German Car Zone

The Schrempp-era MBs were certainly not bullet-proof reliable. But they were certainly not engineered to break down every XX kms. And they didn't break down several dozens of times a year. Some never did, at all.

I know people with those cars who are experiencing no troubles at all. You might have a greater number of those cars experiencing breakdowns, it doesn't mean they are all unreliable. Far from it, very far.

No way MB engineered a braking system that needs replacement that often.

If that piece needs replacement, then it IS written in the ckeck-up booklet of the MB dealers. And so far, I've never heard anything of that kind, ever.

SBC was a great addition to braking system of W211 but it turn out to be problematic. So MB decide to remove it from the facelift model. As far as I know there is no 70k lifetime. I have seen cars with 300K without need to replace it. Though newer versions of SBC are more reliable this problem cost millions to MB and Bosh because there is a lifetime warranty. Never less in my opinion W211 is a great vehicle and one of the best Mercedes ever made.