This is a very long post, I have given consideration to trying to trim it, but tbh as SDS can be a minefield when considering buying, I feel it is well worth a member looking for the kit to read all of it, as there are so many answers to common questions in this post !!
It would be a good idea to grab Coffee and Popcorn and read it all slowly and thoroughly more than once
So ...............
You are a keen DIY'er, or even a guy who just want's to check an issue out before taking it to a professional to get the work done ....
In that case you should really own SDS, it simply pays for itself, and if you do move away from MB's in the future you can usually sell it for what you paid because a system that can be demonstrated working does comand a premium on the used market places
BTW, (without trying to sound big headed), I use these machines during the course of my garage Business and maintaining my own "fleet" of currently 4 MB's from 2000 Model Year up to 2015 !!
I also work on old and new vehicles, newest stuff is currently right up to only 3 to 4 years old models, almost on a daily basis, so I class that as a bittie more experience than a DIY guy who own 1 or 2 MB's and spends his spare time maintaining his cars
Make certain that whatever you buy software wise has working "HHT Win" program and includes WIS / EPC !!
HHT Win isn't needed on later models in the R171 generation and upwards, but it is necessary on vehicles like R170 and some of the other older Cars, you never know, you might well decide to buy one of those later on like an older SL or SLK, or even an older Saloon Many of the older Cars are an investment and rapidly getting into the "Classic Car" investment status
Vediamo and DTS Monaco are nice to have's even if you can't figure them out / don't want to take the risks, there are guys who can Team Viewer and sort things out with them, eg "Virgin and Initial Start a 7G Transmission" !!
Personally I would buy C4 SD Connect !! At time of writing, AFAIK a C5 is still just C4 guts in a C5 Case !!
Personally I would not buy the s/w and laptop from Chinese sellers, I only buy Multiplexer and full Lead sets from Ali Express.
Check how long a seller has been active, Use a Credit Card or Pay Pal (I prefer Pay Pal), just in case the worst happens, but that said there are more decent sellers than crooks, but doesn't hurt to keep your money safe
Of course I'm sure you may want to do your due diligence and read read read, but look at the date stuff was written, for example, advice for buying C3 Mux because it is more reliable is simply complete rubbish and has been for a long while now, of course it was sometimes true way back when the C4's first came on the market !!
@i860 on this Forum may be able to help point you in the correct direction regarding software and laptops / laptop spec
I thoroughly recommend him, he has helped me in the past and has proved to be the best I have ever come across
Hope this info helps ya
I'm adding this below here to this post today, 8th September 2022, with some edits to add extra information and add clarification
It clearly explains exactly why anything other than SDS and certainly anything that costs less than approx 4 x the price of clone SDS is fairly useless on R170 and similar vintage / tech MB's
I'll just try and explain this to hopefully provide an explanation of why OBD Machines are not much use, so let me go a little more in depth .............
Look at the Wiring diagram in DIY's, in particular the one that shows Communication Lines on page # 10 of the 2002 SLK320 Diagram also applies to cars with 38 pin socket, just a different Wiring Diagram................
It proves categorically that :-
There is no CAN Bus on the 16 Pin Diag Socket also there is no CAN Bus on the 38 Pin Diag Socket !!
Every listed module ....
ME 2.8 (SFI) / ETC / ESM / ABS - BAS - ESP / Brake Booster - Vac / Fuel Tank Pressure / ICM / DAS-RF / HVAC / PSE / CCM / SRS / Teleaid / Audio / HRA
That is (if all are fitted) that there is up to 15 Modules on an R170 .................
Now look see ........... A lot of them communicate with EACH OTHER Via Powertrain CAN Bus, also PSE and CCM have their own private (primitive) Body CAN
BUT
None of these modules Communicate with the Diag Socket via CAN, and thus any Diag Machine doesn't communicate with earlier MB's like R170 via CAN Comm, what they have is a primitive K Line comm to ME, and some of the better ones may talk to SRS, ABS / ESP and Transmission. All R170 Modules use some different K Lines, some as you can see "speak" non conflicting language and they share a Diag Socket pin for example HVAC, HRA, Brake Booster and ICM all share pin 15 of DLC.
Later Cars like R171 etc are all fully OBD compliant, they have CAN Bus on their Diag Sockets and these Cars also use a Central Gateway to Router the Diagnostic and the Vehicles own Comms between the several CAN Buses !!
This means a small and compact Code and Data Reader such as Ics and Foxwell is suitable for newer vehicles at lower level Diagnostic work, but the R170, and similar tech MB's, not a cat in hells chance !!
I see it day in and day out, customers and forum members do not understand that there is waaaaaaay more possible codes, data and functions needed for proper Diagnosis and Repair !! Functions such as Component Locator, Version Coding (used to tailor a Module to Vehicles specific equipment fitted), Guided Testing, Workshop Manuals, Parts Catalogue, SCN Coding (via Vediamo Prog),
So a lot of guys think if the Car has a 16 pin socket, (which internet myth has mis-named "OBD Socket") that their Foxwell, iCS and any other OBD readers are the dogs danglies !!
Hey, I thought that too !! Way back when I bought my first Diag Machine in the 1990's, I'm now 60 years young and have been working in the motor trade fixing vehicles since age 14 !!
As novices we all got blown away because we could read a bunch of Codes and Data which all manufacturers have had to legally release since whatever year, but that's it .............
A little bit of Data and only some of thousands of possible Codes, in only very few of the circa 13 Modules fitted !!
They do not access many many of the other modules !!
Now look at SDS it speaks the correct language and accesses everything, absolutely everything and it also gives a whole bunch of other info !!
This is exactly why using anything other than SDS on R170 etc does not go in depth enough to enable you to economically and timely fix an awful lot of the common issues these cars throw at us
Another update for more clarification as of 20 / 9 / 2022
The thing is this regarding SDS ....
1) SDS is not wasted money, an awful lot of owners will buy another MB, perhaps later SLK, or a different MB vehicle such as C Class, E Class etc etc if / when they sell the current one, SDS will work with any Mercedes
2) If you decide never again I don't want another MB, you can sell a complete and working system normally for what you paid for it, often you can make a bit on it as prices rise and if you can demonstrate it to a prospective purchaser
You should really only run these Dealer Level programs on a laptop that is dedicated to just that software, and never allow it to update.
Only use internet if using "Team Viewer".
Being a Garage Business that specialises in Diagnosis and Rectification work, this is why I have 17 different Laptops in my workshop for all the popular Vehicle marques Dealer Level Software, together with the various Multiplexers and Leads sets required, most of which run Win 7 Pro
It would be a good idea to grab Coffee and Popcorn and read it all slowly and thoroughly more than once
So ...............
You are a keen DIY'er, or even a guy who just want's to check an issue out before taking it to a professional to get the work done ....
In that case you should really own SDS, it simply pays for itself, and if you do move away from MB's in the future you can usually sell it for what you paid because a system that can be demonstrated working does comand a premium on the used market places
BTW, (without trying to sound big headed), I use these machines during the course of my garage Business and maintaining my own "fleet" of currently 4 MB's from 2000 Model Year up to 2015 !!
I also work on old and new vehicles, newest stuff is currently right up to only 3 to 4 years old models, almost on a daily basis, so I class that as a bittie more experience than a DIY guy who own 1 or 2 MB's and spends his spare time maintaining his cars
Make certain that whatever you buy software wise has working "HHT Win" program and includes WIS / EPC !!
HHT Win isn't needed on later models in the R171 generation and upwards, but it is necessary on vehicles like R170 and some of the other older Cars, you never know, you might well decide to buy one of those later on like an older SL or SLK, or even an older Saloon
Many of the older Cars are an investment and rapidly getting into the "Classic Car" investment status Vediamo and DTS Monaco are nice to have's even if you can't figure them out / don't want to take the risks, there are guys who can Team Viewer and sort things out with them, eg "Virgin and Initial Start a 7G Transmission" !!
Personally I would buy C4 SD Connect !! At time of writing, AFAIK a C5 is still just C4 guts in a C5 Case !!
Personally I would not buy the s/w and laptop from Chinese sellers, I only buy Multiplexer and full Lead sets from Ali Express.
Check how long a seller has been active, Use a Credit Card or Pay Pal (I prefer Pay Pal), just in case the worst happens, but that said there are more decent sellers than crooks, but doesn't hurt to keep your money safe
Of course I'm sure you may want to do your due diligence and read read read, but look at the date stuff was written, for example, advice for buying C3 Mux because it is more reliable is simply complete rubbish and has been for a long while now, of course it was sometimes true way back when the C4's first came on the market !!
