Remember that you need a hard drive that is set up for the particular model of laptop. So if you find a pre-loaded Xentry hard drive that is for a T500 then you should be good.

But yes those are very good machines.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Odds are that is a Chinese clone. They copied everything including decals on the multiplexer. I would guess that there are very few independent shops that have genuine star testers when you consider how much Mercedes charges for them.

Anyhow even if it is a clone and not blacklisted it should still work just as good as the real thing.

MHHauto has a wealth of information but some of the members don't like to share with new folks.


Good luck, Robert

__________________
Mercedes Benz Master Tech - Retired

Yes that C3 is totally a Chinese copy of the actual device, right down to the 'made in France' on the label. I have that same one you bought at the yard sale. It does work just fine subject to the limitations of what you can and can't do without going online to Germany.

On that subject -
W210/W140/W202/W163 you can do pretty much everything
W211/W220/W164/W203 you can do anything that does not require SCN coding
W212/W221/W166/W204 You can pull diagnostics and you can confirm the service data but pretty much all the changeable options are locked with SCN coding


One thing to be careful about, those connectors are super delicate. Make sure that the threaded collar (called a cable gland in European speak) where the cable comes in stays tight. If it ends up getting loose and starts twisting around it will break the wires inside. BTDT.

I ended up using a label maker to print an arrow to show where the index line is on the connector head.

Be very gentle inserting and removing the connectors into the multiplexer box. If you have to use any kind of force it's not lined up right.

On the vehicle end be sure to use the locking clip to hold the OBDII connector into the vehicle so it doesn't fall out and knock you offline.

If you happen to connect to an older car (W210, W140, W202, W163) with the 38 pin be VERY careful inserting this as the cable connector is plenty stout but the plastic on the connector under the hood can be super brittle. Note the cord tail should be held so that it faces the front of the car when trying to plug in (at least that's how it was oriented on my W210).

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech