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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Maintenance and Repair
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Comments
Now, to answer the question: I changed the oil in our FSS-equipped '02 C240 at 5k miles, without resetting the system. Here's the timeline on our first 2+ years of ownership:
-Jan 02 - Car rolls off the assembly line in Bremen [FSS computer active and starts counting the months and miles]
-Sep 02 - We buy the car new in Sacramento [35 miles on it]
-Jun 03 - 5k miles - Oil change without resetting the FSS
-Jan 04 - FSS calls for the A service. Miles just short of 9.5k, but timeline is 24 months since the crankcase was first filled [the FSS is unaware of the interim change]
-Oct 04 - Oil changed again without resetting the FSS, at 14.5k miles
-???- Expect the FSS to call for the next service at 20k or Jan of '06, whichever comes first [48 months since production].
-After that, no oil changes except as called for by the computer.
In Europe, it is COMMON for all manner of ordinary cars [Renault, Ford, Peugeot, Opel, Fiat], never mind the MBs and BMWs, to go AT LEAST 10k between oil changes - usually longer. Only in this country is the common wisdom that more frequent oil changes are necessary in modern engines. There are cases where failure to use synthetic oils [VW is the prime example, but Toyota is another] have resulted in premature engine failures when oil change intervals are extended past 5k miles.
I think MB's current recommendations for the '05s are quite adequate as guidelines to use for oil change frequency. The FSS-equipped cars are going to go a maximum of 24 months for low mileage situations, and I happen to believe that's reasonable for an engine with synthetic oil and over 8 quarts in the crankcase [virtually all MBs hold at least 6 quarts, and some have as much as 10 quarts of capacity] to go that long, or 10-15k miles, depending on use.
This is a minority view - most owners believe that the engineers in Stuttgart are insane, and that this is all a conspiracy to make service requirements appear lower than they actually are. This debate rages in the MB Club even as we speak. My view is that in these days of super-low-emissions engines [it is in fact combustion by-products that are the chief source of crud in the oil], it is just a waste of time, money, and resources to dump the oil at the intervals we think are common in this country. I expect much counter-argument on this, and in fact, on every board I subscribe to here at Edmunds, this topic comes up at least every two weeks.
You should do whatever makes you feel right - I feel just fine in following the manufacturer's recommendations for my car; I wasn't sure at the beginning how the FSS would calculate intervals in a situation like ours, where the car only accumulates 6k-8k miles a year - but now that I know, I intend to just do what the computer calls for.
I can pull the dipstick out today and the oil looks, feels, and smells like it just came out of the can.
The new low emission motors are so efficient that there is little internal contamination that gets into the oil. You will see little time-dependent breakdown either in a synthetic over a 1-2 year window. So rest assured the new FSS schedules combined with a good synthetic oil will work just fine.
My car still pulls to redline just fine.
Trust me, I know about this from first hand experience. It took a little while for them to get to me but wow, what service, and everything was programed back to the original settings.
No - I don't recommend avoiding regular service and inspections at your dealer but if you do have a battery failure MB USA will come to the rescue!
Anybody has a similar problem? Any idea what I can do about it? Could it have something to do with the windshield or wipers rather than the rainsensor itself? Could it just be a problem of adjustment of sensitivity of the rain sensor?
I will take it back to service, but it's a problem that's difficult to document unless it rains. Meanwhile, it's very anoying. The only way I can get intermittend wiper function is by manually pressing the button from time to time.
I think the main point of more frequent oil changes is - with a dealer coupon it costs about $20.00 - an engine overhaul will be $3,000 +.
IMO if you pay more than $30K for a vehicle paying $20.00 a year for an oil change is no big deal - I normally have the car in the dealership for something else anyway.
As far as environmental impact - it gets recycled - and then re sold as new oil.
Thank you!
Do not push hard on the display as this can break the internal crystal connections and then you are SOL.
Cost, probably 400+ if you dealer is like any other MB outfit. They wont try to repair by only replacing the LCD, they will swap out the entire assembly.
You may find an independent mechanic that has access to used parts who can do a real repair, fix the LCD only, for under $100.
While you are at it, check out your blower motor. They tend to wear out early, 50-70k miles, and start to make an audible background sound in the lower speed settings. You can really hear it if the radio is off and the blower is around 2 or 3 setting then shut the car off. If you hear a whining sound as it spins down it is time to yank it out as well.
The two items are in the same area so you may get a deal.
Good luck.
Because it's a 4-matic, I suspect something in the driveline. Since they've already done the driveshaft and the flexdisc [yes, those are rational suspects with known past problems], my next suspect would be one of the front half-shafts or front u-joints.
Let us know what happens with the latest tire swap. Balancing is rarely the problem, but one or more tires that are out of round WILL cause this symptom. One way to be absolutely sure that the tires are not the culprits is to have the balancing done on a road-force machine. Any reading over 10 lbs is highly suspect - a good tire/wheel combination [OEM MB alloy wheel] should be in the area of 5-7 lbs of road force. [A road force balancer interprets how much variation there is on the contact patch of the tire as it rotates - a bigger variance indicates a lack of roundness].
I am concerned about other damage as the rough running and hestitation in shifting has been going on for quite a while. Didn't realize it was anything other than the small engine.
That aside, one must live with the car, like the aesthetics, and enjoy the feeling they get while driving the vehicle. I for one really love my 1998 C 230 and would be hard pressed to live with a BMW or Acura for the same 7 1/2 years I've had the C. Quality issues or not.
We recently added a 2004 E 320 to our family and it too is not perfect but my wife can not picture herself in any other car.
A good servicing dealer helps and we have found MB USA to be excellent.
Sincere thanks,
mhester
from the overhead panel.