As most MB enthusiasts know, MB vehicles produced in this century are for the most part mobile networks of fiber optic, copper wire, wireless communications, with layered Computers, sensors, relays, switches and software driven modules. No doubt, thousands of lines of code are needed to create this mobile environment AND, linking to databases with as-built configuration part serial numbers in the MB datacenters to support our machines. This environment can scare many away, but I admit, it was one of the characteristics that made me buy. 50 years in business relating to software, computers, networks gives a unique perspective, admittedly.

My 2 experiences:

2007 R230 SL550 30k miles purchased 2 years ago. Dealer maintained on “calendar cycle” not mileage. Clean Carfax. Drove 2 years before purchase of MB Star DAS. Besides, ABC flush and other diagnostics that indicated only old stored fault codes, I discovered a very clean car. In addition I discovered the Star system has the capability to assess the current level of the vehicle’s software and provides the upgraded “drivers.” We all have smartphones and computers that get upgraded software, why not MBs? Took the plunge, and amazed at the difference in performance. 3 modules had updated versions available: Engine, Transmission and ABC suspension. Outcome after update: More torque in all gears. Higher RPM shift points. SMOOTH up and down the gears. This 13 year old car got new found youth.

2012 W221 S550 4-matic 100 k miles purchased 9 months ago. 1 owner dealer maintained, pristine condition mechanically and cosmetically. Again, DAS indicated few stored faults and software updates available. I updated the ECU and transmission. For the first 50 miles I experienced moderate but noticeable improved throttle response. All was well until CEL light came on for the first time ever under my ownership. OK, DAS shows MED 177 Fuel injection control unit fault. Here is the GREMLIN. The computer is looking for the Trim Codes (unique serial number of the injector) so that it can “tune the ignition/fuel delivery” to the as-built engine components. See post #16 for details on this MBworld link, definitely worth a read: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...-involved.html. This feature is very good if that data existed. The MB central databases do not contain these serial numbers (at least for my VIN). So, to cure this, I need to remove the fuel rail and each injector and note the injectors’ serial number and enter that into DAS for the cylinder to which it resides. LESSON to share with those who upgrade FI firmware, note the serial numbers of the injectors before you upgrade software. You will need these after the upgrade.

So, I would like feedback from the forum: Should you upgrade or not? Why don’t MB dealer service departments do this as a matter of course? (Yeah, gremlins, I know, things they want to avoid).

Would greatly appreciate advice on Fuel injector removal. Have WIS instructions, just need to know if any tips and techniques are in the forum.

 

So, first off, you just answered your own question. Your dealer will be happy to update software for you as much and as often as you want, at their standard labor rate for doing so -- the quoted me $160 per control unit. And if the upgrade breaks something, you get to pay them again to fix it.

Every minute that your vehicle spend in their shop is going to cost someone money, and the dealer will make sure it's not them.

 

If you send me your VIN I can give you the injector codes per cylinder. Also It should be written on your engine harness label. Assuming injectors have never been replaced or moved to a different cylinder they should be in VEDOC. PM me your VIN.

 

Verry nice from you, I have a dealer account and access
in Vdok we found all the numbers, but 1 digit is missing in Vdok you'll find 4 digits and we need to fill in 5
as showed here: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...-involved.html
I have tried many ideas already
but if you know how to use 4 numbers there ..... you are welcome

 

If I am correct you need version 2014 of DAS or earlier to offline code correct?

I have 2019 and don't think the option is available.

 

incorrect, up to 2019.12 after removed
its just that you have a bad install.

 

I feeling like the guy who walked on his neighbors land, took a stick and opened the hornets nest and while walking away stepped in something he wished he missed. Gents. Thank you for sharing your guru expertise. Both of you. I’m just a simple guy looking to turn off CEL. And if possible share with others who may be in need. Best to all.

 

I have deleted a number of posts that did not contribute to the OP's questions. If anyone has info to assist (non-commercially), please do!

