STAR Diagnostics

[television]

The blink code reader works well on a 1997 202, I put the details up earlier in this thread. It will test everything, the same as the old HHT.

 

[darkchild101]

The blink code reader works well on a 1997 202, I put the details up earlier in this thread. It will test everything, the same as the old HHT.

Where can i get that and how much?

 

[television]

I will check to see if I have one left, I take it you have the 38 pin diagnostic socket. £25 including postage.

 

[S500al]

I have read this thread with much interest as I have been looking at getting my own STAR diagnostic system for tending to my own vehicles (I seem to be becoming somewhat of a Mercedes only household now these days).
So far some of my questions have been answered but I am still looking to the usual guys who have helped me so much in the past with my cars.
So far at the moment I have a W210 E430 estate (2001) and a 2003 W215 CL600 BiTurbo and am looking at adding a 2003 SL500 and a 2005 ish A class to the fleet.... so the big quiestion is......
If I go and spend somewhere in the region of around £500 to £700 on ebay on acomplete working clone system will it end up being disabled or does that only apply to newer cars????? (i doubt I will e owning anything newer than about 2007 for at least 5 years or so)

 

[television]

I have read this thread with much interest as I have been looking at getting my own STAR diagnostic system for tending to my own vehicles (I seem to be becoming somewhat of a Mercedes only household now these days).
So far some of my questions have been answered but I am still looking to the usual guys who have helped me so much in the past with my cars.
So far at the moment I have a W210 E430 estate (2001) and a 2003 W215 CL600 BiTurbo and am looking at adding a 2003 SL500 and a 2005 ish A class to the fleet.... so the big quiestion is......
If I go and spend somewhere in the region of around £500 to £700 on ebay on acomplete working clone system will it end up being disabled or does that only apply to newer cars????? (i doubt I will e owning anything newer than about 2007 for at least 5 years or so)

You can buy cheaper than that, they will always work but no more updates to come now. This basically means they will be good for cars up to 2015.

In my case I will be dead before I could afford a 2015 car:?

 

[S500al]

Exellent and as Usual Malcolm you are a STAR yourself..... you've never let me down with an answer to a question yet so I am now off shopping online for my own diagnostics ... (Oh and then an SL500 )

 

[television]

Exellent and as Usual Malcolm you are a STAR yourself..... you've never let me down with an answer to a question yet so I am now off shopping online for my own diagnostics ... (Oh and then an SL500 )

Remember that all of these things are made by 1 firm, so all the same thing. I cannot recall any post where people have had problems with them. I have had mine since about 2009, but I can update it to 2015.

 

[S500al]

thank you so much for help as usual, just pleased I have an answer now, mentioned it to a local indi today and he strongly advised me not to get one ( well of course lol).
as long as I am able to sort out my own cars I will be happy.

 

[S500al]

On the subject of price I am struggling to find a complete kit for less than about 600 TBH and from a trusted known source but will have to be patient I guess.

 

[Comand]

It is woth noting that all these 'cheap' STAR systems are using pirated software which is owned by Mercedes Benz. Also since 2010 many cars use Xentry and not DAS/STAR. Yes the chinese copied multiplexors do look very much like the genuine item but they are fake.

If you want genuine Xentry/Star it can be bought quite legitimately from Mercedes themselves along with all the updates and the service disks.

Much of the coding nowadays requires an online account which only comes with a genuine Xentry system.

 

[turbopete]

If you want genuine Xentry/Star it can be bought quite legitimately from Mercedes themselves along with all the updates and the service disks.

wouldnt the cost be prohibitive though for a DIYer?

 

[television]

wouldnt the cost be prohibitive though for a DIYer?

Yes, thats why many indies use the odd one.

 

[S500al]

It is woth noting that all these 'cheap' STAR systems are using pirated software which is owned by Mercedes Benz. Also since 2010 many cars use Xentry and not DAS/STAR. Yes the chinese copied multiplexors do look very much like the genuine item but they are fake.

If you want genuine Xentry/Star it can be bought quite legitimately from Mercedes themselves along with all the updates and the service disks.

Much of the coding nowadays requires an online account which only comes with a genuine Xentry system.

As a owner of pre 2005 cars and very unlikeley to own newer for quite a few years I fear that genuine mercedes supplied diagnostics would not be worth it on expense grounds as I am more than able to repair my car as long as I can get the information to do so.
This was the very reason for my post, although i love my mercs I have already paid for the aftermarket WIS and EPC after getting fed up of being treated like a dog turd found on someones shoe at my local main dealer (and that is only when after parts for a car that one cost £120,000 but is now deemd as old to the elitist dealers.... but thats another story).
Not everyone has the massive pockets of cash to do simple things on old mercs but we still love to own and keep going some of the best cars in the world hence running an old CL600 but trying to look after it properly.

 

[Comand]

wouldnt the cost be prohibitive though for a DIYer?

Not necessarily. There are various options. One option was just 600 euros. Not sure if they still offer that though.

With the coding all being online it wont be long now before the older cars are the w204's, W212's etc. The independents will either need to invest in genuine systems or hope that autologic can offer them something but even then its money lots.

 

[S500al]

600 eouro's still seems quite expensive when looking after a car at least 10 years old and being connected to mercedes online and trusting them not to hold you to ransome for extra payments in the future.
I think they built some of the most fabulous cars in the world but when it comes to dealing with them for parts and general maintenance issues I dont trust them at all thanks to previous experience.
By the way I am a jaguar trained mechanic (not scared of a V12) but use my knowlege to keep my own cars on the road and never persued it as a vocation.

 

[Alex Crow]

I am not sure what 600 euros will buy - a private 1 year Xentry licence maybe?
The hardware will cost thousands though, so this goes beyond the DIY purchase.

 

[darkchild101]

So does STAR work on a w202 model or not. On another thread someone suggested the ODB system on a w202 is so basic STAR is no use. is this true? I wan to hear from people who have actually used it

 

[television]

So does STAR work on a w202 model or not. On another thread someone suggested the ODB system on a w202 is so basic STAR is no use. is this true? I wan to hear from people who have actually used it

The early ones were made for the HHT that has now gone, the blink code reader will work up to about 1997. Star can communicate with the later cars, but not that easy using STAR without training otherwise it is a pain in the neck.

Sure I can use STAR on my 140, but that is the same as the 202 for the read outs, I just hate trying it.

 

[turbopete]

i almost bought a clone STAR to use on my 203. the way things have turned out, im a bit glad i didnt now!

 

[jibcl500]

So does STAR work on a w202 model or not. On another thread someone suggested the ODB system on a w202 is so basic STAR is no use. is this true? I wan to hear from people who have actually used it

Yes very well in fact.

jib