Servicing Problems: Important.

[Chas]

This is the reply I got from MB HQ

Mercedes-Benz Model: S-Class, S320

Thank you for contacting the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center Maastricht N.V., regarding the ASSYST system to your Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Following a Service to your vehicle, it is not possible to physically enter a figure into the ASSYST system until the next Service. However, it can be entered at the time of the Service and whether or not this was done to your Mercedes-Benz S-Class, can be verified by the associated Service Department of the Mercedes-Benz dealership.

When the system is reset, the only information that can be manually entered into the ASSYST computer is the type of oil used. The ASSYST computer will then calculate the remaining mileage until the next Service. It could happen that the vehicle is not driven very often or only small distances. In this case, the vehicle should be serviced by the end of a 2 year period since the last Service, unless the ASSYST calculation indicates it should take place sooner.

Should you have any further requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.


Yours sincerely

Peter Swaine
Customer Service
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center Maastricht N.V.
Gaetano Martinolaan 10
NL-6229 GS Maastricht, The Netherlands

Phone Nr: 00800 1 777 7777
mailto: CustomerService.UK@cac.mercedes-benz.com

I will ask him what figure should be displayed when Synthetic oil is used, 10,000 or 10,000+ ?

 

[whitenemesis]

If we waited till the Assyt told us to service our car I think it would be about 3yrs old

No, I think ASSYST would change to day count down when it approaches 1yr from the last reset...

 

[Rory]

No, I think ASSYST would change to day count down when it approaches 1yr from the last reset...

The car was already almost a year old so I think Lyn's car would have run to 2 yrs (unless it hit the ASSYST mileage first).

 

[whitenemesis]

No, I think ASSYST would change to day count down when it approaches 1yr from the last reset...

The car was already almost a year old so I think Lyn's car would have run to 2 yrs (unless it hit the ASSYST mileage first).

I think we are in agreement?

 

[rf065]

I will ask him what figure should be displayed when Synthetic oil is used, 10,000 or 10,000+ ?

I would be interested in the answer to that one too. After each service to mine, using synthetic oil, Mobil 1 no less, ASSYST always starts counting down from 10,000 miles.

Russ

 

[littlebrooklyn]

The car was already almost a year old so I think Lyn's car would have run to 2 yrs (unless it hit the ASSYST mileage first).

It's very confusing. You get one dealership telling you one thing whilst the dealership you bought the car from tells you the complete opposite. However according to Customer Service at Head Office it should be on an annual service as I said before and our warranty would be void if we didn't get it serviced, despite the ASSYST not telling us it needed a service. If I didn't come here I wouldn't even know what ASSYST was, but at least I now know how to spell it correctly

 

[Splatt]

It's very confusing. You get one dealership telling you one thing whilst the dealership you bought the car from tells you the complete opposite. However according to Customer Service at Head Office it should be on an annual service as I said before and our warranty would be void if we didn't get it serviced, despite the ASSYST not telling us it needed a service. If I didn't come here I wouldn't even know what ASSYST was, but at least I now know how to spell it correctly

When I took the A class in for service 6 months ago (main dealer, Pony Turslow) I asked the service advisor about the C class being over 1 year and not calling for a service and he said "Do what assyst tells you". Assyst is saying 11,700 miles to A service although car is 22 months old.

 

[rf065]

When I took the A class in for service 6 months ago (main dealer, Pony Turslow) I asked the service advisor about the C class being over 1 year and not calling for a service and he said "Do what assyst tells you". Assyst is saying 11,700 miles to A service although car is 22 months old.

After 23 months it will change to 30 days to A service, I assume.

Russ

 

[Rory]

However according to Customer Service at Head Office it should be on an annual service as I said before and our warranty would be void if we didn't get it serviced, despite the ASSYST not telling us it needed a service.

I appreciate that it's easy for me to say this, but I don't believe for one moment that the warranty would be invalidated if you followed ASSYST and it failed to tell you to take the car for service. If it didn't ask for a service for 2 yrs, then so be it.

 

[Chas]

Interestingly enough they have placed a sticker on the inside of my car door area "Next service due 8th July 2009"
Twelve months between services !!


We will see what transpires:-D

 

[Splatt]

After 23 months it will change to 30 days to A service, I assume.

Russ

I think it will actuallly swap to B service, we will see.

 

[Chas]

This is the reply I got from MB HQ

Mercedes-Benz Model: S-Class, S320

Thank you for contacting the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center Maastricht N.V., regarding the ASSYST system to your Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Following a Service to your vehicle, it is not possible to physically enter a figure into the ASSYST system until the next Service. However, it can be entered at the time of the Service and whether or not this was done to your Mercedes-Benz S-Class, can be verified by the associated Service Department of the Mercedes-Benz dealership.

When the system is reset, the only information that can be manually entered into the ASSYST computer is the type of oil used. The ASSYST computer will then calculate the remaining mileage until the next Service. It could happen that the vehicle is not driven very often or only small distances. In this case, the vehicle should be serviced by the end of a 2 year period since the last Service, unless the ASSYST calculation indicates it should take place sooner.

Should you have any further requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.


Yours sincerely

Peter Swaine
Customer Service
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center Maastricht N.V.
Gaetano Martinolaan 10
NL-6229 GS Maastricht, The Netherlands

Phone Nr: 00800 1 777 7777
mailto: CustomerService.UK@cac.mercedes-benz.com

I will ask him what figure should be displayed when Synthetic oil is used, 10,000 or 10,000+ ?

I have asked MB HQ the folllowing.....

Dear Peter

many thanks for a swift reply.

I am still a little confused.......

The ASSYST on my car was reset, following an A service last week, to 10,000 miles.The car was replenished with Synthetic oil.
If it was replenished with non synthetic oil would the ASSYST still read 10,000 miles after reset ?

Will the ASSYST always read 10,000 miles after reset, irrespective of type of oil used, and style of driving previously?

How do I know what "type of oil used" was entered into the ASSYST computer as the service dept. can't/won't tell me ?

Why does a sticker on my car door area say next service due 8th July 2009 ? (12 months)

Sorry for all the questions, but there appears to be differences of opinion as to what the ASSYST reset mileage should read following a service.

If the customer does not know what was entered into the ASSYST computer, and this means a vehicles servicing intervals could be shorter, then this would be more beneficial to the dealer, and less so to the customer.

Would it be possible to have a definitive answer to all customers queries regarding service intervals? Perhaps a card stating the maximum period and or mileage between services for each model? Presumably then all dealers would be singing from the same hymn sheet?

I look forward to your reply

many thanks

 

[hawk20]

I think there is some confusion. The dealer does not set the 'mileage to next service'.

The dealer should set whether he has used ordinary oil or synthetic. If he uses ordinary and sets for that, ASSYST will count down mile for mile from
10k miles.

If he uses synthetic oil and does NOT set the car for that then it will still count down mile for mile from 10k miles.

If he uses synthetic oil and correctly sets the car for that oil, then ASSYST will vary the distance to next service depending on driving style etc. And in most cases I've seen will show 15,500 to next service to begin with and then vary it.

Newer cars will switch to 'service due in x days' as the maximum 12 month interval elapses.

Older cars will switch to days as the two year max period approaches. I hope this is clearer.

 

[Rory]

15,500 miles is the new fixed interval for all models except A, B, V12 & AMG models.

I've never heard of the old variable interval ASSYST resetting to 15,500 miles. My W203 C270CDi always resets to 13,000 (doesn't matter which oil is selected) and, based on threads here, petrol W203's always seem to reset to 10,000 miles.

 

[hawk20]

15,500 miles is the new fixed interval for all models except A, B, V12 & AMG models..

That is not so in my experience. My A class and my wife's both show 15,550 miles to next service.

I've never heard of the old variable interval ASSYST resetting to 15,500 miles. My W203 C270CDi always resets to 13,000 (doesn't matter which oil is selected) and, based on threads here, petrol W203's always seem to reset to 10,000 miles.

My S class did. But it is not the miles shown that you need to worry about. As I said the important thing is that it is set for synthetic oil. Then on older models ASSYST will vary whatever is shown depending on driving style etc. My 320cdi diesel did over 15k miles between services on synthetic. As I understand it, if the mileage is being counted down mile for mile, and not varying with driving style, then the chances are they have not set it for synthetic oil.

You say your C270cdi resets to 13,000 and it doesn't matter which oil is selected. I cannot undrstand that. How do you know which oil setting has been selected? It should only show 10,000 miles if ordinary oil is used.

