EU4 CDI engine service intervals & oil

[124coupe]

I am fed up with being scammed over servicing on my high annual mileage E280CDI.

The dealer use of MB229.31 oil as "standard" shortens the EU4 cars interval from 12,000 miles to 9,000 and the older straight6 320CDI from about 15-16,000 miles to 11,000.

Not funny!

Copy of my letter to MB Customer Services - I will post their response:

Dear sir or madam, I need definitive clarification regarding the choice of engine oil and the resulting approximate Assyst service interval achieved.


My car is a 2006 E280CDI EU4 with particle filter and I am a high-mileage driver which means my service intervals are driven mostly by mileage and not time.


The manual states that MB229.31 and MB229.51 oils can be used for my vehicle as options.


The factory-fill oil resulted in an Assyst service interval of 13,700 miles before the first “A” service was indicated.


My local dealer offers only MB229.31 grade oil as a service option and is unwilling to confirm what approximate service interval this will achieve although experience has shown that the interval is approximately 9,000 miles (a 25% reduction versus the factory fill).



I need you to answer the following three specific questions:

* My understanding of the MB229.31 and MB229.51 specifications is that MB229.51 is designed to allow extended oil life of approximately 20,000Km when compared with approximately 15,000Km for MB229.31 – is this correct?

* Does the Assyst system fitted to my car make use of the “extended drain” characteristics which are part of the enhanced MB229.51 specification therefore allowing a longer service interval?

* Assuming I provide MB229.51 specification oil to my dealer in place of his MB229.31 option, will he set the Assyst system to make use of the MB229.51 specification, resulting in a longer service interval?


I am fully aware that Assyst uses driving characteristics to manage the service interval but my questions are specifically around my car’s ability to make use of the extended capabilities of the MB229.51 specification oil to provide longer oil change intervals versus MB229.31 specification oils.




Regards,

 

[BrianM]

Go for it! Would be interested in their reply as I've just bought a E320 CD! I hadn't realised the oil spec could make such a big difference.

 

[Blobcat]

This has come up a number of times JBerks has the same issue with his 2004 E270CDI although he has the full long life spec oil the ASSYST is not giving the 13,000 miles service intervals after a change.
The older ASSYST systems appear to work well with the long life oil as long as they are setup correctly

 

[124coupe]

Update

No reply from Customer Services to my letter so I called them.

(they couldn't find any trace o my letter)

"Assyst decides the service interval sir, don't be concerned if it shows 9,000 miles after a service as it might extend as you drive - all depends".

Why did the first-fill oil give a 12,500 mile estimate that DID extend?

"all controlled by Assyst sir"

The guy had a American accent - I guess he is related to Stonewall Jackson.

Went to dealer today for the A service and dropped off my Mobil1 ESP MB229.51 oil (saved £67-53 buying online versus using the dealer's MB229.31 Castrol).

Dealer confirmed they would "code the cluster" for extended drain oil and we should get 13k ish miles as a result.

On the way home in the B150 loaner, phone rings and its the dealer.

"as your mileage is higher than when you booked in, "the system" is suggesting we should strip and check your brakes as they may need attention before the next service is due (because the next service is now further away because of your extended drain oil)"

As the mileage is a mighty 206 higher than when I booked it (and my previous Saab Aero ran for 76,000 miles before needing pads), my hackles rose......

How much??

£140-50 sir.

And if I decline, any effect on warranty?

No sir, but we would not be able to give you an estimate as to when your bakes might need attention.

OK then, so I would then just rely on the dash pad wear indicator instead, in the unlkiely event that the brakes will need replacment before 30,000 miles (ish)?

Yes sir.

Result: second SCAM successfully avoided.

I love the car - I HATE the smug, grabbing dealers.

By comparison, my local VW dealer for the wife's Passat measures the pads and disks FOR FREE and makes a note on the service invoice estimating the miles to go before pads and/or disks will wear out.


In summary:

Save over £60 by buying your own oil and get 13k instead of 9k service intervals.

Refuse the "optional" extras and save another £140.

 

[carabind]

Re optional extras - I was asked lastmonth if I wanted an engine flush (only 13k miles) and the airconditioning treated (an anti bacterial spray) done for £25 each + VAT. Looks like they look for any way to extract money from you.
the classic was with a Peugeot a few years ago wnated to charge for cleaning the brakes ie jetwashing the calipers .....

 

[carabind]

and re service assyst - on the later E class (E211), seems to be totally mileage drive at 13k per service. I do mainly motorway miles and have seen no difference inservice interval at all. Has anyone seen different?

 

[mioba]

i always avoid the extras.
Just get the service done and thats that, keeps my warranty and mobilo intact.

Any extras i am unsure about i have a very good mechanic that can check & verify for me.

sadly its the only way we can play the dealers, despite us paying alot for glorified oil changes.

And yes supplying own oil always helps!

 

[124coupe]

What I didn't like was the "system says" approach - any non-savvy owner would have been hooked and reeled in.

 

[124coupe]

Car's done and next service due in 12.5k miles - result!

 

[Blobcat]

Excellent, now you should note if it is counting down mile for mile or extending.

 

[124coupe]

Its extending - drove 185 miles today and the "miles to B service" dropped by only 162.

If that continues, the interval will be about 14,100 miles.