Servicing dilema

[R W]

About 3 months ago I bought a 2001 320cdi from auction. The auction description was 164,000mls with service history. After the purchase I realised the previous 2 services only seem to have a signature & no stamp in the service book. So I am assuming the 'service history' is worthless. The car is also 1800mls overdue a B service.I only had the car 1 day & had to return to work in Russia leaving the car parked at home. I am due to return to UK on Monday next week so I phoned the local indie to book it in for the B service. Unfortunatly they are fully booked & unable to do the service till 2nd week in Sept. My dilema is, should I do the service myself?, or wait & let the indie do it?.I would like to do it myself & would probably enjoy doing it. Also taking into account the lack of service history I have nothing to loose. I feel competant enough to do this as long as there isnt something extremely complicated as my job entails maintaining large computerised comercial engines but I dont have too much experience on modern MBs.Is there anything particularly complicated in doing the B service.What would you guys recomend, do it myself or wait & let the indie do it?.
If I decide to do it myself can anyone tell me or have a service check/change list, of what has to be checked or changed in this B service. I was also thinking of buying one of the code readers I see advertised on Ebay, to re-set the service indicator & read any faults that may be present. Has anyone have any advice on these tools, are they any good.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
R W

 

[Blobcat]

Depending on who did the previous services you could always have a Mercedes Dealer print out all the previous service paperwork for you. If the services were outside the dealer network then they will not be logged into the MB system.
The 'B' service is the large one however if you have the skills and the tools I do not think it would be a problem for you, the only issue with having it serviced outside the delaer network is that you will lose your 30yr rust warranty and Mobillife breakdown cover.
Having access to a diagnositics machine to read the codes would be useful, If I remember correctly you can reset the ASSYST system with the 'R' button on the dashboard.

 

[R W]

Thanks Blobcat, I suppose I should wait till I get home & check who did the previouse services & I will also check as you say Dealer paperwork on the car.
If the previous services were done by an indie would the 30yr rust warranty still apply, or has the servicing to be done by the dealer to keep the rust warranty.
If the previouse services were not done by a MB dealer or indie I have nothing to loose by doing the service myself.If the rust warranty still applies I will have the car serviced by an indie or dealer.
After purchasing the car I drove it home,about 25mls & the performance was not as good as I expected of the 320cdi.Although I have never driven another 320cdi to compare it with only what I have read about them. This is also a reason I am thinking of buying a code reader. I may be wrong but from reading the many threads it may need a MAF. The car was a HP re-possesion & probably the owner has neglected maintenance,ie overdue the B service.
Thanks again for your advice.
R W

 

[Blobcat]

If it does not rev beyond 3000 and is reluctant to kickdown then the MAS/MAF is a likely candidate. MAS failing does not always leave fault codes.
Only MB servicing will keep the rust warranty up. However you really need to check the service booklet carefully as it will dictate how often you need to get it serviced at a MB dealer to keep the warranty going. Psmart posted on this fairly recently.

 

[jberks]

Given that you don't know the real history of the car, believe (reasonably) that it may have been neglected recently and are not an expert on the 320cdi, I'd be tempted, at least for the first service, to let the indie do it. The B is major anyway, but it's always good to have an expert cast an eye over the car before getting too heavily involved. Then at least you know you're staring from a known point and can judge things from there.

 

[bitonw]

About the reset of your service indicator. If you can read German there's an manual how to do this in the hidden menu's of some Mercedes Benz cars.

http://www.tachoteam.de/tachojustierung-forum/ntopic404.html

 

[Balal]

This question must have been asked before, but I cannot seem to find it on the forum....so excuse my "search" failure!

anyways! so is there any link or can anyone point out whats involved in this A,B,C,D (if there are C and D) services ?

Thanks

 

[Blobcat]

This question must have been asked before, but I cannot seem to find it on the forum....so excuse my "search" failure!

anyways! so is there any link or can anyone point out whats involved in this A,B,C,D (if there are C and D) services ?

Thanks

It depends upon which Mercedes you have and its age as to what the ASSYST system has for servicing options.
Older cars have A or B. A = Oil Change and general check. B = Large Service, wheels off etc.
Newer Cars have all the way to H. A & B are similar to the older, D is a diagnostic service. Next time I'm in my dealer I will ask what the others are.

 

[Bargain Bucket]

Actually, you do still have a valid entitlement to the 30 year rust warranty if the car has been serviced by a non MB workshop. The EU changed the rules so that manufacturers can't force you to take your service business to them. In essence, you have to service the car either with MB or with a VAT registered garage who must use genuine MB parts. That should maintain your 30 year entitlement. Some MB dealerships will refute this but they have no right to. You just need proof that any garage used genuine parts. I buy the parts myself just to be sure.

As for a B service, there isn't that much to it really. Oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, cabin filter(s), front (and rear on estate) wiper blades, and a good checkover of brake discs and pads + all the other checks that an MOT will do for you. To be honest, I'll bet that most MB dealerships don't "check/adjust" most of the things listed on the schedule. Most indies won't either.

You should also consider replacing the engine coolant and brake fluid, and you should also change the transmission fluid and filter (none of which are a part of a normal B service and would be charged extra for).

B service on an E320 CDi will set you back about £480 which is a complete rip off for the amount of work they actually do.

 

[Shambolic]

Had car back from "B" service (other thread about damage to door) and looking through the service logbook there are no ticks for replacement of any filters etc,is there a good chance the dealer just reset the service indicator as the car is a very low mileage approx 7500 54 plate (jan 2005),bought by me in June, so service was being done free by dealer!!!
Should I have recieved the parts in the boot in a box as Jaguar used to do. The service indicator is now showing 9550 till "D" service

 

[Blobcat]

Had car back from "B" service (other thread about damage to door) and looking through the service logbook there are no ticks for replacement of any filters etc,is there a good chance the dealer just reset the service indicator as the car is a very low mileage approx 7500 54 plate (jan 2005),bought by me in June, so service was being done free by dealer!!!
Should I have recieved the parts in the boot in a box as Jaguar used to do. The service indicator is now showing 9550 till "D" service

You could always remove the pollen and air filters to check if they are new.

 

[Shambolic]

You could always remove the pollen and air filters to check if they are new.

Will do that today when the wife gets in.



I have just realised I have never looked under the bonnet of the car yet
Have had it 2 months that is shocking!!!

 

[jberks]

Actually, you do still have a valid entitlement to the 30 year rust warranty if the car has been serviced by a non MB workshop. The EU changed the rules so that manufacturers can't force you to take your service business to them. In essence, you have to service the car either with MB or with a VAT registered garage who must use genuine MB parts. That should maintain your 30 year entitlement. Some MB dealerships will refute this but they have no right to. You just need proof that any garage used genuine parts. I buy the parts myself just to be sure.

Not true I'm afraid. The 30 year corrosion warranty is tied to Mobilio and classed as a 'goodwill' warranty. As a result, it is not covered by EU regs in the same way as the 3 year P&L warranty is. Most cars come with a long term 'anti perforation' warranty and that will probably stand, but not even the worst 210 ever suffered from that. Perforation would be the kind of thing old Mark 3 escorts would do where the bottom of the doors would rot out from the inside. They fixed surface rust (quite rightly) primarily as a goodwill gesture. Go beyond 2 years and don't visit the dealer and the Mobilio and 30yr warranties are dead. The parts and labour warranty however still stands.

That said, it's precisely what I'm doing as my 04 211 is unlikely to rust and Mobilio is only worth £100 per year. Given that I can save £200-300 per service by using an indie, and need 2 services per year, it still makes sense.

Had car back from "B" service (other thread about damage to door) and looking through the service logbook there are no ticks for replacement of any filters etc,is there a good chance the dealer just reset the service indicator as the car is a very low mileage approx 7500 54 plate (jan 2005),bought by me in June, so service was being done free by dealer!!!
Should I have recieved the parts in the boot in a box as Jaguar used to do. The service indicator is now showing 9550 till "D" service

I wouldn't want the parts clogging up my bin to be honest, but in any case, the assyst can normally tell if work has not been done and will jump back pretty quickly, especially if the oil is unchanged. Fitlers are tricky as they now 'rotate' them and don't always replace.

