I have made a great step forward intransitioning from my W124 E320 to my W210 E430. I couldn't find out here what the best (i.e. cheapest) way to read codes out is.

Any hints from the voices of experience?

There wasn't a lot of good ways to get info on the 124 car, but the 210 car is OBDII compliant and as such can be read by a number of OBDII tools. There are a number of really cheap tools that only get codes.

For those who wish to actually be able to get real data a full functioning OBDII is a reasonable start. It still only will talk to the engine, one of maybe 30 computers the car has, but it will give fuel trim data, and numerous other pieces of info.

A pretty nice tool in its cheapest form allows data and graphing and is around 250 and can be had here: http://www.autoenginuity.com

They actually even have enhanced versions, but not for MB. An inhanced MB scanner will probably start somewhere over $2500 for a new unit. The Launch x431 seems to be the one of choice for those shops without a real commitment: http://www.x431usa.com/

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Thanks for the information.

Where is the scanner connection, under the dash?

In the driver's footwell. It is a 16 pin connector:



Thats out of a jeep or something but the connector looks the same.

EDIT: I do NOT believe the connector is wired the same. There are 3 different OBD II standards, MB's are ISO, not sure about Jeeps.

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Daily Driver: 02 E430 4MATIC
In the family: '03 E500 // '04 ML500 // 64 220SE

Or you can get the codes read and reset for free at an Autozone or such.

Len

Thanks. I have OBDII my other car ( shhh... Ford Windstar) and it has the connector down there. I just haven't explored much on the 210 yet.

Feel under the dash and find the small end of your hood release lever.Then move your hand slowly towards the center of the dash. Open that little plastic cover,AH HAH, there it is. Harry.