Assyst ?

[sheriff]

My car's going into Mercedes tomorrow for an A service. I've noticed that the service counter on the dash is counting down in days, not mileage, so it seems that I'm just getting an annual service which rather defeats the object of Assyst ? My wife mentioned changing the countdown to mileage related when she booked it in, but she was told "the car decides" and it can't be changed !! I thought that when they plugged in the diagnostics, they could alter the parameters ? Can anyone (Malcolm !) shed any light on this before I take it in tomorrow.
Thanks in advance

 

[Blobcat]

It does depend on how you drive and over what time period. The ASSYST starts out in mileage then can switch to days when you get close to needing a service. My fathers A class always did that, he covered relatively few miles and it almost became annual. It maybe an A class only function though as my 'E' doesn't do that, the ASSYST stays on miles.

 

[sheriff]

It does depend on how you drive and over what time period. The ASSYST starts out in mileage then can switch to days when you get close to needing a service. My fathers A class always did that, he covered relatively few miles and it almost became annual. It maybe an A class only function though as my 'E' doesn't do that, the ASSYST stays on miles.

Had the car about 3-4 months, and since we've had it the display's been in days. Do you think that Merc could change it via diagnostics, or am I stuck with it

 

[paul c]

Must be an Aclass thing my c always counts down in miles and i only do about 6,ooo mls a year.

 

[sheriff]

Just got back in from MB. Counter now says 730 days, so I'll see if it counts down normally, or rather, as I think it's doing, 2 days at a time. Had a call off them when it was being done, " your front pads are getting low, would you like us to change them ?" how much I ask ? "140 sir" !! No thanks, leave that job to me. £38 for the pads, not too bad really, but £100 to fit them, flipping heck !!

 

[Rory]

I thought (but not certain) that the service interval for the A (and B?) Class was always 1 yr, unless the mileage was higher than the limit?

On C Class and above it has been 2 yrs until very recently, when MB moved back to fixed interval servicing and it became annual.

 

[Lance]

I think you could go years doing low miles, but certain things will need doing, hence a time interval instead of a miles interval. Also, if you've only had it a few months, and it's second hand, it might still be used to the previous owner.

I don't know, just a guess is that.

 

[whitenemesis]

Quote from the owner's manual for my C class

" The service due date is displayed in days or kilometres, depending on the distance travelled.

The time between individual services depends on your style of driving. You can extend this time by adopting a conservative driving style, driving at moderate engine speeds and avoiding driving short distances in which the engine is unable to reach its normal operating temperature."

 

[Shambolic]

Not long after we got our 2005 SLK the mileage to next service went from approx 6500 to 30 days as the car was 18 months old and I dont think it had benn serviced from new( It had only done 5400 miles total)!
I took it back in and it was serviced free of charge("B") service when it came out it now needs a "C" service (although I think they just reset the assyst indicator)

 

[sheriff]

Just checked, and it's counting down two days at a time. Looks like a mail to MB is on the cards. Anyone know the e-mail addy off hand ?

 

[philharve]

ASSYST - distance or days ?

Hi All

For the first time ever my C230K ASSYST is indicating 'days to next service' rather than 'distance to next service'. Why the change in reading after 4+ years?

I can only assume it is because my annual mileage has reduced by 75 percent since retiring. I drive less often, usually short trips.

I assume the '18' days remaining are not calendar days but instead are related to the number of driving days to the next service?

Does ASSYST 'know' the current date and time? I don't see why it should or how it could know it unless there is a 'clock' or counter of some description onboard?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[whitenemesis]

Yes, ASSYST 'knows' the date from the cluster clock.

It's counting down in days because the recommended time interval between services has come up before you have covered the required miles, just as you have surmised.

The days are realtime days not driving days

 

[philharve]

ASSYST time

Yes, ASSYST 'knows' the date from the cluster clock.

It's counting down in days because the recommended time interval between services has come up before you have covered the required miles, just as you have surmised.

The days are realtime days not driving days

Hi whitenemesis

Good answers. I now understand why the ASSYST reading has changed. From now on I can expect 'days to next service' readings because of my reduced annual mileage.

WRT 'clock' ... would I be correct in thinking this clock will be battery-backed and will therefore continue to run long after the car's 12V battery is removed much like a laptop's clock?

I am wondering what would happen to the ASSYST if the timing of this clock was ever disrupted, for example, the cluster was dismantled?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[whitenemesis]

Hmmm..

I would hope the system isn't that easily 'fooled'! I do know when I had the battery disconnected for a couple of hours the clock was correct when power ws restored. Now whether that's a back-up cell somewhere or the system corrected itself when powered up I don't know..

I think I will do a little background reading later :wink:

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Good answers. I now understand why the ASSYST reading has changed. From now on I can expect 'days to next service' readings because of my reduced annual mileage.

Hi Phil,

For you the good news is that "fixed interval" for your car will be 15,500 miles or two yearly. :wink:

Many of us with more recent cars are in the invidious position of annual servicing, although the mileage is low.

 

[philharve]

Fixed term servicing

Hi Phil,

For you the good news is that "fixed interval" for your car will be 15,500 miles or two yearly. :wink:

Many of us with more recent cars are in the invidious position of annual servicing, although the mileage is low.

