"Top Secret" computer in c class

[merc180k]

Hi all,

I've seen some mention i the past of the secret computer that gives extra info on the mercedes cars. I can't find the bit that says what it does or how to get it though!!

Can anyone help?

 

[mb240]

Is this like when you hold down REST on the Climate Control and get the following information:

01: Interior temp sensor
02: Ambient temp sensor
05: Evaporator temp. sensor
06: Engine coolant temp.
07: refrigerant pressure
08: refrigerant temp.
16: carbon monoxide value
17: nitrogen oxide value
18: dewpoint temp.
21: engine RPM
22: vehicle speed
24: battery voltage

?

Are you looking to get it through COMAND? I know there are some more secret information things in there

 

[miro]

Hi all,

I've seen some mention i the past of the secret computer that gives extra info on the mercedes cars. I can't find the bit that says what it does or how to get it though!!

Can anyone help?

There is nothing top secret in the Mercedes. Otherwise how would anyone know it was a) working b) faulty.

 

[glojo]

There is nothing top secret in the Mercedes. Otherwise how would anyone know it was a) working b) faulty.

If it's secret then you wouldn't know it was there any way

On all modern Mercedes-Benz there is the availability to access all types of information. Anyone that chips their engine or modify's it in anyway is deluding themselves if they think that simply reinstating things to how they were will deceive the experts.

Not a secret, but it is not regularly carried out.

John

 

[splang]

Morning old chap!
See you soon!

 

[DansSlk]

The menu's i know of (not tied to any particular model so they might not all work) are -

The Combi menu for Dyno Mode and the UB.

COMAND Navi service menu and Engineering Mode

Climate control menu mentioned above.

None of them are particularly secret nor do they do anything really intresting just give you some access to view diagnostic info.

Engineering mode has been removed on the new software versions for the headunit and the climate control display has been removed also, just leaving the Navi and Combi menus that might not function on your car anyways.

 

[merc180k]

Is this like when you hold down REST on the Climate Control and get the following information:

01: Interior temp sensor
02: Ambient temp sensor
05: Evaporator temp. sensor
06: Engine coolant temp.
07: refrigerant pressure
08: refrigerant temp.
16: carbon monoxide value
17: nitrogen oxide value
18: dewpoint temp.
21: engine RPM
22: vehicle speed
24: battery voltage

?

Are you looking to get it through COMAND? I know there are some more secret information things in there

Yes that's the kind of information. I was joking about it being toip secret but knew there was another menu that gave more information.

On the C Class I don't have a rest button - how can I get this extra bit of information? Is it something to do with the reset button for the spedo?

 

[miro]

The menu's i know of (not tied to any particular model so they might not all work) are -

The Combi menu for Dyno Mode and the UB.

COMAND Navi service menu and Engineering Mode

Climate control menu mentioned above.

None of them are particularly secret nor do they do anything really intresting just give you some access to view diagnostic info.

Engineering mode has been removed on the new software versions for the headunit and the climate control display has been removed also, just leaving the Navi and Combi menus that might not function on your car anyways.

There are also various hardware tools for diagnostic work and flashing various modules. There is generally no application in the general public for these tools without some prior training on how to use them.

 

[DansSlk]

There are also various hardware tools for diagnostic work and flashing various modules. There is generally no application in the general public for these tools without some prior training on how to use them.

Of course mate.

I was just trying to pull from my utterly useless memory menu's that could be accessed without any workshop tools and thats all i could think of.

The menu's are all geared toward the read-out of current data not the input of new.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Rumors say BMW has some "secret computers" that log data e.g. for crash analysis. Police would often want to get access to this kind of "black box" info but car manufacturers don't want to allow that, or don't even want to admit the car having any of this. If BMW has it, I would expect MB having it too. The factory "crash team" would be able to read the info and use it to analyse the crash case and to improve the car, or the next model likely.

 

[DansSlk]

Rumors say BMW has some "secret computers" that log data e.g. for crash analysis. Police would often want to get access to this kind of "black box" info but car manufacturers don't want to allow that, or don't even want to admit the car having any of this. If BMW has it, I would expect MB having it too. The factory "crash team" would be able to read the info and use it to analyse the crash case and to improve the car, or the next model likely.

I know a lot of modules store information but none that store enough in NVRAM / EEPROM to be used for any real crash analysis at least for the EU models i know its different in the US where the Tele-Aid module absorbs loads of info and can be actively called upon to transmit it.

 

[richard]

I've always wondered how much data things like COMAND-APS might record - especially as (like teleaid) they have GPS location info available.

Some of the newer control units (such as AGW) now hold the mileage that a fault occurred - much more useful then most of the fault logs held, which just show faults as previous, or current - so dealers really can't work out when things occured.

So, I guess over time the car is going to hold more and more info.

I'd be surprised if the engine management did not hold 'maximum speed reached' and other info purely for fault finding later ..

Cheers

Richard

 

[Rory]

I don't know how widespread it is, but data from the airbag ECU has been used to prosecute people in the US. They only store the last 5-10 seconds but that's been enough to prosecute people for for driving at very high speed resulting in deaths. ie:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/07/03/air_bag_black_box_nails/

but see also:
http://www.motorists.org/edr/home/maine-governor-disputes-black-box-data/

 

[DansSlk]

I've always wondered how much data things like COMAND-APS might record - especially as (like teleaid) they have GPS location info available.

Some of the newer control units (such as AGW) now hold the mileage that a fault occurred - much more useful then most of the fault logs held, which just show faults as previous, or current - so dealers really can't work out when things occured.

So, I guess over time the car is going to hold more and more info.

I'd be surprised if the engine management did not hold 'maximum speed reached' and other info purely for fault finding later ..

Cheers

Richard

I'm quite sure (i will look into it) that the ECU does store max speed and various other parameters for warranty reasons that could be called upon by the police.

I know for a fact on BMW's the SMG ECU is used to record the number of times "launch control" has been activated and the ECU holds peak speed's and RPM's within the first 1k miles to be sure the owner has not broken the break-in conditions and if they have the warranty on the engine and tranny is null and void.

That being said i know of a case recently in the US where MBUSA refused to hand over tracking info from the Tele-Aid module to the police even after a court-order was issued.