SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: Star system (C4)

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Old 08-18-2019, 08:09 AM
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C4 quick update

Connecting to the Sl while I have my breakfast its pretty awesome. 😎
And I’m not eating in he garage! Sitting at the dining room table, wow. I like it, will try the patio tomorrow 👌
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Old 08-18-2019, 08:22 AM
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Next on the agenda is printer set up. I have to look this up and see if the one I have is capable of serving two separate networks.

Another thing here is the initial scan/report. I would like to save and print all the faults current and past before I reset any. (Quite a few were created when my consumer battery went sour earlier this year.)
What’s the best way to create the comprehensive report in the Star?
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Old 08-18-2019, 08:23 AM
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'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Originally Posted by pmercury
Software must be installed by a specialist and takes about 5-6 hours
You obviously are referring to installation of the various SDS software components DAS, XENTRY, WIS, etc. from disks onto a virgin hard drive. One need not be a "specialist" but instead simply have a clearly-written set of instructions (I know, because I have them). But while it is doable, why not avail oneself of the handiwork from China, since it works so well at such low cost; e.g., buy a hard drive pre-configured for a Dell D630 laptop at a cost of about 45?

Originally Posted by MarkCan
Bobterry99,
Do you have batteries in any of your multiplexers?
No. I only have a c. 2008 "C3" multiplexer.

Incidentally, you likely can safely remove some of the software from your C drive if you want more storage space. Mine has Google Chrome, MSN Gaming Zones, and other components which are obviously unneeded.
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Old 08-18-2019, 10:19 AM
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My 11-year-old multiplexer and software work perfectly fine, thank you. A second software installation of 2014-vintage which is 3 years old has been perfectly flawless too.

Old is gold, but old, from the past, C3 is OLD for old cars. a k-liner

all the Sdconnect clones come from china, but 70 procent have bad chips. this means that if you are a ignorant and lucky, you can still get a good versions
it's like a lottery. I don't sell any I give free advice. I don't sell any and don't take any %.
Then, with you old system, that still works but does not on newer cars. you can't code online, you can't connect to MB and lots more
I spend 5-6 hours on a serious install I won't detail here but it starts with a genuine Windows install and licence. Only preparing windows for Xentry takes 1 hour. it's rock solid with support and some lessons.
I do this right now as a extra but soon i'll move on on a 3rd build

Last edited by pmercury; 08-18-2019 at 10:26 AM.
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Old 08-18-2019, 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by MarkCan
Bobterry99,
Do you have batteries in any of your multiplexers?
Never use the batteries ! its only for upgrading the Sdconnect and since 2016 NOT NEEDED
None of the clones, even good once manage to maintain charge or overcharge
also, remove the cheap *** wifi card ! do NOT use wifi for coding never !

if you need help PM me
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Old 08-18-2019, 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by MarkCan
Next on the agenda is printer set up. I have to look this up and see if the one I have is capable of serving two separate networks.

Another thing here is the initial scan/report. I would like to save and print all the faults current and past before I reset any. (Quite a few were created when my consumer battery went sour earlier this year.)
What’s the best way to create the comprehensive report in the Star?
Best is to install free foxit reader
use that as printer to your desktop you will get nice PDF's
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Old 08-18-2019, 10:31 AM
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The laptop to use is Lenovo X230 tablet minimum i5 and 8gb better 16gb ram and 256GB ssd

Dell 630 works fine but SLOW and old
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Old 08-18-2019, 10:58 AM
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This in no way explains that the one you bought will not work for years, but erased labels on chips is the first suspect sign
second, when Chinese tell you XXX1245XX chip High quality, what the hell you know ?
un in general your device looks correct, good luck

your device is on the right side


Last edited by pmercury; 08-18-2019 at 11:15 AM.
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Old 08-18-2019, 01:48 PM
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'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Originally Posted by pmercury
all the Sdconnect clones come from china, but 70 procent have bad chips.
70-percent? Did you perform a survey?

You may be right, though. A year or so go there was a discussion on *******.com, and the theme was the diminished quality of C4 product coming from China at that time. In part for that reason, I consistently advise choosing a C3-type multiplexer unless one has to have coverage for newer models. Rodney (a.k.a. "Rudeney) does as well, and I believe his reasons are similar.
Originally Posted by pmercury
Dell 630 works fine but SLOW and old
The only task my Dell could be regarded as "slow" at is its initial connection to the vehicle (takes perhaps 90 seconds). I presume the bottleneck is the R232 communications with my C3 multiplexer, and as such this delay has nothing at all to do with the Dell.