Hi Alex

'Fixed interval' servicing was the conclusion I drew from whitenemesis' reply.

My annual mileage is now typically 3000 - 4000 miles, it was 12000+. As a pensioner (nearly) I can live with servicing every 2 years.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[philharve]

Things to come

Hi All

I am replying to my own inquiry following advice obtained from my indie yesterday.

My ASSYST is now recommending a service in '14' days time. It was '18' four days ago. This result is broadly inline with advice previously given in this thread about the service counter (re:14) decrementing by 1 for each calendar day. However, this assumes that the pattern of usage does not change.

My indie confirmed that there are actually around 20 parameters that are taken into consideration when the service count is computed. If any of them are altered, e.g. oil viscosity (say) - by topping up the engine oil, the count can be revised upwards. It does not automatically follow that the count will decrement each calendar day. The count can even be negative indicating that the service is overdue.

My C230K (2000) has TWO clocks: one in the instrument cluster which tells the time. It is 24hr savvy but knows nothing of days, weeks, months or years; the other is in the MCU and it is this clock that controls the ASSYST and service intervals. Both clocks are battery-backed so that disconnecting the main 12V battery will not affect their operation or disrupt their time recording functions.

The latest MB vehicles have just ONE clock that tells the time and controls the ASSYST. This clock is day, week, month and year savvy. It is battery-backed too.

Developments are underway to include atomic (radio code) clocks in future MB vehicles that will ensure they are microsecond-accurate and will never need manually resetting. GPS will be integrated into vehicle electronics and used for navigation & location, obviously, and for other measurements such as speed determination & control.

Other things to come include the integration of WiFi, or equivalent, and Internet access into the vehicle electronics. This will include, for example, the readout of vehicle parameters such as error codes and remote fault diagnosis without the need to present the vehicle to a suitably equipped garage. Entertainment will be greatly extended with online access to iTunes (say) and video on demand services. The list of new digital features is very long.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

Hi All

I am replying to my own inquiry following advice obtained from my indie yesterday.

My ASSYST is now recommending a service in '14' days time. It was '18' four days ago. This result is broadly inline with advice previously given in this thread about the service counter (re:14) decrementing by 1 for each calendar day. However, this assumes that the pattern of usage does not change.

My indie confirmed that there are actually around 20 parameters that are taken into consideration when the service count is computed. If any of them are altered, e.g. oil viscosity (say) - by topping up the engine oil, the count can be revised upwards. It does not automatically follow that the count will decrement each calendar day. The count can even be negative indicating that the service is overdue.

My C230K (2000) has TWO clocks: one in the instrument cluster which tells the time. It is 24hr savvy but knows nothing of days, weeks, months or years; the other is in the MCU and it is this clock that controls the ASSYST and service intervals. Both clocks are battery-backed so that disconnecting the main 12V battery will not affect their operation or disrupt their time recording functions.

The latest MB vehicles have just ONE clock that tells the time and controls the ASSYST. This clock is day, week, month and year savvy. It is battery-backed too.

Developments are underway to include atomic (radio code) clocks in future MB vehicles that will ensure they are microsecond-accurate and will never need manually resetting. GPS will be integrated into vehicle electronics and used for navigation & location, obviously, and for other measurements such as speed determination & control.

Other things to come include the integration of WiFi, or equivalent, and Internet access into the vehicle electronics. This will include, for example, the readout of vehicle parameters such as error codes and remote fault diagnosis without the need to present the vehicle to a suitably equipped garage. Entertainment will be greatly extended with online access to iTunes (say) and video on demand services. The list of new digital features is very long.

REGARDS

Phil

Thanks Phil, yes we can plug the new cars into the central computer via the net, shame it will never come to us as users and only for the dealers. Under EU law these rights will have to be given to indies.

 

[whitenemesis]

Hi All

I am replying to my own inquiry following advice obtained from my indie yesterday.

My ASSYST is now recommending a service in '14' days time. It was '18' four days ago. This result is broadly inline with advice previously given in this thread about the service counter (re:14) decrementing by 1 for each calendar day. However, this assumes that the pattern of usage does not change.

........


REGARDS

Phil

By the time ASSYST is using days to count down, usage patterns and all the other parameters available are ignored. All that matters now is that the service is done within the specified time.

 

[philharve]

Right to Repair (R2R)

Thanks Phil, yes we can plug the new cars into the central computer via the net, shame it will never come to us as users and only for the dealers. Under EU law these rights will have to be given to indies.

Hi Malcolm

Yes, I discussed the R2R with my indie. He doesn't feel threatened. He is possibly the biggest customer my local MB dealership has, so MB is unlikely to want to cast him aside.

He also volunteered information concerning MB dealerships wrt 'closures' reported elsewhere in this forum. It's true, MB are having a hard time. However, MB don't recognise the term 'closure', they prefer to talk of 'reorganisation'. I learned that my nearest MB dealership on the outskirts of Truro has been 'reorganised' and is now responsible for all MB vehicles, not just saloons, 4x4s, etc. This dealership has grown in terms its scope of responsibility. They still write to me offering special deals in the hope of winning me back.

My indie reports his trade has never been better and there is now talk of possible expansion.

REGARDS

Phil