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Star diagnostics

TBH I don't understand why anyone not in the business of fixing MBs day in day out would ever need a Star machine.

Aren't they quite expensive to run?
 
neilrr said:
TBH I don't understand why anyone not in the business of fixing MBs day in day out would ever need a Star machine.

Aren't they quite expensive to run?
Click to expand...

A member here used my star to enable all sorts of things on his car for free, MB would not have done it as these were features the original buyer did not purchase.
 
neilrr said:
TBH I don't understand why anyone not in the business of fixing MBs day in day out would ever need a Star machine.

Aren't they quite expensive to run?
Click to expand...

Clones aren't :thumb:

I actually think on an older vehicle a STAR is a great investment, less than 10 diag's and it has paid for itself
 
I have one of the chinese clones however the hard disk in my laptop died. If I sent someone my hdd would they be able to make a clone for me? My laptop is Dell D630
 
In my opinion, for non-professional applications, I would encourage a potential purchaser to consider getting a version running on VMWare virtual machine. This way you can run the VMWare image on a wide range of laptops including Macs. If the image is stored on a USB drive, it can even be loaded onto (pretty much) whatever laptop happens to be available that is capable of running a VMWare environment.

Another advantage with this approach is that it is really simple to backup the VMWare image (if a bit large at circa 80gb)! I would go for a VMWare image with Developer Mode if the user is looking to code up cars with retrofitted features/options.
 
neilrr said:
TBH I don't understand why anyone not in the business of fixing MBs day in day out would ever need a Star machine.

Aren't they quite expensive to run?
Click to expand...

I am not a health professional, but this does not stop me from owning a thermometer, blood pressure measuring machine, weighing scales, first aid kit, etc...

Running STAR in offline mode does not require a subscription, so I don't think it is expensive to run. It is however relatively 'expensive' to buy. As pointed by a fellow forum member, it will pay for itself after about 10 sessions - easy to hit for any one running a an older Mercedes, and it is not unusual for many fellow forum members have a small fleet of them to maintain!
 
I'm not sure you can kill yourself with a thermometer but I'm pretty certain you can kill your car using a star and playing about in certain menus ?
 
Howard said:
I'm not sure you can kill yourself with a thermometer but I'm pretty certain you can kill your car using a star and playing about in certain menus ?
Click to expand...

Fair point, but it depends on where you stick the thermometer I guess! Like anything 'playing' around in an unfamiliar environment could be dangerous, but there is plenty of information out there via our friend Google, not to mention the simulator mode that could help the user to be more knowledgeable. However, just as it is almost impossible to learn to drive a car purely from reading about driving, the same goes for Star.

To be honest, I don't think there is too much harm that can be done via the quick test menu where most users would be spending 99.5% of their time checking and clearing fault codes. This is key to diagnosing and understanding the health of your car and can sometime reveal a critical issue in the process of becoming a bigger issue. I suppose variant coding and disabling car keys could be 'dangerous' (as not sure disabling a car key in the EIS is a one way trip?) and Developer mode is whole different league - judging from my experience with my local MB dealership, a league that is probably far above even most MB trained technicians there!

My approach to 'playing off piste' is to a) do as much research as possible on the internet, b) ask this forum for help/opinion, c) try out the steps in the simulator, and d) take a printout of the variant coding from the actual car as a reference PRIOR to making any changes on the car. Where possible try to find a 'donor' car to get the variant coding as a reference for comparison. (Using this approach I have managed to find some very deep and sometimes scary settings that I would not have ordinarily attempted to modify on my own!).

Once ready to make the changes, it is important to make ONLY ONE variant coding change at a time to investigate whether the effect of the single modification is taking you towards the change you desire or away from it. If it breaks something, time to revert the last setting changed, and if all else fails, the settings can usually be reverted back to the settings in the reference printout.

Using the above approach I have had a lot fun not only researching but also managing to reconfigure the variant coding on my NTG 2.5 to enable Linguatronics - the settings for enabling/disabling Linguatronics is not at all obvious but that is the fun and satisfaction in successfully completing such a task (even if it is 4AM in the morning when one finally achieves it!).
 
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wongl said:
In my opinion, for non-professional applications, I would encourage a potential purchaser to consider getting a version running on VMWare virtual machine. This way you can run the VMWare image on a wide range of laptops including Macs. If the image is stored on a USB drive, it can even be loaded onto (pretty much) whatever laptop happens to be available that is capable of running a VMWare environment.

Another advantage with this approach is that it is really simple to backup the VMWare image (if a bit large at circa 80gb)! I would go for a VMWare image with Developer Mode if the user is looking to code up cars with retrofitted features/options.
Click to expand...

