Looking for Independant Mercedes Mechanic with MB Star Kit

formosafashion

Evening All,

Wondering if anyone can recommend a good independant Mercedes mechanic with sufficent diagnostic equiptment - namely MB Star.

My 2002 S320 W220 will not start at present, I have had a mechanic out to have a look who claimed to be ex. Mercedes, he did not have the correct diagnostic kit and claims the engine ECU is broken.

This could be the case, however when the "mechanic" cannot even locate the part that is supposed to be busted without telephone support I am a little suspicious. He also had some low end diagnostic kit that I suspect could not read from my car and this has lead to his conclusion.

Would appreciate any help on this matter.

Thanks,

Mark

sweetswing

one of my best friends is a top merc mechanic , over 20 years on just mercs , pm me and ill give you his number, ps. he is in dublin

formosafashion

Thanks Sweetswing ...

Have PM'd You.

I figure I would become a repeat customer - very problematic cars these.

Thanks,

Mark

Nissan doctor

He may be assuming but its is very common for the ecu's to fail in the w220's.

formosafashion

Nissan doctor wrote: »

He may be assuming but its is very common for the ecu's to fail in the w220's.

Hello Nissan Doctor,

I am only too aware at this point the downside of w220's - everything goes down hill rapidly once you hit on the 100K miles mark.

Need a second opinion though as 1200 + VAT for a part that is not 100% guranteed to be the problem needs a second look.

The MB Star Software should be able to tell the exact problem and unfortunately most don't have these due to - like everything mercedes - the expensive price tag.

Thanks,

Mark

pie-man

what is the problem/symptom with this car. i know them inside out. i also have mbstar

formosafashion

pie-man wrote: »

what is the problem/symptom with this car. i know them inside out. i also have mbstar

Hi There,

Problem is Car will not start.

Couple of weeks ago, car cut out whilst driving. Engine light had been on for 2-3 days before this, checked oil, water etc. and assumed all was ok.

Tried to restart after it cut out to no avail, car does not fire or attempt to start - but all electrics and everything else working fine.

Main fan also runs like mental when the ignition is turned on - when attempting to stard the dash lights don't dim like they usually would when it was starting in the past.

Have checked all the various ECU's for any water and none exists, also checked every fuse and all are working OK - tried the spare key that has never been used - no joy here.

Have tried to start in all gears, drive, reverse, n etc. in the event problem was with the gear selection module, but this seems to be working fine.

Disconnected battery - (don't know whay exactly) for 24 hours and had it fully recharged, also tried a brand new battery for good measure.

Thanks,

Mark

pie-man

heres are a few tips that might help. recheck all the fuses again including the ones under the drives side rear passenager seat. make sure you are using a volt meter to check them and not a test lamp. a power probe 3 would be nice. the fans are running because of a safely measure mode one of the modules is not getting power or is goosed(more than lightly not getting powered). usually there is a bad connection at the front sam (where all the fuses and relays go under drivers side fuse box). if this is not an immo issue and to confirm that the engine ecu is ok you can bypass the inhibitor switch by removing the green relay at the drivers side fuse box the pin that is closest to the wing while your standing at the drivers wheel is the feed to the starter. make sure the key is in the ign. probe this with a fused jump lead again a powerprobe 3 would be nice. if the car starts see will it select reverse. if it doesnt you need the supporting body which is part of the valve chest in the automatic gearbox.

again these are just tips. i can only form a real diagnostic plan when i have the car in front of me and after retrieveing fault codes from the car id really understand whats going on

hope this helps
pieman

formosafashion

pie-man wrote: »

heres are a few tips that might help. recheck all the fuses again including the ones under the drives side rear passenager seat. make sure you are using a volt meter to check them and not a test lamp. a power probe 3 would be nice. the fans are running because of a safely measure mode one of the modules is not getting power or is goosed(more than lightly not getting powered). usually there is a bad connection at the front sam (where all the fuses and relays go under drivers side fuse box). if this is not an immo issue and to confirm that the engine ecu is ok you can bypass the inhibitor switch by removing the green relay at the drivers side fuse box the pin that is closest to the wing while your standing at the drivers wheel is the feed to the starter. make sure the key is in the ign. probe this with a fused jump lead again a powerprobe 3 would be nice. if the car starts see will it select reverse. if it doesnt you need the supporting body which is part of the valve chest in the automatic gearbox.

again these are just tips. i can only form a real diagnostic plan when i have the car in front of me and after retrieveing fault codes from the car id really understand whats going on

hope this helps
pieman

Hello Pie-Man,

One of them power probes would be great, can you buy them here locally?

Also are you in or near Dublin by any chance?

Might be better to have you out to have a look on a chargable basis of course.

Let me know.

Thanks,

Mark

formosafashion

Having researched this a little more and finding this:

http://www.reedvalvesettlement.com/faq.html#Q1

I decided to rip the carpet up on the passy side, well it was like a swimming pool from the front right through to the back seat - have removed the back seat, front carpet and have a de-humidifier running to try and clear up all the remaining water/moisture.

