Now all we need is a cable that will reach to Texas! :grin

 

Nice ! After you get the bugs worked out, I see one of those bad boys in my future !

 

Given the success others are having I'll likely snag one myself. Leaning towards the full package including new laptop.

 

HHT-WIN is a bit clunky though, have you tried it yet Arctic?

 

James:

Now that the MB STAR C4 has arrived safely, and is up and running, I had to email the supplier the Hardware I.D., and they will be sending me back the specific "Key" with instructions on how to activate DAS and Xentry.

Should have this in the next 24 hours.

I'm blown away by the depth of the other programs, and the strength of what this system can do. It's incredible what Mercedes-Benz packed into their Star Diagnostic System.

One thing I did learn by "surfing" within the C4's realm, is that the MUX needs to be attached to the laptop (but not necessarily to a vehicle) at all times, even when using simulation programs, etc., otherwise a "Pop-up Window" and Warning Message appears on the laptop screen advising that the "Connection Failed". When the Warning appears, the only way to remove it from the screen is to reboot the Program.

I feel like I'm back at university, and taking my Engineering courses all over again. This is such a blast!

It will be wonderful to service the SL500, ML320, and the ML350 with this C4 system.

Once I get the program activated, I'll try out the HHT on the SL500 and see how it performs, and post my experience for you.

God Bless, Arctic

 

Yes HHT is clunky, but it's the older system. Still reliable though, and does what it can.

DAS comes with a HHT simulator, and you should be able to use that assuming the seller did their homework and HTT activates properly and gives no error codes.

Also, be very careful with developer mode.....and learn German....it helps a lot.

 

How much did this cost?

Someone has to figure out a way to emulate this, I'm sure it's not hard.

 

Emulator already exist...you can actually run everything in vmare. The issue is the hardware itself....It's so complex that to even think about emulating it you need a computer with the processing power of a cluster.

This isn't the BMW gt1/dis/inpa where everything (including the expensive OPP and ICOM) is emulated and you only need a $20 cable to actually plug in the car.

 

Now I need to clean my work bench.

 

That is just disgusting!:crying

 

Where did you buy it at?

Where did you buy it at and for how much approx. if you don't mind sharing please? I am shopping one for my self.

 

Where did you buy it at and for how much approx. if you don't mind sharing please? I am shopping one for my self.

From my research, there are about five competent Sellers of this equipment, all from China.

Here is the Seller I selected:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2014-Cost-Effective-Mb-Star-C4-for-both-Cars-and-Trucks-with-Xentry-2014-01-Version/1783909054.html

Cost was $350 USD and FREE shipping via DHL Courier Services.

Any import duties and sales taxes are to your account.

The Seller also incorporates "Team Viewer" software on the HDD that they ship to you, so if there are any problems, they lock into your laptop and can make whatever changes/fixes necessary to correct the situation via the internet..... all for free.

Aliexpress (Alibaba) holds your payment in escrow from all Sellers until you recieve the item and are satisfied that it works as advertised... better than eBay's policy for Buyers.

Hope this is of help.

God Bless, Arctic

 

Hey im new to the forum, I found your thread! I am interested as well, if I understand correctly, you buy a refurb DELL D630 then pop in the hard drive that comes with the kit? How do you know which cable goes for which model benz?

Lastly, is the DELL D630 an important model due to it having a COM1 port onboard or something?

Thx!

 

Snoopy:

The STAR C4 comes with all the necessary cables & socket adapters to hook up to every MB made, both cars and trucks, diesel & gas engines.

Yes, the HDD that is pre-loaded with the software by the Seller, is inserted into the DELL D630.

For the "Compact C4", it doesn't use WiFi, and requires a dedicated RS-232 COM port.

The DELL D630 is the fastest laptop with the RS232 feature. You can readily get a good, used DELL D630 for well under $100 USD.

MAKE SURE you get a DELL D630 with at least 2.0 GHz Duo CPU, and a minimum of 2 GB Memory.... max is 4 GB Memory.

I'm running with 2.2 GHz CPU and 3 GB RAM..... works flawlessly with STAR C4.

Hope this helps.

God Bless, Arctic

 

Hey Arctic - thx for the quik informative answer!~

I downloaded an 8gb ISO image called mercedesxentry0512 and was geeking out hardcore ripping out my GFs laptop hard drive and popping in an old one from a pile and installing XP on it lol . .halfway through im like . . "wait . .even if i get it to run . . how the hell am i going to plug it into the car lol"?

Then i googled a few mins and found this fresh thread! yayyy!

now im geeking out on craigslist for Dell 630s / / spamming all over town haha . . . my cars are OBD, im OCD lolol

 

Snoopy:

Welcome to BenzWorld Forum.

Please fill out your Avatar, with your geographic location, model and year of your MB Vehicle(s), and post some pics.

