This is not an environmental issue. It is a marketing issue.

The enlightened consumer will read the consumer's Digest for cost of yearly maintenance and decide which product to choose.

Besides, MB knows that their customers (those that buy new cars) will never see the results of any degree of maintenance. I wouldn't be surprized to see a MB make it out of warrantee without even changing the oil. My wife's ML probably hasn't used a quart of oil in the 21,000 miles its driven. It has had 4 oil changes and it was never down at any of them noticably.

Those that buy new are usually never out of warrantee. Of those that do go out of warrantee most will be in a new car by 100k. These people buy the marketing and get the product. Whats left isn't causing enough problem to reputation to worry MB. After all they weren't the ones that abused the car!

Its kind of interesting to see a 3-400k auto made into a 200k vehicle by the cost of servicing. A 200k car with a parcel of used-up systems that repair costs total the vehicle. I could write a book.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician