SBC unit replacement

[DIYMAN]

I have the dreaded service brake visit workshop message up, it is in white at the moment but has been red with the near zero braking result, I would like to know if this definitely means the SBC unit count is at the limit or can the red message be caused by something else.
Any advise from previous experience would be appreciated if I could avoid the £1,445 bill for a new unit please.

 

[AMGeed]

You will need the fault code read to see if there is any possibility of resetting the actuation number. C249 IIRC is the one you are looking for. You'll need STAR to do this reset if its possible.
Failing that, its a new pump, but £1445 sounds pretty expensive.
If you do some legwork and source the pump yourself, an indy should be able to replace for a few hrs labour.
Make a note of the serial number of the pump, then contact the company below for the exact same model and save yourself some money. I've copied the text below which is important. The wording sounds a bit strange, but its been translated by Google from German.


Before you buy, you should therefore carry out an adjustment with the original spare part number of the old component or the original spare part number of Mercedes.
In case of uncertainties regarding compatibility or other questions, please contact our competent staff on the telephone at 030/88 66 788-66 "

You may have to pay an deposit which is credited when they receive your old pump.

You are looking for one of these three numbers to match for this company to supply a discounted pump
0986 483 001
0 986 483 002
0986 483 003

https://www.autoteilemann.de/p/563247/bosch-abs-sbc-hydraulikaggregat-bremsanlage-0-986-483-002/

Finally, a thread worth reading and how someone replaced his pump for under £1000 using an indy and some legwork.
https://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/whe...on/189273-w211-possible-sbc-pump-failure.html

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

The only other thing that causes service brake visit workshop is a brake light switch failure.

 

[star]

We had a sbc accumulator fault the other day, first time ever that's popped up.

 

[DIYMAN]

Thanks for the replies but I am still wondering if it is possible to get the red warning up and then go back to white if the pump has reached the count limit.
The first warning I had was the RED one when I stopped at traffic lights, then after pulling to the side and switching off for a few minutes I restarted it and all seemed good again so I drove home carefully.

The next time I used the car a few days later the RED warning came on again, I stopped and parked then the drive would not move out of park until some minutes later when the warning changed to white and the recovery truck arrived.

I have had the car in two garages so far the last one being a Mercedes Bosch diagnostics place, they changed the brake fluid (for second time in a year) and bled the system and said it must need a new pump. My problem is that STAR machines are very thin on the ground around here except for the main dealers where they quoted me £1,445.

Surely it is not possible for SBC unit to hit the count limit intermittently with alternating RED and WHITE warnings, maybe Starmotorservices with the accumulator fault found the same I hope!

 

[V6Matty]

Sounds like it not getting up to pressure quickly so could be accumulator but more likely the pump in its way out

 

[star]

I think your best bet is to get it on a proper Star and get the faults, don't guess, even the accumulator was a few hundred £'s.

 

[V6Matty]

Agree with you there Ian, STAR session is the only way this is going to get sorted, oh and if your getting reduced braking effect it may be safer to not drive the car but have it recovered to a garage, you don't want it to drop to reduced braking as you approach a roundabout and you roll out I front of someone?

 

[Chandelierman]

Why don't you reset the counter? ...apparently it is set at 300,000 hits on the brake pedal tho it is supposed to be good for double that MB just putting a shelf life on it ....I believe you can reset it once....at either 25 / 50 or 75% more ...but just the 25% would get you out of trouble....... anyone confirm this?

 

[Mic]

It is clear that the OP does not have a relationship with a dedicated MB specialist seemingly, in part at least, because there is not one near Harrogate.
A good dedicated MB specialist is well worth travelling substantial distances for.......there are many who will travel 100 miles or more for such a service and establish a relationship.
It is clear that the car needs to go on a full fat MB diagnostic machine to minimise the cost and SAFE resolution of the fault so now is a good time to identify a suitable specialist........it would repay the OP handsomely.
Money has already been wasted by not doing so........even main dealers are better than guesswork when it comes to braking systems and the possible consequences of total failure.

Mic

 

[V6Matty]

Why don't you reset the counter? ...apparently it is set at 300,000 hits on the brake pedal tho it is supposed to be good for double that MB just putting a shelf life on it ....I believe you can reset it once....at either 25 / 50 or 75% more ...but just the 25% would get you out of trouble....... anyone confirm this?

Yes they can be extended but only under certain conditions, personally I would only extend if all other tests were spot on,

For example my 211 had it pop up in white, I had it on STAR and it showed the correct code for extending but I asked for a further tests to ensure the all pressures were correct and being reached in a safe time limit, only once those were passed I went ahead with the extend.

 

[DIYMAN]

My next move will be to the Main dealer to get the codes read properly, I am wondering if they will even try to extend the life or just go for the replacement straight way at my expense.

From my reading it seems that it may not be possible to extend the life because mine is one of the very early units and it still has the SBC stop feature which was later removed leaving just the SBC hold feature on newer units.

 

[AMGeed]

From my reading it seems that it may not be possible to extend the life because mine is one of the very early units and it still has the SBC stop feature which was later removed leaving just the SBC hold feature on newer units.

I'll guarantee the dealer will just replace the pump, at an inflated sum, even if its possible to extend the life of your current one.

 

[V6Matty]

My next move will be to the Main dealer to get the codes read properly, I am wondering if they will even try to extend the life or just go for the replacement straight way at my expense.

From my reading it seems that it may not be possible to extend the life because mine is one of the very early units and it still has the SBC stop feature which was later removed leaving just the SBC hold feature on newer units.

Wouldn't count on it, mine was extended and as yours still had both the stop and hold function. But as Rodger says, a dealership will take the easy option and just replace the unit at an inflated price, I really think you need to locate a good Indy even if it means a bit of a drive, you'll be better off in the long run.

 

[DIYMAN]

Wouldn't count on it, mine was extended and as yours still had both the stop and hold function. But as Rodger says, a dealership will take the easy option and just replace the unit at an inflated price, I really think you need to locate a good Indy even if it means a bit of a drive, you'll be better off in the long run.

Firstly I must apologize for my delay in updating the thread.
I took the car to the main dealer for a diagnostic check and a SBC life extension if possible, they said the extension would be done in the course of the check with no additional charge.
Next day the result of the check by phone, there is plenty of life left so extension is not necessary, however the fault code cannot be cleared because there is an internal fault with the SBC unit, cost of replacing approximately £1,500.
I decided the car was worth the cost of repair for me, as it is almost like new except for 79,000 on the clock.
The final bill was £1,449 and it looks like a shiny new SBC pump not a reconditioned one, I was surprised to find it has the SBC bake function but there is now a large warning SBC OFF when you deactivate it, this is new to me.

Thanks to all for the advice on here, it was good to get behind the tree pointed star again after driving the Astra for a while.

 

[ajlsl600]

theses cars are like a hot chick , you cant get away with a mcdonalds lunch...leastways i never did.

 

[Painter16]

Getting mine changed couple weeks ,you can only reset once my indie tried to reset mine but no joy ,still in white at the moment but hopefully it won't go red before it goes in to be done

 

[Painter16]

Why don't you reset the counter? ...apparently it is set at 300,000 hits on the brake pedal tho it is supposed to be good for double that MB just putting a shelf life on it ....I believe you can reset it once....at either 25 / 50 or 75% more ...but just the 25% would get you out of trouble....... anyone confirm this?

That is correct but only once then it's a new unit after that