E320 CDi Engine Oil Level Check

[Razoo]

Hi, I found the following instructions on one of the Mercedes forums for measuring the actual amount of oil in the sump:

Engine Oil Level Check:

1. Put key in the ignition and turn to position 1.

2. Set your speedometer centre display so that it is reading MPH.

3. Press the reset button on left side of the instrument cluster 3 times and then press the arrow up button on the steering wheel.

4. Turn ignition key to position 2 and exact amount of oil in the sump will be shown at the bottom of the display.


Unfortunately, I couldn't get it to work

Can anyone advise whether this procedure is applicable to the W211 E320 CDi? Is there an error in the above procedure, or am I missing something obvious?

The normal oil level check, that simply reports 'Oil level OK', 'Add 1 litre...', etc., works fine.

Oh for the simplicity of a dipstick (like Mercedes fit to the new E320 V6 CDi)!

Thanks,

Razoo

 

[Rory]

It works just as you say on my C270CDi, but I think they ASSYST system is different in E Class.
I have to press the reset button 3 times pretty quickly, then the display changes to an engineering menu, the initial page showing the battery voltage. Scroll through the pages until the page with oil at the bottom shows.

 

[Razoo]

Re. 2004 E320 CDi Engine Oil Level Check:

1. Put key in the ignition and turn to position 1.

2. Set your speedometer centre display so that it is reading MPH.

3. Press the reset button on left side of the instrument cluster 3 times and then press the arrow up button on the steering wheel.

4. Turn ignition key to position 2 and exact amount of oil in the sump will be shown at the bottom of the display.


I have tried this procedure several more times, including rapidly pressing the reset button 3 times, followed by the arrow 'up', but with no success.

I guess there's something wrong with the sequence.

Has anyone got this to work on a E-Class?

Thanks,

Razoo

 

[Razoo]

I wrote: Re. 2004 E320 CDi Engine Oil Level Check: ...I have tried this procedure several more times, including rapidly pressing the reset button 3 times, followed by the arrow 'up', but with no success.

I have finally managed to get the service engine oil quantity measurement to work on my E-Class. The sequence is:

Note: If the engine has just been running, let the vehicle stand for around 10-15 minutes before starting this procedure.

1. With the vehicle on level ground, put the key into the ignition and turn it clockwise to position 1 (first position).

2. Use the leftmost menu button on the steering wheel (the icon looks like a page of text partly on top of a blank page). Press this button slowly and repeatedly until the speedometer centre display shows 'Temp' (e.g +1.0 C) at the top.

3. Press the 'Reset' pushbutton on the extreme left-hand edge of the instrument cluster (just to the left of the clock) quickly 3 times. The speedometer centre display should change to the engineering menu showing battery voltage 'UB' (e.g. UB: 12.2V).

4. Press the 'Up Arrow' on the left of the steering wheel ONCE. The speedometer centre display should change to show several rows of information. The bottom row should read, 'Oil level _._l'

5. Turn the ignition key clockwise from position 1 to position 2 (second position). Wait patiently for a few seconds and the _._ should change to show the exact amount of oil in the sump in litres (e.g. Oil level 6.55l).

6. Turn the ignition key anti-clockwise to position 0 (OFF) when you have finished taking the reading.


My oil level reading was 6.31l - I think it should be 6.80l, so a 1/2 litre top-up wouldn't go amiss.

This procedure works on my 2004 E-Class - W211 E320 CDi (3.2 litre, Straight-six)

Razoo

 

[Rory]

Be careful there - I'm dubious about how accurate the measurement is. Mine should hold 6.5L but it's never indicated more than 6.2, even after a service where I supplied my own oil and they used 6.5L of it.

There's a range of at least a litre from min to max so 6.3L is fine. If you do want to top it up then put the half the difference in and see how it goes. Overfilling causes all sorts of problems.

 

[Razoo]

Be careful there - I'm dubious about how accurate the measurement is. <snip>

Overfilling causes all sorts of problems.

Thanks for the warning. As I've mentioned in other posts; there's a lot to be said for the simplicity of a dipstick!

When asked what the mm measurement was for the E320 CDi engine service dipstick, the MB Main Dealer who used to service my E320 said they always used the electronic measurement facility.

I do intend to check what the sump full oil capacity should be, before I start topping up.

If I can find the engine oil fill capacity for with and without a filter change listed somewhere, that should give me an accurate indication of how much oil should be in the sump.

I hope to be the proud owner of my own engine service dipstick in the not too distant future. My transmission service dipstick arrived today

Razoo

 

[Rory]

If I can find the engine oil fill capacity for with and without a filter change listed somewhere, that should give me an accurate indication of how much oil should be in the sump.

I think that's in the handbook.