1999 C280, Oil Change Interval

[jcd]

My dad has a 1999 C280, cool car, lot's of pep.

After driving his 1977 300D, before he sold it to me, he is used to every 3000 miles oil changes.

He checked the driver's manual for the oil change interval, and it pointed him to the "check it out button" on the instrument panel that gives the "miles til.....oil change" on the instrument display. To his suprise, it was suggesting approximately a every 12,000 mile oil change interval. He checked with his dealer and they said that was right.

What's up with that!!!!!!!!, and can anyone confirm the oil and other fluid change intervals for a 1999 C280

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

Yes, that is what is recommended, but that is not what I would personally do if it were my car. Also, these oil change intervals are only approved if synthetic oil such as Mobil 1 is used.

This has been discussed many times, do a search under "FSS" and you will se deabtes about it. If it were my car, I would not let it go more than 5,000 with synthetic between oil changes, but that is just me.

[blackmercedes]

I would never change the oil at 15-22,000 kilometer intervals.

I use the FSS in this way:

At each major service (A or B) I reset the FSS. Then, each time it counts down 5000 kilometers (about 3K-miles) I change the oil and filter. That way, I use the "brain" of the FSS to help set intervals, but they are much shorter.

During summer highway use, I've seen about 7000-7500 kilometers (max 4500 miles) between changes. in hard winter driving, it works out to less.

And I use nothing but Mobil 1 and OE filters.