My 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500 Journey
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My journey with YOUCANIC began after a sobering trip to the dealer. I’d gone for a standard inspection and an oil change, and I spent $1,300 for the oil leak repair and then received a stupefying $10,000 estimate for further work. Decidedly ticked off but resolved to control my destiny. Soon, I realized it had Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) brakes, and it required an advanced OBD-II diagnostic tool for bleeding the brakes. I opted to buy the YOUCANIC scanner, which has saved me time and money on all the vehicles I have had to repair since acquiring it.
The dealer said Mercedes-Benz Star/Xentry did not communicate with the modules, according to the Mercedes tech, which wasn’t wrong, but the dealer had no idea about the YOUCANIC scanner in my pocket. We plugged in the YOUCANIC scanner, which instantly wrote a new diagnostic code: There was no communication with the engine, TCM, and ESP modules. It was worth looking into, so I switched to investigatory mode.
Nine months later, after checking the CAN system, its components, the SAM, the ECU, the fuses, and the relays, and replacing the parts that weren’t working or were faulty, the actual remedy was straightforward. Then, the communication problem with the engine transmission and ESP modules was solved. None of these extensive replacements were needed in any way.
🔧 Find out what is actually wrong before you pay someone to guess
Dealer level diagnostics at home with the YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro.
- ✔ Covers most makes and models, including many luxury brands. Send us your VIN and we will confirm your car before you order
- ✔ Reads every module, not just the engine, so you find the faults a basic reader says are not there
- ✔ Commands the car: test a fan or pump, bleed ABS, retract an electronic parking brake, register a battery
- ✔ No subscriptions. Free lifetime updates, so the price you pay is the whole price
- ✔ Backed by real mechanics in the USA you can email before and after you buy
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With the help of the YOUCANIC’s onboard car scanner, sensor failures, braking problems, a failed a/c system, a stuck airmatic shock, and many other issues. The online professional tech manuals and CAN system diagrams were beneficial. By far, the most important thing was the ability to fix things I couldn’t afford to have a traditional dealership fix. A red brake alert led me to my local dealer, who estimated $10,000 for repairs. YOUCANIC cost me only $500, and I replaced broken sensors and shocks and fixed wiring issues independently.
After looking into the diagnostic report on the scanner, I realized that car repair wasn’t rocket science. Sure, it was challenging but achievable with the right tools and resources. The YOUCANIC staff, patient and caring, who really care about their customers’ plights, delivered a rare and valuable form of mechanical daylight to us vehicle owners.
YOUCANIC costs me about $500, but knowing I can do some of the work and send other stuff to the professionals makes me sleep much better. As for the ABS sensor, I could fix it for $30: with no warning light.
The moment you buy what seems like a bargain: a 2005 E500 with 60,000 miles and no rust: you find out that nothing is cheaper than cheap German cars. That includes brake warning lights. The bill for suspension, calipers, brake hoses, lines, and everything else that my $500 YOUCANIC scanner warned me about initially worked out to nearly $10,000 quoted by the dealer. By now, I’m used to the idea that one needs a programmer’s mind to fix modern vehicles. So, without further comment, the YOUCANIC scan reduced my repair bill, and I wouldn’t buy another car without scanning it with the YOUCANIC scanner first.
More guides: browse all of our Mercedes-Benz repair and troubleshooting guides.
