Mercedes Noob - FSS Questions/Concern.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

derrickonline · #1 07-25-2007, 11:45 AM

All:

I recently purchased a C230 Sedan with 12K miles on it. I noticed that the FSS says SERVICE A DUE IN 10400 miles.

Now I'm up to 15K and it says SERVICE A DUE IN 10300 miles. I'm confused....why has it only decreased by 100 miles?

The guys at Mercedes are confusing the hell out of me, I'm not even sure if they know how these things work.

1 guy said, ohh that's beacuse the computer may be malfunctioning.

I go in for service another guy says...ohh it probably never had service A done.

Can anyone shed any light on this? I'm guess maybe service A was never done since I bought the car with 12K miles on it.

And is there really no dipstick? That makes me feel very uncomfortable...I'm a systems engineer and I know you can't always trust technology!

TMAllison · #2 07-25-2007, 11:55 AM

FSS will make adjustments to service based upon your style of driving. Am surmising you (or the past owner) do a lot of highway driving....if the car is only a couple of years old there is no engine oil dip stick, nor have they had a trans dip stick since 96. Engine oil level can be checked from the dash.

derrickonline · #3 07-25-2007, 01:54 PM

That seems like a large adjustment though wouldn't you agree? Assuming the car didn't get a service @ 10K I buy the car at 12K, now I'm up to 15K and it still says 10,300 miles before service A?

Here's what I know...

Service A is typically done at 12K right?
Then the computer would prompt for Service B at "x" interval right?

Well since the car is a 2005 with only 12K I assume she never had service A done since that's the first service I'm being prompted for...in other words if she did get service A done at 10K like she was suppose to...I should be seeing 10,300 miles before Service B instead of "A" wouldn't I?

Am I making sense? I hope so I know it sounds confusing.

All I want is a fu*&*ng oil change....for all I know the oil may have never been changed since I myself know that with my Acura I might have gotten it changed every 5-6K instead of 3K maybe she was the same and since she traded it with 11K maybe she never bothered to have it serviced?

What's your input?

PS: One service advisor says "oil changes are covered under factory warranty". Another says it's not. What the FU(K!

Then the service advisor says you don't need an oil change because the computer says the oil level is good. Well that doesn't mean jack, I could have plenty of oil but it could be black and sludgy...does the computer have the ability to determine the oil quality to say "hey you need an oil change" ...I doubt it.

TMAllison · #4 07-25-2007, 02:06 PM

My Diesel's FSS will let me go as much as 16k between changes; I drive 110 mi/day, all freeway. The computer monitors engine temp, miles and trip length to determine oil life. The default mileage is 1 year or 10K; 16k is max.

I'm guessing yours was changed around 10K.

To *see* your oil you can purchase the factory dip sitck tool to manually check it, use a topsider, or crack the oil drain plug a turn or two. The same applies to the trans.

Lacking books and records showing when it was last changed, resolution is to change your oil and reset your FSS yourself.