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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I had to laugh. .......or perhaps cry.

I enquired about the cost of an 'A' service for my CLS 500 at a Mercedes main dealer.

The 'A' service is the most basic service, and consists of no more than an oil and filter change and a brief inspection to see if the washer bottle needs topping up, or the wiper rubbers are split.......etc ...etc.

So parts needed are 8 litres of fully synthetic oil and a filter......and maybe another 10 minutes scratching their arse as they idly look around the car.


COST......£327.50.

A Mercedes independent, some twenty miles away, will do the exact same job for £140......which is more than enough.

[martin42]

I know what option i would go for,the d.i.y option 

[Andy B]

When labour is well over £100 an hour, it doesn't surprise me.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I know what option i would go for,the d.i.y option 

Agreed......but if I go  the Mercedes Indie route I get a stamp in the book and the service indicator reset.

Bearing in mind that the car has FSH it may be worth the extra cost......for now.

£327 for an oil change is simply is taking the piss.

£140 the indie is asking, less so.   

[Andy B]

....

 ... and the service indicator reset.
 ....

there used to be a website with all the variants listed of how to reset the service message without Star. This is how mine is done .......

a) Turn ignition key to '1'
b) Press the lower system selection button (left hand edge of steering wheel) repeatedly until you have the Basic display with mileage or temperature in the display
c) Press the odometer reset button briefly 3 times and you see the voltage display on the cluster and a ping is heard
d) use the scroll down arrow button until you see the 'Service menu'
e) Use +/- buttons to select the menu item CONFIRMATION then press the lower system selection button to confirm ("Complete service" is highlighted in dispay)
f) Confirm full service by pressing lower system selection button
g) Press top system selection button until you get back to Service menu
h) Use +/- buttons to select the 'Special Work' menu and Press the lower system selection button to confirm
i) Use +/- buttons to select Service 3 & press lower system selection button to confirm
j) Use +/- buttons to select the oil grade you used & press lower system selection button to confirm (nb, where only 1 grade of oil is allowed, there wont be a selection available)
k) repeatedly press lower system selection button until out of service mode

I think they're mostly similar 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

....

 ... and the service indicator reset.
 ....

there used to be a website with all the variants listed of how to reset the service message without Star. This is how mine is done .......

a) Turn ignition key to '1'
b) Press the lower system selection button (left hand edge of steering wheel) repeatedly until you have the Basic display with mileage or temperature in the display
c) Press the odometer reset button briefly 3 times and you see the voltage display on the cluster and a ping is heard
d) use the scroll down arrow button until you see the 'Service menu'
e) Use +/- buttons to select the menu item CONFIRMATION then press the lower system selection button to confirm ("Complete service" is highlighted in dispay)
f) Confirm full service by pressing lower system selection button
g) Press top system selection button until you get back to Service menu
h) Use +/- buttons to select the 'Special Work' menu and Press the lower system selection button to confirm
i) Use +/- buttons to select Service 3 & press lower system selection button to confirm
j) Use +/- buttons to select the oil grade you used & press lower system selection button to confirm (nb, where only 1 grade of oil is allowed, there wont be a selection available)
k) repeatedly press lower system selection button until out of service mode

I think they're mostly similar 

Thanks, Andy. The service indicator is currently around the 4800 mile mark, so I can keep my money in my pocket for now.


PS.....I still haven't found the dipstick yet.

[Andy B]

...., so I can keep my money in my pocket for now.

or in the fuel tank 

PS.....I still haven't found the dipstick yet.

I don't think you have one  I think you check via the dash cluster   

[Sir Tigger KC]

The Indy price isn't that bad really when you consider that there's £80 worth of oil at retail prices and you get the stamp. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

...., so I can keep my money in my pocket for now.

or in the fuel tank 

PS.....I still haven't found the dipstick yet.

I don't think you have one  :-\ I think you check via the dash cluster  

Yes......and if this goes 'tits up' what then?

There seems to be no way to check the oil level manually.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

The Indy price isn't that bad really when you consider that there's £80 worth of oil at retail prices and you get the stamp. 

They tell me that they use either Mobil 1 0/40 or Shell helix 5/40.

[Andy B]

....
Yes......and if this goes 'tits up' what then?

There seems to be no way to check the oil level manually.

Nasty, expensive sounding noises from under the bonnet     

A quick Google shows that a proper dipstick is available ..... at a price .... no idea what else is necessary to fit it      One for MArk maybe 

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Engine-Oil-Dipstick-CLS500-CLS55-SL500-SLK55-S430-S500-/370759269386

[Andy B]

The Indy price isn't that bad really when you consider that there's £80 worth of oil at retail prices and you get the stamp. 

They tell me that they use either Mobil 1 0/40 or Shell helix 5/40.

Isn't GM's fully skimmed suitable?   

[martin42]

This might help
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q18pzpLu4oU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQ18pzpLu4oU

[TheBoy]

I'd probably be inclined to get the back street stamp at the maximum service inteval (eg, 2yrs/20k), and do a diy every 5k/1yr.

When I thought my MV6 was still worth something (as my intention was not to keep it long), I used to get the cheapest Masterfit stamp annually, and squeeze in 3 DIYs between.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

This might help
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q18pzpLu4oU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQ18pzpLu4oU

Thanks for this, MM.

It looks like a have the red plug with SFA attached to it.

How tight are Mercedes?