German Version of FSS System

I have been looking at an interactive version of the E-Class Owner's Manual for cars sold in Germany. For those of us in the U.S. there are some differences in the Flexible Service System. In Germany it's called ASSYST PLUS.

The Assyst system permits changing service frequency and also to put into the system a reminder for General (German) Inspections and Exhaust Analysis.

I don't think there is any so-called free maintenance in Germany so they can apparently shorten the time between service visits.

I wonder what the default maximum time is between service visits in Germany. I'll bet it's not as long as the FSS system where MB-USA is going to be worried about having to pay for too many free oil changes.

BTW, MB has worked toward providing a more pleasant driving experience. Apparently, they've tested 2,500 people in their new cars in a very scientific way and found that (as an example) the new S-Class reduces driver stress by 25% over the W140. There is a piece on Edmunds.Com about a reporter who was wired up for a drive from Switzerland to Munich. The results show that he was most nervous driving through tunnels and that the new Mercedes version of Distronic? cruise control reduced this guy's stress quite a bit.

[Gilly]

There are adjustments the dealer can make to the FSS system as well (in the US).

Gilly

Gilly,
Will a dealer change the maximum time frame to something like 12 months? I doubt it because that would mean MB-USA would have to pay for four oil changes. Maybe they'd do 13 months which would limit their responsibility to a maximum of 3 services over a 48 month period.

From what I have heard, the system is set to a much longer default. If the dealer can/will set it to a shorter time, why isn't it set to this shorter period in the first place?

What I'd like is to have the FSS system set to 13 months since we don't drive all that many miles. There is no way I'm going to go beyond that between oil changes.

[manny]

Originally posted by Gilly
There are adjustments the dealer can make to the FSS system as well (in the US).

Gilly

Yeah.
He can change the read-out from miles to dollars, or euros., just a matter of moving the decimal points.

[Gilly]

It's set at the factory for a base mileage of 10,000 miles and 2 years.

The dealer should be willing to change the settings after the car is out of warranty.

Gilly

I want the system set to 13 months while it's under warranty! There is no way I'm going to go two years between oil changes or even an inspection.

I can service the car myself but if something should happen to me, my wife is stuck with a system that isn't going to help her maintain the car the way it should be maintained.

BMW sure screwed things up when they started this thing.

[Gilly]

Well, it takes the MB shop computer (SDS) to access the instrument cluster and get into the FSS programming, So "GOOD LUCK" getting that FSS reprogrammed during the warranty period. I wish you lots of success.

Gilly

I just wanted to find out for sure what Mercedes position was on this. Changing the FSS system won't fix the problem because MB-USA wouldn't pay for it anyway if it doesn't meet the 10K/2 year criteria.

[Gilly]

Bud
My experience has been that very few people run the FSS out to the limit on the time factor, usually it's run out on mileage.

I would recommend that if you put very low miles on the car to just remember to change the oil once a year if that's what your concern is.

For what it's worth (tell me if this seems wrong to you) I thought the early maintenance system was called ASSYST, and the later versions (around 98 or so) were called FSS. Was the online owners manual for a current E Class (211) or maybe an early 210 chassis? Maybe they still use ASSYST nomenclature in Germany.

Gilly

Gilly, it's the current model. Here's the link to the Owner's Manual. See page 328.

http://www.mercedes-benz.com/omb/e/cars/e-class-t/betriebsanleitung/flash5.html

It's called the Assist Service System. Maybe it was changed in the US when MB-USA started paying for maintenance.

I've been waiting to see if Mercedes come out with an E350 before I buy a new one. Even Honda Accords have more power than the E320.

I certainly will always change oil at least once a year if and when I buy a new E-Class and I'll continue to do it myself as I've done for the last 40 years or so.

The concern I have is that if something should happen to me, I want to make sure my wife will have a straight forward idea about how to maintain the car. The FSS system would be a great way to do it but the best way would be to simply set the max time span to 1 year or even 6 months.