my MB is definitely supported. i can talk to the ECU and access all sensors that are exposed on the OBD (38-pin). On the last list you included, the C230 Kompressor has exactly same engine and engine management as the SLK 230 Kompressor of the same year. The response for OBD '01 00' is the same (same readable sensors)

Will investigate further however, and report back ..

The timeout number in the "connection" dialog is in seconds? or minutes? unfortunately there are no units to guide you.

at this time however Misiak, I want to talk at least through minicom or other terminal. the idea is to then see where pyobd goes wrong, and patch it (hopefully). also, pyobd doesn't read freeze frame data for now, and i'd like to get that, as well as pending codes.

so far no success at all with a terminal, be it minicom, putty (windows), and screen. i am using the exact same connection parameters as pyobd, but can't even get the prompt