I have 53,000 miles on my 2000 ML-320 and I believe it's time for a coolant change?

Can anyone tell me the proper proceedure for changing the coolant?

Does it have to be flushed or can I just drain it and refill?

It looks prety clear and clean, but it is approaching 5 years.

Also is Zerex G-05 ok to use for the replacement?

Thank you

Is your coolant blue or yellow-ish?

I've read that the new blue coolant has an extremely long change interval. I've even heard that the blue coolant can last 15 years, or even until the lifetime of the car, but I find either change interval hard to believe.

Mercedes has generally always required coolant change intervals of every three (3) years.

It is interesting that only two items are carried out in time intervals instead of mileage intervals: the previously mentioned 3 year change interval on coolant, and brake fluid at every two years.

If you haven't changed your brake fluid yet, you are two years overdue.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

The coolant if yellowish, original MB fill.

I have had all service done by MB on their schedules, so I'm not sure about the brake fluid, Guess I'll hae to go back and review what has and has not been done. Transmission oil and filter might be another question at 50K

Good. If your coolant is yellow-ish, then it is on a 3 year schedule. Brake fluid is every 2 years.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Paul,

The thing I am confused about after reviewing my service records is that, I assumed when I took the vehicle in to the dealer per the FSS, and they serviced the vehicle at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50K.

Well it appears that they changed the oil, filter and did routine lub/ filter replacement maintenance. However, I don't think they ever did brake fluid, which should have been every 2 years as you indicated, nor any other perscribed manintnance.

I trusted them to as least make the recommendation on what needed to be done.

This is my 8th MB with this dealer and it is a bit perplexing.

The others were diesels, and you knew that at certain milage markers, you would have a C service or at say 15 or 30 or 45 K you would have a major service done.

I woner whats up with this new FSS and the way the are handling service requirements.

Any comments on it?
Gary

In addition, they never asked me if I wanted anything else done.

To be sure of getting the proper service work done these days, you have to be a little proactive about it and know for yourself what is required and make sure it's done. Many techs just don't care, if they feel they can't make easy enough money doing the coolant flush or brake flush, they won't bring it to their bosses attention (IF they even decide to check! There is no approved method of marking on the vehicle chassis when these additional services were done. The place I worked at used these wire-on cards to note what date the things like brake and coolant flushes, fuel and air filters, etc were done. We also had to go into history files to see if the last service was an A or B)
Gilly

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