How does it take for mercedes dealer to pull codes?
 

How does it take for Mercedes dealer to pull codes?
I have to get get codes read for my 1999 ML430. Local dealer is charging the min charge of one hour. If scan only takes 15-20 min, I want to take my 1992 500 SEL and get the codes read as well. Only seams fair if I'm paying for a hour that I get a hour of work. They charge 130 odd a hour as well :eek:
Thanks. Jay

Actually plugging in and and scanning codes probably takes less than 10 mins. Good luck trying to get them to do 2 cars in 1 hour window....usually its 1 appointment per vehicle...

Why do you need codes read? For way less than the dealer price you could just buy a decent code scanner. It will read all the normal codes, just not deep ones like transmission or specific modules in the car.

Nope takes about 4 minutes to do it.

Pointless to have the dealer do all this for $130.00 when you can do this yourself. Start looking online for the chinese Star Diagnostic for sale. They are about $400.00 and quite a few of them come with a compatible POS laptop included that runs windows. Some say CarSoft is good, but I have no experience with it. I doubt though it can hold a candle to Star.

BTW you can build yourself your own code scanner for your 500SEL. Not difficult, and cheap.

I think when they do that they don't just read out the code, they actually do some diagnostics and try to figure out just why its throwing that code and offer you paths to resolving the problem.

Ask them about this though. Its what I've read other dealerships do when they "pull codes" and charge an hour

Yea takes like five minutes to scan for codes. I've never paid for it but would be interested in making my own code scanner if it is that simple. Are there any tutorials on this?

You can't really "make your own" but you can buy decent ones that will pull a lot of the usual codes. To do what the dealer does you need a startek laptop and connection tools.

The dealer I work at charges $40 for a complete system scan (short-test). SDS queries all ECU's and we provide printed documentation. We do this for a lot of body shops and indies.

I'd verify what others have said. Pulling a code is different than providing a diagnosis.