Doing so will help other Forum Members to better understand your specifics, and to allow their recommendations to be more informed.

BTW, most of the R129 Gang are OCD, too, Welcome to the Club. :wink

God Bless, Arctic

 

HMMMMM,

Big thoughts....

Ever since I remember.

I like women more then cars, or anything ells.

Do you classify this under OCD?

Regards,
aam.

 

No aam, you just have your priorities in the right order

 

I am a man.

Born to chase.

Thanks.

Regards,
aam.

 

James:

Oh, one more thing..... "DAS Simulation" program will NOT simulate HHT-WIN.

So, any 'learnings' we discover, ourselves, should be posted somewhere.

Maybe there should be a "Blue Sticky" thread for using HHT-WIN on the R129 Forum? What do you think?


God Bless, Arctic

 

Thanks for sharing those tips Arctic
I'm not using a mouse but the touch screen pen that came with the LeNovo X61, but I think I'll try again with a mouse.

I'll put up a HHT-WIN sticky later, it can always be unstuck if it is not popular.

I've got a few questions already

 

Well, compared to DAS and later Xentry, HTTwin is clunky. More often than not, I will accidentally exit out of my current menu -- since I'm so used to DAS and Xentry. I pretty much have all the keyboard combo for DAS/Xentry memorized, so when I do run across a car that requires HTTwin, I keep hitting the keys meant for DAS/Xentry by accident, which sometimes leads to inadvertent actuation....such as engaging the radiator fan, and the laptop power cord was on the radiator blade.

As it is, HTTwin is incredibly simple and straight forward, though it's very powerful. You can go ahead and post a guide on how to use HTTwin -- it'll help other people a lot.

 

...You can go ahead and post a guide on how to use HTTwin --

I didn't know that ArcticDweller needed your approval to post his experience using his newly acquired diagnostic system. It appears that less than experts user posts are being discouraged.

 

On my list of things I must have now.
Thanks!

 

Xentry took me to DAS, and DAS switched over (automatically) to good old HHT-WIN, again. Guess my 16-year old SUV's system is a bit ancient in the scheme of Mercedes-Benz technology.

From what I've seen:

All MB from late 80's to 99 = HTT-win
All MB from 2001 to 2009 = DAS
All MB from 2010+ = Xentry

The year 2000 is a weird transition period -- some MB made in 1999 but the model year is 2000 will be diagnosed from the 38-pin under the hood and thus use HTT-win. Other MB made in early 2000 and sold as a 2000 model will have the OBD port and the SDS will require the OBD cable to diagnosis....and will use DAS.

And then there are orphan cars, like some SLK models -- some 2000-2001 SLK require the 38-pin.

I've even seen a 2000 E320 that had both 38-pin and OBD port -- I could use either port to conduct a full diagnosis. That was funny.

 

Hey Arctic nice details there . . I added an avatar . . its not mine I saw it on PCH in front of my house last summer . . anyway i think I will order the kit you linked as well .. got an $80 Dell D630 on craigslist last weekend so I am ready for the overseas accessories!

 

SNOOP:

Nice buy on the DELL D630.....:goojob:

You'll love the STAR C4 Diagnostic Tool.

After you get up the learning curve on using it, afterward, you may wonder how you ever got along without it. :smile


God Bless, Arctic

 

Deplore:

I think you're correct on the Year vs STAR C4 Mode.

Although my 1999 Ml320 has the 16-pin OBDII socket under the driver's side dash, and not the 38-pin.

Although DAS switched over to HHT-WIN, it was clearly a more "modern" version of HHT-WIN than what STAR C4 used on the 1995 SL500.

I'll be running a diagnostic suite on the 2012 ML350 in a few weeks, after I take it out of winter storage. Looking forward to discovering what that will look like.

Your note should be added as a separate piece in the "Sticky" section.

Keep up the good work.


God Bless, Arctic

 

Deplore:

I think you're correct on the Year vs STAR C4 Mode.

Although my 1999 Ml320 has the 16-pin OBDII socket under the driver's side dash, and not the 38-pin.

Although DAS switched over to HHT-WIN, it was clearly a more "modern" version of HHT-WIN than what STAR C4 used on the 1995 SL500.

I'll be running a diagnostic suite on the 2012 ML350 in a few weeks, after I take it out of winter storage. Looking forward to discovering what that will look like.

Your note should be added as a separate piece in the "Sticky" section.

Keep up the good work.


God Bless, Arctic

Post copied over to the HHT-WIN sticky.

 

You guys are torturing me -- maybe when I get the next social insecurity payment I can break loose the jack to snag one.

 

im definitely getting one of these!
thanks for the info...

 

I've used mine on all of my three MB cars particularly on my older 1993 SL500 which has some major ETA and EGAS problems, but with the C4 and DAS it is giving invaluable information as to where the problem lies.