No wonder Mercedes have gone back to fixed service intervals. Probably hoped it would get rid of all the confusion.

 

[Chas]

My ASSYST is now reading 9,900miles after driving 45 miles since the A service ! So if they have used Synthetic oil I would be better having non synthetic and just counting down from 10,000

I think the problem is we don't know what oil type has been set, My MB dealer can't show me, says he would ask the tech who did it and get back to me, and didn't get back to me
He also swears blind that the ASSYST can't be set via the instrument cluster

S-Class (220) CL (215)

1) Insert your key and turn to position two.
2) Repeatedly press Button B (fig 189) until both the display shows the Total Mileage and trip Mileages page.
3) Repeatedly press Button C until the service symbol and Distance remaining until next Service screen is displayed.
4) Press Button A for 3 Seconds until the message “DO YOU WANT TO RESET THE SERVICE INTERVAL? CONFIRM BY PRESSING R BUTTON” message is displayed.
5) Within 5 seconds, press Button A until the new service interval appears then release.
Maybe I will just reset it myself !

 

[stivesvelo]

My s210 320cdi had an A service & displayed 13000mls to next service then proceeded to countdown to 8100 miles to next service. the next time I looked last week it had jumped up to 9200.

It seems as if it starts by counting down fairly quickly, then gradually slows down and adjusts itself after covering a larger mileage.

My theory is that it measures the amount of fuel used, but what do I know?

Rob

 

[Rory]

You say your C270cdi resets to 13,000 and it doesn't matter which oil is selected. I cannot undrstand that. How do you know which oil setting has been selected? It should only show 10,000 miles if ordinary oil is used.

I set it myself - you can select the oil type in the cluster on W203. There are threads saying it can be done in some E Class models too without resetting the mileage (so the miles to service jumps).

No wonder Mercedes have gone back to fixed service intervals. Probably hoped it would get rid of all the confusion.

The MD of MB UK gave that as the reason they were moving to fixed servicing, but we now have huge confusion over which cars are on fixed servicing and which are on variable.

I'm certain that it's an absolute lie that the dealers cannot change from flexible to fixed or vice versa. As I now do pretty low miles in my Merc, my dealer wrote to me and offered to change ny car to fixed interval. However once told it was on ServicePlus they said they wouldn't allow it.

Also, I said I reset my W203: I did this just before its first service and was playing with the cluster. The car had done about 17,000 miles and was booked in for an A service. Then ASSYST flipped to B. In looking at the oil type menu, I somehow reset ASSYST so it showed 13,000 miles to an A service. Subsequent resetting to any oil type always showed 13,000 and always to A service.

When I took it in, I told the dealer what I had done. He said, "no worries, ASSYST is only a guide", and he cheerfully did an A service, but it came back with the mileage reset to 13000 but firmly calling for a B service next.

 

[Chas]

http://www.motortrader.com/24397/Merc-sets-service-intervals.ehtml

Mercedes' decision to revert to fixed-mileage service gaps in the UK and Europe for its new C-Class, on sale in June, has been driven by demands from UK? fleets.

As part of a campaign to recover ground lost to BMW's 3 Series and Audi's A4, particularly among business buyers, Mercedes will apply set service intervals of 15,500 miles or 25,000 kilometres.
DaimlerChrysler UK's chief executive Wilfried Steffen, said: “Flexible gaps did not meet the demands of the corporate market and created difficulty in predicting service budgets within whole life costs and overall SMR parameters. The UK business car community drove this change.”
The move was supported by Cap Monitor's manufacturing relationship manager Martin Ward, who said: “Leasing firms generally err on the side of caution and factor in drivers who thrash their cars and increase service frequencies rather than those who take it gently. It can mean a difference of between £20 and £30 in monthly rates.”
Mercedes' internal servicing audits show the variable mileage service regime results in service intervals fluctuating between 15,000 and 20,000 miles, while Ward said: “It removes the element of doubt for Mercedes, which is unfairly renowned for expensive servicing.”

 

[hawk20]

Thanks CHAS. What a useful posting. As ever, the business market determines what private buyers get because a majority of new cars are bought by companies or funded by them. But for lower mileage private buyers it can double the cost of servicing. If you do 7.500 miles per year it is now two services in two years, instead of one on the old system.