Service Intervals - 2004 E320 CDi

[Bowruss]

I had my E Class in for a B service on 2 June. It was first registered in March 2004. My mileage on completion of the service was 47744.

I checked the service indicator today and after 135 miles since the service(local m/way trips and a bit round town) the indicator states a service is needed in 9183 miles!

It actually said 9183 to service C then later today changed it's mind to read 9181 to service D......

I've checked back with service reception and they've talked to a technician who says this is right - they all set back to 9500 countdown. I'd told them my mileage and pointed out that even if 9500 was the start point, something is still wrong.

The invoice shows that they used "Bulk OIL ESP 5w30 OIL" which they assured me was the correct synthetic oil for my (in- line 6) engine. I assumed this was a Mobil oil. I do notice that they quoted 7.30 litres at £12.00 and this may be significant. Doesn't the proper high quality stuff cost more than this?

I asked if they could check that Star had been coded OK and check the position with procedures etc. I'm currently waiting for an explanation call back. While I was waiting for them I rang another MB dealer and they say that with the high quality oil and with Star being correctly inputted, I should start the countdown with over 12500 miles.

Does this sound familiar to people? Surely I should get more miles than this between services. I'm also a bit foxed about why it said C service then changed itself to D service a couple of miles later. What do all these A, B, C, and D services signify?

Incidently - I get really great service from my dealer and car goes just great. The total price price wasn't too bad either - £480.72 incl VAT and this included a transmission oil-change.

If anyone can throw some light on the coun-down thing and tell me about these different services, I'd be really gratefull.

Thanks, Russ.

 

[Bowruss]

Just a quick addition - the service booklet shows "Mobilesplow ash 5w30". Presumably the good stuff as required for my engine?

Russ.

 

[Rory]

Just a quick addition - the service booklet shows "Mobilesplow ash 5w30". Presumably the good stuff as required for my engine?

Russ.

It's better than you need. It's Mobil 1 ESP (Emission System Protection) - it's a Low Ash oil designed for cars with diesel particulate filters, which your car doesn't have. I imagine most dealers have standardised on this as it suits all MBs so they can just use one oil.


Do some searches for other threads about servicing and have a look on the MB website for info - you can put some details of your car in and it will tell you what needs doing.

 

[Bowruss]

Thanks Rory. I had a look through them but I couldn't see an answer to my particular problem.

I went back the dealer today and he hooked up a laptop and then told me that it showed my car had a CAN fault. He also confirmed that there were no other faults and that I could consider just living with the situation.

I have no idea what this CAN fault is but we talked it through and it is possible that more work - about an hour - with the diagnostics might resolve the problem.

I suggested that the fault could well have been in the car since manufacture and that MB might consider a claim. He will take this up for me.

I do think my car has had this fault for possibly all its life. Up to December last year, I was on a service plus contract and so I didn't worry about when the spanners came up. However, now I'm conscious that I may be spannered to have an annual service instead of one after about 13000 miles.

Does anyone know what a CAN fault is and whether it would be likely to sort out my service countdown problem? (Please see above).

Thanks, Russ.

 

[Cole@MBS]

CAN fault, no communication between the control modules on the CAN-BUS, common to be fair, one control unit has asked for something and the other didnt reply, bit like being married really!!

 

[Hertfordshire Merx]

Mmm, dont know if Mercedes make a control unit based on my wife which shouts and then ignores, sometimes for a few days!!

 

[jberks]

The Assist system has 2 settings. One for semi synthetic oil where intervals are a touch short of 9500 miles and the other for semi synthetic thats around 12500 (not exact as its worked in KM's so its the nearest miles figure).
If yours is 9100 then its set for semi synthetic and as you have fully synth oil, you're losing out on 3,000 miles.
Mine was stubbornly on 9500 intervals despite mentioning it on booking in on several occasions. This time I got a bit stroppy about it and lo and behold, when I checked it before driving away - 12500!!

Take it back.

 

[Neo4]

Mine is a E270 (S211), my last interval was about 13K miles. I have ben checking as it counted down and this time I have done aound 10K, the countdown says I have another 2850 miles to go before the next service (D! - eeek!). Not sure what the oil used was, need to check the service book. HTH
Cheers
Pete

 

[Bowruss]

Thanks for all the replies.

My dealer does seem to be agreeing with me - and you! - that I should be getting aprox 12,500 as a start for the countdown. The worrying thing is that when they checked with the lap-top, this CAN fault was spotted. They also said that they could not re-set Asyst and I was left with the feeling that the reason for this was the CAN fault.

From your experience, could a CAN fault be the reason Asyst will not allow a proper re-set registering the synthetic oil?

Sorry to be niggly about this but the car is so good and I really want to have it running just right. Also I don't want to lose out on those 4000 miles!

Thanks, Russ.

 

[rf065]

I had an A service in MB dealers last week & it was returned with 10,000 miles to next service despite using fully synthetic oil.
I simply ran through the steering wheel menus & reset it for 229.5 oil & it came up with 13,000 miles to next service. Problem solved.

Russ

 

[Rory]

Why do the dealers manage to appear clueless about this - do they do it on purpose, or are they just thick?