 

thank you

 

this is a strange post... it should be titled injector coding

on a vehicle you update software, not upgrade it. The idea is to refine / bug fix current elements of the car, not introduce new / different features / or changes. And on a Mercedes you can't update the car's software in one go. Every single module ( 50 in my car ) is a separate longwinded waste of time that tends to introduce issues rather than help. That said any engine and gearbox updates should always be a applied…. as should the door modules on the S class... the rest I suggest is NOT a good idea....

and I now suspect there a nasty reason for this …. during the manufacturing life and or the warranty period, software tweaks should all be healthy and desirable fixes every owner should want.
what I have experienced (exclusively) with Merc, is ALL updates post end of manufacture, introduce small retrograde changes. Much of which is not really compatible even though Merc approved SCN and installed software.... I suspect the idea is quite sick / simple. Alter stuff that worked well and make it worse than it was on purpose.... so the new ones look much more attractive / drive better

I did a few updates and since have been chasing further updates in an attempt to bring it back to the way it was.... Each subsequent change made things worse and never addressed the fix I needed.

I really only wanted the ability to swap the cluster from imperial MPH to metric KPH (later cars had this as an option in the cluster menus....) this update wouldn't go on the car even though Merc knew an update was out there and said it was suitable. But the car wouldn't programme... we flashed the CGW to see if it would then behave. It wouldn't. But it did make the rear cameras work going forwards and off going back !

A few years on I decided to try and improve reliability by flashing the Front and Rear SAM modules. Lots seem to think it sensible, the front went on and worked. Next we did the airmatic which I thought made it drive better with less wallow (but might be placebo) then Merc systems in Germany died before we could do anymore and we had to give up.

We plugged the car in again a few months on, but when we hooked up the car the systems immediately said incompatible Rear SAM software, this module should be updated. We did that and its killed the radio mute when we get Sat Nav instructions. A tiny issue but it was the ONLY bit of the car Mercedes have ever done well so it really rankles.

Trying to fix that we've been flashing anything that matters, as NO one believes its the Rear SAM that's caused it and as of Christmas 2019 Mercedes never allowed you to flash backwards. Even went to late pre facelift software on my Amp. Its now on the crap everyone else has. I was running a facelift amp where its software (that was happily on the car for 3 years) gave a subtle improvement to the colours set on the comand screen. Two specialists thought this was the reason the Nav mute played up - of course as I knew, it has absolutely nothing to do with it and regretted ruining it....

Anyway doing the central operating unit (comand knob), upper and lower control modules and roof modules has screwed the radio SDV its now in audible jumps rather than a fluid imperceptible change (which had been just right - like the Nav mute). Screwed the rain sensing wipers, now dithers about and offends rather than almost right (as it was before the update) and its screwed the HVAC (less air flow, the balance between the vents is a mess, like fan 2 is now 4 and the temps seems less accurate (when it was perfect before the update). So generally much less consistent and now offends regularly. Its like you got 10 year old Fiat software, which is probably indicative of incompetence and incompatibility between the early and facelifts cars... or an indictment of how far the quality of Merc engineering has fallen. I think its all related to the crap they put in the Rear SAM hence I've been trying to replace it... but that was a waste of time.

I suspect between the Front and Rear SAM updates one of those unlocked the cluster update and we flashed that and but it hasn't given me the menu I wanted anyway !!! but has ruined the radar display changing its range shorter so less useful than the old software and the instrument back lighting is now a mess where I can't alter the day time illumination that I could on the old software !!!

By this time, they realised I was ready to break the car and we did the radars for the cruise control. This has changed its behaviour in an undesirable manner. Its probably safer (at times) but far more irritating. As was, it gave too much throttle in traffic, its changed this now it gives too little ! The brakes were very well judged applying gently as though it could drive (in stark contrast to the fact it couldn't accelerate like a grown up). But now they've ruined the braking, now it doesn't bother till way too late, then sort of stands on it. You frequently think its not bothering then abruptly comes to the party. They are just idiots. And in heavy rain it now says oh its a bit heavy the rain might impact safe progress I better just give up.... Well in 20k miles and 4 years it never once lost the plot due to weather. But now it does leave me with no cruise at all, just throwing an amber "its raining, so we turned it off" message... (Its way over the top and was better beforehand).

