Oil Types & Assyst Servicing

[steve.link]

My car is booked in for its first service next week - I decided to stick with the main dealer in spite of the high cost. I now find even more issues confusion amongst the dealers.

I asked for the latest 229.51 low ash oil which should give extended service intervals of 20k km (12.5k miles). The dealer did not seem to understand these spec numbers. The oil that was on offer was to 229.31 which was branded as "Mercedes Oil"

They do not kow about the 2 options on the assyst for the 2 different oil specs.

My car is a 320CDi EURO 4 so it must have low ash oil which I understand is denoted by the "1" at the end of the oil spec number - ie, 229.31 or 229.51.

My conclusion is that using 229.51 spec oil should result in default 20k km (12.5k miles) change interval and using 229.31 will result in a 15k km (9320 miles) change interval.

I have checked my Assyst settings and I do not have this oil option - is this a missing update for assyst software on my car or can this only be set by the dealer/star?

To further complicate things, has MB returned to fixed servicing? My Asssyst was showing Service A which was Item 13 (oil change) and Item 14 (minor inspection). The dealer insists it needs Item 13 and Item 15 (major inspection) because of its age and mileage - 12 months and 14k miles!!

What is the point of having a sophisticated Assyst system if its simply ignored by the dealer?

I am amazed on how complicated simple things become with these vehicles (this is my first MB) and at the lack of expertise at the dealers. I seem to know more the car than they do.

Sorry for the long post but I would appreciate any comments before I shell out £300 plus for what seems to be little more than an oil/filter change.

Regards,

Steve

 

[D3Less]

Sounds like it may be worth talking to another dealer, no 2 are the same and as with all manufacturers the quality of service offered varies wildly.

 

[Rory]

I got a postcard from my dealer the other day as it's a year since the cars (C270CDi) last service. Assyst still shows 6600 miles to go.
Its first service was at 18000 miles (and that was about 1000 before Assyst wanted it). It's now done 28K, so it's doing a little less between services (I gather this is normal, but no-one knows why).

On the postcard it mentioned the change to fixed servicing on new vehicles and it suggested that "you can now take the option of having your vehicle serviced annually if you wish if it has been over 12 months or 15500 miles since your last service".

So whereas ASSYST will let you go for 2 years if the mileage is low (or, as in my case I only use the vehicle for long journeys, which have been less frequent recently) now the dealer is trying to entice me to take the car in every year!!

I guess for most people doing more than 15000 miles per year then the change to fixed servicing should benefit them. In my case I'm getting greater than 15K between service and it's taking more than a year so I won't be changing.

My car is EU3 so doesn't need .51 oil - even so the info from the dealers was very confusing. I ended up supplying my own Motul MB specific 229.5 oil. The big thing to check was that ASSYST showed 13000 miles when I picked it up, which it did.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

I would definitly talk to another dealer, Any service department worth dealing with should be upto speed on the current oil specs for their current car range. As far as I know you would be safe using the low ash oil retrospectively in the older cars but nor vice-versa due to potential cat damage.

Find someone who knows the score.

 

[steve.link]

Had the car serviced today at a different dealer. They were happy for me to supply my own mobil 1 oil (229.51 spec). They fitted a fleece filter, carried out the "A" (minor) service and set the asysst to 12.5k miles. Stamped the service book and charged me £158 - included a wash and vaccum of the car.

Regards,

Steve

 

[124coupe]

And the moral of this story is?

Walk away from crappy dealers and let the lack of income make them step up to the mark or die......glad you found a decent one!

 

[seabadger]

Great to hear that you found a cooperative/flexible and informed dealer.

Did you solve the mystery of the assist oil types? Was the 229.51 option on the service menu after all?

Mine isn't a Euro 4 so I have the option of 229.1 giving 9375 mile service interval or 229.3 giving a 12,500 service interval.

I don't have the 229.5 option which should offer a 18,750 service interval if a fleece filter is used. I'd like to know if this is an assist update fix?

But then I just got a blank look when I asked about fleece filters in the local parts dept........

My reference doc is http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html for those who want to read more.

 

[steve.link]

The dealer set the assyst to 12.5k miles, which I understand to be correct for a deisel. I don't think deisel engines can go beyond this. Petrol engines with 229.5 oil can run to 30k Km or 18.6k miles.

I still don't have the option to manually reset the assyst to anything other than 9350 miles - maybe this is an assyst software upgrade - anybody know if this is the case?

 

[Blobcat]

The dealer set the assyst to 12.5k miles, which I understand to be correct for a deisel. I don't think deisel engines can go beyond this. Petrol engines with 229.5 oil can run to 30k Km or 18.6k miles.

I still don't have the option to manually reset the assyst to anything other than 9350 miles - maybe this is an assyst software upgrade - anybody know if this is the case?

My diesel is set to 13K to next service and winds out to ~18K on the ASSYST.

 

[Rory]

My diesel is set to 13K to next service and winds out to ~18K on the ASSYST.

Same for mine. (C270CDi). The fixed interval is now 15,500 on most new MB's.

 

[j4a24]

CDI 2008 EURO 4 DPF FITTED

FIRST A SERVICE 15000 SHELL HELIX 229.5 OIL USED
SINCE DONE 10000
I COMPLAINED..BULL**** FOLLOWED

WENT BACK TO DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO ME
THEY PUT IT ON DIAGNOSTICS


TOOK IT BACK ..NICE DEALER PUT IT ON DIAGNOSTICS

RESULTS ASH 15/80..SOOT 77/120...EXHAUST BACK PRESSURE SENSOR 1027hPA...LEFT EGR POSITIONER 94.3....TEMP POST TURBO 157C...LAMDA VALUE 3.4 [1-32.1]...TEMP SENSOR POST DPR 116C...PRESSURE DIFF. SENSOR DPF 4 [-40..1250] FLOW RESISTANCE NIL...EXHAUST GAS VOLUME FLOW RATE 39.3 m3/h

CAN ANYONE INTERPRET THAT LOT..

THEY SAY ITS OK AND DID A SERVICE BUT ASSYST SAID "C" IN 6000...THEY RESET TO "A" IN 15000.. (WHAT HAPPENED TO "B")..IS MY CAR DAMAGED? DO I HAVE REDRESS?

THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF FLEECE FILTER STEVE ?SURE YOU NEED FLEECE ON DIESEL WITH LOW ASH AND DPF [NOT SPECIFIED IN 229 SHEET ALTHOUGH 229.5 IS] AND STEVE WHO IS YOUR FRIENDLY DEALER AND FROM WHERE DID YOU GET A FLEECE ?

AM UTTERLY CONFUSED AND DISMAYED...

 

[Rory]

AM UTTERLY CONFUSED AND DISMAYED...

Welcome to the world of Mercedes ownership.

 

[rf065]

My car is a 320CDi EURO 4 so it must have low ash oil which I understand is denoted by the "1" at the end of the oil spec number - ie, 229.31 or 229.51. Steve

Euro 4 in itself does not mean you require 229.51.
Mine & most other Euro 4 MB's run on 229.3 or 229.5.

As far as I'm aware, 229.31 or .51 low ash oil, is for cars with a DPF, of which there are not many in the UK.

Russ

 

[steve.link]

Yes - mine was a Euro 4 with a DPF - hence the need for low ash oil.

The car is now gone and have an Audi A8 which has been faultness todate - none of the MB "gremlins" I had on the E class. Only negative is heavy tyre wear compared to the Merc