Guys,
According to my mechanic, the computer on my car (part #0255455532) is apparently shot. It is not communicating with my vehicle, and has little communication with the diagnostic system my mechanic had. So far, we have only been able to source this part directly from Mercedes for new and remanufactured models. I have been quoted a total repair charge of $1,050 to repair it.
I have also been told that using a used CPU will not work with my car because the CPU's get "married" to the vehicle they are built with. Is that true?

Do I have any other options? What if I sent the CPU to Powerchip or someone else to get it remapped or looked at?

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Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

After achieving 40 starts, the module cannot be installed in another vehicle. The dealer could install a new module to determine if it was truly the fault, and return it to the shelf if it did not help. This is something that you really cannot do, as the dealer won't refund the money if you buy one and don't need it.

There are plenty of places in the UK to have ECUs repaired. I imagine the same could be said of the US.

Its only a PCB with some cheap circuitry and a few standard ICs. Nothing special about it.

There are some places that repair ECUS, cheaper than buying a dealership one.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

Does anyone know where I can do this?

__________________
Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

Are you truly confident in your indies diagnostic abilities and level of tech? I ask because this is a VERy rare occurrence.


If not go to the dealer; they have their place and can be the lesser of evils.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

I am quite confident with them. Does anyone know what might be the problem if the shop's diagnostic computer can't read any codes off of the engine computer? He also checked the computer's output with a volt meter to find that it isn't sending signals to the different outputs it is routed to.

__________________
Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

Had a communication problem reading the codes. Dealer diagnosis was the "CAN" relay center, also known as the K40 relay. Replaced the relay and cleared the codes. Drove the car the CEL came on again. Returned to the dealer and they can now read the codes. But they can't figure out what the problem is with the engine cutting out, but that's a subject for a new thread. I hope this helps.

The K40 is an excellent place to start. If the OP's car hasn't had it changed then I would try that and see if it changes the computer's status. That little relay center controls the power to everything including the computer. It's only about $100 and takes 5 minutes to replace...might just solve the problem he's having.

Remember, even honest mechanics make (costly) mistakes. They will never admit the computer was not the problem after they replace it and discover it doesn't fix it. They will then find something else to blame. As others have said failures of the main computer are very rare...not that it is impossible, but the frequency of failures of the K40 is like 10000X that of the CPU so I would play those odds any day and replace it and see what happens.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Good thought on the K40 relay. I called my mechanic and spoke to him about that. He said that they had replaced the K40 and there wasn't an improvement to the symptoms of my car. I believe he had also checked the electronics with a voltmeter afterwards and nothing seemed to change either. He took out the new K40 and replaced it with my old one and won't charge me.

__________________
Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

The new engine computer goes in today. If it doesn't work, I'm going to be really frustrated. I'll update you guys.

__________________
Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

Good luck...what's very puzzling is that part lists for about $2K so the price he quoted seems too low for a replacement of it...was he getting it reconditioned or getting you a brand new one?

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

It was about $1300 for my car, a few years ago (before I bought it). However, it is possible that the price has come down. I have noticed that identical items purchased at my local dealer are not always the same price. Waiting a year or so before buying another seems to result in a lower price.

However, I am also interested if this is reconditioned or new.

Correction: the total repair will cost me $1,350. He is replacing it with a remanufactured unit sourced from Mercedes.

__________________
Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

Yep. It was the ECM unit. Once we got it in, and everything programmed properly, the car started right up.

Unfortunately, after start, I noticed how bad my delivery pump seals were leaking. Looks like my vacation this weekend will be working on those seals. Sheesh... I've spent $4K on this car in the past 8 weeks.

__________________
Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)