The only change that really did something special was to the Comand screen... colours are more vivid and the blacks are blacker. But the extraordinary impact is how my Autel diagnostics can diagnose all modules in 6 minutes now, when it always took 37 minutes beforehand....

 

I want to close out my Open item on W221 M278 issue cited above. With the significant help of MBENZTECH and friends I have solved my problem.

This writing is a work-around for “Bad Data” which exist in the MB world (believe it or not). If I understand it correctly, the Stuttgart data center VEDOK or FDOK or ?? contains each MB vehicle’s “as-built” data with the configuration of parts’ serial numbers. It is available. In the case of Fuel injectors on a M278, this data (serial number data or representative 5 character code) is loaded on board the processors and the processor can fine tune things based on the injector data and cylinder number. The details of these serial numbers is documented in the DAS screen shots in the link following, thank you PMercury: See post #16 for details on this MBworld link, definitely worth a read: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...-involved.html.

With the help of others who have access to VEDOK, it was discovered the data relating to my fuel injectors for each cylinder 1-8 is as follows:

injector coding
1-342E 2-322D 3-3331 4-302D 5-332F 6-302E 7-3432 8-3332


Wait a minute, DAS wants 5 characters for MED trim codes, yet VEDOK has only 4 characters stored in its database? I tried a few characters, INVALID. It will take years of trying different combinations to get the right 5th character. Roulette anyone? Multi-variate analysis? Monte Carlo simulations?



To recover the numbers, WIS prescribes a method to remove the Fuel Injection rail, and each injector, thereby exposing the engraved serial number on the injector, record each by cylinder. One could do this and presumably enter that data into DAS or VEDOK or somewhere and HOPE.

With the help of forum members, MBENZTECH and friends, the solution was “old school”: hard copy, turn the wrenches (very little) and punch in the correct numbers in DAS.



The following are the steps I took to recover from this fault (and CEL).

1. Disconnect Negative on starter Battery

2. Remove Covers, Air Filter Intake hoses

3. Disconnect Air filter Housing harnesses; Passenger side is near front, Driver side in back of housing, behind. Use a small straight blade screw driver to pull out light gray connector pin, the male connector will pull out. Removing these allows for the rotation Up and away

4. Loosen Air Filter Housing Clamps, don’t remove, using 7MM or straight screw driver.

5. Remove/ Lift up Air Filter housing from its clamp seats, rotate away and prop up.I used some screw drivers

6. Slide away rubber cover over label and take Picture. This is mine for Cyl 5-8:

7. Discover missing numbers/letters:

Mine are as follow:

VEDOK injector coding data
1-342E 2-322D 3-3331 4-302D 5-332F 6-302E 7-3432 8-3332

Should be:
1-342EX 2-322DB 3-3331R 4-302DU 5-332FN 6-302EW 7-34321 8-3332S



The missing characters were the last of the sequence for each cylinder on both sides. Noting VEDOK for Cyl 5-8 vs the Picture it indicates the 5th character is missing. My guess is that this is a data mapping error. In the FI Assembly process, the Work Center data control system records the FI serial numbers and prints the data labels for attachment onto the Fuel rail, then onto the engine. During the migration of this FI data to VEDOK this 5th character got dropped, the map (in error) said 4 characters, the 5th gets thrown in the bit bucket. Only a guess could be wrong.

8. Re-assemble in reverse of above

9. Enter Injector codes in MED Actuations in DAS

**##** BINGO *$*$, all data is now Valid, Engine Management system is happy and no CEL.

10. Problem solved. Cold beverage was utilized to celebrate the avoidance of FI System Removal and corresponding risk of unintended consequences. Please pass on to all who should know.

Pictures are in Attached .rar files

 

great results happy for you