Quote:
. I'm sure other manufacturers will develop similar systems in the near future.
End Quote

What was related to us in training for the R230 chassis is that a fairly well respected journalist in either the New York Times or Wall Street Journal (my failing memory) had said that he believes it will be 10 years before another manufacturer will offer a system like this (brake by wire). THAT'S how advanced it is.

Gilly

Is it likely that brake pads will wear more quickly with the SBS system?

Quite frankly, SBS has about convinced me that the new W211 isn't for me even though it's an amazing car. I could adapt to the new system and I suppose my wife could also (with some complaints). What I can't adapt to is the complexity of the system and the cost and inconvenience of maintaining the brake components. I also don't want to take a chance on failures in such a crucial system.

Bud

I couldn't agree with you any more Bud. The pads seem to wear quicker and the brake pedal feel is certainly something that needs getting used to. When I originally posted this thread, I thought it was the front pads, but it turned out the rear pads were the culprit and there aren sensors for the rear pads now. Now is there a way to confrim that such a rapid wear of a "wear and tear" item is covered under warrenty? I'm rather upset that I paid for a rear brake pad job on a car that had only 10k miles and the front pads were fine. The service advisor said that perhaps the driver was doing burnouts or left foot braking or left the hand brake on. I said that he would think me of a fool to do any of the three.

Another complaint, they said there is nothing wrong with the alignment of the car even though it pulls to the right. The service advisor says this is a safety feature built into all new MB's in case you fall asleep at the wheel. What else can these guys pull out of their asses? I stand corrected if MB really incorporated a "emergency pull to the right feature" in their new cars.

-ardy

on many roads, they will pull to the right, especially at highway speeds due to the road incline. Have you tried it on a truly flat road? On a road that leans to the left, it pulls to the left.

__________________
currently just 1989 300SE 185k miles

I can't get the car to pull the left. I'm on a truely flat road, I I release the wheel, it will pull to the right. I insisted the car needs an alignment and they said it doesn't need one. I fear they do not know how to align a car with the air suspension where the height is adjustable.

After reading this thread. I am loving my 92 400E even more, so much so I may spring up for a new timing chain (170 K mi on original). I may also look for a W123 model, the anti-complex. No offense to the new models and their owners.

check this out!

http://www.mbusalearning.com/w211elearning/sbcbrakes/index.htm#

View the "SBC Safety Guidelines" on the bottom of page.

ahh, thank you!

I've been looking for a one owner, low mileage E430 but finding one that hasn't been a lease car is tough. I've found one but it's black and my wife says no black cars in Arizona.

I haven't bought a used car since the 1950's but I may be forced to do it.

I was going to wait for the new Lexus GS models but now that I've seen them on the Internet, they look too neo Japanese. BMW have committed Hari Kari with their dumb iDrive and styling.

Meanwhile, I'm loving all the money I have to spend on computers and home networks because I'm not paying hundreds of dollars extra for license plates on a new car (not to mention sales tax and the difference between my 300E and a new Benz).

On the other hand, if my IBM stock makes a run for it, I just might go looking for a late S-Class

A friend of our family has an early build W211 E320. She really likes the car, but has had quite a series of problems. She has had the driver's door mirror literally fall apart, and various interior bits are also in need of proper fitting. The diagnostic system has given fits and has taken a great a deal of time to get straight. The hood has been refitted several times thanks to misaligned panel gaps.

I had a chance to drive the car very briefly, and must say I really like it. The steering is superb and the suspension is amazing. The only fault I can find with the driving experience is the brakes. I know they are technological marvels, and maybe I'd get used to them, but I found the pedal feel had a mysterious "gap" and the brakes were difficult to modulate and smooth braking seemed beyond me.

The ergonomics would be better without COMAND.

I did notice that the interior materials were much better and looked more robust compared to the flimsy looking stuff that adorned our W210.

Back to topic...

The rear pads might be worn very quickly if the ESP/ASR system is engaging frequently or malfunctioning. It uses the rear brakes primarily (though ESP uses all four) and can wear rear pads faster than non-ASR equipped cars. I think that MB equips all ASR cars with rear pad sensors for this reason.

16,000km's (10k-miles) seems REALLY early.

Forget doing this job. The car is under warranty and the dealer will replace the needed parts without charge. I am sure the US has the same "wear and tear" warranty that my Canadian warranty included. In Canada that was 24 months or 40,000kms (25,000 miles) and you're well within that. Even without the SBC, why would anyone pay for new pads and install them when the dealer is responsible under the warranty for the job.

Get thee to thee dealer, pronto.

__________________
John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

Two additional points:

1. There are two different types of sensors on the new E-class brakes. One of the front wheels has a normal brake wear indicator saying the brakes need replacing. The other front wheel has a sensor at half of the normal wear. If the half wear sensor is on, when it is time for the normal service, I believe your display will read something like "carry out service b+" with the "+" indicating to pay particular attention to the brakes as well as the other service checks. It is more or less to say "if you do the normal service now, you will not make it until the next service before the brakes need changed".

2. I am not saying to do this; just giving information. The new E-class has two batteries so if you were wanted to power down the brake system, you would have to disconnect both batteries. The second one is under the hood, passenger side close to the firewall, and is a small one which I understand is for the brakes in case the other battery suddenly dies.

car already serviced, they billed me $240. No mention of warrenty was issued. I need to take it up with the local district rep.

TLam:

Do they have similar trainings for other models?? i.e. W140, W220, W203 and etc???? Thanks for the W211 link....

please if anyone have those link, pass them over!

cheers

I just saw this post.. Yes , there is a little tool that I bought on Ebay years back.. It's made by ATE it's for Mercedes Benz W211 and R230.. for the years for '03 & '04 models only.. You plug it into the OBDII connector and then you follow the instruction manual.. The manual it's self is in 7 languages.. D, GB, F, I, E, CZ, & PL.. The tool is 3" x 1" and it works beautiful.. It's handy too.. The tool says ATE SBS on it with model #03.9301-0400.4 and stock # 760129..