Loss of Brakes after Warning Whilst Driving

Vx-Man-G

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Hi all,

My friend has a 2003/53 E-Class (either E200 or E220) CDI.

Recently whilst driving he has been getting a message on the dash to say there is a problem with the braking system, and telling him to stop. With this message he is experiencing a complete dangerous loss of brakes so the car is parked up at present.

I dont know the extent of the issue, but he says he has spent nearly £1200 trying to sort it.

Can anyone help please/

Thanks.
G.
 

LostKiwi

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Sounds like his SBC pump is on its way out.
SBC was a fly by wire braking system and the pumps were rated for a fixed number of operations. There was a counter which counted down. MB could reset the maximum operations counter to a higher value (and there are eBay boxes will do the same).
I believe the counter hitting max won't cause a brake loss however.
Brake loss sounds very much like the pump failing. He'll need to get it to a specialist to get the codes read (a generic reader won't do it) and go from there. If it is the SBC pump it won't be cheap.

You'll be pleased to know SBC was abandoned after a few years and your recent purchase doesn't have it.
 
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Vx-Man-G

Vx-Man-G

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Phew!! , and thanks. I will advise my friend. Sounds like a very dangerous thing there. I wouldnt like to be driving that thing.
 

Naraic

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Phew!! , and thanks. I will advise my friend. Sounds like a very dangerous thing there. I wouldnt like to be driving that thing.

How long has he been ignoring the message?
 

LostKiwi

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Phew!! , and thanks. I will advise my friend. Sounds like a very dangerous thing there. I wouldnt like to be driving that thing.

As Naraic - SBC will send lots of messages warning of issues before they get serious. Fundamentally its no different to master cylinder failure.
 
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Vx-Man-G

Vx-Man-G

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How long has he been ignoring the message?

I dont really know, he only mentioned this to me this weekend. Ill ask him and find out more.
 

AMGeed

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My friend has a 2003/53 E-Class (either E200 or E220) CDI.



I dont know the extent of the issue, but he says he has spent nearly £1200 trying to sort it.

Who on earth has taken £1200 from your mate without replacing the SBC pump?

Even the expensive main dealer would have replaced the pump for £1500.

Source the pump yourself and have an indy remove and replace and the job can be done for under £1k

https://www.autoteilemann.de/k/ersatzteile/bremse/fahrdynamikregelung/hydraulikaggregat-bremsanlage/

and to make sure you order the correct pump

https://www.bosch-repair-service.com/DE_de/RTS_Bosch_E_REPAIR/download/Gegenüberstellung_EHB_BX.pdf
 

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