I bought it a few months ago. What I wound up getting was a bunch of zip files that I had to combine and unzip. The result were files that make up a VM. I had to install VM Workstation but after that I was able to start the VM and get into WIS. I will admit it seemed a bit sketchy. I received a link to some Chinese site after I purchased it but I just followed the directions and it just worked. I can't remember what I paid but I remember thinking that if I got ripped off I wouldn't be too upset.

J.D.

 

Thanks for the info JD. It sound like it might be best to install this on a separate laptop from my every day Dell laptop. I too have found sellers that don't charge an amount that would concern me should it not work correctly.

I really don't want to develop problems on the computer I use daily.

Is it mandatory that this software run on a VM workstation or are there alternatives?

 

I only tried it on VM workstation. Because it was on a VM I wasn't too concerned where it ran from. I'm running it from my main laptop.

 

As said, many of those offerings are "VM" installs. You have to install them on a virtual machine, which works pretty well, but need a decent laptop for speed.

You can get hold of recent ASRA/EPC/WIS, genuine software, and patches to make them work, but need a bit of time and patience to install successfully.

I keep all my MB software on a seperate laptop, well away from my regular home network, for obviouse reasons...

 

I just purchased (eBay) and installed WIS/ASRA/EPC on my main laptop. I had no issues except being a little short on Disc space. I had to delete some files that i had backed up elsewhere. Once I did that, the downloads installed Virtual Box and then the WIS/ASRA/EPC and everything went without a hitch. I emailed the seller to determine what files I could delete after the install. Deleted the files and it's running well. It's very easy to switch from Virtual Box to Windows 10 with the click of a mouse. Now I need to learn how to operate the software. Some instructions were provided but the Help function is not supplied with the software, thus no on line help.

And the learning starts ....

 

Sorry for necroposting, but I just wanna say I found some instructions for this here: https://www.benzworld.org/attachments/wis-epc-installation-instructions-pg-1-2-pdf.1766009/ and I have a set of discs so I ripped them: Mercedes-Benz Workshop v.2015 : Mercedes-Benz, disc creator and seller unknown : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

EDIT (Nov 11th, 2023): The Internet Archive locked my account a few days ago and removed most of all the items I've made there, including the link I posted above, so it will not work, I apologize for the inconvenience. I stupidly didn't make a backup so I don't have those files anymore I'm sorry... If I have some time in the future then I may rip the discs again, at least I still have them.

 

I've dumped the discs again and re-uploaded them here: Mercedes-Benz Workshop v.2015 DVD Dumps : Mercedes-Benz, Unknown Disc Creator : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

 

I was looking at a lot of these on EBay last week. I was hoping to get some actual discs and instead they were all limited use virtual where you buy access for a month or two, or some other flash drives and people posting how they had to back date their computers to get the stuff to work. Seems these are all pirated copies. F-that.
I will keep my eyes open for someone somewhere selling a set that is genuine.

 

There is no such thing as genuine. Only legitimate access to WIS is paid subscription through startekinfo.com

 

So the files on the discs are pirated basically?

 

That version is a VM ware instalation, which means it is a 100% clone of someone else's PC. It runs under a virtual machine environment on a PC.

It will work fine, but the VM environment is very "clunky", but yes it is a pirated copy, as is virtually all mercedes software you can get hold of.

Genuine licenses cost several thousand $$££ per year!!!!

 

25 years ago we were running Windows 98, using modems, printed matter and microfishe viewer. When digital era began info was distributed on CD, later on DVD. Scanner of choice was HHT.
To run any of this older info requires very specific PC with specific version of Java, Acrobat, Autodesk Whip and Macromedia Flash. That's where virtual machine comes in handy.

For owners of older models MB opened tiny hole in their online system. Here is diagnostic info for engine M113 common in R230.

STAR TekInfo

 

For owners of older models MB opened tiny hole in their online system. Here is diagnostic info for engine M113 common in R230.

STAR TekInfo

I have never figured out how to get to those diagnostic sections. Just WIS basic diagrams.

 

That's kind of what I was alluding to. My cars are almost 20 years old. I was hoping to find info sources from 20 years ago.
The stuff on Ebay has product info up to 2022 in some cases. I have no use for any of that "newer" stuff and it would be excess stuff to have to filter to through to find the info that is relative to my year and model.
Heck, I have a complete Toyota microfiche parts library and viewer. That is like heaven to me for looking up parts and how assemblies go together. Give me a good old fashioned paper service manual

 

I worked in Toyota dealership parts departments between 1978 and 1988 or so, and I have a DAS/Xentry system I use for my SL.

Mercedes' electronic parts catalog is nowhere near as good as the microfiche system Toyota had. The detail of the illustrations in the MB system are not nearly as helpful. Not entirely useless, but not as helpful as Toyota. However, Mercedes workshop information system (WIS) is very good, gives clear and complete step-by-step instructions for parts replacement. Most procedures have detailed photographs showing fastener locations and such.

 

Paper - no never. In WIS you specify your car with a few clicks and you land in a totally dedicated environment. The clickable cross references are incomparably faster than digging in paper. The best option for getting used to the somewhat weird tricks would be to get instruction from someone in your time zone. Why not online, using TeamViewer...

 

Looking at the illustrations in the Toyota microfiche and someone can easily strip a car to it's bare unibody and reassemble it just from the parts fiche