The Dell is fast. Mine has just 2 GB of RAM, and that is actually double what it probably needs. (Windows shows it typically using well under 1 GB of RAM.) If a doubter disagrees, request what you would like to see mine do, and I will shoot a video in real time and post it on YouTube.

Last edited by bobterry99; 08-18-2019 at 02:28 PM.
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Old 08-18-2019, 02:46 PM
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The Dell is fast. Mine has just 2 GB of RAM, and that is actually double what it probably needs. (Windows shows it typically using well under 1 GB of RAM.) If a doubter disagrees, request what you would like to see mine do, and I will shoot a video in real time and post it on YouTube.

You can install Xentry ONLY on win7 or Win10 x64 only
x32 with a trick but you must be a donkey to do that
try to run 2019 Xentry and Win10 on 2GB ram Dell 630 and you will see

anyway if you spend money today better spend 200$ more for something updated and you can use on all models without restrictions
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Old 08-18-2019, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by pmercury
You can install Xentry ONLY on win7 or Win10 x64 only
x32 with a trick...
You are attacking a strawman. Practically no one installs SDS on their own on to a virgin disk, since the Chinese have already done this under Windows XP and sell their product for just c. $45.

Pmercury, I think you may have useful product to offer members of our forum. But your credibility and and honesty take a tremendous hit with me when you spread lies and hysteria about Chinese products which are competing with you in the marketplace. Why not let the supposed superiority of your product and services alone sell itself? The implication for me is that they can't compete with the Chinese.

Last edited by bobterry99; 08-18-2019 at 03:15 PM.
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Old 08-18-2019, 03:12 PM
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this looks like a never ending discussion as you want to have the last word. I am just warning because half of the people asking me help in PM want me to replace their failing install
so now I let you post another line so that you feel like you are right and I am not credible and not honest which is an insult btw
have a nice evening
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Old 08-18-2019, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by pmercury
so now I let you post another line so that you feel like you are right and I am not credible...
You stated the Dell is slow. And yet you walk away from an opportunity to have me demonstrate its speed for you. The logical conclusion is you are unwilling to risk exposure as a possible charlatan or liar, since the test would be conclusive and end the potentially "neverending" discussion.

Last edited by bobterry99; 08-18-2019 at 03:43 PM.
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Old 08-18-2019, 03:42 PM
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This banter is becoming entertaining.
Someone pass the 🍿 please.
Just kidding. Now imagine what you guys could achieve if you united your forces and push together in the same direction.🚀
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Old 08-18-2019, 04:28 PM
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'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
There are countless threads across multiple sites and forums which have established a general consensus about Chinese multiplexers. For a couple of years now I have simply regurgitated that consensus. When an opportunist with a relatively brief history on MBWorld challenges the consensus view with lies that are easily refuted, I will defend my past recommendations tirelessly.

I suppose it would be difficult to "unite forces' with someone whose motivation may be driven by greed, whereas there is no profit motive at all for me contributing here.
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Old 08-18-2019, 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by bobterry99
There are countless threads across multiple sites and forums which have established a general consensus about Chinese multiplexers. For a couple of years now I have simply regurgitated that consensus. When an opportunist with a relatively brief history on MBWorld challenges the consensus view with lies that are easily refuted, I will defend my past recommendations tirelessly.

I suppose it would be difficult to "unite forces' with someone whose motivation may be driven by greed, whereas there is no profit motive at all for me contributing here.
look at how much contribution I made and helping hundreds of people for free
You start insulting people because you only have 1165 posts
me:
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you
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'03 SL500, '03 SL55, '00 S500, (5) R129s


it took me not even 3 years to get this
you have less in 13 years


I am VIP and respected on all the car software websites with thousand of thanks and I make software for Xentry I give out free




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Old 08-18-2019, 07:06 PM
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You live in the past
so stay there
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Old 08-18-2019, 07:25 PM
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and for those who did not get it what is the point of sending money to China instead of getting pro Europeen IT tech install for the nearly same amount with a genuine MB licence key
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Old 08-19-2019, 12:26 AM
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My experience with SDS has been both in a dealership with genuine MBZ products, and at home with Chinese "clone" crap. I currently use a C3 multiplexer with an RS485 interface (that has an inline RS232 converter box). I run it on a a Dell D630 with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. It's fast enough and as fast as the systems I used at the dealership (maybe faster, but that's been 15 years ago, so my memory and perceptions of that may be faulty).

I have never upgraded my software beyond the MY2011 version because that's all I have needed. I do have a side business doing some diagnostics and light mechanical work on MBZ vehicles, but I stick to MY2011 and earlier because it's what I know. I have gone through several multiplexers and all of them have their own problems. An early one I had was all built into one small compact unit. It was great, but the "old side" of the circuit board quit working, so it would not talk to pre-MY2005 cars. The one I have now works 90% of the time, but about 10% of the time it fails to communicate with the computer until I reboot everything.

The software i use runs under Windows XP with VMWare. I like it that way because I can always restore it to a base "known good" configuration if needed. Plus, I can run it on any other computer for research in WIS/EPC and in Xentry "SIM" mode.

Now, there are two multiplexer systems: genuine MBZ and Chinese crap. If you have $30K+ to spend, go get a genuine MBZ setup. If not, you get Chinese crap. Anyone claiming to sell "better quality" or "European quality" SDS is just buying the same Chinese crap and (hopefully) testing it for you. If that make you feel better, then by all means spend your money as you want. Otherwise, roll the dice and buy the Chinese crap like the rest of us. It will probably work and if not, make sure you get some guarantees or at least can dispute charges on your credit card.
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Old 08-19-2019, 12:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Rudeney
My experience with SDS has been both in a dealership with genuine MBZ products, and at home with Chinese "clone" crap. I currently use a C3 multiplexer with an RS485 interface (that has an inline RS232 converter box). I run it on a a Dell D630 with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. It's fast enough and as fast as the systems I used at the dealership (maybe faster, but that's been 15 years ago, so my memory and perceptions of that may be faulty).

I have never upgraded my software beyond the MY2011 version because that's all I have needed. I do have a side business doing some diagnostics and light mechanical work on MBZ vehicles, but I stick to MY2011 and earlier because it's what I know. I have gone through several multiplexers and all of them have their own problems. An early one I had was all built into one small compact unit. It was great, but the "old side" of the circuit board quit working, so it would not talk to pre-MY2005 cars. The one I have now works 90% of the time, but about 10% of the time it fails to communicate with the computer until I reboot everything.

The software i use runs under Windows XP with VMWare. I like it that way because I can always restore it to a base "known good" configuration if needed. Plus, I can run it on any other computer for research in WIS/EPC and in Xentry "SIM" mode.

Now, there are two multiplexer systems: genuine MBZ and Chinese crap. If you have $30K+ to spend, go get a genuine MBZ setup. If not, you get Chinese crap. Anyone claiming to sell "better quality" or "European quality" SDS is just buying the same Chinese crap and (hopefully) testing it for you. If that make you feel better, then by all means spend your money as you want. Otherwise, roll the dice and buy the Chinese crap like the rest of us. It will probably work and if not, make sure you get some guarantees or at least can dispute charges on your credit card.
genuine MBZ setup = the same as Chinese perinstalled crap HD +100$ in terms of price
the SDconnect device has to be chosen carefully but is Chinese no choice, otherwise = 30.000 like you say
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Old 08-19-2019, 02:20 AM
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Originally Posted by pmercury
You start insulting people because you only have 1165 posts
How childish.

No, I took exception to your obvious lie that Chinese software is "crap", that will "stop working correctly before or within 2 years or even deactivate." I presume, of course, that you are trying to sell the forum software of your own.

You describe a Dell D630 as slow. This too is a lie, and when I challenged you to ask me to shoot a video demonstrating what aspect you think is "slow", you demurred. I presume you may have a laptop to sell to the forum as well.

Again, consider context. For years I and others have been suggesting to forum members that they purchase Chinese goods coupled with a Dell D630 laptop. If a charlatan comes along contradicting year of advice given by me and others, he will be challenged.

Originally Posted by pmercury
So go **** your mum hard in the ***
Sadly, mom passed a few months ago.
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Old 08-19-2019, 07:50 AM
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Thumbs up

Originally Posted by Rudeney
My experience with SDS has been both in a dealership with genuine MBZ products, and at home with Chinese "clone".
Nice constructive reply.
Thank you Rodney
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Old 08-19-2019, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by bobterry99
How childish.



Sadly, mom passed a few months ago.
i'm sorry for that
not meant that way

Last edited by pmercury; 08-19-2019 at 04:09 PM.
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Old 08-19-2019, 04:11 PM
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If you had a C4 I would offer you a free install to show you i'm not after money like crazy but you have to understand that I can't work 5-6 hours in a row for free
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Old 08-19-2019, 06:03 PM
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also, I do not sell laptops, I do not sell SDconnect, I do nit get commissions, I sell my IT and Xentry knowledge and give free remote Teamviewer support after install. I even do first codings sometimes all for free
I have all possible laptops and will video demonstrate de difference between the old slower intel Duo Dell 630 and the I5 X230 'that has touchscreen and can be fold like a tablet
20-30$ +- same price both
we are in 2019, soon 2020
some people suggested for years that 8-track was great audio gear ..... in 1974

Last edited by pmercury; 08-19-2019 at 06:05 PM.
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