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Car wouldn't start the other day. Replaced both batteries as they were old enough I didn't want my wife to have an issue. So a few days later, this was message displayed on the panel and car engine wouldn't turn over, once again. Strange thing is car had only been driven once or twice briefly, and had sat for maybe three or four days. Seems unlikely the battery had been drained so quickly. Anyway, an hour or so on the charger and it fired right up (but that was several days afterward. Read the SBC has been extended out to 25-years, no clue if this is related. Flushed the brakes about two years ago when COVID began, car hasn't accumulated more than a 1000 miles in the last two years - wife retired and we mostly take my G-wagon if we go out (but it probably hasn't accumulated 1000 miles, either, in the last two years). Anyway, I snapped a photo of the warning on the dash of her car the other day. It hasn't reappeared, but should I be concerned? Called the dealer and the service writer denied there was a recall for the SBC. Did mention something about the sunroof (fuel tank was done about 3 or 4 years ago when that recall was issued). Thoughts?
'05 E320CDI, 1987 300E, Vanagon Syncro, Turbo Arrow III
My 2005 E320 CDI with ~143000 miles experienced 2 incidents of red SBC warnings and loss of pedal effectiveness last month. Both times occurred when it had been very wet.
Both times, a restart or two cleared the instrument cluster warnings, and pedal function went right back to normal.
I knew about the 25-year extended warranty on the SBC pump, and early December was the 20th anniversary of my taking European Delivery.
So I pulled the codes with an iCarSoft MB-2, and sure enough, there were SBC codes.
I wasn't optimistic about whether the dealer would even have techs who remembered these cars, but to my surprise, they replaced my SBC pump and bled the system for no charge.
I would have been happier if they also told me that they had flushed it, but I haven't read WIS in a while as to the exact procedure, so I suppose it is possible they might have.
One thing that disturbs me is that there seems to be a systematized reduction of interest by dealers in servicing older cars. I first noticed this a while back when I had some panorama roof service done and the service advisor said "You know, some people would just buy a new car."
This time, the automated voice system for booking appointments at another local dealer failed to understand "2005 Mercedes-Benz E320"
and I am now convinced it was because the model year was too old.
One thing about which I have wondered is whether these SBC cars implement any if the PRE-SAFE functionality, like pre-positioning the brake pads closer to the rotors if a foot comes abruptly off of the accelerator, or if, as I've been told, dried the rotors periodically in the rain.
As a pilot, I had real misgivings about the brake-by-wire aspects of SBC, but I can't deny that the brake modulation and handling have been very good. Now I am debating about whether to buy one of these remanufactured SBC pumps and just keeping it in storage.
I
Last edited by pa28pilot; Dec 20, 2024 at 07:19 AM.
One thing that disturbs me is that there seems to be a systematized reduction of interest by dealers in servicing older cars. I first noticed this a while back when I had some panorama roof service done and the service advisor said "You know, some people would just buy a new car."
Funny you should write that.
I posted about SBC above your post for my 2004 E500, and was initially told: "Sorry, we don't take Mercedes vehicles older than 2010."
After seeing my disappointed look on my face, they added: "But I'll ask my service manager."
Sure enough, they must have not been busy, as they 'granted me an appointment'.
---
E500 still at the dealer. they first changed the SBC unit, I then drove it back only to have it throw the warning again and go into limp-mode before even getting home.
Took it back to the same dealer, and they changed the pump also. then they also found the brake operating unit to be faulty, so that too is being replaced under warranty.
The only thing I am going to be paying for is a new brake line, as it's leaking.
