THFC

I don't post too often but always check in for useful info! Had my brakes go out driving home last weekend - definitely not fun! Had the warning lights go on and the alarm sound telling me to pull over. Fortunately, I was only going about 40 at the time and down-shifted, pulling off on a side street. MB covered it - it was the SBC unit. My question is how many of you have had this happen?

06E55

What year is your vehicle? There was a recall for this very thing...

930chas

WOW I am glad to hear that you or no one was hurt. I don't understand how MB could design a car that the brakes can completely stop working. That is so unacceptable. How are we to feel comfortable with our families driving around in a car that can potentially be completely without braking power? If the SBC fails, no brakes, if the alternator fails, no brakes. Unreal. Did you have any prior warning?

What years does the recall effect?

THFC

2004 - I purchased it a couple years ago from the original owner. I didn't know about the recall. Fortunately, I wasn't going too fast and I wasn't approaching a red light. It did happen very fast - one brief warning (in yellow) and then a second later the red stop sign and the alarm. Definitely not fun when the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor and nothing happens!

THFC

Thanks - I am glad nothing happened as well! No prior warning - everything was working fine and within 2-3 seconds the brakes went out.

B on my Benz

sry to hear. im fron denver colorado as well, HOPEFULLy it doesnt happen to me

MBtech1098

Well when SBC fails you still have some braking. When the SBC fails electrically, the dividing valve for the front axle are spring loaded to default direct hydraulic operation to the front axle brakes. You of course will have longer pedal stroke due to the pistons in the brake operating unit (similar to master cylinder) having to travel further and blocking flow to the brake pressure simulator. Although in this state the brakes are pretty much worthless. Awful system good in theory, but glad it's gone...kinda.(the hybrids have a similar system)

THFC

Thanks for the info. You are correct, there was a small amount of braking (maybe 15% of normal) when fully depressed.

Jakpro1

Definitely a time to tell to the newer E SBC owners about the recall. We had a good surge of these a few years ago and Benz fixed the software and they have been pretty rare lately. It's a never ending recall so if you are unsure if your car has the update.....CHECK IT OUT ASAP. If I am not mistaken, SBC is also covered under warranty for the life of the car since Benz realized they blew it on this one.

Sorry that happened to you. Must be really scary.

When all this went down at first I literally took the car out and practiced the parking brake stop just in case the worst happened.

Holding parking brake release and pressing pedal does still work on our cars like the old days.

Course you wouldn't wanna do it hammering on the highway.

930chas

Thank you for this information.

AWOL

happened to me a few weeks ago.

Mercedes covered it. Unlimited mileage warranty with this issue.

mine is an 03

THFC

Thanks! FYI - My service tech said MB covers this for 10 years or 100k. Definitely worth getting looked at (if someone hasn't) before it fails.

MBtech1098

10 years unlimited is the warranty in the US.

mikeevo

does the repair keep this from ever happening or just replace some possible faulty SBC. I deal with alot of older Hot rods and poor brakes is part of life . no vacuum with big cams.

shardul

iTrader: (1)

i got mine replaced under warranty. the sbc system kept doing a self test every 5mins during which the brake pedal would pulsate.

Forrest Gump 9

How do I know if my car already have the SBC replace? mine is also '04.

shardul

iTrader: (1)

call up the dealership and ask them for a VMI on your car and it will tell you if the SBC unit has been replaced.
VMI = Vehicle Maintainence Inquiry

nanayaw6

Assuming you drive an 06 too i thought we were good on the SBC for this model year. My dealer did some kind of SBC update last week and since i got the car back the brake pedal feels different. Dare i say a bit less sensitive with relatively more travel although smoother braking. Should i be concerned cos what happened to THFC is one of my greatest fears driving with SBC. Glad you're safe THFC but that's one hell of a scare.

Busta Riles

Same in Canada.

CharlyE500

It happened to me with my 04 E500, the warning light came on and I was SHOCKED. Went to dealer for free because of recall. So when I bought my E55 06, first thing was check all the recalls.... I think there is something about the fuel pump too.

TTMotorsports

Excellent information MBtech!

K-A

Wow. Do you know if this is a case for all '06's. Where would you find out if M-B sent out a new Bulletin for SBC Software?

nanayaw6

I'm not exactly sure if the SBC software update i got affects all 06s but you could have your dealership do the vmi to find out if the unit was ever replaced as shardul said earlier. Either ways we get a 10 year warranty on the darn thing so it wouldn't hurt so take the car in if need be. Hope i answered your question

MBtech1098

No new recall campaigns were released for SBC since June of 2006. There was never any DTB's released stating perform software update of SBC.

Dan Wang

FYI: The SBC unit has a set number of cycles and that information is stored. I've heard of stories about dealers checking to see if the SBC unit was still functioning correctly and they just had to reset the "count" on the unit.