I think 6000 feet of altitude will hurt the mileage to as we got more in europe about 35-36 when we did the pick up, I was limited to 90mph though due to the run period.

__________________
Martin Ingram
Colorado Springs
2005 320 CDI
2006.5 VW Jetta TDI
1991 560SEL (179000 Sold)
1972 280SEL 4.5 ('The Lead Sled' 320000 miles when sold.)
1972 220D (225000 when sold)

The W210's have the plastic covers too, though you only need to remove one to get to the drain plug. It's cool that you do your own oil changes. Most CDI owners probably go to the dealer for their "free" maintenance. Did your dealer give you any looks for not taking advantage of it?

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Free scheduled maintenance was discontinued for new MBs starting in the 2005 model year. MB claims that the reason is because MB engineers now require very little scheduled maintenance on the cars. I say that is part of the reason but reducing costs is also another.

__________________
1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

To support the plasma tvs, courtesy cars, driving range, hot spots and fitness facility they have to really jack up the maintenance money. There is so little scheduled maintenance on my buick I am going to do it myself until I get to the big milestones and even most of them I will do myself unless my back really goes bad or I am just to busy at work. I think if I got a cdi and did my own maint I would want to get a top sucker for oil. I would really like one anyway for my w124

__________________
My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

13000 miles between changes is to long i am sure with syn oil it is okaybut that seems to long to me.

__________________
Martin Ingram
Colorado Springs
2005 320 CDI
2006.5 VW Jetta TDI
1991 560SEL (179000 Sold)
1972 280SEL 4.5 ('The Lead Sled' 320000 miles when sold.)
1972 220D (225000 when sold)

Does a CDI have a dip stick? I thought not.

Provided it is supported by oil analysis or some form of analysis such as those onboard oil life monitors, 13,000 miles is not too long. GM engineers have stated that the average number of miles GM cars with the oil life monitors have been covering before the light to change the oil comes on is about 10,000 miles, and this is on dino oil. Add synthetic and you can easily boost that to over 20,000 miles.

__________________
1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

yeah no dip stick on the cdi just an electronic readout.
m

__________________
Martin Ingram
Colorado Springs
2005 320 CDI
2006.5 VW Jetta TDI
1991 560SEL (179000 Sold)
1972 280SEL 4.5 ('The Lead Sled' 320000 miles when sold.)
1972 220D (225000 when sold)

Even without a dipstick I still bet you the stealer uses a topsider. It would be mighty old fasion to have to use a drain plug. You would just need a different adapter for the top sider to make a seal.

__________________
My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

dieseladdict - that's the other naggin thing about the w211 - no DIPSTICK.
Once again, another reliance on computer logic and all the sensors to go with it. Enough naggin. It did manage to blow a good cloud the other night when I served a soot sandwich to a JAG.

__________________
Barker

Ah there really is nothing like a soot sandwich. My old 220D would always make a tailgater back off with a nice cloud.
m

__________________
Martin Ingram
Colorado Springs
2005 320 CDI
2006.5 VW Jetta TDI
1991 560SEL (179000 Sold)
1972 280SEL 4.5 ('The Lead Sled' 320000 miles when sold.)
1972 220D (225000 when sold)

I too have a 2005 CDI currently with 7500 miles. I am quite pleased with the vehicle and have had no issues with it to date. I did replace the tires with Nokian WRs for the winter drive here in CT. After learning of the $230 the dealer wants for the 13,000 mile oil change, I decided to do them myself. I bought a Liquivac Top Sucker (oil extractor) for the job. I used an oil extractor on my previous two VW TDIs with good results. Just a bit of advice, the owner's manual makes mention of a fleece oil filter. That is for the gas engines only. Our inline 6 uses a paper element. The only oils I have found meeting the 229.5 spec are the Mobil 1 0w-40 and the Elf Excellium Full Tech 0w-30. The Elf runs about $8.10 per liter and the Mobil 1 I found for $4.95 a quart. Both are rated CF. I wonder if a CH-4 oil like Mobil 1 Truck and SUV wouldn't be better suited to this motor, but I haven't found one which meets 229.5. Soot rules

I'm pretty sure the 5W-40 Truck & SUV oil is a better choice for any diesel. I wouldn't treat the MB specs as if they were written in stone, but it's your call.

Does the CDI not even have an oil drain plug?

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

It does have a drain plug as I received a copper washer with the oil filter purchase. But with an oil extractor and the filter access from the top it is much easier and quicker to do it that way.

__________________
"Red Line Oil; Slicker than snot and twice as tasty!"

I took these two days ago, hope you like them.

Derek


http://media.putfile.com/06-E320-0-140km_hr-13-seconds

http://media.putfile.com/06-E320-40-140km_hr

http://media.putfile.com/06-E320-Cru...ntrol-200km_hr

http://media.putfile.com/06-E320-vid...engine-running

http://media.putfile.com/06-E320-Cru...ol-160-2400rpm

http://media.putfile.com/06-E320-idle