'03 E500 SBC Pump Replacement Out of Warranty
 

I have an 03 E500 and the white/blue "BRAKE - visit workshop" screen popped up two days ago. Then yesterday the red screen with "BRAKE - reduced braking power etc..." came up. My pads are not worn out (and I know the indicator for worn pads is slightly different than what I've seen on the screen). I have had the brake switch replaced in the past. I also just re-checked the switch for continuity and it appears to be working fine so unfortunately that doesn't appear to be the issue. I dropped it off at the dealership today. The dealership is still diagnosing the issue, but I'm guessing that my problem may be with the SBC pump that MB is warranting for 10 years/unlimited miles. Problem is, my car is 2 weeks older than 10 years. :wwf:

My dealer informed me that MB has recently been more stingy with goodwill warranty repairs (dealer BS?) and that I was unlikely to get the problem approved to be fixed under warranty if it is indeed the SBC pump. They are quoting me ~$2000 if it is the pump.

My question is, what can I do and/or who can I call to possibly push for a goodwill warranty repair? I am planning on calling the MB customer care line tomorrow (they were closed for the holiday today). Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Thanks.

SBC Pump Replacement / Recall Call Mercedes Corporate Office
 

Recall Campaign 2005070007 APR06
Inspect SBC hydraulic unit, replace as directed

This is a recall. Contact Mercedes directly at 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES (1-800-367-6372)

My dealer gave me the same bull**** and i contacted Mercedes directly. After 5 minutes on the phone with Mercedes Corporate, my local dealership was calling me to schedule a time for me to bring it in.

SBC Pump Replacement
 

The recall is for 15yrs unlimited mileage...

Thanks for the info - I will bring this up to my service advisor/manager tomorrow and also contact corporate. Hopefully it is 15 years and not 10, though the letter I received back in 2006 said 10.

+1

My letter said 10 yrs and at 10 yrs 3 months 130,000 miles I sold the car.

The warranty is 10 years. MB replace SBC pumps only in some vehicles manufactured during Nov 2003 ~ Jan 2004 with some specific serial numbers on the pump.

I saw many of your posts while I was doing a search on this issue. So you did end up selling it? Good decision.

Yeah he got a Chrysler 300C I believe.

Yes I bought a gloss black 300C Hemi 5.7 365 hp. Voice activation..

There are a lot of similarities between the MB and 300C. The same 5 speed transmission, battery in trunk identical. Even powersteering fluids are identical between the two cars. The MB influence is there.

But NO SBC, NO airmatic, More horsepower, interior room, and quiet. Nice not to worry about my wife pulling off an interstate off ramp and having "Stop CAR NOW" in red with no power assist. Nice not to worry about blowing a strut and waiting for the flat bed truck.

The MB would have been a great car if the failure prone systems were left off the car. The MB enhancement/cost (SBC and all the supporting electronics and airmatic) was far exceeded by the poor reliability of those components. I have nothing but praise for the MB engine/transmission and way it handles. I wish those that still drive the MB the best but I probably won't buy another MB.

Understandable with the hell you went through, how are you liking the 300C so far? Better or worse than you expected?

The 300C far exceeds my expectations and everytime I drive (it is my wife's car) I am glad we bought it. I am also reporting reliability to True Delta. I used their data as input on reliability before purchase.

The 5.7 Hemi delivers 28 mpg at 70 mph steady state flat ground. In town we run 21/22 mpg for most driving but not lots of traffic jam stop and go. When you want it to go the 375 hp under the hood is very quiet and strong. After all it's a Hemi

We now have driven it 4000 miles and oil consumption has been nil.

Very nice man, glad it exceeds your expectations!

I was under the impression, however, that the hemispherical combustion chamber was considered less efficient than the more modern "pent-roof" cylinder design, does the HEMI have two spark plugs per cylinder?

Since we're off topic.....a cryptic quiz question
 

I used to own a luxury small saloon with a 2.5liter V8 Hemi. But it wasn't a MOPAR engine. But it was a Daimler. But it wasn't a Benz. It had nothing to do with Stuttgart.

Can anyone figure out what I drove and where it came from?

You drove Ben Stein. It came from Washington DC

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/.../stein_395.jpg


(Real guess would be a daimler 250 saloon or something of the sort, probably manufactured in Britain, maybe a classic)

Yes it does have two plugs/cylinder set up very much like MB. It also has VVT which shuts down 4 cylinders when the power is not needed to save fuel, which is how it reaches the 28mpg. The switch is so smooth you dont' know when it changes from 4 to 8. The power is there instantly when you want it and due to the high torque right at 400 Ft Lbs the noise level is very low.

Close...
 

Close. Same engine, same company (almost). I owned a 1963 Daimler 2.5 liter saloon. This was the same car as a Mark II Jaguar of the same year, but with the engine from the SP250 Daimler. Here's a pic of the kind I had: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...wyR0q2Oye4jPjG

I had guessed the SP250 (only "Daimler" car I knew of) before editing my post but as that isn't a saloon I just looked at similar cars from that period. Hmmm....

You do not need to change the sbc pump, you should change only hydraulic accumulator o ABS, that is OK

Good for you! I was wondering what you would do once the warranty expired on the SBC components. Congrats on the Hemi! I bought my first domestic - a '12 Mustang 5.0, and these V8's are awesome! Domestic cars have come a long way recently. I'm sure you will enjoy the car sans the E500 gadgets. I loved my E500, but felt the same way about the SBC as u did.

Enjoy the Hemi - put the hammer down!

Now at 5000 miles on the hemi 26.4 MPG on regular and ZERO issues to go to dealer. Oil chamge comming up soon though.

It was only the older E500 and E320 that had the 2 plugs / cylinder right? Does the M272/M273 E350/E550 have one or two per cylinder, do you know?

Glad to hear you are enjoying that HEMI!

Sorry I never replied directly back to you, that is a very beautiful car. How long did you have it and how'd you get a hold of it if you don't mind me asking?

I had the red brake light alert on my E500 and shop said it was the SBC pump and they were quoting around $1800.00, my question is-- Is ABS pump the same as SBC pump? they have the ABS pump on Ebay for around $200-300

No.