As Arctic mentions, the sub menus are something to behold. With my ETA, EGAS issue HHTWIN gives the acceptable range of resistances and shows what the car's actual measurement is, so you can tell exactly if and where a problem lies.

With my 2005 ML270cdi that has a more up to date system than HHT-WIN, the C4 identified the exact problem as to why the SDS light was staying on.

If I calculated the fuel costs of driving back and forward to the nearest MB dealer which is 60Kms away, then all of the extensive diagnostic work, I could have bought three or four of these SDS units

 

I've used mine on all of my three MB cars particularly on my older 1993 SL500..... as Arctic mentions, the sub menus are something to behold.

FEELING VERY EMPOWERED TODAY!!!

Like James, above ^^^^^^^ I have been blessed with a stable of 3 M-Bs as well.

Today, I ran XENTRY on the 2012 ML350, just to see what random fault codes may have been stored in the SUV's system's memory.

ALL I CAN SAY IS WOWWWW!! :eek Talk about having all the power to control your vehicle remotely at your fingertips..... it's simply unbelievable.

Xentry ran diagnostics on 53 separate Control Units.

Within each Control Unit, if there were any stored faults, up they came.

THEN, Xentry advised what the stored event was, and brought up another window on the laptop to do a real-time test on each recorded fault.

Example: There were several stored faults on the front, right (passenger) door, and outside side mirror.

Xentry brought up icons to "click" ON & OFF with the mouse's cursor to test the various door elements, like:

Turn the outside mirror heater ON & OFF
Turn the signal light on the mirror ON & OFF
Turn the Passing Assist "triangle lights" Red & Yellow ON & OFF
Power UP & DOWN the window
LOCK & UNLOCK the door, etc., etc. etc.
even turn the interior door handle's illuminating LED light ON & OFF

Virtually everything that could be controlled & tested was at my fingertips with the laptop.

Xentry then asked if the test was a success or failure, and then continue onto the next real-time test.

Xentry would also scroll through what the most probable cause(s) were for any fault code, and how to test further, if applicable.

I erased all the fault codes, and re-ran the diagnostics, and all is perfect. :grin

With the third generation ML's (Model Year 2012 +) there are so many sensors incorporated into these new M-Bs, you really do need a STAR C4 Tool to properly maintain them.

The nearest Mercedes-Benz Dealer to me is a 140 km round-trip affair. Now with a STAR C4 in hand, I'm lovin' it.

Hope this update was of help to those considering whether to join the STAR C4 Group.

Take Care, and May God Bless, Arctic

 

All i can say right now is HOLY SH!T ! I got mine from DHL today, I couldnt resist flying out and buying a Samsung 850 EVO 120 SSD and cloning the drive with Acronis True Image 2015. Mine might be fake, but its gonna be faster than the dealers wink wink.

Anyway, after a quick teamviewer session the overseas tech activated all the apps, and I went downstairs to plug it into the S550.

I got a little nervous not speaking German when it was like "ACHTUNG - Developers mode blah blah blah" . . i thought i might brick my whole car for a second, but then i said fukkit and hit F3 anyway and stepped down and did a quik test etc, saw many interesting things, a few F's nothing too gnarly, decided to call it a night though since I have to drive to work in the morning lol i dont want to call a towtruck for experiment gone overboard lol.

Thx great thread, thanks Arctic for coaching us along!

 

I'm waiting for a replacement E-GAS module to arrive and to fit to my '93 SL500.
My SDS pointed to this as my problem (several times after clearing codes and re-diagnosing).

Using the SDS should now prevent the usual, expensive, replace things until the faulty item takes it's turn and cures the fault.

 

ordered mine last week and just got it in the mail today via dhl.
fast shipping from hongkong to maryland.
cant wait to mess around with this on a 99 ml430 i just bought thats having trans problems.
also be using this on my wife's 02 ml500 and her summer toy the slk320.

arctic...
you mentioned something about a "key" that the seller emailed you to activate some programs? i guess i need to do the same once have it up and running.bought mine from the same seller you purchase yours on aliexpress(thanks for your recommendation on the forums)

oh, i had a dell 630 i purchased last year when i was going to purchase the c4on ebay but,they where pretty much up there in price that time...glad i waited...

thanks,
rob in md

 

nice catch vr4boy! go on aliexpress, MSG the seller in your order, tell them you want to activate everything with teamviewer . . start your machine, make sure its on the internet. I had to go to network adapter settings and set it back to DHCP so it grabbed an IP address off my router instead of the chinese static IP it was set to, then the net came up and teamviewer started.

Txt the teamveiwer ID and Passweord to the seller in the chat window then they will pop on within 2 or 3 mins and begin their little routine!

Good Luck!