The Assyst story continues.....

[Sprint'n'Go]

There has recently been a lot of discusion about the workings of the Assyst service interval indicator with some owners reaching minimal miles before a service is requested while others seem to run forever and eventualy lose their nerve and get an early service anyway. There has also been mention of the Mercedes plan to drop Assyst and return to fixed interval servicing.

Well, I have been into my local Merc van dealer this weekend to get the lowdown on the newly launched Sprinter and guess what? Assyst is still there and intervals have increased to a minimum of 24,000mls/40,000km and a possible maximum of 31,000mls/50,000km. This is for both the OM646 2148cc CDI engine and the V6 OM642 2987cc CDI unit (yes please.....).

Does any one know how this compares to the current passenger car ranges, I have some brochures on the C and E but they only mention that Assyst is fitted and do not comment on expected intervals?

 

[Rory]

I’m not sure it’s valid to compare service intervals on vans and cars – vans would be expected to rack up the miles much more quickly and there’s more to servicing than just changing the oil. In fact, as you found, the oil is good for high mileage anyway. The van engine is detuned, and perhaps it uses a bigger oil filter?
I guess MB are stretching out the intervals on vans in a competitive quest to reduce running costs vs other van makers. However, I would have thought that monitoring ASSYST would be a right pain for van fleets? In fact that is one of the reasons given by MB for going back to fixed intervals on cars (change coming later this year, I *think* only on new cars).

 

[pb33]

Quick Reply Appreciated!

Dropped my W211 into the dealer for 50K service today. Just got over the shock of £680 plus two new tyres (£300)!

Anyway, I was eager to get this ASSYST business sorted out, so revisited the service interval issue with the service department.

The conversation went something like:

ME: "but I routinely only get 10K miles between services and yet drive gentle motorway miles. I believe something is set up wrong. Please can you check that the ASSYST function is set up correctly, so I can benefit from the extended service interval?"

MERCEDES: "The car monitors the oil and works out when a service is due. We can only tell the car that a service has been performed."

ME: "but I routinely only get 10K miles between services and yet drive exclusively gentle motorway miles."

MERCEDES: "The car monitors the oil and works out when a service is due etc etc etc."

Is there something I can ask them to "do" that might help extend the service interval? My instinct tells me that somethings not set up correctly and I'm throwing away good money on unnecessary servicing.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[jberks]

Dropped my W211 into the dealer for 50K service today. Just got over the shock of £680 plus two new tyres (£300)!

Anyway, I was eager to get this ASSYST business sorted out, so revisited the service interval issue with the service department.

The conversation went something like:

ME: "but I routinely only get 10K miles between services and yet drive gentle motorway miles. I believe something is set up wrong. Please can you check that the ASSYST function is set up correctly, so I can benefit from the extended service interval?"

MERCEDES: "The car monitors the oil and works out when a service is due. We can only tell the car that a service has been performed."

ME: "but I routinely only get 10K miles between services and yet drive exclusively gentle motorway miles."

MERCEDES: "The car monitors the oil and works out when a service is due etc etc etc."

Is there something I can ask them to "do" that might help extend the service interval? My instinct tells me that somethings not set up correctly and I'm throwing away good money on unnecessary servicing.

Thanks,

Paul

Ask them what oil they put in and if it is fully synthetic. If they say yes, then ask them why its showing 9.4k when it should be showing 13k as a starting point on fully synth settings. There doesn't seem to be a way to set it from the dash on mine but I suspect there is from their computer.

 

[pb33]

Thanks JBERKS: I'll check the counter when I pick up the car.
Ta
Paul

 

[pb33]

Picked up the car and it showed 12500 miles to Service C. So, I'm initially pleased to see that it was >10K. Drove it 140 miles home and counter reduced to 12400 miles (only) to Service D. This suggests that I now should get >12500 miles b/w services, fingers crossed.
Paul

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

A pattern seems to be emerging on this subjuct. If you go into the dealer armed with a little knowledge and put enough pressure on them by asking the right questions they miraculously seem to fathom how it works all of a sudden.

They are obviously more than willing to take your cash prematurely unless you put your foot down.