So I found the guy a new Continental plate and the seller will program the VIN and whatever else and I am supposed to do only 2 steps offline. I will update.

 

Outcome ?

 

Yes sorry about that, so the owner bought a used valve body with plate which was from a 2018 model, it wasn't the one I mentioned above, as the seller wanted 100 extra for the vin, and we got a guy to program it using 2 different devices one for the plate directly probably Albrites and the other the star for adaptations and upgrade I do believe he needed to go online with the second one only to get the soft updated for the 2018 to 2010 compliant or so. It was 250 for all that.
The car is perfect now. Running smooth.

 

Sweet happy ending... thank u.
Dang these cars are so overly complicated if for DIY.

 

The only problem is lack of information.
They rely on the star system or clones of it or more expensive bi directional scanners.
But the know how is the missing link. Most people don't want to share exact procedures so you have to experiment which could cause more harm than good.
The mechanical part is the same as any other car. There should be clear instructions by people that are familiar with it on how to use the Albrites with or without online. Also how to use star to finalize afterwards. The online can be bought per session it's anywhere between 35 to 70 dollars depends where you buy it.
The rest is easy. Hahaha
All good here my friend is relieved, if it wasn't for me he would have had to take it to a shop where they told him to rebuild the whole tranny. That's what you have to work with now-a-days.

 

Agree, it is the "software" side they will always lock.
WIS and Xentry is a tiny bit of the much bigger "cake" it seems....for certain task MB don't want outsiders to know.
Those in the know but is outside of MB, will make it their income to sell such services...but it is fair, they learn , they spend time...we got to pay for their time.
Usually those in the know are probably are ex MB staff or work or used to work for the OE of the mechatronics.
Good thing your friend have you to avoid needing the total rebuild.

However, I do see benefit of a total rebuild if wear and tear do occur on other mechanical components of the tranny.
Sometimes one will want to refresh everything if for long keeping, or some will only fix what problem occuring. Whatever suits them.

 

My friend that has the Star clone owns a E550 which is the high end E and he does his own repairs 100%. He also owns the w211 E350 wagon that has almost 300k miles or maybe more I forget. So the tranny does not need rebuilding if the right hands take care of it. These engines and trannies should go for 300k plus no sweat.
Some are duped into rebuilding too early.
Oh well!