Service Advice

[Lenihan]

Hi, just want to ask about the service intervals on my E350. It had an A7 service last year in September and now the car is telling me it is overdue for a B1. My question is I have done less than 2,000 miles in that time and I do not use the car daily so can I turn off the service indicator and how often should I realistically get the car serviced if I am doing roughly 2,000-3,000 a year? Thanks in advance.

 

[John Laidlaw]

They all have an annual service officially regardless of mileage. How old is your car?

 

[Frontstep]

Things degrade with time as well as use, somethings go off even quicker not being used.
The answer is no one, especially without knowing how and where your car lives, can answer accurately.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Service intervals are 15k miles or 1 year whichever is first.

 

[EmilysDad]

Service intervals are 15k miles or 1 year whichever is first.

My 07 R Class just counts down the mileage (ish) ..... definitely more than a year from one service to another going by the dash

 

[Rory]

My 07 R Class just counts down the mileage (ish) ..... definitely more than a year from one service to another going by the dash

MB switched during 07 from variable to fixed interval servicing. I don't use my car much and when I do it's usually for a 3-400 mile round trip. Mine always goes to 2yrs (the max period on variable servicing) having done around 14K. If the oil selection is properly set it counts down the mileage at 100 miles for every 150 driven but some other factors come in and reduce that slightly in practice. In theory it could go to 19,500 miles as the service indicator resets in mine to 13K.

If the car isn't under any kind of warranty and you're not relying on Mobilo cover then you can please yourself when to have it serviced, but it might prove difficult to sell if the car should have annual services and buyers note some have been missed.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

My 07 R Class just counts down the mileage (ish) ..... definitely more than a year from one service to another going by the dash

Your car is on Assyst Plus variable servicing

 

[EmilysDad]

Obviously MB couldn't decide on what they were doing. My Smart Roadster asks for a service every 12 months regardless of mileage.

 

[Frosty149]

It’s a complex algorithm on my car:

1. How’s my bank balance?
2. State of the local motor trade economy?
3. Convenience factor, am I 500 miles from home, just before a holiday?
4. Have I been nice to it?
5. Can a service compound the cost of say changing tyres, battery etc?

It then weighs up the above and kicks me, when it can get maximum impact!

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I do 3.5 to 4K miles a year in my 350cdi and have the same dilemma. My view is that the oil and filter is changed each year (service indicator reset) and every third year a B service carried out to include air /fuel filters and anything else that may need attention including brake fluid flush

I think all you can do is go with what feels right and of course your garage will advise that the car should have the designated service which they are obliged to do but in my book this isn’t really necessary and a terrible waste of resource, materials and money

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Brake fluid should be changed every 2 years regardless of miles.

I have heard insurance companies now are checking the hygroscopic content and declining to pay out if it is above 6%. About time too imo.

 

[Rory]

Brake fluid should be changed every 2 years regardless of miles.

I have heard insurance companies now are checking the hygroscopic content and declining to pay out if it is above 6%. About time too imo.

Yet in the US most local manufacturers say it doesn't need routinely changing.

Insurance companies testing it will be interesting - no issues on my MB but on a VW in our family I'm dubious it was actually changed first by the dealer and then by an indie.

Do you ever test it - are 6% readings common?

 

[AMGeed]

Brake fluid should be changed every 2 years regardless of miles.

I have heard insurance companies now are checking the hygroscopic content and declining to pay out if it is above 6%. About time too imo.

Has that been includied in the service plan by either main dealer or yourself Steve?

I'm guessing you advise the customer when it needs changing and then its their decision?

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

It’s an additional operation at 2 years and should be checked with the service history. We always test with a hygroscopic tester anyway.

 

[Kirbs]

It’s an additional operation at 2 years and should be checked with the service history. We always test with a hygroscopic tester anyway.

In my 100 years on this planet with in excess of 40 cars in my name I have never heard of this subject

Are we going to deep here?

Is this an issue really?

Am I the only person on here that has not heard of it?

Please help lol

 

[Frosty149]

Here you go:
https://www.opieoils.co.uk/t-car-motorbike-coolant-antifreeze-explained.aspx

 

[John Laidlaw]

In my 100 years on this planet with in excess of 40 cars in my name I have never heard of this subject

Are we going to deep here?

Is this an issue really?

Am I the only person on here that has not heard of it?

Please help lol

You’re far too young to have had experience of this, that’s the problem!

 

[Wighty]

In my 100 years on this planet with in excess of 40 cars in my name I have never heard of this subject

Are we going to deep here?

Is this an issue really?

Am I the only person on here that has not heard of it?

Please help lol

You and my sister in law , her cars brake fluid looks like oxtail soup

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

In my 100 years on this planet with in excess of 40 cars in my name I have never heard of this subject

Are we going to deep here?

Is this an issue really?

Am I the only person on here that has not heard of it?

Please help lol

You have likely never had your car serviced properly then....

 

[Kirbs]

You have likely never had your car serviced properly then....

I think its just that I have not heard about it rather than it not be checked but it doesn't show up on the service report unless I have missed it?

Thanks