MBUSA recommends only the use of MB approved synthetic motor oil for all vehicles equipped with the Flexible Service System (FSS) as of Model Year 1998. Conventional petroleum based oils are not recommended but may be used on older vehicles.

What kind of Hack is your dealer?

__________________
2007 C 230 Sport.

manny - that is exactly the problem. Mercedes didn't recommend synthetic (as defined in North America) until after 2000 or so. Hence the lawsuit for 1998-2000 model year cars in the USA.

This car was bought and serviced at the flagship MB dealership in Canada, the downtown/Dundas St. dealership in Toronto. It was babied from day 1. The dealer was simply following Mercedes' advice re: FSS. That, sadly, is what caused the sludge. It went to 80,000 Km on approx. 17,000 Km intervals, using dino oil. Changed to synthetic at around 86,000 Km. I have all the documents (receipts and stamped service booklet) chronicling all the oil changes and intervals, as well as the oil type used. We'll see what MB Canada says...

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Okay, I sure hope they will eat some humble pie & do something for you.
Looking forward to the outcome of this one.

On another note, just had my first "A" service done @ 15 k km.
Next service "B" should be at 30 k km, according to my display,but my service booklet states "A" service @ 20 k km and thereafter all "A" and "B" services @ 20 k , or once a year intervals.

Aside from that, my dealer ( so I discovered afterward ), used crappy Quaker State oil.

__________________
2007 C 230 Sport.

Thanks manny, will let you know how it goes.

If I owned that new C230 of yours, I would be doing an additional oil change in between the specified interval. So if it says every 20K Km, I would be doing an interim oil change only (not full service) every 10K Km. I may be a tad biased at this point though...

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Heh, heh, great minds think alike.
I changed my own oil after 7500 km , then "A" service at 15 k km and you can bet I will " sneak " another oilchange in there, before the "B" service is do.

__________________
2007 C 230 Sport.

Nice. I wish the original owner of my car had been as sneaky.

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Here are some pics of the oil cap and filler area. The reddish-brown sludge is visible on the sides of the filler area and also down lower on the actual valvetrain.

Pics aren't the best, but that is as close as my digital cam can get.

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon