Stupid question - but where's my dipstick?

[Wrangler]

Just bought my first Merc from a car supermarket. It's a Nov. 2003 C220 CDi Coupe (hatchback) on the 53 plate. I'm familairising myself with the car and reading the books as I go along, but, one thing perplexes me. Where's my engine oil dipstick?

I've located what I delieve should be the dipstick - n/s back of engine near bulkhead, but, when I take it out there's just a bung with no traditional dipper (i.e no long strip of metal with either notches or markings) and looking down the dip tube there's no sign of it down there.

Can anybody put me right before I make a fool of myself at/with the dealer?

 

[230K]

Hi

What you are looking at is the dipstick tube for the transmission (you are auto?) there is a tube for the transmission but no dipstick it is a workshop part.

As for the engine oil dipstick it is quite possible you dont have one but im not sure, try your manual.

230K

 

[C220GJS]

Welcome to the forum and MB ownership.
Your engine oil dipstick , if you have one,is on the nearside of the engine, towards the front ,it has a red plastic handle . Check oil level after engine has been off for at least 5mins and do not overfill.
What you believed to be the engine dipstick hole is the location for measuring the transmission fluid level, unfortunately the dipstick comes at extra cost, as until recently MB had the policy that these auto gearboxes were sealed for life.

 

[mioba]

I posted a similar question like this a few months back.
My w220 has no dipstick also, only a red bung, i think this is stupid by mercedes benz to be honest. You can measure the oil level from the computer, but only when the oil is at operating temperature - which means you have to start the car and run it for atlest 5 mins.
Now if you have just changed the oil and the level is low, you wouldnt want to turn on the engine would you and risk possible damage. I went to the dealers and purchased a proper dipstick and for what they are they are not cheap either 20 pounds.

hope that helps

 

[television]

I posted a similar question like this a few months back.
My w220 has no dipstick also, only a red bung, i think this is stupid by mercedes benz to be honest. You can measure the oil level from the computer, but only when the oil is at operating temperature - which means you have to start the car and run it for atlest 5 mins.
Now if you have just changed the oil and the level is low, you wouldnt want to turn on the engine would you and risk possible damage. I went to the dealers and purchased a proper dipstick and for what they are they are not cheap either 20 pounds.

hope that helps

Wise move Mioba, there are at least 20 recorded faults oil level reading to high or to low.

Malcolm

 

[Wrangler]

Thanks all of you.

Carried on reading the manual and playing with the on-board computer/menu and found the oil level check feature. However, I'd like a manual back-up so looks like a trip to the local MB dealer (Inchcape on Pride Park Derby - just hope they are better than Inchcape Toyota were a few years back when I had a Rav4).

Thanks for the welcome - I'll be popping in and out on a regular basis, no doubt. Today we did our first family trip out - Derby to Shefield for some bungee jumping (my 17 year old, not me). Averaged speed 60mph on the journey and 48mpg (according to on-board computer thingy) in a much more relaxed style than anything I've ever owned. Leaves me asking one question now - why did I wait until I turned 50 to buy a Merc?

 

[television]

.



Today we did our first family trip out - Derby to Shefield now - why did I wait until I turned 50 to buy a Merc?

The last time I did the reverse trip, Shefield to Bakewell , it was back in the late 60's then I had a 1965 CE and I found that real Bakewell Tart, tasted like no other, its almost like the MB.

Malcolm

 

[Rory]

If it's the same as my C Class Estate then you can check the actual oil level from the computer:
With the ignition key in Pos 1, and the display showing total mileage, press the trip reset button 3 times quite quickly.
The display then shows the battery voltage.
Scroll through the displays using the up/down buttons and one of them has the line 'Öl' at the bottom.
Turn the ignition to Pos 2 and a few seconds later it will display the oil level in litres.

With these engines, using ASSYST, it will tell you to add oil when it needs it, and doing this only when told to will extend the service interval.

 

[eyelight]

Can't believe they're selling cars without a dipstick. Replacing a simple componant with some complicated computerised gizmo that eventually go wrong.
Just dumb.

 

[clive williams]

The last time I did the reverse trip, Shefield to Bakewell , it was back in the late 60's then I had a 1965 CE and I found that real Bakewell Tart, tasted like no other, its almost like the MB.

Malcolm

Malcolm,

I can't believe that you consider a MB to be flakey underneath, soft and tasty inside and sugery yuk on the outside with a cherry on top?

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[Blobcat]

Malcolm,

I can't believe that you consider a MB to be flakey underneath, soft and tasty inside and sugery yuk on the outside with a cherry on top?

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

With appologies to Malcolm in advance I think it could be;

Flakey underneath - rusty subframe
Soft and tasty inside - Upholstery to a mouse
Sugery on the outside - Covered in tree sap
Cherry on top - Driving his SL with top down and no hat in the sun

 

[comfort zone]

Reading this thread has answered a question that was puzzling me about my E300 turbodiesel. I found the dipstick tube for the transmission but there was just a black plastic bung in the top, and no dipstick!

So if I want to ckeck the transmission oil it's going to cost me £20!

Thats life!

 

[davidsl500]

I found that real Bakewell Tart, tasted like no other.

Malcolm

I think you will find its a pudding not a tart Malcolm.

 

[television]

I think you will find its a pudding not a tart Malcolm.

Thanks David, it was just one of those stupid things that I never forgot, I know it was expensive back then.

Malcolm