Hi Guys

Thanks for all your comments.

But they are only 300GBP in the US! All I need is the middle man.

I have a MB parts/dealer just 15 minutes away so if any one from the US needs UK/Euro parts that you can't purchase then I'd be more than willing to do purchase on your behalf and ship - assuming you would purchase and ship a wiring loom for me.

Please do let me know.

Re the ETA, what did you do? Rewire yourself, purchase brand new (cost in USD?) or send away for refurbish?

(http://www.beckmanntechnologies.com/products.html) or similar??

I wonder which ETA I have? Anyone got an EPC handy?

Cheers
Lea

Many of my customers write about where they have purchased MB 'stuff' at reasonable prices.

One said he purchased a wiring harness that listed for $571 for $521 at this site: http://www.europartsdepot.com/default.aspx

As far as ETA repair, I recommend Beckmann Industries. As you've read (in Menu#24), there's some horror stories.

Stay well. . . :)

Anyone who would help you would need a part number from you. You will be stuck with whatever you specify because these are non-returnable items to say nothing of the difficulty of a return. The Euro EPC shows both 1295407705 and 1295401706 (U.S. EPC shows only 7705) and is curiously silent on supersession and VIN split. Perhaps they both work but you would need to decide which you want, or if either would suffice. PS - it's possible that only 7705 is available in the U.S.

Hi Jim

Your pages are always a saviour, and you got it, I've read both your ASR and Oil tube articles thoroughly - and so many thanks for providing such great info.

I'm going to grab a cost and correct part number from my local MB parts dealer first, then maybe even confirm with the actual one on my car first I think.

Cheers
Lea

Today I wondered to my local Merc dealer and got the part numbers/cost for my VIN:

Engine Harness: 1295401706
ETC: 0001415225

Anyone want to guess the cost here in the UK?

Suffice to say I need to refurb the ETA - off to Beckman for a quote and attempt to purchase the harness from either US (if they carry stock) or Europe!

BTW - anyone tried http://www.bba-reman.com/catalogue/DetailedProduct.aspx?DetailedProduct=1098 ??

Lea

Uhm, I see the 7706 doesn't seem available in the US - but is it actually different to the 7705!?

The problem is we use right handed vehicles which could mean many subtle differences :(
The quest continues...

I see Beckmann have my ETC for 923USD - is that refurb or brand new? As I'm and Electronics Eng. soldering posses no issue so maybe go for the wire replacement first?

One last point, if Beckmann simply refurb (and request my 'core' in exchange) how do they replace the pot when there's no known source? If they have a source, surely so do we?

Uhm, still many unanswered questions.
Lea

I think you may have meant 1706 rather than 7706. As pointed out earlier the Euro EPC shows 7705 and 1706 - with no mention of vin split or supersession, which is strange, never seen it before on the U.S. EPC, but indeed it could be left version right hand drive. The part number off your car would be a very good clue. It would also be helpful to try to get the parts person to explain the existence of the two part numbers on the Euro EPC.

"Trade secret" - apparently the ability to re-deposit "resistive" material. This according to JimF's site, ASR page #24 - http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_asr.html - update comments of 7/14/05 and 1/23/05. But true someone has to be making them or it wouldn't be possible to manufacture new ETAs. But distribution can be tightly controlled when they want it to be. It would appear that Beckman has not found a source. And these pots were never the replaceable, standalone type to begin with.

The wires can be done if you're 'dedicated' . . and for that amount of $$$, who would'nt be?? LOL . . .

As the info states, Beckmann can 'sputter' to refurb them but, many times, the Ref Pot is ok. One of the large failure item is the 'clutch'; that's what was bad on my ETA. That part was replaced/rebuilt.

If you have nothing more than bad wires, then it certainly fixable yourself but it's got to be a ***** of a job. Check Pete's site for this pictorial. . .
http://v12uberalles.com/throttle_actuator_rewire.htm

I would be willing to be the middle man. But the best price I got was $820.00 US. That would be plus shipping internal US ~ $25 than + shipping to UK ~ ???? then plus taxes and customs at your end. It doesn't seem like a great deal to me considering the excess logistics and as one persons said is it the right one.

I believe that's a refurbish price . . .

Not necessarily! If there's a source external to them, there's no reason that we have any "rights" to them.

But I believe Beckmann can refurbish them in a 'u-electronic' facility. Easy to re-sputter resistive material in the proper facility.

Fortunately, the Ref Pots seem to be a lot more rugged than first thought. The 'wires' seem to be the Achilles heel with the magnetic clutch a close second.

Whoops, yes indeed - 1706.

Thanks John for your kind offer, if I can locate a 1706 available in the US (and <<<800USD) I might take you up on it.

Re the pot, it wouldn't surprise me if refurb companies simply swap pots around somewhat, i.e. if only 10% of units have pot issues and the rest cable/clutch then you'll soon build up a selection of working pots assuming you request the 'core' as part of the deal! Then no need to 'sputter'.

However my unit has only 89,000 miles and I would hate to see it replaced with an unknown.

They previously had the EPC in customer view, but now it's gone 'round the back' which is bloomin annoying as I used to have a good chat alongside lots of finger pointing...oh well!

Any reports on of bba Jim?

Thanks all
Lea

I don't blame you . . that's why I had mine rebuilt but I did purchase a 'new' unit which is presently in my car. One of these days, I probably will sell it.

I have no feedback on BBA other than what's posted for that page . . .

Sorry, I misunderstand. Do you mean that's why you purchased a new unit i.e. a rebuilt unit may have a significantly more worn pot than your original?

Thanks

At the time of the ETA failure, I got a great deal on a new ETA from my tech's parts supplier.

Later, 3 years or so, I decided to have it repaired to see what failed w/ the ETA, plus I'd have a spare.

Menu#24 details the time line; original ETA problem in 2003 and then the 'flairup' in 2007. I thought that the original ETA was going bad so I planned on swapping it with my refurbished original ETA. As you see, the date is "Oct 2007" when the Neutral Safety Switch was finally diagnosed as the culprit.

BTW, the ETA was refurbed by Beckmann and it's still in-the-box!