My first MB - what to watch for ?

[0779mike]

I have just purchased a 2005 220 CDi saloon auto with 57,000 miles showing. Mileage seems genuine and service history is there but the last 3 at non-MB garages.

Nothing has gone wrong in the first month, ....woohoo.

Can anyone recommend a good independent MB specialist within striking distance of Coulsdon ?

Should I worry about getting the auto box fluid changed ? I doubt it has ever been done.

Do I need to get is serviced every 12 months if I only do 3000 miles a year ?

Mike

 

[merc85]

Yes atf a wise move, you made a good choice of car, that 2.1 derv is a great engine.

 

[jacksona]

I recently moved from Gravesend to Caterham, and I still use Mike at MB of Medway. Awesome Indy, very resonable prices, and he's incredibly knowledgeable. He's looked after my last 3 Mercs, and Rochester is easy enough from Coulsdon.

I got the ATF fluid changed on mine at 48,000 miles. Definitely worth getting the annual service, irrespective of mileage IMHO.

Adam.

PS. Welcome to the forum!

 

[wongl]

I used to live in Croydon and I always take my MB's to Steve at Stevenson down near Maidstone. It is worth the drive down there and Steve can also proivde a loan car for the day and you can pop down to the outlet mall down in Ashford!

I cannot recommend Steve enough - from retrofits/coding to tricky fault finding and regular servicing.

You can google for Stevensons Mercedes. Good luck.

 

[Joderest]

I can agree with popping along and seeing Steve Garlic at Larkfield, he has just done ATF fluid and Filter on my new to me ML270, he also changed the pilot bush as had a small leak. He also looked over the car and identified a broken rear spring (not a nice job, but now done), he was quick, polite and very good, all work done whilst i waited and watched, which he did not mind.

Great Service.

 

[rf065]

Should I worry about getting the auto box fluid changed ? I doubt it has ever been done.

Do I need to get is serviced every 12 months if I only do 3000 miles a year ?

Mike

ATF was supposed to be sealed for life around the time yours was built, but not long after it was recommended to be done once only at 37,000 miles. Mine was done at that mileage and has now covered 137,000 miles and the ATF still looks brand new without any problems.
ASSYST will tell you if the car needs a service, for your low mileage it will tell you it needs a service every two years. A few years after yours was built, Mercedes changed to 1 year max between services.
Other things to expect on that model are ball joints, broken springs and if not already replaced, brake pipe corrosion and exhaust once it gets to 10 years plus.

Russ

 

[Alex225]

Hi Mike. I use DDR in Ashtead so not too far. I know of a couple decent local mechanics too

I’m located in Coulsdon as well so feel free to drop me a PM.

 

[alecmascot]

I used to run a 2004.5 W203 :
The oily bits are the least of your worries.
The potential for rusty rear wheel arches will be an major issue.

 

[Markssl]

I’d have the engine oil, gearbox oil and filter changed now and ask the garage to check it over. That way you know you’re fine from the off. I use an independent mechanic that I fully trust here in the Midlands. He’s just changed my oil and filter on my E350CDi and checked it all over for £85.



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[Joderest]

All of the above is good advice. My ML270 has only done 36,500 (2003) hence gearbox oil change.
What ever you decide to do, pick a garage that know Mercedes, there are horror stories of garages not doing things correctly or not having the tools to do the job.
At the end of the day the cheapest job is not always the best job.

 

[toteimerced]

I used to run a 2004.5 W203 :
The oily bits are the least of your worries.
The potential for rusty rear wheel arches will be an major issue.

Shouldn’t be, galvanised body from late 2003 onwards.

 

[E55BOF]

Shouldn’t be, galvanised body from late 2003 onwards.

The E-class was galvanised from early 2003, but until my present 2009 model (on 135K miles) every single one of the four that went before it had rusty rear wheel arches at the lower front, and one of those was a 2008, just starting to go on 90K miles. I wouldn't bet on a 2005 C-class not developing the same problem, but thanks to the galvanising it goes gradually, so you have plenty of opportunity to keep on top of it.

 

[toteimerced]

What I can say is, my 2006 c doesn’t have even the slightest sign of rust anywhere, it’s on 133K, but very well cared for.

 

[markjay]

I sold my 2006 W203 earlier this year, it was 11 years old and not a spot of rust anywhere.

And as rf065 said, a 2005 car will have the flexible service schedule, i.e. it does not need to be serviced evert 12 months, instead ASSYST will let you know 30 days before the next service is needed.

And another vote for changing ATF and filter.

 

[KeithJG]

My 2006 C Class also has no evidence of rust at all. Even stone chips don`t rust.

No lacquer peel...and is kept in the open and washed in an auto car wash every month.

 

[cws196]

I ran a 56 plate S203 220CDI and put 55K on it - never missed a beat and was a superb car. Other than consumables I only had to replace the AC condenser due to a tiny leak. Best advice I can give is when washing the car, to take the hose minus gun and run it around/under the front and rear wheel arch lips - the rears have a particularly large lip which acts as shelf to hold dirt.

What I would say is change to oil in between services (I think the interval was around 17K which is FAR too long).

 

[David404]

Another vote for a gearbox service. Guessing a little but think you'll gat this done at a good Indie for £220 - £250.

 

[leef44]

Welcome to the forum.
Yes definitely get atf change. I once had a secondhand CL420, meant to have FMBSH but I think back in the day it was just stamped and not properly done. I can't imagine it had atf changed. The gearbox ended up having a mind of its own. Sometimes kickdown doesn't work and sometimes it kicks down when you don't want. On a curved slippery slip road on a wet winters day, it kicked down unwittingly, spun the car and wrote it off into the barriers.
Also I would recommend annual service for optimal lubrication of oil to preserve the engine, despite low mileage. Lubrication deteriorates with age.
Things to watch out for? If your dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree with no ABS, cruise etc. then it is a wheel speed sensor which is gone. Get it diagnosed at a indie with STAR.

 

[Smart320]

Second the speed sensor comment, just had 2 replaced on my M L , a front one first, all looked OK after replacement on road test and confirmed afterwards on Star. Collected car and 2 hrs later and 50 miles down the motorway the Christmas tree illuminated after a coffee stop. Back to the garage and this time showed a rear sensor. Replaced it and all seems ok after 250 miles.

 

[SW18]

Hi OP, for a local South London Indy, I use (and can recommend) Merc Services in Mitcham. David has a good Mercedes pedigree and he looks after many older Mercs. He is very efficient and is Star equipped (one of the few in South London).

Others on here also recommend James Leigh Mercedes in Colliers Wood, who seems very similar - but I have not been there as Merc Services have been good.