How often will my B ask for servicing if I dont use it?

[Norfolkandchance]

Hi, I have a W245 Petrol turbo that we are thinking of relegating to "occasional long distance car". And replacing its day-to-day functions with a Nissan Leaf.

Currently the car asks for servicing about every 8k miles which works out at just over a year. This has always seemed quite short intervals, in terms of mileage, to me. I think this might be because it is a high ratio of cold starts - it does an 8 mile each way commute and longer trips at the weekend. But I wonder if it also takes time elapsed into account.

If it gets used for trips the Leaf can't do, maybe once a fortnight for a 60 mile trip how often do you think it will request a service? Or should I ignore the service indicator and just get it serviced every x miles?

Thanks

[Monkeylegend]

My 60 plate E asked for a service every 18k miles or so when my annual mileage was higher. When my mileage dropped it reverted to every 12 months, so I would say it would be every 12 months even if not used.

Mercedes went to a minimum of one service every 12 months a few years ago to maintain the warranty, irrespective of mileage.

How old is your B Class?

[Norfolkandchance]

Thanks for reply. It is 10 years but only 60k miles old. So out of warranty and not a great value to preserve.

[Monkeylegend]

You will probably find it is mileage based then, I think they introduced the 12 months thing about 6 years or so ago.

[ClassicMercs]

Our 2010 no doubt has the newer setup. Its keeps telling us we have lots of miles left - then suddenly starts counting down at 30 days.

Adopt the same approach as with my 18yo 32K miles SLK - every couple of years.

[Monkeylegend]

That's what I do on mine now it's out of warranty. You can reset the service indicator yourself if you want to.

[Sheepshanks]

Norfolkandchance said:

Currently the car asks for servicing about every 8k miles which works out at just over a year. This has always seemed quite short intervals, in terms of mileage, to me. I think this might be because it is a high ratio of cold starts - it does an 8 mile each way commute and longer trips at the weekend. But I wonder if it also takes time elapsed into account.

If it just over a year then it must be on variable servicing so if you do longer trips is should stretch out.

No-one really seems to know how variable servicing works on Mercs - I have a late 2004 (2005 facelift model) W203 which I only use for long trips and they will go to the max 2yrs, or about 18K miles if I hit that first. But other owners report very random intervals.

[Norfolkandchance]

Thanks everyone. Really helpful.