@i860 on this Forum may be able to help point you in the correct direction regarding software and laptops / laptop spec
I thoroughly recommend him, he has helped me in the past and has proved to be the best I have ever come across
Hope this info helps ya
I'm adding this below here to this post today, 8th September 2022, with some edits to add extra information and add clarification
It clearly explains exactly why anything other than SDS and certainly anything that costs less than approx 4 x the price of clone SDS is fairly useless on R170 and similar vintage / tech MB's
I'll just try and explain this to hopefully provide an explanation of why OBD Machines are not much use, so let me go a little more in depth .............
Look at the Wiring diagram in DIY's, in particular the one that shows Communication Lines on page # 10 of the 2002 SLK320 Diagram also applies to cars with 38 pin socket, just a different Wiring Diagram................
It proves categorically that :-
There is no CAN Bus on the 16 Pin Diag Socket also there is no CAN Bus on the 38 Pin Diag Socket !!
Every listed module ....
ME 2.8 (SFI) / ETC / ESM / ABS - BAS - ESP / Brake Booster - Vac / Fuel Tank Pressure / ICM / DAS-RF / HVAC / PSE / CCM / SRS / Teleaid / Audio / HRA
That is (if all are fitted) that there is up to 15 Modules on an R170 .................
Now look see ........... A lot of them communicate with EACH OTHER Via Powertrain CAN Bus, also PSE and CCM have their own private (primitive) Body CAN
BUT
None of these modules Communicate with the Diag Socket via CAN, and thus any Diag Machine doesn't communicate with earlier MB's like R170 via CAN Comm, what they have is a primitive K Line comm to ME, and some of the better ones may talk to SRS, ABS / ESP and Transmission. All R170 Modules use some different K Lines, some as you can see "speak" non conflicting language and they share a Diag Socket pin for example HVAC, HRA, Brake Booster and ICM all share pin 15 of DLC.
Later Cars like R171 etc are all fully OBD compliant, they have CAN Bus on their Diag Sockets and these Cars also use a Central Gateway to Router the Diagnostic and the Vehicles own Comms between the several CAN Buses !!
This means a small and compact Code and Data Reader such as Ics and Foxwell is suitable for newer vehicles at lower level Diagnostic work, but the R170, and similar tech MB's, not a cat in hells chance !!
I see it day in and day out, customers and forum members do not understand that there is waaaaaaay more possible codes, data and functions needed for proper Diagnosis and Repair !! Functions such as Component Locator, Version Coding (used to tailor a Module to Vehicles specific equipment fitted), Guided Testing, Workshop Manuals, Parts Catalogue, SCN Coding (via Vediamo Prog),
So a lot of guys think if the Car has a 16 pin socket, (which internet myth has mis-named "OBD Socket") that their Foxwell, iCS and any other OBD readers are the dogs danglies !!
Hey, I thought that too !! Way back when I bought my first Diag Machine in the 1990's, I'm now 60 years young and have been working in the motor trade fixing vehicles since age 14 !!
As novices we all got blown away because we could read a bunch of Codes and Data which all manufacturers have had to legally release since whatever year, but that's it .............
A little bit of Data and only some of thousands of possible Codes, in only very few of the circa 13 Modules fitted !!
They do not access many many of the other modules !!
Now look at SDS it speaks the correct language and accesses everything, absolutely everything and it also gives a whole bunch of other info !!
This is exactly why using anything other than SDS on R170 etc does not go in depth enough to enable you to economically and timely fix an awful lot of the common issues these cars throw at us
Another update for more clarification as of 20 / 9 / 2022
The thing is this regarding SDS ....
1) SDS is not wasted money, an awful lot of owners will buy another MB, perhaps later SLK, or a different MB vehicle such as C Class, E Class etc etc if / when they sell the current one, SDS will work with any Mercedes
2) If you decide never again I don't want another MB, you can sell a complete and working system normally for what you paid for it, often you can make a bit on it as prices rise and if you can demonstrate it to a prospective purchaser
You should really only run these Dealer Level programs on a laptop that is dedicated to just that software, and never allow it to update.
Only use internet if using "Team Viewer".
Being a Garage Business that specialises in Diagnosis and Rectification work, this is why I have 17 different Laptops in my workshop for all the popular Vehicle marques Dealer Level Software, together with the various Multiplexers and Leads sets required, most of which run Win 7 Pro
