My .02 worth:
If you can afford a Benz, you can afford to change oil and filter every 3000 miles. As stated by others, it is THE CHEAPEST way to insure that your Benz engine will last a very long time, and that you will obtain the highest price for your car at trade-in or resale time. My Volvo 240 has 219,000 miles on it and uses NO oil ever, and I attribute this in part to religious 3000 mile oil and (Mann) filter changes over the life of the car. If you were buying a used Benz, all other things being equal, would you buy one that had had oil changes according to the computer, or one that had had religious 3000 mile oil and filter changes? Ahh, I thought so!
Best regards to all,
Colin