cardoza

I just picked up a 2004 E55 with 78,000 miles, and the car has a fault code for the SBC unit (white "visit shop", not red). Curious as to when people have had their units fail, since mine appears to be a fairly low mileage car and I have seen many for sale with near/over 100,000 miles that have no mention of having the unit replaced. I've read that the initial code is related to some kind of counter of brake actuations, and is not necessarily mileage related, and that dealerships did reflashes on earlier model year cars to allow for more actuations before the code appears.

I looked at as many threads as I could find, and read plenty of the arguments for whether or not to replace the unit when the message appears, and I'm just curious at what mileage people have actually had their units fail?

Stuttgarten

Mine failed in 2013 @ 110,000 miles. Replaced under 10-year warranty.

OnlyGerman

For some odd reason, SBC was replaced 2 times while under 4/48 by the previous owner. Car was delivered in 06/05 so warranty is out. Hoping it remains strong.

CDIJeff

Mine just failed around now 131,000 on my 2005 CDI. 12/2015

bflaig79

Mine failed last year at around 105,000 miles.
Out of warranty so I had to pay the @ $2,000 and get it fixed.
Had brought it in for a routine brake fluid flush at dealer, then after the job they told me the SBC was faulty. So it had to be in the shop longer and I basically wasted $ 200 for the first brake flush (since new SBC install needs its own fluid flush )

kajtek1

I don't understand the question.
White "visit workshop" doesn't sound like fault code. More like service reminder.
Without the explanation the replies will mix routine maintenance with failures.

burgca

What is the fault code?

Gersh320

I think he means "BRAKE" "service brake system" "Visit Workshop" It isn't in a red background, just the normal lettering. If this is the case then it is simply the service life of the SBC unit has exceeded the predetermined parameters.
My 2003 just got that message two months or so ago; it had roughly 158k miles. The brakes work just fine but I'm told that I'm on borrowed time now. I not have over 162k so If I do replace then I'm hoping for another 160k plus miles on the new unit.... and I guess I'm ok with that.

kajtek1

Why do you call it "borrowed time" ?
I bet MB gave the system huge safety margin, meaning the pump would probably last for another 8 years, but no guarantee.
It is number of pushes, not mileage or age anyway.
Don't remember where, but a member shared that with HIS driving the count gave him about 2 months of driving with white warning, then 2 months of driving with red warning before putting car in limp mode.
Hard to argue with computers
Thinking about it, my sbc has 450k pushes, so if the 500k is the correct number I don;t have much. It is wife car, but I drive it on weekends, so I change my driving technique. Even before on freeways I could drive 100 miles without pushing brakes, but now coming down from the freeway, instead of usual several pushes to gradually slow down, I rather keep my foot on pedal all the time -modulating the pressure.
Hopefully that will give me another year or 2.