I just looked ast the class action settlement from a letter I received from MB in Sept 2002. They will cover "oil sludge or related piston ring repairs" for 10 years or up to 150,000 miles. They include also a $35 certificate in the mail. MB has since advised using only synthetic engine oil. Maybe you can get your $$$ back. Hope this helps. BTW, they did a ring job on my 1999 ML320 at 31,000. I was complaining of excess oil loss at 19,000.

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85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)