**Thanks to Sweetswing** I called your buddy and he mentioned it might be a leak ... no doubt this has pointed me in the right direction.

It seems this water damage is causing my central locking, cd player, battery power level and soft close problems ... hope I can dry it all up and will not have to replace any expensive parts.

Any further pointers would be great, I intend taking the central console out Monday and removing the remaining carpet so as I can dry up and residual water ...

One thing I have learned is, always get a second opinion - replacing me engine ECU at 1200 + VAT would not have solved this issue at all.

Oh, and try to use a proper mercedes mechanic as these independant guys will feed you any bull****.

Thanks for everyone who responded and offered help , apreciate it.

Mark

mercservices

clearly who ever you had looking at the car in the first place hadnt a clue, there are a dozen so called merc specialist in dublin alone.they seem to think if they have mb star they know everything. i spend at least 3 days of the week doin other so called specialists work!!! so your right to be cautious. best of luck with the drying out:)

formosafashion

mercservices wrote: »

clearly who ever you had looking at the car in the first place hadnt a clue, there are a dozen so called merc specialist in dublin alone.they seem to think if they have mb star they know everything. i spend at least 3 days of the week doin other so called specialists work!!! so your right to be cautious. best of luck with the drying out:)

Agree, worse thing is he did not even have MB Star! - he had some ****ty chinese Diagnostics kit.

Might just be giving you a hollar as I am not 100% sure drying al this stuff out will fix my issue, all on the passenger side so I don't think it got the SAM etc ... but might have ruined that ECU? Under the passenger seat.

Off to dismantle the remaining parts of the interior, any tips?

Thanks,

Mark

mercservices

formosafashion wrote: »

Agree, worse thing is he did not even have MB Star! - he had some ****ty chinese Diagnostics kit.

Might just be giving you a hollar as I am not 100% sure drying al this stuff out will fix my issue, all on the passenger side so I don't think it got the SAM etc ... but might have ruined that ECU? Under the passenger seat.

Off to dismantle the remaining parts of the interior, any tips?

Thanks,

Mark

Yea just dry what you can, and get it plugged in and see if there is any communication with each module. if ya stuck ya know where i am.:)

tipperarycahill

sweetswing wrote: »

one of my best friends is a top merc mechanic , over 20 years on just mercs , pm me and ill give you his number, ps. he is in dublin

Hi there I too have a similar problem with my mercedes s 320 cdi. Can you send me on your friends phone number. It would really help me out. Kind regards,

Paul

mercservices

tipperarycahill wrote: »

Hi there I too have a similar problem with my mercedes s 320 cdi. Can you send me on your friends phone number. It would really help me out. Kind regards,

Paul

Hi paul we currently have marks car here with us,if we can help feel free to give us a call

irishinbriglol

Hi
I'm in the same boat as Paul - need someone to look after my S320cdi 2004 properly, after being treated very shabbily by a so-called Merc mechanic in Dub [one to be avoided at all costs !]. Horrendeous experience tbh. Can you send me on your details please ? Many thanks
Kieran

vw4life

irishinbriglol wrote: »

Hi
I'm in the same boat as Paul - need someone to look after my S320cdi 2004 properly, after being treated very shabbily by a so-called Merc mechanic in Dub [one to be avoided at all costs !]. Horrendeous experience tbh. Can you send me on your details please ? Many thanks
Kieran

I could have a look at it for you if you dont get sorted

irishinbriglol

vw4life wrote: »

I could have a look at it for you if you dont get sorted

Hi - yes please - that would be great - how do we make contact from here?

vw4life

irishinbriglol wrote: »

Hi - yes please - that would be great - how do we make contact from here?

pm sent

irishinbriglol

vw4life wrote: »

pm sent

many thanks

ironnike

In need of programming and adaptation of light/rain sensor on MB C220. Anyone with MB Star diag? I'm due NCT tomorrow evening and need this sorted before. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks

George Dalton

Adding your location would be useful

ironnike

George Dalton wrote: »

Adding your location would be useful

Dublin. Sorry

George Dalton

Try Justin @ JDM Service Centre:

https://www.facebook.com/JdmServiceCentre

ironnike

Jdm - 44€+vat. Anyone doing this cheaper around? Should be 15 min job

rex-x

It wouldnt be worth getting out of bed for less money, 15 mins or not

vw4life

ironnike wrote: »

Jdm - 44€+vat. Anyone doing this cheaper around? Should be 15 min job

Did you get sorted

ironnike

vw4life wrote: »

Did you get sorted

Not yet.

Xpro

theres a guy on Kylemore road behind Fiat garage Mercedes specialist with MB star diagnostics, can't think of his name.He is very good.

ironnike

Xpro wrote: »

theres a guy on Kylemore road behind Fiat garage Mercedes specialist with MB star diagnostics, can't think of his name.He is very good.

Phone number? Or any way how I could contact him?