Service intervals?

[Ari]

Just had a main dealer service on my SLK (the first since I bought it). Somewhat surprised to see that the service indicator, which has been reset, is showing 9,300 miles till the next service. Given I do 15,000 miles a year, that means I'm going to need a service almost twice a year!

Even Ford Fiestas are supposed to do 12,000 miles/1 year between services.

What are other people's experiences?

[pist nbroke]

Sounds like it has been incorectly re-set.

Should be showing around 15000 untill next service. They need to re-set it via the star machine (merc diagnostic computer) rather than the instrument cluster.

Take it back and they can put it right.

[mbtech01]

Sounds like the dealer has reset your service incorrectly. Its dependant upon what grade of oil they put in your engine when servicing it. There are 3 possibilites: standard type oil (something like 10w/40) - about 9300 miles for next service then an oil grade 0f 229.5(mobil 1 oil) should be about 15,500 miles & 229.3(long life oil: 5w/30) should be around 15,500 miles.
It depends upon how they reset your service indicator - if done through the instrument cluster its a bit of a procedure & you have to select various options etc to select the right oil grade & if an inexperienced technician or apprentice done this they probably forgot to select the oil grade option when confirming the service. If the service reminder was reset using the Star diagnosis computer then its fairly straight forward & you can select one of the 3 oil grades before confirming the service.
I've heard a lot of main dealers are resetting the service reminders for less miles these days so as to get you to go back sooner for a service.
Anyway if it were me i'd just take it back & get the service reminder reset. It's an easy enough job to rectify. Just unconfirm the previous service then confirm it again & select the right oil grade !

[va1o]

What year is it? They used to have the ASSYST(?) system that would vary the intervals dependant on a number of factors, but newer cars (post 2007 iirc) are on fixed schedules.

[horacethefrog]

I'd heard this too and it struck me as a complete scam.

[va1o]

horacethefrog said:

I'd heard this too and it struck me as a complete scam.

Apparently its to make it easier to budget for services, as you can do it based exactly on mileage/ age rather than when the computer says so.

[Ari]

va1o said:

What year is it? They used to have the ASSYST(?) system that would vary the intervals dependant on a number of factors, but newer cars (post 2007 iirc) are on fixed schedules.

Pretty sure it has the ASSYST system. It's a 2005 car, which would back that up.

[mbtech01]

the slk does have the asssyt system just like most of the other Mercedes range - however Merccedes Benz Uk decided a few years ago to tell all dealers to do away with using the system as it was too confusing & impossible to quote a price for a service when you phoned them up without seeing the car & obtaining some data from the assyst sytem on the vehicle to work out what is actually required. They went over to a system called ESS (electronic service schedule) which basically reverts back to the old days an A or B service. When you phone them up they ask for your vehicle reg & current mileage, they then input all the details & it tells them whats required. You can find this form for yourself by searching online. It's not always reliable though as it may say your car is due a fuel filter or brake fluid change when its not actually due as you may have had this done last service. Its then up to the technician to check your service book when you take your vehicle in & not replace these items as they're not due at the present time.

[Ari]

Thanks for that, makes sense.

[Ari]

The oil they've put in is Helix Ultra 5w-40, there's a litre bottle of it that they've put in the boot.

How does that square with the service intervals?

[Ari]

I spoke to Mercedes Customer Services today. They reckon 15,000 miles or two years, whichever is first.

Will have a word with the dealer tomorrow and see what they say, but a bit naughty trying to virtually double the service work/cost.

[Ari]

So the car has been back in to have the job that was missed on service done, and I mentioned the low distance to go on service indicator.

Picked it up today, it now says 12,500 miles to service. Still some way off 15,000 but better.

Not sure I can be bothered to traipse back up there and argue it any further, but think I will take it elsewhere next time it needs servicing...

[r129sl]

Merely because the "miles to go" indicator presently states 12,500, it does not follow that in 12,500miles it will work down to zero. It all depends on the type of motoring you do. Long and gentle drives will see those 12,500miles last a lot longer; short town trips with a bit of thrashing will see them tick down in less. My ASSYST service interval indicator always resets to 10,000 but takes about 13,000miles of actual driving to get down to zero. I have the oil and filter changed every 5,000miles and put it in for a proper service every 10,000 (by which time there are usually about 3,000miles remaining).

[Ari]

I thought the same, so I tracked it for a while and it seemed to keep pace with the mileage. I'll have to recheck it now it's got more miles to go on it. If that is the case then that's fine.