Do yourself a favor and don't follow the 10k service interval. Get it done at 7500. I've never had an MB that used oil, including my C300, but if you run 10k/a year, especially in the summer heat.....who knows. And of course, some could have come out of the dipstick tube I suppose. Who is servicing this car?

PS - if you change the air filter yourself (or even if you don't), make sure you're extremely careful when refitting the air cleaner housing. I put mine on and destroyed the stupidly-designed seal between the housing and tha airflow sensor. Luckily it's under warranty still, but I presume this will be a problem area for years to come for some ppl.

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former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL