As usual, Larry has hit the nail on the head. Follow the FSS and you should not have any problems. If, however, you think it's a conspiracy, then go ahead and change it in between FSS intervals.

At 5000 miles, I drained (yep from underneath) my 02 C320. The oil (Mobil 1) looked like it just came out of the jug. At 10k the dealer changed it on FSS. I now have 7000 on that change and the oil still looks good to the naked eye. I have about 3000 left before the FSS kicks in again.

I think at 5000 after that I'll change it myself again since the part of the dealer change I don't like is the methods they use to change the oil (sucking it out the top). It will make me feel good to drain it all out the bottom again. Probably not necessary, but it's my car, my money, etc.... Peace-of-mind! Anal? Whatever... it also gives me a chance to look at the underside of the car for any other potential problems...


Brian








Larry wrote:

If a person will do what MB says and USE SYNTHETIC OIL, then the FSS intervals will work. This is much more than marketing hype. Even if it is marketing hype, no one holds a gun to your head and tells you that you can't change your until the FSS system says you can. What's with such conspiracy theories anyway?

I have a 1998 C280 6 cylinder. I just bought it used from a friend. I did a search for the Flex Services and this site popped up. What I was wondering is, what should the A & B service cost? I was going to take it to a dealer but wasn't sure what is too expensive. Also, would it be better to take it to a shop that specializes in imports? I was reading through and you all seem to know a great deal about this so I thought I would ask. Any help at all is useful. Thank you.

For those people who drive enough miles for the FSS to authorize an oil change in a year or so, fine. My problem is that when you don't drive that many miles you can go an awful long time before anybody opens the hood.

I've heard that the maximum time could be 13 months. I've heard 16 months and I've seen posts where it's close to two years.

Now that MBUSA is dropping so-called free maintenance and going back to 1,000 and 3,000 mile initial services I have to think/hope that MBUSA will return to a more sensible maintenance agenda.

Before Germany pushed the reduction in oil usage, Mercedes had a maintenance criteria a whole lot like Lexus has today. When BMW-USA began courting the lease customer with their free maintenance package, MBUSA had to respond with a version of maintenance built into the cost of the vehicle (lease clients aren't smart enough to know they were paying for it anyway).

Now I think that with the weak dollar, MBUSA is looking for ways to avoid another price increase and cutting out the maintenance package is one of them.

I've been using Mobil 1 for a long, long time. Living in Arizona, it's obvious that the oil starts to get dirty well before the FSS system would authorize an oil change.

Since I'm getting too old to crawl under the car anymore, I've just bought a Topsider so I can change oil the way the country club set changes oil

Bud,

I understand your concern about going so long without opening the hood. I am almost 55, so I go back to the days when we absolutely wore out our hood hinges because the cars needed so much maintenance and repair.

There are many things about the modern cars, particularly MB's that seem hard to get used to. An example is no dipstick.

The good news is that the cars really are that good these days. I'm not in any way trying to encourage you to keep the hood closed. I still open my hood and get underneath for oil changes just to check things, but the cars really don't need it very much.

Just change the oil, keep an eye on things and it'll go.

Enjoy,

Does anyone know how FSS works in terms of what parameters are involved in FSS decision making. Does it just monitor odometer, engine speed, operation duration, engine temperature, etc. ?

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2010 ML350 Bluetec
2012 Mustang Convertible

Rafi,

It measures and monitors all those things, but ALSO it does a resistivity test on the oil.

Again, it's recommendation is based on the use of synthetic oil.

Have a great day,

The diesel FSS is not the same as the gasoline one. The gasoline FSS is more sophisticated. As far as I remember the diesel FSS does not measure the oil resistivity. It only considers time, mileage, starts , etc. I'd have to check my literature, but the diesel system might even be just a straight miles system. I'm away from home and my manuals right now so I can't look that up.

Len
'99 E300TD 61,000 miles

Len - how do you like your 99 E300TD, would you recommend it ?

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2010 ML350 Bluetec
2012 Mustang Convertible

My '96 E300D did not have FSS, but it did have a resistivity measurement device. I don't know exactly how it gave its indication and since I change oil so often, I never saw it.

Have a great day,

Larry

There is a wonderful world out here, for you to discover.
If you ever get out from under your car(s).

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2007 C 230 Sport.

You seem to be forgetting, or are not aware to begin with.

I am almost 55 years old. I've been in almost every state in the union, every country in North America and have been in almost every Western European country. It's not as if I do nothing but work on my cars.

If I DIDN'T keep my oil changed, and otherwise do preventive maintenance then I really would be spending all my time trying to keep them running.

Have a great weekend,

Rafi - I like my E300 very much. It is really a nice car, quick, smooth and with all the modern conveniences and safety features. Keep in mind that I had been driving an '83 240D as my main car for the past 22 years. Diesel technology has come a long way in that time. So far I have been able to handle all the routine A and B services rather easily. I'm still worried about the electronics, but the one problem I did have with them I was able to solve pretty easily and cheaply myself too. So far so good.

Len

just heard that fss is history! looks like mb is going back to basics.
rumor is warranty is not paying for any services, remember 15,30,60 k's? awww the good ol days of making money.
but bmw still pays for services!

You really think so ?

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2007 C 230 Sport.

thats what im hearing from the factory guys manny. who knows when thats gonna start. all of 04 cars are not getting wiper blades or inserts on "B" services. wiper blades on the 220 are around $120.......... ouch! lol
we'll see what happends.....hahhaha
take care