Only 500 miles driven since last service 14months ago. Need service?

[MrGundam]

Hi Everyone,

I purchased a 2012 C207 E350Cdi with 102693 miles on the clock. Not too fussed about keeping the service history as I will have it a while and given its age and mileage less important when it comes to reselling.

I service my other vehicles but wanted any opinions on this.

Basically the car was services at a specialist at 101706 miles on the 6/9/2019 but due to covid the owner didn't really use it much in the 14 months until now.

Is it worth doing the oil change given its only driven 987 miles in the time? I read that oil can degrade so tempted to, but the oil isn't cheap!

The air filter and fuel filter was last changed 17/01/2018 at 95628 miles so am considering doing them now even though only 7065 miles. Seem overkill?

Thanks

 

[Blobcat]

A lot of things can degrade by sitting around, brake fluid being one of them
Unlikely that the air filter will require changing, although knocking it out and checking it over is never a bad thing
If you're keeping it then and oil and filter and general check over - wiper blades can perish with the ozone and sun damage, same with tyres
Exhausts and brakes discs can rust away.
If you can, do a service yourself so you'll get an idea if anything is getting past it's best with sitting around

 

[Wighty]

As @Blobcat says , I would check things over to make sure they are recently changed . The oil I would do myself with a new filter anyway just to start ownership correctly , as I would the ATF/filter if it’s due and diff oil as well which won’t have been changed .

 

[MrGundam]

As @Blobcat says , I would check things over to make sure they are recently changed . The oil I would do myself with a new filter anyway just to start ownership correctly , as I would the ATF/filter if it’s due and diff oil as well which won’t have been changed .

Ah hadn't thought about diff oil. Is that a service item? Easy to do on the drive?

 

[Wighty]

Ah hadn't thought about diff oil. Is that a service item? Easy to do on the drive?

It’s not a service item , yes easy on the drive . Maybe £25 using Fuchs oil

 

[MrGundam]

I guess this is a good time to ask what peoples opinions are on going OEM MB or quality aftermarket (Bosch etc)? I am looking at the fuel filter and mine has the sensor on the top so looking like £75 opposed to £40, likewise for air filter, cabin filter etc.

 

[bob 6600]

A lot of things can degrade by sitting around, brake fluid being one of them
Unlikely that the air filter will require changing, although knocking it out and checking it over is never a bad thing
If you're keeping it then and oil and filter and general check over - wiper blades can perish with the ozone and sun damage, same with tyres
Exhausts and brakes discs can rust away.
If you can, do a service yourself so you'll get an idea if anything is getting past it's best with sitting around

^^This

 

[bob 6600]

I guess this is a good time to ask what peoples opinions are on going OEM MB or quality aftermarket (Bosch etc)? I am looking at the fuel filter and mine has the sensor on the top so looking like £75 opposed to £40, likewise for air filter, cabin filter etc.

Air and cabin filters I would go with Mann or similar. They are usually OEM without the MB stamp and obviously cheaper

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Modern synthetic oils don’t degrade like mineral oils so will do 2 years between services in fact my BMW is on this schedule with the dealer it will cover circa 4k miles between changes.

As regards other work like renewing filters check which level of service was done and when and that will determine what needs changing, if the last service was a B it won’t need much at all and I certainly wouldn’t be dropping the oil at your mileage unless it over 2 years old

 

[Mr Greedy]

On the OM642 350CDI, the air filters are 48k miles (I know!) or 4 years. I'd recommend inspecting anually, with a view to change at about 24k miles (unless they are obviously filthy before that).

Air filters are contained in a plastic housing, and you won't get much cheaper than MB Grangemouth who are a forum sponsor. Aftermarket OEM are limited in choice.

Diff oil is not specced at all. PCS said don't bother for mine at 86k, as they've never known an issue with it. If you're doing it yourself it's cheap though.

ATF is probably 77k miles or 5 years for your 7G+ box. I've just had mine done (2nd time) at 9.5 years and 86k miles.

Oil is not expensive. Buy a 20L Eco cube (bag in box) from MB Grangemouth which is of course exactly the correct spec, delivered to your nearest Arnold Clark for collection. Usually around the £70 mark. You could try MB Newcastle and see if they will list via their eBay store also. Seems pretty cheap to me (if you let Mercedes do the oil change and put in the very same oil, you will be charged at least £25 A LITRE for the privledge).

 

[onefortheroad]

If it states air filter

Hi Everyone,

I purchased a 2012 C207 E350Cdi with 102693 miles on the clock. Not too fussed about keeping the service history as I will have it a while and given its age and mileage less important when it comes to reselling.

I service my other vehicles but wanted any opinions on this.

Basically the car was services at a specialist at 101706 miles on the 6/9/2019 but due to covid the owner didn't really use it much in the 14 months until now.

Is it worth doing the oil change given its only driven 987 miles in the time? I read that oil can degrade so tempted to, but the oil isn't cheap!

The air filter and fuel filter was last changed 17/01/2018 at 95628 miles so am considering doing them now even though only 7065 miles. Seem overkill?

Thanks

Theres 2 air filters.

 

[RhodieBill]

Short answer - yes!

 

[John Laidlaw]

^ +1 just yes....

 

[Mr Greedy]

I presume these 'yes' replies are specific to the engine oil. Oil if you're doing it yourself I can understand if you get the oil at a good price e.g. via the route I suggested.

Air filters are not cheap even DIY (£60-70) and doing them more than 40,000 miles early is absolutely overkill. Inspect them and then decide.
If it were a standard paper filter for £20 I'd say crack on if it gives you peace of mind.

I personally would wait a year on the fuel filter as well given the low mileage. The filter will obviously pick up fuel contamination based on the quantity flowing through the filter, and over 7k miles it hasn't seen much to warrant changing given likely low miles in the next 12 months also. It's a physical filter and won't degrade in the same way over time that oil might (if we're being really paranoid about the oil in this case). I think a fuel filter is the best part of £100, so also not cheap (for what it is).

Speaking of oil degrading, do you know when your AFT was last changed?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Air filters are not cheap even DIY (£60-70) and doing them more than 40,000 miles early is absolutely overkill. Inspect them and then decide.
If it were a standard paper filter for £20 I'd say crack on if it gives you peace of mind.

One of my main gripes with Mercedes at the moment, to stick to MBs annual service schedule a B service coming round biannually these filters and others would be changed regardless of mileage and at great cost.

To give credit where it is due BMW operate a totally different mileage and condition service regime, biannual oil change for low mileage cars etc with an onboard service monitoring system, I can get into my BM and within a minute see how many miles the oil, brake pads, brake fluid etc have left till they need attention - sorry guys but MB are light years behind this

 

[onefortheroad]

Id wait till 6000 miles and drop the oil. Then every 6 thereafter.

 

[Rory]

One of my main gripes with Mercedes at the moment, to stick to MBs annual service schedule a B service coming round biannually these filters and others would be changed regardless of mileage and at great cost.

The air and fuel filters used to be every 4 yrs. The in-between B service is only an oil and filter change, pollen filter and plus few more checks than the A service. MB insisting on brake fluid every 2yrs bumps up the cost though.

I recall seeing on later cars they changed the fuel filter to every 3yrs.

Mine is on variable servicing and only gets done every 2yrs, although I pretty well only use it (or used to use it!) for long runs. If I was doing lots of short trips I'd want the oil changing annually - always done that on wife's car.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

What’s particularly interesting to me is how clean the engine oil stays in the OM642 E350cdi engine when compared to my S210 320cdi, it’s almost as clean as running a petrol so oil contamination is obviously much less with the current EU5/EU6 diesels

 

[mioba]

I think MB change intervals on air and pollen filters is too long (years).
I do them every 2 with MB stock only.
The OM642 is a big air sucker.