Is dealer service trying a ripoff? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lkchris · #1 08-29-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

MB changed their position on "Lifetime" transmission fluid a long time ago. They recommend changing it every 60k....personally, I do it every year.

Brake fluid is supposed to be changed every TWO years. So yours is well overdue if original.

Coolant is good to change every 3-4 years....it costs what, $30 to do that? Big deal.

Not sure on the oil change, I thought they said to not use the FSS and instead change it every 7500 or 10,000 miles or something.

The "long-interval" services are not a good thing at all, just leads to lots of failed parts.

The new transmission fluid change recommendation is one time only at 39-40K miles.

It's a negative to change coolant more often, as this loses the chemicals added to make it last 15 years in the first place.

Oil changes are every 10-13K miles and those are VERY conservative numbers, as the changes are maybe 20K miles in Europe. America is chock full of oil change geniuses, and typically American distribution arms of German companies reduce the intervals for "political" reasons.

pawoSD · #2 08-29-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

The new transmission fluid change recommendation is one time only at 39-40K miles.

It's a negative to change coolant more often, as this loses the chemicals added to make it last 15 years in the first place.

Oil changes are every 10-13K miles and those are VERY conservative numbers, as the changes are maybe 20K miles in Europe. America is chock full of oil change geniuses, and typically American distribution arms of German companies reduce the intervals for "political" reasons.

Perhaps yes with the new extended coolant the newer cars have, very true.

However, trans fluid should still be changed every 40k....not just once....I do it 2x as often as that....once a year.

Perhaps the modern engines with their super fleece filters and ultra-clean operation can get away with 10-20k oil changes, but a 617 would have partially solidified oil by 10k if you didn't change it.

Way too much soot. I never go much over 4k on those......oil gets dirty, better to change it. I don't believe in the 10k+ stuff.....highest I'd go is maybe 7-8k on a newer engine....and that's barely 1-2x a year with the amount I drive, especially with more than one car.

TMAllison · #3 08-29-2009, 10:04 PM

Believe it; its a factor of engine design and ever improving oils.

FSS on my diesel with my freeway miles always lets me go the 16K max it is programmed for. When tested, its M1 has never had less than 50% of its TBN remaining, more than a trace of soot and shows virtually no fuel contamination. It doesn't use a fleece filter.