 

[R W]

Thank you all for your advice. When I get home I will be visiting the dealer to purchase new disc,s & pads.(That I will fit myself). While I am there I will check the dealer service history of the car,also clarify the rust warranty if I still have any warranty or not. If I dont have rust warranty I dont see any point in paying a dealer 480pounds when an indie will be half the price & may do a better job. As jberks says they can cast there experienced eyes around the car for any further problems.Again if I dont qualify for the rust warranty I am very tempted to do later services myself. If they only involve oils & filters changing & some checks. Does anyone have a list of checks/changes for A & B services.
Also I will be doing a transmission oil & filter change after reading the forum on the subject, better to be changing oils & filters than a complete transmission. I dont beleive in there theory of "sealed for life" transmission.
The car seems to be Ok regarding rust in the places where the forum say the rust starts but who knows what it will be like 4 or 5 years down the line as I do intend to keep the car if it is OK.
I have in Russia a 1988 260E, this has been an excilent car & was what prompted me to buy an MB in UK.It has very little sign of rust at all. I have had it re-sprayed but this was because the laquer was lifting in a few places. The cost of a re-spray here was $500( 270pounds ). It wasnt a windows out job but a very good finnish & bumpers coloured to match the car. I did have a problem with it with the ASD diff whining. It turned out to be only the pinnion bearing, but I found a company that rebuilt the diff with all new bearings & seals,they made new thrust washers. Total cost was $250 + removal & fitting $35.I can also fill the fuel tank full for 19pounds?.
The prices we pay in UK are a joke in comparison, but labour is cheap here.
Thanks again for all your advice.

 

[Blobcat]

Your gearbox will not have a torque converter drain plug so 4ltrs is the max amount of ATF you will be able to changed (out of 7). Whilst at the dealers I would get the gearbox filter. Also pls use MB recommended ATF. Here is a thread for the oils http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=19165

 

[R W]

Thanks Blobcat, I will get the correct oil & also change the 4tlrs again in a few thousand miles as the forum recomends.

 

[R W]

I returned to UK & have changed the discs & pads,transmission oil/filter (Although just over 2ltrs of oil came out).I have also been spraying liberal amounts of Waxoil everywhere where these 210s rust.
Performance was not good as I previously thought, it would not rev above 3000rpm & no kick down?. Another visit to the dealer for a MAF sensor, & the problem was cured. I was pleasently surprised at the dealer prices, £53 + VAT for the MAF sensor,also all the brake parts prices seemed reasonable.
So far I am very impressed with the car & in particulare the 320cdi engine. I am amased at the performance & refinement of modern diesels. Even though I hear this engine is now superseded by a V6 320cdi.The car is off to the indie tomorrow for the B service, they can also check the transmission oil level for me.
Then I hope to rack up many happy miles & hopefully trouble free miles in the next 2 weeks of my vacation, I find myself making any excuse to go out & drive the car, fiddle with it or clean it.
I was reading in a Merc magazine they are now producing a 420cdi??, I can only imagine how well that must drive.
Regards
R W

 

[Shambolic]

Had car back from "B" service (other thread about damage to door) and looking through the service logbook there are no ticks for replacement of any filters etc,is there a good chance the dealer just reset the service indicator as the car is a very low mileage approx 7500 54 plate (jan 2005),bought by me in June, so service was being done free by dealer!!!
Should I have recieved the parts in the boot in a box as Jaguar used to do. The service indicator is now showing 9550 till "D" service

Quick update on this sorry to go on a bit checked service indicator today and it is at 8722 miles till "D" service in 2 weeks it has dropped significantly.
Car had done 7397 as service it now has 7997 on clock
So the indicator has dropped by 828 miles and the actual mileage is 500 I think somebody is telling porkies at the garage that my car has been serviced i think the car was reset and that is all....
Any ideas???

 

[jberks]

If it was detecting a problem I imagine it would be more drastic than an extra 300. I suspect it's simply detected the lead toe caps in your right shoe!

 

[Shambolic]

The garage have reset the Assyst again and it is now 9300 to a "C" service will just wait and see how it goes. As at this rate it will need serviced every 3 months
Is not my heavy foot as I don't drive it much, most of it's work is a 2 way journey Mon-Fri 10 miles total by my wife, been extra recently as my mother-in-law is in hospital so long journey to hospital every day.
Indicator still wanting to turn left without anybody touching stalk as well been in now twice for repair.......
Dealer will order full module or something if it happens again b4 I book it in!!