Interim Servicing

[MercVirgin]

Hi pple! I have a Sep 2004 C200 brought last year (Jul 2007) and i absolutely love it! It'd just had an ASSYST A service done in Apr 2007 (by a MB Dealer at approx. 30k miles) Now my mileage isn't too much of a stretch for this car and I'm only up to just over 35k now (i.e. about 5k in approx. 14 months) - the on-board ASSYST computer is telling me that there's still another 5k miles left to do before it's going to prompt me to do a service!
Now this is the first MB I've owned and i really do want to take good care of her! With my previous cars (Nissan, Ford etc.) I've regularly done a 12mth service (regardless of miles) usually with the MOT. Now it feels really strange to have done 14mths of motoring and not to do a service with the prospect of another 14mths before the car tells me to get one done!
I'd just like some advice on whether it's worth doing an interim service in-between the regular ASSYST services particularly if there is a long time gap (but low miles!)? I know that the ASSYST computer is very sophisticated and takes into account lots of factors like mileage, time, engine performance etc. its just that i think i should be doing 'something' to keep this beauty on the road!
I've read a lot about Oil Changes In between Services and pple talking about the benefits of modern fully synthetic oils and their longevity but apart from the oil is there anything else to look at in-between services that are spaced out e.g. coolant, brake fluid, air con etc.?
The car generally is running fine and I've not had a single problem since owning it (apart frm a CD getting stuck!) Also I'm going to be using an Indep. for the servicing who claims to have all the genuine diagnostic equipment frm MB - is there anything in particular to ask him about what he does (...or does not do!) as part of the service he offers???
Thanks for reading this post and your help in any answers! :-D

 

[Blobcat]

As long as your inde is using the full MB spec oil then I don't see a reason to service it early. There have been quite a few tests on the oils and they can stand the time/miles.

 

[Splatt]

I'd just like some advice on whether it's worth doing an interim service in-between the regular ASSYST services

Hi MV. To answer the above; only if you find yourself in possesion of a surfeit of funds and feel a pressing urge to correct the anomoly.
My feeling re the Indy would be to check he is going to give you fully synthetic oil and re-sets the Assyst accordingly

 

[David Nock]

My Assyst (CLK 270CDI) calls me in at 18 month intervals and I'm very happy with that. It changes from miles to time remaining at 17 months.
I'm low mileage like yourself so I would just say make sure that your running includes a few long runs from time to time and if the dealer has put the higher spec oil in at service (sounds like the Assyst is set for that) then all should be hunky dory.

 

[rf065]

Although ASSYST is telling you you have 5,000 miles till next service, if you do not do this amount of miles it will call for a service no longer than 2 years from the last service.

Russ

 

[Rory]

Yep - my Oct 04 C270CDi just ran through to 2 yrs. Changed at 23mths to start counting down in days. It had done about 14K miles since previous service.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

My Assyst (CLK 270CDI) calls me in at 18 month intervals and I'm very happy with that. It changes from miles to time remaining at 17 months.
I'm low mileage like yourself so I would just say make sure that your running includes a few long runs from time to time and if the dealer has put the higher spec oil in at service (sounds like the Assyst is set for that) then all should be hunky dory.

I agree. Modern lubricants are not a limiting factor on the figures you offer and diesel engines don't go out of tune. I very much doubt if anything sinister will have gone wrong, especially if the car is driving normally. So it is really a case of slapped wrist for the dealer, but privately, no cause for alarm.

I bought a W220 320 CDI on its second birthday 18 months ago at its second birthday. 21,000 miles, having been serviced at around 14,000. The following morning, when installing my settings on the dashboard computer, I checked the oil and was amazed when it asked for more!

I then tried getting the filler cap off and only managed after a real struggle. I concluded that the dealer had done no work on the car prior to sale - had not even checked the oil! The very tight filler cap suggested to me that was the way it left the factory! The car has never asked for oil btween services since and runs perfectly.

Happily, it is now in the caring hands of my preferred Indy. Say no more.

 

[MercVirgin]

Guys 'n Gals, Thanks for your advice! Its just that the MoT is coming up next month and i thought if there was 'something' to do then it would be best to get it done for that! After years of doing a Service and MoT at the same time (granted for non-MB cars) it feels strange to be just booking an MoT but as i do not have a surfeit of funds then i'm more than happy with that!
Will confirm with the Indie that he's using the 'good stuff' for the oil and will re-set the ASSYST, then i look fwd to another 2 yrs of trouble free motoring!!!
Thanks again for all your helpful comments...

 

[MercVirgin]

Job done!

Hey pple! Just thought I'd follow up on this...
The reason I initially asked about Interim Servicing was that it'd been 16 months since my last service although I hadn't done too many miles in the meantime but I was planning a big road trip over the Bank Hol. Weekend and was wondering if it would have been worth getting 'something done' before the big trip!
Well I managed to cover just over 700miles over the weekend and not even a whimper from the car ('04 C200K)!!! The more I drive this beauty the more I like her! Driving thru the Peak District was a pure joy and there's some great roads there with some spectacular views.
I managed to average 48.3mpg on the way back (motorway cruise in the early morning with some commuter traffic so restricted speed!) and thought that was pretty amazing too! Why should larger cars pay more tax when they can be efficient? I'm sure that an 'eco friendly' 1.0 litre engine covering the same distance and speed (not excessive!) as I was doing would not be nearly as efficient? (TBC?)