I have a 91 420SEL with approximately 98,000 Miles on it. I have tried three different independent mechanics and have received 3 different answers regarding the how often to perform a oil/filter change. One say every 5000 Mi and refers to the maintenence schedule in the owner's manual. One say every 3000 miles. The third say every 3750 miles. What is the recommended milage between oil changes?

If you plan on having the car forever, change it every 3,000-3,500 miles or every 3-4 months. Everyone is a little different, and many change theirs at 5,000 miles. I, along with most everyon on this forum, agree that 3,000 miles is a good distance to go between oil changes.

But if you do a search, you will find a ton of info. Oil is a hot topic around here!! Good luck.

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

Bill! I would keep the oil clean and change it every 3000 miles. Good Luck Gary

There's one thing about oil change frequency that will get little argument(although there are those who will argue with me on this), and that is you just won't hurt anything changing it TOO often.

Oil and filters are CHEAP! Engines are NOT! Especially MB engines.

Change oil hot and change oil often,

Changing it too often is horrible. It causes all kinds of stuff to seize. The oil never gets "broken in".

My mechanic said that as hot as a topic as this is, the only cars he has ever seen have oil related trouble are from those people who DON'T change oil and those who change it like every 1,000-2,000 miles. I trust him, he's a 6 time MB Master Guild technician and currently the Shop Foreman at the biggest dealership in the southeast.

Change conventional at no more than 5,000.

Synthetic between 7,500-10,000.

No offense Larry, just disagree with you strongly here (yet VERY respectfully ).

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1988 Mercedes-Benz 260E

Are you really serious?

Now that's something I've never heard of... makes me curious.... very curious!

BTW, check out this short post!

I saw a 1990 420 SEL with 462k miles

[Edited by David C Klasse on 05-30-2001 at 04:37 PM]

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

David, where do find these guys?

Let's see 3000/14 = 215mi per day or so. Living in and around L.A. that's not out of the question...

But the point you made earlier is one most don't focus on and that's time! If your car is sitting around in a garage it's still collecting moisture inside the engine. I like the 3-4month rule and live by it myself!

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

Ed,
Of course that's not out of the question, but I'm sure that only a VERY small percentage of the population (even in LA) drive over 200 miles per day. That is a LONG commute. Sure it's possible, but not likely.
I average 2,000 + miles per month, probably more, but I try and not put on more than 500 miles per week, and I drive a lot.

So Ed, sure it's possible to drive over 200 miles per day, but I don't really think many peopl do.

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

New oil is better than old oil.

Synthetics are better than conventional.

Changing more often is better than not often enough.

Don't get weird.

George Stephenson

I knew a guy who lived in Palmdale and commuted to Santa Monica every day. He said it actually took him less time than if he lived in Glendale or Pasadena or Burbank. He drove a little econobox Suzuki Swift and I never once heard him mention that it was in the shop.

Anyway back to oil, I find it hard to believe that oil breaks in. Breaks down maybe, but in? I'm willing to give this one a good listen. I always though breaking in was a process where contact surfaces smooth out and form a sort of symbiotic relationship with each other

Kuan

That "break-in" I referred to applies to conventionals only. Sorry for the confusion.

__________________
1988 Mercedes-Benz 260E

Breaking in oil?????? Oh come on. Never seen an engine wear out because of clean oil. I think there was something lost in the translation somewhere.

__________________
Mark
82 300SD 110k
91 Caprice SS
92 Jetta TD
97 Cadillac Concours(300hp)
84 Celebrity 4.3L diesel

David,

I wasn't only talking about the every two week guy, what about the break in the oil guy?

Gimme a break! Pun intended

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

I say change it as often as you see fit.

If you want to change it every 2 weeks, go for it, its your dime. If you want to change it every 3-4 months, go for it!, if you want to change it at 2k, 3k, 4k miles, do, just remember to do it on a regular schedule, and do what makes you feel comfortable.

If you feel comfortable changing it every 3k then do it, if you feel comfortable doing it at 4k then fine, if you feel comfortable doing it at 1k then thats fine too, or at 2 weeks, its all good.

Just don't forget to change it.

I myself have also never heard of oil needing to break in. If thats the case, then why would you want to put in new oil, wouldn't the oil then come pre broken in from the manufacturer?

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon