Star Diagnostic How To DIY with lots o pics
#1177
Junior Member
I have friends shop that have Star diagnostic system. So I was tried to connect to the car (w211 e63) and no luck. All other scanner will scan modules with out any problem. I input vin number and it's read right, but click on image below and it goes back to car selection screen. Is my car has modify ECU. per other (I think called Altel) scanner, it has fault for OBD port but unknown one. any ideas?
thanks
thanks
#1180
Junior Member
I got computer with software from ebay. Looking good. (Panasonic). Now next step is Star system. I found this link below, what do you think guys? Is it crap or can work for few years. it's not like shop user, just to have a proper equipment to troubleshoot. I'm tired to ask my friend shop equipment it's free for me but I feel like cheapo.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MB-Star-C4-...wAAOSwFmxaU1d~
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MB-Star-C4-...wAAOSwFmxaU1d~
#1182
MBWorld Fanatic!
I can completely understand the desire to be a DIYer and do these things on your own. But an important point that many forget is that they are stealing copywrited software from Bosch, Daimler AG, Microsoft, and a displaying complete disregard for intellectual property. Perhaps you have more money than I do, but I certainly would not want MBUSA or Daimler AG directing its attorneys at me. These “eBay” deals go as far as the Chinese actually implementing their own copy protection to prevent others from stealing their idea of selling other peoples products for profit and claim it is their own. I would at least steer clear of the legal ramifications and purchase a higher quality scan tool that does not attempt to pose as a “C4” or “C5” which were in fact never even made, but the marketing sounds good so why not? What is commonly known as a “C3” MUX is a “Part D” and “Part D3”. A “C4” is an SDConnect and uses Ethernet or WiFi to communicate with the car. This software also has malware embedded in it and can stop working even at the capacity it does if it suspects tampering.
A virtualized Xentry Kit is a stable platform and is the standard now - the knock-off USB—> RS232 chipsets are the issue. Prolific was hit hard by counterfeiting and the 64-bit drivers for these are very unstable. Buy a quality FTDI USB —> RS232 cable from StarTech and you will not need to adjust baud rates due to poor cables - it would all be the MUX. Protect your car and only diagnose it with quality hardware and software.
A virtualized Xentry Kit is a stable platform and is the standard now - the knock-off USB—> RS232 chipsets are the issue. Prolific was hit hard by counterfeiting and the 64-bit drivers for these are very unstable. Buy a quality FTDI USB —> RS232 cable from StarTech and you will not need to adjust baud rates due to poor cables - it would all be the MUX. Protect your car and only diagnose it with quality hardware and software.
Last edited by Polar Bear; 05-08-2018 at 02:18 PM.
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benzokirk (05-29-2018)
#1183
MBWorld Fanatic!
I can completely understand the desire to be a DIYer and do these things on your own. But an important point that many forget is that they are stealing copywrited software from Bosch, Daimler AG, Microsoft, and a displaying complete disregard for intellectual property. Perhaps you have more money than I do, but I certainly would not want MBUSA or Daimler AG directing its attorneys at me. These “eBay” deals go as far as the Chinese actually implementing their own copy protection to prevent others from stealing their idea of selling other peoples products for profit and claim it is their own. I would at least steer clear of the legal ramifications and purchase a higher quality scan tool that does not attempt to pose as a “C4” or “C5” which were in fact never even made, but the marketing sounds good so why not? What is commonly known as a “C3” MUX is a “Part D” and “Part D3”. A “C4” is an SDConnect and uses Ethernet or WiFi to communicate with the car. This software also has malware embedded in it and can stop working even at the capacity it does if it suspects tampering.
I'm amazed that Mecedes are able to get away with such anti-competitive practices, about which the EU has very strong laws. By capitalising on their monopoly and forcing people to use MB SW or MB HW or MB dealers for diagnostics for no good reason whatsoever other than making more money for Mercedes, they will stop older cars from being kept in the road at all.
There are thousands of cars still running simply because people use cheap Chinese diagnostic equipment and other tools to maintain them - which wouldn't be viable otherwise, and the whole point of this thread is that owners ARE able to look after their own cars.
On my Ford I can read diagnostic codes with a few button presses on the dashboard. If your car generates it's own trouble codes, then you should be able to read them.
Nick
Last edited by Welwynnick; 05-08-2018 at 04:27 PM.
#1184
MBWorld Fanatic!
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and there are many 16-pin, 38-pin, and other advanced and capable diagnosis hardware that can keep the older cars on the road. I, for one, intend on keeping my W210 as long as possible. Many of these tools are superior to the compact3 in diagnosis and coding. However why is it okay for the Chinese to profit from their shoddy MUX devices and Daimler not? What age vehicles in which you are referring?
I have my my own issues with Daimler (MBUSA more than likely) reversing their stance on 24-hour roadside assistance, discontinuing parts too soon (I haven’t been able to get new floor mats for my W221.176 for a few years and it still not ten years old. Navigation maps discontinued....
You can obtain genuine Xentry Kits and Xentry Tabs with Bosch VCIs after they are a few years old and get DoIP included.
I have my my own issues with Daimler (MBUSA more than likely) reversing their stance on 24-hour roadside assistance, discontinuing parts too soon (I haven’t been able to get new floor mats for my W221.176 for a few years and it still not ten years old. Navigation maps discontinued....
You can obtain genuine Xentry Kits and Xentry Tabs with Bosch VCIs after they are a few years old and get DoIP included.
