gjunon

Hi guys,

I recently got this message today on the dash on my 04 E55.

From what I have read it's either my SBC unit is nearing the end of its life or the switch under the dash is the problem.

Has anyone else received this service message before?


Thanks!

J J

Sbc accumulator for me, same message

$200 part I believe.

skylinrcr01

$121 on FCP Euro or RM European has them for $87. I paid close to $200 around a year ago, they've really come down.

http://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/0...694-MFG14.aspx

jumph4x

Whoa, whoa. You need to first figure out what this actually is.

For me and some others, it was simply the brake pedal brake light switch.

skylinrcr01

Oh yeah, jumped the gun. Scan it with STAR if you have access to it. Could be the switch, accumulator, or something else.

gjunon

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the help.

I hooked up my OBDII reader to the car and no codes are showing.

The message is on the dash as soon as the key turns to the on position.
It does not go away.

skylinrcr01

You aren't really gonna know what it is until you can get a star scanner hooked up to it. Until you do, you are just gonna be throwing parts at it. If you want to try the switch, I remember it being <$30.

jumph4x

You can test the switch for $0.

Assuming it's the open circuit failure mode:

If you have Keyless go, it simply won't work.
If you don't, you can get to it pretty quickly and manualy short/open the switch. Opening it is quite annoying (been inside, took a while without breaking it), so it might be easier to just bare some wire and momentarily short.

Use your imagination.

gjunon

I will do that later this week and let you guys know.

Thanks!

StarvingArtist

Don't the pad sensors give that message also?

Ders

I had the same message. Thought it was a sensor as I had recently done new pads/rotors but didn't replace both sensors.

Turns out it was the SBC pump itself that had failed. Dealer indicated I needed a firmware upgrade and after they did this it tested OK. They didn't charge me for the upgrade but I think it was only $75 if they had.

skylinrcr01

I thought the symbol was different for that, more of a (O)

Doug427

Can you explain this a bit please, as I'm unfamiliar. STAR reported that the SBC pump was bad but a software update fro the dealer cleared that code and the pump tested good? Can you tell a bit more about this upgrade? What would I ask for? Thanks.

Notdke9fdkfjekrjrkj123

Owning a car like this you really need a star system,i have used it a lot during my 6 years with the car.i got that brake message a while ago and for me it was that the SBC had reach its brake activation limit,after 300000 brake activations it sets a code (c249 i Think)and the sbc need replacing,the brake counter can be reset but is definitly not recomended,if you value your Life!! sounds strange that the sbc need a software update after 13 years.

Ders

I took the car in to the dealer for a brake flush and some other stuff. I told them I also needed a wear (brake pad) sensor as I hadn't replaced it when I did pads/rotors. I told them I thought this was what was causing the BRAKE message on my screen.

When I came back they told me the message was due to SBC pump failure. They then did the firmware update (I'm assuming this was a re-flash of the ECU) and the pump started working again.

They actually didn't even end up installing the wear sensor. The told me that the one I didn't do was the "50%" one and they don't even install those anymore.

gjunon

I pulled the trigger and got
http://www.m.ebay.com/itm/252357245870
In the mean time I found a shop that'll do a star readout for 60 bucks. Will keep you guys updated on the progress

gjunon

Well looks like the sbc has reached the counter limit...

skylinrcr01

Well, you have more or less 3 options then, buy a rebuilt SBC unit, rebuild it yourself, or reset the internal counter on it with a cheap Chinese tool and hope for the best. The last option is obviously the sketchiest. Rebuilding the unit, from my understanding, is really just replacing the brushes and accumulator and resetting the counter.

gjunon

Thanks! Now it is time to sit down crack open a cold one and do some research!

galileo55

Getting the "Brakes, visit workshop" message on a '03 W211 E55.
The dealer checked it and wanted over $2000 (USD) to replace the SBC pump.
Shouldn't this be covered under the MB 10(12?) year unlimited miles SBC Pump Warranty?

Strigoi

Even if it was a 12 year warranty on it that was up in 2015, so you're SOL there.

nivram13

I had the C249F error I pulled the pump opened up the pump motor housing replaced the carbon brushes(5x5x13) soldered in new brushes, also replaced the pressure accumulator with a new one at the sametime. The brushes still had quite a bit of life left in them but I accumulator was starting to lose pressure, reinstalled SBC unit, bled the brake using Star and a motive bleeder this took longer than rebuilding the SBC. Once complete everything tested okay I then reset the SBC counter, all up cost me around $300 NZD to rebuild not overly difficult if you have the correct equipment and tools the dealer wanted $3500 to replace the SBC and install.

I talked to one company that does rebuild the SBC pumps some only reset the SBC pedal count others offer a full rebuild service which includes new brushes and new accumulator only if the existing one is not within spec the valves I was told are never replaced and if they do need replacing the units are deemed to uneconomical to repair.

skylinrcr01

Where did you get your brushes from?

nivram13

Just online they are just standard electrical motor brushes pull the old ones and take an exact measurement as later model SBC pumps had larger brushes.

Mine were 5x5x13 in size you will have to solder them into the existing copper braided wire.