Strange service indicator

[Mikeroo]

Hi all

I have been the owner of a X plate 2000 year CLK 430 for a couple of months now. When I bought the car the serviceindicator said the A service was due in 3400 miles, I topped the oil up as it was a little low and this went up to 4600 miles..... so far so good. As the miles counted down and the A service was due in about 1600 miles I noticed that the trip computer had reset itself some 45 miles previously, hmmm wierd I thought as I hadnt touched any button or done anything other than drive normally, then when I check the service indicator it said B service due in 1600 miles??? How can this be, surely it isnt meant to change what service is required?

Anyone enlighten me?

Thanks in advance

Mike

 

[Blobcat]

This comes up quite often, depending upon how many miles and how long since last service the ASSYST can change to a B service from an A. ~13K miles and 2 yrs is the change over point.

 

[Rory]

Yep, this is pretty common - mine did the same thing just before its first ever service.
High mileage users have reported that their cars always ask for B services, and for low mileage users the car is supposed to have a B service every 2 yrs. Maybe the car realises that if it only has an A service it will too long before it's brought back to the dealer again, so it asks for a B.

 

[Blobcat]

Yep, this is pretty common - mine did the same thing just before its first ever service.
High mileage users have reported that their cars always ask for B services, and for low mileage users the car is supposed to have a B service every 2 yrs. Maybe the car realises that if it only has an A service it will too long before it's brought back to the dealer again, so it asks for a B.

Yes, I used to service mine early when it wanted an A service and let it go all the way when it wanted a B

 

[Rory]

Yes, I used to service mine early when it wanted an A service and let it go all the way when it wanted a B

Mine had done around 16000 miles when it flipped from A to B, but I'd already booked it in.
In messing around with ASSYST I accidently reset it, so when I took my car in it said about 13000 miles to A service.
I explained what I'd done to the dealer and at the time I was doing a lot of miles so I asked the dealer if it would be OK to just do the A service (without having any warranty implications) and he said that's fine. They apparently only use ASSYST as a guide anyway.
It came back firmly showing B as the next service, though!

 

[stu99]

For 7,000 miles prior to the first service (due at 12,000 miles) the ASSYS indicator in my car suggested a B service until the last 300 miles when on two occasions it suggested that an A service was due. When MB plugged the car into their computer it suggested that an A-service was due and they proceeded with this.

Now the display suggests that the next service is a C service (due in 9000 miles or 21,000 overall).

Where is the logic in this? Is it likely to continue to read out C until the service is due and then revert to B?

 

[Rory]

For 7,000 miles prior to the first service (due at 12,000 miles) the ASSYS indicator in my car suggested a B service until the last 300 miles when on two occasions it suggested that an A service was due. When MB plugged the car into their computer it suggested that an A-service was due and they proceeded with this.

Now the display suggests that the next service is a C service (due in 9000 miles or 21,000 overall).

Where is the logic in this? Is it likely to continue to read out C until the service is due and then revert to B?

Which model is this?
W203's (and related models) only have A & B services.
However I know that other models have lots of sevicing options and it's a bit of a bugbear that no-one can tell what needs doing until the car is hooked up to Star. That's why MB have switched to fixed interval servicing on new models.