SBC Pump Replaced - Now Gone Again!!!!!

[Gkinghorn]

Is someone taking this through formal channels then with a complaints body etc?

 

[gary272]

Is someone taking this through formal channels then with a complaints body etc?

I wish!

 

[Xtractorfan]

Probably best if someone who has got a 211 and has had brake problems gives Ann Robinson a call.. I dont have one, but if I did Im not sure if I'd give her one......

 

[robertjrt]

Is someone taking this through formal channels then with a complaints body etc?

For an enjoyable read, go too; www.motorcodes.co.uk or the main web site at SMMT

There is also a report on the seminar with the OFT and contact with TS this year just type in "complaints" in the search box on the top right hand side.

You can also vote for your favourite garage!

 

[S.Speed]

It was a joint project done with MB and Bosch, no one knows how much either put into the project, the chances are it was Bosch who thought the system up and got MB to use it.
The design of both the 211 and the 230 is such that there was no room for a brake servo, so no conversion possible over to conventional brakes

And yet my face lifted 211 had a servo !! (THANK GOD)

 

[television]

And yet my face lifted 211 had a servo !! (THANK GOD)

They were able to re design the area where the brake pedal sits to enable the car to have EBC on the 211, but not possible without a complete reshuffle on the 230, and this came in mid 08 with the first real facelift. (start of the 1 slat grill)

 

[Frontstep]

There is a simplicity in this SBC issue that might if presented correctly appeal to a "Watchdog" type programme.
The fear factor of sudden brake failure on a car would appeal to the makers as it would be simple to sex up with pictures of children and grannies being put at risk.
Sexism is rife in the BBC so having a middle aged man complaining of brake failure would elicit little sympathy.
Put single woman driving her children to Brownies with a few HGV's and perhaps a tractor crossing might get the publicity the matter deserves.

 

[gary272]

There is a simplicity in this SBC issue that might if presented correctly appeal to a "Watchdog" type programme.
The fear factor of sudden brake failure on a car would appeal to the makers as it would be simple to sex up with pictures of children and grannies being put at risk.
Sexism is rife in the BBC so having a middle aged man complaining of brake failure would elicit little sympathy.
Put single woman driving her children to Brownies with a few HGV's and perhaps a tractor crossing might get the publicity the matter deserves.

Agreed, it's the safety angle that would promote interest. Watchdog has had plenty of car related issues on the show.
So who's going to phone Ann Robinson up?:wink:

 

[jberks]

Fully agree MB are out of order. They have fitted a defective part. I'd be interested on the warranty front though. If they are genuinely saying the part was replaced "under warranty" and is therefore no longer covered I'd ask for this in writing. Then ask for details of the warranty as, if it was covered 6 months ago, when does the warranty expire. I suspect they don't have firm rules so they could be boxed into a corner.

Also, as I've often said on these matters, when the manufacturer parts get too expensive for the cars that are on the road, the market always comes up with an alternative. Just as the 80's doom mongers were wrong when they said there'd be scrapyards full of perfect cars with duff ECUs, so they'll find a way with SBC.
Is this one of the first I wonder...
http://www.sinspeed.co.uk/mercedes-sensotronic-brake-by-wire-sbc-abs-pump-system-failures

 

[television]

Fully agree MB are out of order. They have fitted a defective part. I'd be interested on the warranty front though. If they are genuinely saying the part was replaced "under warranty" and is therefore no longer covered I'd ask for this in writing. Then ask for details of the warranty as, if it was covered 6 months ago, when does the warranty expire. I suspect they don't have firm rules so they could be boxed into a corner.

Also, as I've often said on these matters, when the manufacturer parts get too expensive for the cars that are on the road, the market always comes up with an alternative. Just as the 80's doom mongers were wrong when they said there'd be scrapyards full of perfect cars with duff ECUs, so they'll find a way with SBC.
Is this one of the first I wonder...
http://www.sinspeed.co.uk/mercedes-sensotronic-brake-by-wire-sbc-abs-pump-system-failures

And in the uk as well,, good find I see that they say the CL,,dont think there is a CL with it, I always forget there is the 219 CLS with SBC as well

 

[y13pmc]

hi some negatives on there forum about this repair pete

 

[television]

hi some negatives on there forum about this repair pete

Well it is a difficult thing to repair as it is a safety thing.

In reality electronic components do not wear out, they either work or they do not, and it makes no difference if old or new.

So we have the actual pump, this has to get up to 300 bar, and this motor that drives this pump that is built into the end of the motor.

Its up to Bosch if they choose to sell this part, we also do not know how much money MB put into this venture, or indeed if any licensing is involved.

As earlier that actual manufacturing cost are probably under £100 for this complete pump, will Bosch market this pump at a sensible price soon, as it was a cock up on their behalf, or will they just choose to profiteer from it all.

Some good publicity should do some waking up, maybe I should write a letter to all I can that can bring some answers , I do know all of the facts.

 

[Xtractorfan]

The pump failure is bad enough but an electrical failure and no signal received would be a complete disaster.. There goes my love of the 211 E class...

 

[anyweb]

i must say this thread is getting me worried, i have the SBC and it does make a noise every time i start the car, as i live in sweden any idea of what the cost is to replace it ?

 

[television]

If they charge Niall about 20k krona allowing for the higher labour cost in Sweden

 

[anyweb]

oh my god that's a lot of money for the part, and i suppose only MB can replace it ? not my indie ? i don't think he has star though...

 

[television]

That was the fitted price, and the pump on its own is about 950 crowns

 

[television]

i must say this thread is getting me worried, i have the SBC and it does make a noise every time i start the car, as i live in sweden any idea of what the cost is to replace it ?

The SBC brakes are wired through the wake up system, so every time you open a door the car thinks that it is going to be driven and charges the braking system, if the car has not been used say for a week, then you may get the red message saying start the engine

Do to forget the system does a self check every 15 brake applications.

 

[Blaze_One]

Evening guys...

Once again, thank you all for your responses...I am (hopefully) due to hear back from MB Customer Services tomorrow so will, hopefully, be able to provide you with an update tomorrow evening. This, of course, if they come back to me. In response to some of the messages on the forum yday/Sat:

Malcolm210 - Thank you! All points/organisations noted and will be fully utilised if MB think for a second allowing my (replacement) SBC pump to completely fail on me whilst driving is acceptable..as you point out, stopping a 2 tonne car with less then 15% braking capacity is not worth thinking about - unfortunately, it was a situation that I WAS put in and not one that I would want anyone else to be put in...

Gkinghorn - I will look at doing so following the outcome of my conversation with MB customer services

Frontstep - all joking aside (and I appreciate the angle you're going for) - my girlfriend does drive my R230 from time to time - I dread to think how she would've reacted if she was the one that was driving when the SBC went...

Television/Malcolm - "Some good publicity should do some waking up, maybe I should write a letter to all I can that can bring some answers , I do know all of the facts" - I'll be happy to help as best I can if this is the case...

Fingers crossed for tomorrow chaps - I'll let you know how I get on...though I suspect this'll be a long drawn out process...

 

[ROBGOSTY]

Any update on this, W211 owner watching this with interest, could be me next, feel a Beemer coming on