Both MBFans & Partsbase are down

[GLK]

Just went to check something on MBFans (as I have my car bookmarked on their EPC) and its direct search is down, with main site redirecting to vindecoderz which is absolute cr@p - it told me my C169 was build in 2002, is a diesel and has 5 doors ... and if I wanted a full spec, I had to pay. Yeah, right.

I then went to check Partsbase, which wasn't as good as MBFans, but still useable - it's offline too, not even redirection, just dead.

Has Mercedes been cracking down on unofficial parts catalogues, I wonder? Frankly, I don't see the logic behind restrictive access to EPC anyway.

Such a shame - it was very useful and convenient to have these facilities...

 

[Druk]

There is unrestricted access to the EPC. It just costs €60 a year. Maybe Merc are protecting their paying customers?

 

[GLK]

There is unrestricted access to the EPC. It just costs €60 a year. Maybe Merc are protecting their paying customers?

Well, I might use it five times a year, so for me it IS restrictive, and I still pay for the parts I looked up ...

 

[bob6600]

It is possible, I know they came down hard on people selling software (JC Recordings).

Meanwhile if I can help, give me a shout

 

[GLK]

Thanks Bob, appreciate it.

Wasn't anything specific, actually - just wanted to see if bookmark still works - it's been a few months.

 

[GLK]

Well, I have now setup a virtual machine on my MacBookPro-17" (OS X Mavericks 10.9.5), with full EPC and WIS, including VIN datacard pullout, excellent pdf printer, and even an eye candy OS X window shell, that makes it look and feel as Mac-native as possible:

Happy days ...


PS ... If those free sites were indeed taken down due to MB pressure, they (MB) have basically forced an occasional user like me, to line the pockets of an unauthorised software reseller, even if only to the tune of £7 ... somehow I doubt that was their intended outcome.

 

[bob6600]

they (MB) have basically forced an occasional user like me, to line the pockets of an unauthorised software reseller, even if only to the tune of £7 ... somehow I doubt that was their intended outcome.

Or free if you know where to look

 

[vijilants]

Join the official owners club and you get free access to EPC and WIS.

It's a lot cheaper and more value for money.

 

[GLK]

Join the official owners club and you get free access to EPC and WIS.

It's a lot cheaper and more value for money.

Yes, I was - for a couple of years, but didn't feel it was value for money for me.

It is certainly not cheaper either - £30 a year (or is it more nowadays?) vs £7 one off, and I can get full access on my Mac.

Anyway, I'm really happy with the solution, and that's the most important thing here, I also enjoyed modifying the vm to work correctly in OS X, reminded me of my Linux days