What is variant coding? And how to do on Mercedes S55 ESP?

Purpose: ESP module variant coding with Star diagnostic

Vehicle:2002 Mercedes w220 s55

Problem: I get a code under ESP module saying C1511-005 Coding Error Variant Coding is incorrect

Reply:

The variant coding in question is set by using factory data. That factory data is basically what chassis that engine control unit is bolted to. Things like weight of the car, yaw sensor and acceleration sensor parameters, moment arms, etc etc.

Once the engine control unit “learns” its variant coding, it is permanently and irrevocably locked down.

The ESP module reads the variant coding from the ECU. Once read, its ” soft” locked.

Your trouble code suggests that the ESP module has a variant coding that differs from that of the ECU.

Is this a recent occurrence? Did you perhaps have an third party ECU tune performed? Was the ESP module replaced ? Is the trouble code stored or current ?

Using STAR you can go into the ESP and check the currency of the error code and determine if it was 9 years ago or last Tuesday. If it was a long ago and a stored code, I would clear it and move on. If it is current, you can force a variant locking reset of the ESP module in STAR diagnostic and see if the code returns. If the trouble code returns, that would make it a current and ongoing error. If that turns out to be the case then perhaps the ESP module has gone “breasts skyward”.

Look here:

in STAR diagnostic

go to the ESP module under CONTROL UNITS

CHASSIS

ESP

Fault Codes

Select C1511-005

1. to the right it should say CURRENT or STORED

hit F8

It should show you how many time the car has ben started after the code was detected. “0” means the fault is CURRENT, any number greater than 0 the fault should be STORED and past history. The ( obviously ) higher the number of start cycles the longer ago it was.

2. Double click C1511-005

Read the pre conditions

hit F3

read the sequence and follow it to (hopefully) force a variant coding re-read/write.

It would seem that the ESP reads the ECU on every start up. Having a bad TCU MAY be contributing to the ECU variant coding being off kilter. I would think there would be some P2000-P2564 series codes displayed for that though.

The most important note: When you get into adaptation it shows 000000 zeros on the vin number section and ask you to enter vin to match it. tried but no success.

How to solve:

Bear in mind I am using Xentry-Sim.

Paramaeters: specified US D2B version 220.175

Control Units

Drive

Transmission: selected 722.6 as of 2001

Control Unit Adaptations

First stab in the dark, try F7 ( Perform Synchronization ) In other words.. ” go fetch me the VIN from the ECU ”

If that is successful ( something other than 0’s displayed) , then F5 ( confirmation of the VIN ).

If not successful, try entering VIN as it appears normally, then F5

If that doesn’t work try entering as internal FIN, 2201751Axxxxxx where xxxxxx is your chassis serial from Normal VIN. Then F5.

If none of that works…It maybe time for some of that professional help mentioned earlier up the thread.

Try that and see what happens

I have no training as a MB mech/tech and offer this as just a possible direction to proceed in. The ( very ) highly paid professionals at the Dollarship or the ( not so ) highly paid folks at a good independent shop should/would have the final say.

 Source:

http://blog.mbstartool.com/2017/10/18/star-diagnostic-variant-coding-to-mb-w220-s55-esp/