The dreaded SBC

[Matt58]

Just a quick update, recovered E55 to Avantgarde in clevedon as they were the closest specialist, got a phone call on Thurs saying they can’t get refurbished pump to work (gutted) so phoned SBC Johnny, he has said pump bench tested perfect, anyway I asked if he could speak with Steve at avantgarde which he kindly agreed to. So I’m between a rock and a hard place now. Just waiting now to see if a different approach has brought the pump to life. I’ve contacted vince Ewing at Exeter Mercedes’ to see if he can give me any info on extended warranty, he was unavailable today, but will contact me next week, so I’ll keep you all posted. I’ve also got a price of around £1600 including vat on reman pump from Taunton Mercedes’, if I have to go down that route, really hope this can be sorted.

 

[kam09]

That is correct, ive had a few customers who have been successful from the MK dealer
Was this recent?

 

[Matt58]

Hello, yes car at specialist as we speak. My father worked for the Exeter guy I’ve mentioned, so thought I would go that route, but if no luck will try again to get through to MK. As I’ve mentioned before this may be to late for me, but might help someone else, personally I just want to get car back on the road as it’s my daily driver, any financial refund would just be a massive bonus.

 

[kam09]

No I was asking about @RAJ55 comment on couple of his customers being successful with Milton Keynes mb, just wanted to know it this was recent.. I'm going to contact mbuk about my sbc also..

 

[Matt58]

No I was asking about @RAJ55 comment on couple of his customers being successful with Milton Keynes mb, just wanted to know it this was recent.. I'm going to contact mbuk about my sbc also..

Ok, let us know how you get on.

 

[Nat]

Bad luck it's gone wrong (ask me how i know that feeling) and good luck getting a new one sorted. Not a nice experience having that brake pedal go hard and doing little to nothing to come to a stop.

When mine went I tried local and further afield dealers as well as Merc UK without any luck at all and they simply didn't want to know. It does suck that the USA will change them and the UK gets told how much the new one will cost. We need the same system here.

 

[Matt58]

Bad luck it's gone wrong (ask me how i know that feeling) and good luck getting a new one sorted. Not a nice experience having that brake pedal go hard and doing little to nothing to come to a stop.

When mine went I tried local and further afield dealers as well as Merc UK without any luck at all and they simply didn't want to know. It does suck that the USA will change them and the UK gets told how much the new one will cost. We need the same system here.

Yeah bloody frightening to say the least. I’m not holding my breath in regards to any help from Mercedes’, and and it does seem very unfair. At the moment I’ve gone down the route of getting my unit refurbished, but garage (through no lack of trying) can’t get pump to work, so may have to purchase new unit, brilliant timing just before chrimbo.

 

[RAJ55]

No I was asking about @RAJ55 comment on couple of his customers being successful with Milton Keynes mb, just wanted to know it this was recent.. I'm going to contact mbuk about my sbc also..

Yes, was towards the end of October 22

 

[BlackC55]

Yeah bloody frightening to say the least. I’m not holding my breath in regards to any help from Mercedes’, and and it does seem very unfair. At the moment I’ve gone down the route of getting my unit refurbished, but garage (through no lack of trying) can’t get pump to work, so may have to purchase new unit, brilliant timing just before chrimbo.

We gave up with the re-furbed units. We always use genuine MB parts on SBC.

 

[Matt58]

We gave up with the re-furbed units. We always use genuine MB parts on SBC.

Yeah I can see why, do you know what the problem could be? As the guy that refurbed unit has said it bench tested fine, and it’s the original unit to my car? No worries if you don’t want to comment. On the upside a work mates father works in the parts dept of Taunton merc, and will give me some discount, just waiting for garage to try a few other things over the next few days, but I’ve resigned myself to a reman unit. Thanks in advance.

 

[kam09]

Why don't you get jonny sbc to fit it? He did offer the service last time i contacted him which was last year.. he has the use of a friend's garage and is based down south AFAIK..

 

[Matt58]

Why don't you get jonny sbc to fit it? He did offer the service last time i contacted him which was last year.. he has the use of a friend's garage and is based down south AFAIK..

