lets off the accelerator very quickly, the calipers will move the pads closer to the rotor in case of an emergency braking situation.

10,000 "cycles" was the original figure inputted into the systems. A cycle is every time you hear the brake "re-energize" or whatever (so like 3 or so brake presses) that buzzing sound. After the software update it was increased exponentially. Or at least this is what i remember.

SBC is long gone as a "wave of the future" design. I think it was something they tried and realized was an epic failure in the long run (kind of like how they put presafe in the S/CL and turned out to have been a good design). I mean come on, it's not really cheap to have to give a 10year/unlimited mileage warranty on these things, kind of a big pita, or at least it would be for me if i was in there shoes

Ronaldk

Already on 2003 the SBC system also dried the pads/discs by moving the pads closer to the disc when the wipers were swtiched on (called dry brake). The SBC also features prefilling (similar to pre-safe system) when it anticipates an emergency brake is pending (sudden removal from gas pedal to brake pedal). It has the added benefit of having full brake power with the engine off. It removes the unwanted ABS shutter to the driver. It has added benefits such as Traffic jam assist apart from the superior breaking during cornering compared to conventional systems. Read this article and you will be amazed how advanced the technology actually is (was)!

http://500sec.com/sensotronic-brake-system-sbc/

My SBC system has saved the day on many occasions and not once did it ever fail. Knowing it was also used in the Maybach, does inspire confidence to me.

Sher Judge

Thank you Ronald, after reading your attachment, SBC will defnitely be the future of braking systems in Daimler Benz AG products.

Barcud

I had an opportunity to drive a Mercedes 180 Diesel from the 1950s once.
A rather heavy car with no power assist.
You had to plan well ahead for stop signs!