This seems like the most sensible route long term, just need to get hold of a VM.

I assume there are no stability issues when running via a VM?
 
ivan1983 said:
This seems like the most sensible route long term, just need to get hold of a VM.

I assume there are no stability issues when running via a VM?
Click to expand...

I don't run mine all day long, but each of my retrofitting sessions could run to a couple of hours, sometimes more, and one session where the car battery ran so low it crashed the car's ECU - scary session! Once recharged the car started okay.

The main issue with my VMWare version is that it systematically 'forgets' it key and a new one needs to be generated before it can be started up. In this respect I cannot recommend the VMWare approach for some using it on a professional basis, not to mention that since the VM is running XP in simulation mode, it doesn't half drain the laptop battery fast!

You can download a free VM from VMWare as long as you agree not to use the VM commercially, and then 'export' your XP image to run in VMWare.
 
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I sourced a clone a couple of months ago from aliexpress which is the consumer version of alibaba. I got the hard drive and installed it in a locally sourced Dell 630. I've had it on both the W163 ML 270 CDI and the W164 ML500 and been able to repair a number of issues with these two cars. I think if someone is used to turning spanners on pre ECU cars they're crazy not to get one of the clones. One example is the AAM being shot on the 270. Many a person posts crazy dealer costs for the replacement of this. I simply found an AAM on ebay that someone had as a spare. I installed it in the car, used star to set it up and resync the keys and I was done. Total cost = $100 Australian dollars. The clone paid for itself many times over on that one repair. My only complaint is how slow the Dell 630 is. I agree with the others regarding the VMware version. If I had my time again I'd go the VMware version and try to put it on the fastest laptop XP can run.

My 2 Cents

John
 
Hi,

In the absence of a Diagnostics section, I hope nobody minds me jumping in to this relevant post.

I am about to take delivery of my first non-VAG car, a C63 W205. Over the years, I have invested many hours learning the intricacies of the VAG brand, from ETKA (EPC), wiring schematics and VCDS and completed many advanced OEM retro fits.

The car was a cancelled order, so for my impatience I am without the head-up display, therefore I plan this to be my first OEM retro-fit.

To start with, I need to obtain the MB equivalent of VCDS and in comparison, I am less than impressed. Windows XP! Do the franchised dealers use this or is there a VAS5054 equivalent with an equivalent price tag? A business opportunity perhaps...

Anyway, it is what it is. So far, I have found the MB STAR C4 SD Connect Compact 4 SDS with WiFi to be my most likely purchase.

For my questions:
1. On the list of supported vehicles, the W205 is not listed. Does this mean it won't work or just that the list hasn't been updated yet?
2. Reading other post relating to STAR, I am unclear whether the new models only need the OBD-II port or if they still have this 38-Pin connector under the bonnet.
3. Some posts I have read mention subscriptions that connect the diag tool back to MB HQ. Is this a requirement for accessing all control modules?
4. If my understanding is correct, developer mode (in German only) is available as long as the correct code is entered to enable it.

If any of you guys can provide any pointers in this regard, I'd be most grateful.

Many thank,
W.
 
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Whilst Dev Mode is powerful, some things and I guess your head up display will require a valid login to MB servers for an SCN code. There are systems (Vediamo / Monaco) that I believe can program any controller, to any level but very unfriendly and would require an in depth knowledge of the control units.

For this type of work, I would recommend you get an expert to look at it, Alfie(mark a member here) at Comand is supposed to be one of the most knowledgeable on the correct programming of control units.
 
1. I can't seem to find the S/W version on the above link, may be the reason why W205 is not being shown? The W205 is definitely supported so either the list or s/w is out of date.

2. OBD II port, only the old rustbuckets like mine have the 38 pinunder the bonnet

3. As per Mark's post above
4. As per Mark's post above
 
Thank you for your replies.

I guess your head up display will require a valid login to MB servers for an SCN code.
Click to expand...
What I feared. Audi are doing the same thing more and more. It looks like it's their answer to the block exemption. Certainly to stop DIY'ers in their tracks.

I have had a reply from Mark @ control, and once I have the VIN, he'll be able to provide a quote.

I read the HUD has a special windscreen - derived from the part number. Mmm....

@bob6600. Do you happen to know what the latest SW version is that I should be looking for and is it possible to upgrade if I bought an older version? Is it the PC software (Xentry) or the multiplexer Firmware I need to look for.

So, if it is OBD-II only, I guess I don't need all the other cables. Just PC > multiplexer > OBD-II.

Thanks again.

W.
 
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