dazthespaz
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mobile mechanic with good heating...lighting and space
DTS Monaco - Mercedes Benz OBD2 Diagnostic & Programming 9.02
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Gemini
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Heating is the real MVP there. There is nothing worse than sitting in a freezing car waiting for a progress bar in Monaco or Xentry to finish, especially during a long flash.
Plus, good lighting is essential when you are trying to probe pins or find a specific module tucked away under the dash. Sounds like a top-tier mobile setup!
dazthespaz
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might know why i cant find the 212...might be converted to OTX
Gemini
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OTX is mainly for the test sequences/scripts. You are probably thinking of SMR-D (the newer format that replaced CBF).
The W212 is a transition chassis. Most of it is CBF based, but late facelifts use SMR-D for certain modules (like newer Head Units).
If you can't find a dedicated "212" folder or file:
- Shared Files: A lot of W212 modules are actually under 204 (C-Class) or 218 (CLS) filenames. For example, the instrument cluster is often
IC_204.cbf. - Search by ECU: Don't search for "212". Search for the specific ECU ID (e.g.,
MED177,CR43,VGSNAG2).
If you are using a newer Xentry/database set, they sometimes hide the older CBF files deep in the directory structure, or you have to manually point Monaco to the Xentry
Das\comdat\pkw\cbf folder to find them.dazthespaz
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its missing alot of files i bet the boy slipped with the pen and dropped em
Gemini
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Haha, the "drag and drop into the void" maneuver! It happens more often than you'd think with those resistive screens.
In all seriousness, if you are using a pre-made image or a "Lite" version found on forums, people often strip out the older CBF files to save disk space.
You might need to grab a standalone "CBF Collection" or a full SDFlash archive to fill in the gaps. For the W212, make sure you check the W204 and W218 folders too, as Mercedes reused a ton of those control units across the platforms.
dazthespaz
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im draggin xentry onto memstick right this sec and i got to go out on a BMW job to remove some stuck glowplugs....youngest needs the oldfart touch lol
Gemini
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Good luck with the glowplugs! On BMWs, patience and that "experienced touch" are usually the only things standing between a quick job and having to take the cylinder head off.
Hopefully, the Xentry transfer fills in the blanks for your 212 project when you get back to the dock.
dazthespaz
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ill install it on the way there as its a 15m drive
Gemini
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15 minutes? You are definitely optimistic! A full Xentry install usually takes ages.
If you are just copying the database folders (CBF/SMR) from the stick to the laptop to fix your missing files, you might make it. Just make sure the laptop doesn't go to sleep mid-transfer!
Good luck with the glowplugs when you arrive.
dazthespaz
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ill turn off sleep ill let it continue while i do the plugs....ill have the plugs out in 10mins lol
Gemini
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10 minutes for stuck BMW plugs? That is a bold claim! If you pull that off without snapping one, you definitely have the magic touch.
Leaving the laptop running while you work is the best way to handle it. By the time you wash your hands, hopefully, the database is populated and ready for Monaco.
dazthespaz
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37yrs+ as a mechanic ...lead mastertech at Honda UK for a number of yrs, worked at Bentley and Maserati before going solo
Gemini
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That explains the confidence! With that kind of resume, a few stuck plugs are just a warm-up.
The software side (DTS Monaco/Vediamo) can sometimes be more frustrating than the mechanical work, simply because the file structure is a mess compared to the precision of a Bentley engine.
Hopefully, the copy finishes clean and you find those missing CBFs waiting for you.
dazthespaz
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if has a spanner im the man ...software i get by
Gemini
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That is a common sentiment here! Hardware obeys physics; software only obeys the specific logic of the engineer who wrote it 10 years ago.
The good news is that once you get your workspace set up in Monaco with the correct files, you don't have to mess with the backend much. It becomes just another tool in the box—albeit one with a steeper learning curve than a torque wrench.
dazthespaz
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well 2 snapped glowplugs so tomorrow ill be snapping the other 2 out and drilling them out as they are stuck solid and it was too cold and too dark and i didnt have the tools with me to do the job
Gemini
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So much for the 10-minute job! That is the classic mechanic's curse—as soon as you say it'll be quick, the car hears you and decides to fight back.
Calling it a night was definitely the right move. Trying to drill out snapped plugs in the dark and freezing cold is a recipe for disaster (and a ruined cylinder head). Better to go back tomorrow with proper lighting and the heavy artillery.
Hopefully, the laptop at least finished the file transfer while you were wrestling with the engine?
dazthespaz
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im awaitin the install of a proper xentry 228 of 278
Gemini
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You are in the home stretch now. Those last 50 or so packages are usually the heavy hitters (the actual database files and AddOns), so don't panic if the progress bar seems to stall there for a bit—it has to unpack thousands of tiny files.
At least by the time you head back to the BMW tomorrow with the drill, the laptop will be fully prepped and ready to go.
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