A,B,C Services

[Djcheshire]

Hello

So my car needed a B service according to the on board computer. It was in fact a B1/2 606 code.

So, called to a few local specialist and dropped my car off at a garage in Manchester this morning.

What's included in the B1/2 service as from what I can see I've paid through the odds for an oil and filter change and a check over. Service indicator is stating 16,000 till next service - are the intervals between services this short?

A few garages mentioned brake fluid refresh whilst other mentioned replacement of the air filter. The garage I took it to followed the code on the car and replaced what it mentioned - is this the correct way of doing things?

Thanks

 

[markjay]

This will tel you what needs doing:

http://lite.servicemercedes.co.uk/pc/pc_start.asp

And why do you think that 16k miles service interval is 'short'?

 

[markjay]

Overall, the scheduled service items are:


1. Engine oil and filter change (included in Service A and B)

2. Air filter change

3. Fuel filter change

4. Cabin filter change

5. ATF or Manual Gearbox oil change

6. Brake fluid change

7. Coolant change (unless long life coolant)

8. Spark plug change (if petrol)


Apart from the engine oil and filter, the items listed above are not automatically included with either A or B service.

Your service book or the ESS link above will tell you at what intervals these should be replaced.

 

[Djcheshire]

Hello

Thanks for the link to ESS, very helpful. Essentially it looks like an expensive oil change and check over.

This is what's been done
- Engine oil (low ash)
- Oil filter
- Sump seal ring
- Pollen filter

Gearbox oil change was done at last service and the garage mentioned the air filter / brake fluid wasn't needed until the on board ASSYST recommends otherwise.

In regards to the service intervals, I do 30k miles per year so that's roughly 2 services a year.

 

[martyp87]

Wouldn't say two services in a year doing 30k is a lot.

For an oil and pollen filter it shouldn't cost much more than £200 from an indy with a STAR check.

 

[markjay]

On my 2006 car, brake fluid change and air filter change are not monitored by ASSYST, only the engine oil change is.

But things may have moved on since, so I can't say if this is indeed the case with your car.

 

[Anthony 69]

This will tel you what needs doing:

Mercedes-Benz ESS

And why do you think that 16k miles service interval is 'short'?

Interesting this item should come up today, as my service indicator has just come up with a reminder today. The car is 4 years old with 20500 on it and it is asking for a D service. The link only seems to address A,B.C services I would welcome your thoughts / guidance on how to find more about D services please.

 

[tonysmb]

Interesting this item should come up today, as my service indicator has just come up with a reminder today. The car is 4 years old with 20500 on it and it is asking for a D service. The link only seems to address A,B.C services I would welcome your thoughts / guidance on how to find more about D services please.

I think they used to run the service schedules to about H, basically the different letters just indicated which 'extra' things needed to be changed, ie air filter, fuel filter, plugs etc.. It now seems to alternate between A and B, where A is an oil/filter change and a few checks, and B will add a pollen filter change and a few more checks (and a few more ££££s), and then the time/mileage bits are added, at even more extra cost, ie brake fluid every 2 years, various filters etc..

Basically, if yours is 4 years old, it's probably due oil/filter, fuel filter, air filter, brake fluid, ie a B plus a few other time-related issues. It should all be in your handbooks.

 

[tonysmb]

Hello

So my car needed a B service according to the on board computer. It was in fact a B1/2 606 code.

So, called to a few local specialist and dropped my car off at a garage in Manchester this morning.

What's included in the B1/2 service as from what I can see I've paid through the odds for an oil and filter change and a check over. Service indicator is stating 16,000 till next service - are the intervals between services this short?

A few garages mentioned brake fluid refresh whilst other mentioned replacement of the air filter. The garage I took it to followed the code on the car and replaced what it mentioned - is this the correct way of doing things?

Thanks

The replacing of items that the 'code' on the car says obviously depends on previous technicians having updated the car's system correctly. I'm not convinced they all do.

 

[Robbo Cop]

I'll just jump in here regarding service intervals .. If you ask any high milage driver, long service intervals are a bad idea. These were introduced by some manufacturers to make cars more attractive to fleet buyers, naturally everybody jumped on board to retain a competitive edge. Not one mechanic I've spoken to will tell you long service intervals are a good idea and all recommend 10,000 mile oil and filter changes, many say less than 10K. Taxi drivers (typically hard city driving) will generally do a change between 6,000 and 8,000 miles.

Rob ...

 

[Dinnie]

I'll just jump in here regarding service intervals .. If you ask any high milage driver, long service intervals are a bad idea. These were introduced by some manufacturers to make cars more attractive to fleet buyers, naturally everybody jumped on board to retain a competitive edge. Not one mechanic I've spoken to will tell you long service intervals are a good idea and all recommend 10,000 mile oil and filter changes, many say less than 10K. Taxi drivers (typically hard city driving) will generally do a change between 6,000 and 8,000 miles.

Rob ...

Oil technology has come a long way. All that talk about 6k oil changes probably relate to an old myth that has stuck in people's minds, back in the day of mineral oils.

 

[Robbo Cop]

Dinnie,

You are quite correct oil technology has come a long way. I was referring to fully synthetic modern oils, I should have made that point clearly. Engine manufacturing has also come a long way and oil's have to work a lot harder than they used to in the old mineral oil days due to much tighter tolerances and higher temperatures.


Very best,

Rob ...