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Salutations everyone.
My 2004 W203 C320 needs the ABS pump bled, but I don't have access to Star.
To activate the pump and bleed, the local specialist is requesting 300 pounds, which is excessive, in my opinion.
Unfortunately, I was unable to locate any third-party diagnostic equipment that are capable of bleeding the Abs pump on these mercs.
Please inform me if you are aware of a diagnostic instrument that is capable of carrying out the procedure.
For those who reside in the Derby area and have Star, Find someone who can assist me, and I will cover the cost of their service.
Warm regards
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Smouldering of W203 ABS
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LiamTheGreat
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2026 8:35 pm
W203 should stick to tried-and-true ways... pressure bleeder works...
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AndrewGuidon67
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2026 8:44 pm
I'm confused by your question, OP. Solid brake lines were recently replaced on my 2006 AMG S203. After the job was over, I refilled all the fluid and bled the system using a combination of vacuuming, pumping, and cracking the bleed screws, just as when I used to assist my late father with the same task. The car had been sitting with brake fluid flowing out of exposed pipes for days.
At last! a braking system that works perfectly.
Maybe I'm not seeing things.
At last! a braking system that works perfectly.
Maybe I'm not seeing things.
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ALJohns_34
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2026 8:39 pm
I can relate; for some reason, I once had to keep the back pipe open while I fashioned a small pipe. Neither Star nor £300 are necessities for this. There is a time and a place for plug-in diagnostic kits, but brakes aren't one of them.
A high-quality pressure bleeder should be used. On my bike, the inexpensive ones that use air pressure from a spare tire weren't going to cut it, so I took a lift back to Toolstation and got a more robust arrangement with a bigger bottle and a handle to manually increase the pressure. After increasing the pressure to slightly more than the recommended maximum (I believed it was safe as the gauge could go much higher), everything functioned as it should have.
A high-quality pressure bleeder should be used. On my bike, the inexpensive ones that use air pressure from a spare tire weren't going to cut it, so I took a lift back to Toolstation and got a more robust arrangement with a bigger bottle and a handle to manually increase the pressure. After increasing the pressure to slightly more than the recommended maximum (I believed it was safe as the gauge could go much higher), everything functioned as it should have.
Quite a few diagnostic instruments can do that, but they're all far more expensive than £300.
If you're simply looking for a quick fix for a pedal that feels spongy after changing your brake pads, you may accomplish it the dirty way. To activate the ABS pump, drive the vehicle on relatively empty roads while locking the brakes several times; this will work similarly to using a diagnostic instrument.
If you're simply looking for a quick fix for a pedal that feels spongy after changing your brake pads, you may accomplish it the dirty way. To activate the ABS pump, drive the vehicle on relatively empty roads while locking the brakes several times; this will work similarly to using a diagnostic instrument.
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capewell77
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2026 8:36 pm
Based on what I can tell, this one should work as long as the 203 is OBD2: