Service Intervals e320cdi (Nov 2003)

[davec101]

I have an E class E320 cdi, from new. The service intervals calculated by assyst have come at:

1st Service - 16 Months -18,000 miles (16 months from new)
2nd Service - 27 Months - 9,200 miles (11months from 1st service)
and it now looks like the 3rd service will also run at 9,000 miles :!:

The garage asked me when I commented at the 2nd service 'had I changed my driving style' to which the answer is no. The service team manager advises me that typically these cars do between 15-20k.

Any ideas? The garage are'nt interested.

 

[Blobcat]

The ASSYST works on oil condition and time. When reset the counter shows 12K to next service, if you do not do 12K in a year then the service counter can bring the service forwards. If you do significantly more than 12K then the service indicator can go to well over 16K. Driving style affects oil quality & so affects service intervals.
It would be interesting to check if the same oil has been used at each service. To save some £'s you could get an interim 'A' service oil change done at an independant, get them to reset the ASSYST and just go to the dealers for the 'B' service.
If you go above around 16K before a service the ASSYST can change from an 'A' service to a 'B' as well.
IMO - I would want at least an annual service no matter how few miles I was doing.

 

[davec101]

The service was done yesterday - B service - the assist was reset to 9,315. And now even on motorway driving at 65 (showing 45+mpg) it is dropping mile for mile done. The service was £502.

 

[Rory]

What kind of oil was used for the service?
Even if was correct then it could be that the dealer didn't set it correctly - I have a C Class, but I've read that E's have a menu where you can set the oil type and it extends out the service interval.
On the C Class it's 229.1, 229.3 or 229.5, but resetting it on the C Class also resets the mileage to service, I seem to recall that it doesn't do that on the E.

 

[davec101]

Oil Type

The oil used on the 1st and yesterdays service is Castrol Formula SLX (£104.00+VAT)

 

[Blobcat]

They know how to charge! mine is filled with mobil 1 at £59.25 + vat for 7.5ltrs. I always think it nice how they break it down on the bill Qty 75, unit price 0.79p.
At the price you have paid I would supply the oil myself or as per previous have an indie do the 'A' services.

 

[Rory]

..but I've read that E's have a menu where you can set the oil type and it extends out the service interval.

Excuse me replying to my own post, but see here:

Google (include the quotation marks, and the incorrect spelling of service) for
"ASSYST Sevice intervals: Con or stupidity??"

 

[jberks]

I'm a bit confused on this one too. My E270 was serviced when I bought it in November when they put Castrol magnatec in. 9.5k later it was due again. I took it to the indie who put Mobil 1 in. I asked about the intervals and he said that they are only seeing 10k on average out of these (I got 17k out of the E240, admittedly by topping up with 3l of Mobil1 over the period). Sure enough, the assyst is reading 9.5k and dropping with the mileage. If anything I must be driving more gently now as the 270 has a lot more grunt than the 240 did and in any case, its 90 miles of mainly motorway work per day so hardly arduous for Mobil1 in a newish engine. I am starting to wonder whether things will improve as the mileage goes up and the engine beds in further, though I'm already on 27k so perhaps not.

I also wonder whether on the W211 things have changed. The assyst on the W210 was primarily based on oil condition. Keep it clean and you can get high teens between services. Allegedly the system on the 211 is far cleverer and covers all sorts of things like air filters, brake fluid etc. No longer menu based, instead, they plug it in and it tells them what it wants, making it impossible to get a quote before hand. As a result, I've just had the brake fluid changed because the assyst asked for it (16 months old !!??) so I wonder whether, whilst the oil is fine for another 5k, other things aren't and thats why I'm only seeing these mileages. Certainly I did pop a litre of magnatec in when I had 2k on the assyst. On the 240 that would have resulted in an increase to 3k. Made no difference whatsoever.

Ok - I've now read that thread .. (Thanks Rory I thing you just saved me a lot of money!)- I may have a little fiddle with the computer .....

 

[Rory]

Apparently MB is moving back to fixed interval servicing later this year - they've already done it in the US.

 

[davec101]

Thank Rory for leading me to the thread :-

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rory
..but I've read that E's have a menu where you can set the oil type and it extends out the service interval.


Excuse me replying to my own post, but see here:

Google (include the quotation marks, and the incorrect spelling of service) for
"ASSYST Sevice intervals: Con or stupidity??"


The car has been back to the garage today - they advise me that it had been set for Standard oil, and has now been modified for synthetic. The service indicator screen is now showing 12,315, and it is dropping about 1 for every 1.7 miles done (on gentle driving). The service manager at the garage will contact me tomorrow regarding recompense.. it sure is a good way of pulling in more service work! I'm sure that has nothing to do with it though...

 

[jberks]

Well I tried the 229.5 change per the info - It seems I don't have that option. It just reset the 'next due' back to 15,000km (9130m). It was only done 500 miles ago so no harm done I guess.

Anyone know why some have this option and some don't?
It seems I am stuck with 9500 mile service intervals.

 

[Rory]

Well I tried the 229.5 change per the info - It seems I don't have that option. It just reset the 'next due' back to 15,000km (9130m). It was only done 500 miles ago so no harm done I guess.

That's what it did in my 2005 C Class - it asked me to confirm the oil type and doing that reset the mileage. However I reset mine just after the A service request had flipped to a B at 16000 or (there's only A & B service in C Class). Resetting it then caused ASSYST to show 13000 miles to A service (as it alternates the services). However further resets (without doing any miles) didn't cause ASSYST to flip - is stayed on A.
When I took it in, the dealer seemed confused but did the A service as I asked them without complaint. However when I got the car back they'd managed to sort it out and it showed 13000 miles to B service.

It seems I am stuck with 9500 mile service intervals.

[/QUOTE]
I wonder if they'd know if you reset it at say, 6000 miles? Does ASSYST remember that it's been reset and 'tell' the dealer?

 

[Chris Bottomley]

Interesting thread this one to the unitiated like me because it can actually save us money! Should be unnecessary of course if the vehicle support network was as honourable, or perhaps knowledgeable, as it should be.

Think that I will leave playing with ASSYST to my betters since I may loose a favourable reading but the message seems to be

1. Find a decent independent
2. Buy the MB 229.5 fully synthetic yourself
3. Have them change it as part of the service
4. Trust them to use it
5. Check that they have reset ASSYST correctly, which for this spec of oil looks as though it should show a service interval of 13,000 miles.

I'm ok here this time round, though cant be sure that they used the oil I supplied!! However should fully synth be accompanied by a felt oil filter? My Indie did not know and used a standard component, which was no doubt carried as stock. Does anyone know whether this is important?

As far as ASSYST is concerned the car is lightly used at the moment but the service interval is down by 800 miles, almost exactly the same as the mileage since the service. This reflects mived driving, quite a bit of traffic and some motorways, though I do remember blowing away an irritating 320D. Presumably a lot of motorway mileage would improve the ratio.

One other point on Mobil 1 - beware the different specifications already referred to indirectly in this thread. Clever Cuts here thought that he had a good deal buying 5 litres for £24 in Carrefour in Calais. Good for the next service I thought, buying in a hurry to catch the allocated boat. Well I should have looked and thought more carefully because its 5W-40 (which I
did notice) and MB 229.3 which I did not (nasty, difficult to read dark writing against a black background). According to this thread it looks as though the Indie will set the service interval to 9,500 miles, making this all look like a serious case of false economy. At least I got the right spec wine in Calais............

The two containers sit in front of me as I write. The 5W-40 looks just like the 0W-40 but says 'Formilae Longevite' and '100% synthesis' and waxes lyrical on the back about ' Reduction exceptionelle de l'usure moteur et des depots'. Me thinks my Indie wont wear all this and will play it safe, despite my protests that the oil is fully synthetic!



Chris

2001 C270CDI and loving it.

 

[Rory]

Me thinks my Indie wont wear all this and will play it safe, despite my protests that the oil is fully synthetic!

If you're having the servicing done by an independent then none of this really matters - you can have serviced as frequently or as infrequently as you like.

As far as I can see, the only reason to faithfully follow ASSYST is so that the Mercedes warranty is maintained.

 

[citroennut]

service intervals

I'm a bit confused on this one too. My E270 was serviced when I bought it in November when they put Castrol magnatec in. 9.5k later it was due again. I took it to the indie who put Mobil 1 in.

if any oil other than mobil 1 is used it is not worth the expense of using mobile 1 thereafter.

i found this forum after looking for wheel refurbishers and it seems to be well attended need to keep dropping in.
cheers simon

 

[robbo]

if any oil other than mobil 1 is used it is not worth the expense of using mobile 1 thereafter.

Why do you say that?

 

[OlafMaxwell]

My reset is always 13,000 miles whether A or B service. When the first service was done at 15k there was still about 6 k remaining.

 

[citroennut]

service intervals

hi robbo,

'if any oil other than mobil 1 is used it is not worth the expense of using mobile 1 thereafter'.

i was told by local merc garage that if any oil used after mobile 1 then the beneficial properties of that oil are lost, so use always or just use 'normal' oil but don't pay the extra after changing away from mobile 1
cheers
simon

 

[Warrio_blue]

Merc 320cdi w211

Hi,there anybody know what sort of oil shall I use for my e320cdi 03 plate its done 120k miles cheers,and whats the way of resetting the service mileage on the clock as it shows 1000 miles due for service?