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Son driving home his 2003 E320 from work on Friday got the dash brake light warning message. We had about a month ago replaced all the rotors with Zimmerman's and Akabono pads so first thing I did was hook up that C5 Star and here ya go:
test log gives:
SBC - Sensotronic Brake Control - F -
MB number HW version SW version Diagnosis version Pin
0044319912 05.2003 48.2005 0/16 9
Code Text Status
C249F Check operating time of component A7/3 (SBC hydraulic unit). Current and stored
Running the tests gives ya:
Check operating time of component A7/3 (SBC hydraulic unit).
Result :
- Service threshold reached
Note :
- A warranty operation is required.
- Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz workshop.
End of procedure
Thanks to all of you here, info on that 25yr warranty SBC is widely available, printed a copy of the MBUSA letter and have a 7am appt on Monday at the dealership. According to that letter, this is a unit replacement - not a reprogramming - so we will see how it goes.
Yes - with that star I could reprogram the SBC but heck - if MB will replace the unit at their cost - why not get the replacement unit...
I'll let ya know how it goes Monday+
Cheers
Dropped off the car and they confirmed if the tech verified my code it would be a warranty replacement and they were fully aware of this service campaign.
I've seen some threads about folks reflashing it themselves, not sure why you would go that route given this is fully covered by mbusa
Just got the phone call from MB Fresno - and the car is ready. They replaced the SBC unit completely under warranty - no cost. Very cool for this old car. We will pick it up Friday - right now too much snow and I don't want to deal with chaining it up in our area along with the 1hr drive each way. When I get it back home, I'll put it on the scanner and see what the hardware and firmware versions are.
Picked up the car a week ago, finally had time to pull the info on the new unit (bad weather, other projects blah blah blah). MB Fresno did not charge me anything - they even did not try and up-sell a brake flush (I guess the tech saw that our fluid was brand new from the flush I did in early Oct).
Old unit:
Hardware version: 05.2003
Software version: 48.2005
New Unit:
Hardware version: 20.2013
Software version: 48.2005
So clearly they have updated the hardware to 2013, but the last firmware was the same one we had before.
For $0, what can I say other than super happy. If you get a C249F code, take it to the dealer for a free unit (until at least 2028 or more depending on your year). Gotta love that unlimited mileage 25 year warranty.
"How many miles were on your car when the code threw?"
113624 when MB received the car - we drove it there - about 50 miles one way. It threw on the dash message when son was driving home so I'm guessing maybe another 30 miles before that - so best guess is around 113550 or so.
Brake flush is not part of the procedure but it would be foolish to put in a new unit with old fluid. Dealer did not bother up-selling a flush to me since I told them I had just fully flushed the brakes via a positive pressure setup with MB fluid less than a month prior. I can only guess the tech saw that all the fluid was completely clean when they replaced the unit.
The car is currently close to 119000 miles and runs great - it is my sons daily driver. I have done other work on it - see these posts. I also did trans mount, flex discs but never bothered to write it up. And a bunch of preventative stuff in Oct when I did the flush - also did not do a write up but it was all fluids, rotors, pads kind of stuff. For trans fluid, I'm using Shell ATF 134 which you can get from a shell distributor (as a retail customer) for very low prices (about $5/qt in a box of 12).
That has GOT to be the main difference between a city car and a country car? I'm pushing 165 K miles on mine, owned it since it was 101K 6 years ago, and as far as I know it is the original brake pump. Certainly time to flush the brake fluid though... I need to do that soon.
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