#1185
Junior Member
I hear what you are said it but mercedes dealer is charging 160 bucks for just look it out. If they were smart, they would sell their software for the less to eliminated copies like from China. Dealer price for the just look it is impossible to comprehend.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and there are many 16-pin, 38-pin, and other advanced and capable diagnosis hardware that can keep the older cars on the road. I, for one, intend on keeping my W210 as long as possible. Many of these tools are superior to the compact3 in diagnosis and coding. However why is it okay for the Chinese to profit from their shoddy MUX devices and Daimler not? What age vehicles in which you are referring?
I have my my own issues with Daimler (MBUSA more than likely) reversing their stance on 24-hour roadside assistance, discontinuing parts too soon (I haven’t been able to get new floor mats for my W221.176 for a few years and it still not ten years old. Navigation maps discontinued....
You can obtain genuine Xentry Kits and Xentry Tabs with Bosch VCIs after they are a few years old and get DoIP included.
I have my my own issues with Daimler (MBUSA more than likely) reversing their stance on 24-hour roadside assistance, discontinuing parts too soon (I haven’t been able to get new floor mats for my W221.176 for a few years and it still not ten years old. Navigation maps discontinued....
You can obtain genuine Xentry Kits and Xentry Tabs with Bosch VCIs after they are a few years old and get DoIP included.
#1186
Senior Member
Hi,
we need some help with the STAR unit. We are trying to decode AIRMATIC suspension on 2007 ML63 AMG, but so far we couldn't find the menu where to change it to "NOT FITTED". I suspect that we have a defective Xentry software or maybe something else. When we go to "entry for retrofits and modification" we get this message, please ignore the car model, this was also done with 2007 SL65, same error:
Sometimes we can go to the next screen and Xentry is trying to connect to Internet. Do you think it's a normal error message and we should look at different menu?
we need some help with the STAR unit. We are trying to decode AIRMATIC suspension on 2007 ML63 AMG, but so far we couldn't find the menu where to change it to "NOT FITTED". I suspect that we have a defective Xentry software or maybe something else. When we go to "entry for retrofits and modification" we get this message, please ignore the car model, this was also done with 2007 SL65, same error:
Sometimes we can go to the next screen and Xentry is trying to connect to Internet. Do you think it's a normal error message and we should look at different menu?
#1187
Firstly you’re in the wrong menu. Secondly you used the hacked DAS standalone from the desktop which is a bad choice. Always launch DAS through Xentry if you don5 want to risk to brick a Control module. That’s why you get this error message because it tries to establish an online connection to the SCN server at MB in Germany. I doubt you have access with your cheap China system.
#1188
Senior Member
Firstly you’re in the wrong menu. Secondly you used the hacked DAS standalone from the desktop which is a bad choice. Always launch DAS through Xentry if you don5 want to risk to brick a Control module. That’s why you get this error message because it tries to establish an online connection to the SCN server at MB in Germany. I doubt you have access with your cheap China system.
OK, thanks. We tried doing that through Xentry as well, and it doesn't work. So, we shouldn't touch that menu at all then?
#1189
Go in all control modules that interact with AIRmatic and disable it. Done. Make sure you let your insurance company and the DMV know about it or you’re driving a car on public roads without a type_approval certificate. You know liability can be a ***** in case you case a (fatal) collision.
#1190
Senior Member
Go in all control modules that interact with AIRmatic and disable it. Done. Make sure you let your insurance company and the DMV know about it or you’re driving a car on public roads without a type_approval certificate. You know liability can be a ***** in case you case a (fatal) collision.
#1192
Senior Member
We trying to do that on W164, not sure if it will be the same. So, no one on this forum had luck decoding airmatic suspension? Other folks were able to decode the ABC suspension on R230 completely.
#1193
i misread it but your picture shows a SL (230). Just do what I said. Just remember there is so much more involved than just to disable AIRmatic. Headlight settings have to be changed and a few other things, too.
Or go to a dealership, ask them to take out SA 489 AIRmatic and let them SCN code the car.
Or go to a dealership, ask them to take out SA 489 AIRmatic and let them SCN code the car.
#1194
Senior Member
i misread it but your picture shows a SL (230). Just do what I said. Just remember there is so much more involved than just to disable AIRmatic. Headlight settings have to be changed and a few other things, too.
Or go to a dealership, ask them to take out SA 489 AIRmatic and let them SCN code the car.
Or go to a dealership, ask them to take out SA 489 AIRmatic and let them SCN code the car.
#1195
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Republic of Texas
Posts: 3,214
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'99 and '05 E55 AMG
Fuel Octane Rating Modification
For those who have access to 93 octane, here's a way to set that as the default for the timing map. The difference in power, although not astounding, is noticeable.
Control Units/Drive/Motor electronics/Control Unit Adaptations/Correction Programming/Fuel Quality
I'd found a reference to this a couple of years ago but lost the how-to notes until cleaning my office the other day...
Control Units/Drive/Motor electronics/Control Unit Adaptations/Correction Programming/Fuel Quality
I'd found a reference to this a couple of years ago but lost the how-to notes until cleaning my office the other day...
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biker349 (07-02-2018)
#1197
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Republic of Texas
Posts: 3,214
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'99 and '05 E55 AMG
I suspected that but appreciate your confirmation; I'm just an amateur at this so I read every post you make. To date, the lowest octane fuel I found was 85 octane in Fort Davis, Texas. 93 octane in the lower latitudes of Texas is plentiful.
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Mackhack (07-02-2018)
#1199
It is contra productive to discuss openly where one can look this up besides the known and obvious control modules. Why make it even easier for these thugs to know where to go and manipulate mileage information.
#1200
So what you suggest? How I get to know if my car has 200tkm or 100tkm as odo says. Send PM please if you know how to check it, thanks