When would you change the oil in an '06 CDI? That whole 13,000 mile thing scares me.

Which oil? Mobil 1 5W-40?

Also anyone know how much the oil filter costs? (I only buy them from MB dealers...)

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'87 300D 183K
'06 E320 CDI 10K

The Dealership sucks the fluid out of the dipstick, filters are about $14 each and Mobil 1 0W-40 is the correct oil.

I'd be changing the oil every 5-8,000miles. Leaving it in much longer is inviting sludge buildup, unnecessary engine wear, and lower engine life.

Is the dipstick method recommended - or just their easy way to do it all from the top of the car?

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'87 300D 183K
'06 E320 CDI 10K

Just faster and cheaper for them.

You can't get all the oil out the bottom or the top. Don't worry about it.

I have found, that if you replace the filter only and top off the oil level, you get safe wear, and reasonable change levels. I would not go 13,000 miles on a filter, but maybe 6K and change the filter...
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Lots of "legend" and "old wives tales" here.

It is the TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.

Only DATA matters and oil analysis shows the 13K interval is fine.

You don't want to drain from the bottom because there are lots of covers and shields to remove. Of course you're going to have to have some TORX bits in any event.

Use ONLY the filter from the dealer.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

How do you suck the oil out the top? There is no dipstick on this car.

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'87 300D 183K
'06 E320 CDI 10K

They use something called a topsider.. You pressurize it and when you release the pressure the line that is down the dipstick sucks the oil into the topsider when the pressurized air leaves..

Should be on the right front of the engine. Sealed tube, no dipstick.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Make sure to use the proper oil, MB just released it, its a 5W40 and is needed for the emissions equipment.

I see no issues following the recommended oil change intervials. BMW is at 15k miles.

Considering the age of the car, I'd personaly just have the dealer do it. At least for me, part of owning a nice high end new car would be not having to get my hands dirty! $100 have someone else do the dirty work!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I turned 13K around Christmas. This was the first oil change. At that time I had an oil anlysis done and the oil came out like new. The only element that was a little high was silicon. That doesn't surprise me since the cylinder liners are silicon impregnated and the rings are seating themselves. 13K miles and not a drop of oil. Most 90+% of my driving is highway and I do 100 miles per day -- minimum back and forth to work.

3 point star

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Why would it scare you? New diesels are much cleaner engines, better filtration systems, etc... I've run my OM606 for 12.5k and sent the oil for analysis and could still run it longer. I'm going for 15k this time with 5k oil filter changes (for giggles) while running on Mobil 5w-40 diesel oil....Top off the crank case when needed, which suprisingly is rare.

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

Have you done the oil analysis without the filter changes every 5000?

Seems to me that if you change the filter, you should also change the oil.... Why bother otherwise? Only another $50.

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'87 300D 183K
'06 E320 CDI 10K

I've done it @ about 10k and it was still good. But with the cost of the filter maybe $7, why not, help with removing some soot and topping off the crankcase with more additives, just a pinch of additives :-)

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300