input. What's like?
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 371
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w211 03'
input. What's like?
Heard a couple of friends that their e320s had a faulty computer and it cost them 2k usd or more here in my country, I believe they were talking about ecu (they don't know much bout cars).
Question is, I see many ecu on eBay for around 200 usd, If it happened to me wouldn't it just be buy the ecu, swap and reset all system via Star das?
I mean, I know it's not a jap car but how much of a difference it is over to fix something????
Question is, I see many ecu on eBay for around 200 usd, If it happened to me wouldn't it just be buy the ecu, swap and reset all system via Star das?
I mean, I know it's not a jap car but how much of a difference it is over to fix something????
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...1+ecu&_sacat=0
You choose not to disclosure your country, but I know that in some countries with cheap labor, people can spend several hours to re-solder computer modules for $30. Same with SD.
When in US finding somebody who owns SD or DAS ... AND knows how to use it is very difficult, while in Europe any better village blacksmith has some kind of clone.
Than knowing how poor education exist with mechanics, I bet $10 your friends had replaced perfectly good modules, while it might be a bad sensor or bad connection.
You choose not to disclosure your country, but I know that in some countries with cheap labor, people can spend several hours to re-solder computer modules for $30. Same with SD.
When in US finding somebody who owns SD or DAS ... AND knows how to use it is very difficult, while in Europe any better village blacksmith has some kind of clone.
Than knowing how poor education exist with mechanics, I bet $10 your friends had replaced perfectly good modules, while it might be a bad sensor or bad connection.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 371
Likes: 37
w211 03'
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...1+ecu&_sacat=0
You choose not to disclosure your country, but I know that in some countries with cheap labor, people can spend several hours to re-solder computer modules for $30. Same with SD.
When in US finding somebody who owns SD or DAS ... AND knows how to use it is very difficult, while in Europe any better village blacksmith has some kind of clone.
Than knowing how poor education exist with mechanics, I bet $10 your friends had replaced perfectly good modules, while it might be a bad sensor or bad connection.
You choose not to disclosure your country, but I know that in some countries with cheap labor, people can spend several hours to re-solder computer modules for $30. Same with SD.
When in US finding somebody who owns SD or DAS ... AND knows how to use it is very difficult, while in Europe any better village blacksmith has some kind of clone.
Than knowing how poor education exist with mechanics, I bet $10 your friends had replaced perfectly good modules, while it might be a bad sensor or bad connection.
I have a couple of options on 03 w211s as its cheaper than a 06 civic, 3k cheaper, many pros over cons.
My doubt is if I can read the codes with a local star das and reset whatever goes wrong with a sensor or whatever, how far am I from reality???
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
I think the 03's were one of the worst years. Aside from SBC which everyone had til 06, the radiators were bad and leaked coolant into the transmission. That might have been fixed by now though. The early years had many other problems though, that first one is what comes to mind.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I drive MB mainly because it is the cheapest car to drive for me for decades.
US has unique situation, where west coast was not selling diesels for last 20 years and buying one in So or eastern states, then bringing it to California increase the value about 50% on the spot.
Than those cars run for years without parts exchange.
Our original ML spend 13 years in the family, with average cost of new part about $25 A YEAR.
Sure MB engines take more oil, but that is still cheap and gives you 13k miles intervals.
Radiator internal leaks do happen, so does engine seizure on newer Bluetec, but those are exceptions.
The 3.2l/5 speed keeps proving itself as one of the best combos. Some of them are at 400k miles already.
US has unique situation, where west coast was not selling diesels for last 20 years and buying one in So or eastern states, then bringing it to California increase the value about 50% on the spot.
Than those cars run for years without parts exchange.
Our original ML spend 13 years in the family, with average cost of new part about $25 A YEAR.
Sure MB engines take more oil, but that is still cheap and gives you 13k miles intervals.
Radiator internal leaks do happen, so does engine seizure on newer Bluetec, but those are exceptions.
The 3.2l/5 speed keeps proving itself as one of the best combos. Some of them are at 400k miles already.