It might have been an option if he was closer, but 150 miles on a flat bed will cost me a small fortune, and I don’t see/understand what he would do differently to the current garage that has latest diag software and years of experience, but I’m open to advice/enlightenment, and I’m really desperate to get back on four wheels, as two wheels are no fun this time of year, thanks for advice.

 

[kam09]

It might have been an option if he was closer, but 150 miles on a flat bed will cost me a small fortune, and I don’t see/understand what he would do differently to the current garage that has latest diag software and years of experience, but I’m open to advice/enlightenment, and I’m really desperate to get back on four wheels, as two wheels are no fun this time of year, thanks for advice.



Oh I thought your were located in the south, the thing is the sbc system is complex and needs a competent auto electrician who has dealt with them regularly to get it working again and I'm not sure if a normal garage has that specific experience even if they are an indi specialist.. in my experience the indi will swap it out instead of taking it out, refurbing and refitting it correctly..

 

[Matt58]

Actually he’s closer than I thought, he’s in Basingstoke not carshalton, so definitely an option.

 

[bolidemichael]

We gave up with the re-furbed units. We always use genuine MB parts on SBC.

This is an interesting comment, slightly perturbing and disappointingly lacking in detail. On my side, however, it's almost purely theoretical as I've opted to have this done over Xmas prior to having this thread brought to my attention.

First impressions are that the brakes work, but the Basingstoke chap didn't reset the calibration on the SBC so that an error displays on the dash.

What other issues have arisen?

 

[BlackC55]

This is an interesting comment, slightly perturbing and disappointingly lacking in detail. On my side, however, it's almost purely theoretical as I've opted to have this done over Xmas prior to having this thread brought to my attention.

First impressions are that the brakes work, but the Basingstoke chap didn't reset the calibration on the SBC so that an error displays on the dash.

What other issues have arisen?

We found that the repairs do not last. They dont always repair everything inside the unit too. I have to warrant the work that we do and as its such an important part of the car and I will not take the risk.

 

[Matt58]

Car back on the road SBC all good, put fresh oil and filter in today. Flat bedded car to garage nr Devizes where auto electrician from Basingstoke very kindly sorted, I think he said that there was some sort of blockage in one of the copper pipes making pump think the brakes are on, I’ve asked if he can message me explanation and some documentation regarding the two year garentee he has said he will put on the SBC unit, I’m still waiting for this. When I get time I’ll try and get more info on any extended warranty through contact in Exeter Mercedes, and post findings either way. So good to be on four wheels again, I’ve been commuting on two wheels for the past 5-6 weeks and have a mixture of frost bite and trench foot.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Car back on the road SBC all good, put fresh oil and filter in today. Flat bedded car to garage nr Devizes where auto electrician from Basingstoke very kindly sorted, I think he said that there was some sort of blockage in one of the copper pipes making pump think the brakes are on, I’ve asked if he can message me explanation and some documentation regarding the two year garentee he has said he will put on the SBC unit, I’m still waiting for this. When I get time I’ll try and get more info on any extended warranty through contact in Exeter Mercedes, and post findings either way. So good to be on four wheels again, I’ve been commuting on two wheels for the past 5-6 weeks and have a mixture of frost bite and trench foot.

Glad to hear that it’s sorted

 

[kam09]

This is an interesting comment, slightly perturbing and disappointingly lacking in detail. On my side, however, it's almost purely theoretical as I've opted to have this done over Xmas prior to having this thread brought to my attention.



First impressions are that the brakes work, but the Basingstoke chap didn't reset the calibration on the SBC so that an error displays on the dash.



What other issues have arisen?

i believe you need the star diagnostic tool for that.. did Jonny have it?

 

[kam09]

Car back on the road SBC all good, put fresh oil and filter in today. Flat bedded car to garage nr Devizes where auto electrician from Basingstoke very kindly sorted, I think he said that there was some sort of blockage in one of the copper pipes making pump think the brakes are on, I’ve asked if he can message me explanation and some documentation regarding the two year garentee he has said he will put on the SBC unit, I’m still waiting for this. When I get time I’ll try and get more info on any extended warranty through contact in Exeter Mercedes, and post findings either way. So good to be on four wheels again, I’ve been commuting on two wheels for the past 5-6 weeks and have a mixture of frost bite and trench foot.

Yes glad your back on the road