Quote:
Originally Posted by ILUVMILS
dBelieve it or not, in many ways networking can actually simplify things, from a diagnostic standpoint, just not for a DIY'er. Networked MB's use only a fraction of the wires that would be needed for a non-networked car to perform the same functions. The various control modules can be accessed via SDS, and the wiring, switches, motors, etc. can be easily checked, without any unnecessary dis-assembly. It also allows MB to keep parts costs down by reducing the number of variants of similar parts. For example, only one PSE locking pump is available for every S/W210 worldwide. It can be programmed for the particular options/equipment at the time of installation. If not for networking, MB would need dozens of part numbers for basically the same part, thereby increasing (at least according to MB) the cost of the part.
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I can certainly understand the benefits from a conceptual point of view but it seems to me that by adopting the MB scheme you have increased the complexity of the overall control scheme by at least two orders of magnitude.
As a software person I'm also concerned about the subject of software integration. Many of MB's problems of late seem to me to be eerily similar to defective software issues that many Windows users face on an almost daily basis. While its certainly nice for a tech to be able to test individual networked components via SDS activations how does the tech troubleshoot highly intermittent problems that are most likely caused by software glitches? In the case of my fathers car he had many electrical glitches and when he took it into the dealer they would invariably report "every things fine - no problems that we can see"
I've also been following a thread where Steve B points out that there are some failures of interior components that can actually "short out" the entire interior CAN. In such a case NOTHING driven by the interior CAN will work. Very nice.
I'm still curious to know if ANY other automotive manufacturer has adopted the Mercedes-Benz "Hey, lets control the cigarette lighter via a computer network" school of design. Do you know if anyone else does it this way?