Changing your own oil
 

I'll be changing the oil on my 99 SL500 for the first time this weekend.

Anything special to do/look out for?

Noticed it's a canister filter....what tool is used to get cap off.....filter wrench?

What was original oil fill/brand from Mercedes? Synthetic?

Weight....hot climate (Texas).

Did do search on this forum with limited results.....seems not much DIY stuff "yet" for R129's.:o

Thanks

Here's your filter tool:
http://www.startekinfo.de/etools/content/tool.jsp?toolno=103%20589%2002%2009%2000
and the oil is:
Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
:men_ani:

Oil
 

Purchase the oil filter at the dealer or get it from Phil at fastlane, don't use anything else but OEM. It's not worth the risk. Is your car under warranty?

IMO, by the time you purchase the mobile one oil @ about $6 a quart and the filter from the dealer @ about $14 it adds up to almost the cost of an oil change at the dealer. and no crawling under, or oil spots on the driveway:)

sorry still worth it
 

I'd change it myself even if cost me twice that of the dealer. Who do you think is changing the oil on your benz at the dealer.....the 19 Year old kid that just graduated from Technical College...no thanks. Also gives me the opportunity to see how things are going underneath ....and how does the credit card advertising go.....priceless.

For some of us it's actually fun to do anyway....:)

oil filter
 

Carlos:

Good points....not under warranty. Do like using OEM....will pay the little extra. Who is Phil and Fastlane???? I've delt with two Benz dealers thus far and both could care less of my business....waited almost a week for prices from Benz dealer in CT that gave discounts....very frustrating. If anyone knows of good Mercedes parts guy in Houston area please let me know....forget about one 45 North.

Thanks

Charles

Thanks...
 

Thanks for info.

Click on "FASTLANE" at the top of this page to contact "PHIL".:men_ani:

parts
 

On the top of the page next to Shop forum, Fastlane is the sponsor of this website, if you don't find the parts in the fastlane menu you can call Phil toll free and he will do everything he can to get your parts OEM or otherwise at a good discount price. Phil is good as gold.

You've got a bad chip in your calculator - the dealer is going to be at least twice the cost of doing it yourself. There's also no reason to crawl under or have any oil spots.

...and you can bet that they torqued everything to the book specs, ha ha. Although the "topsider" oil change has some merit (it's so easy you might do it more often), I still beleive that draining (a hot engine) from the bottom will get some of the heavier junk out, especially if you are patient and let it sit for a while.

I believe my car takes 8 quarts of oil at $6 plus tax is about $50 + $15(filter)
= 65. I paid $80 at the dealer. So i paid $15 dollars for labor, and got a free car wash with soft water leaving no spots. also, everyone working there was at least 30 yrs old. If the service was bad I would do it myself, but so far it's been better than expected. much better than any ford or chevy dealer, where i would never take a car. Before owning an sl500 i would always do oil changes myself, but it seems that it's not worth it in this situation. I also have a verifiable record of oil changes if i decide to sell the car. :cool:

The SL600 is even more of a bear. It needs just about 12 quarts of Synthetic oil. When you go to the dealer, the oil is about 100$ just by itself. I would go to autozone to get the oil, as I have seen 0w-40 oil for around 3.99-6.99 a quart. It is also the good stuff, Mobil-1.

I do not do my oil changes, but I do supply the oil that is used. I get free oil from a friend. I currently have 3 cases of Mobil-1 on the floor in my garage. So, it costs about 29.99 for the oil change, and that is just about all I pay for when I bring it in. I can get everything else cheaper (except the oil filter), so I just have the dealer do the labor for around 35 after tax. Not too bad for good service. :cool:

Re my sl & roadster
 

Folks

The thing I love about this board is that we drive around in cars
that would cost upwards of $ 100,000 today that some have had for
twenty years and then discuss the savings of the oil change.

Lets face it.. the reason to change your own oil is to make sure its done right.

I change the oil and filter on my sl and datsun roadster. I'm afraid to admit that the value of both of these cars isn't worth more than $ 6,000 total. Besides which its a feel of accompolishment when the work is finished.

Cheers to all

steve, california:)

'84 280 sl 5 speed 186k & '70 datsun 2000 138K

My Turn
 

My newly inherited 74 SL with 213K miles burns a bit of oil. After about every 400-500 miles I have to add a quart. That brings me up to a full oil change by just freshening her up after 2000 miles! I only put about 400 miles a month on her and was targeting a change at 5000 miles.

Aside from the need to rebuild to stop the oil burn, what oil and preventative maintanance should I aim for here to keep her running safe and sane?