Assyst Variable Servicing

[nickwilcock]

Another rather useless reply from M-B Customer Service:

Thank you for your E-mail dated 15th August 2008 regarding your enquiry into the replacement of engine oils.

Unfortunately, we are unable to comment as to why a particular type of oil was used by the servicing dealership to your SLK-Class. We can only provide the oil specification sheet, as attached to our E-mail dated 15th August 2008; so may we refer you to discussing this matter directly with the dealership concerned.

Should you have any further requirements on other matters, please do not hesitate to contact us.


Yours sincerely

So I've asked (yet again) as follows:

Thank you for your e-mail.

Please confirm whether the Service Sheet specific statement:

Restriction for AMG: Only Engine Oils SAE XW-40 (X = 0, 5, 10, 20) May Be Used
​

means that only the grade of oil specified by AMG shall be used.

If not, why is this statement included on the Service Sheet?

Why can't they just tell me whether xW-30 oil is acceptable in AMG-engined vehicles?

 

[Rory]

Why can't they just tell me whether xW-30 oil is acceptable in AMG-engined vehicles?

I would assume that if it's not on the service specification sheet then it's not acceptable.

Have you spoken to the dealership's Service Manager?

 

[corned]

Hi. My 2005 E320CDI (with ASSYST PLUS) has just had a 'B' service at approx 93K. I have a couple of questions:

The next service indicated is a 'C' service. What is that?

After the service guy dropped off the car the indicator said the above service was due in approx 9300 miles. Was something not reset properly?

For info, they picked up and dropped off the car. The odometer reading was only about 10 miles different, which equates to there and back and not a lot else, so they certainly haven't been using it as a runabout for the day. If the service indicator was reset to 10k, how come it 'lost' 700 miles in the 5 miles it took to get home?

Being a suspicious and cynical bugger at heart, I would like to ensure some work at least was carried out. Please can someone tell me where the oil filter and the 'combination filter' is on the E320CDI? I take it that the undertray fixing bolts should show some signs of recent disturbance too. Am I correct?

I use the car for business, so I do quite a few miles per year, mainly longer motorway trips. Being in the ecological trade, I tend to use the car quite gently as I am more interested in the mpg than generating high mach numbers. This I would expect to give me the best possible chance of getting the higher service intervals. I note from the cars service history that the first 2 or 3 services were at about 15k intervals, and then every subsequent service has been at around the 10k mark. I suspect the service settings in ASSYST have been changed to fixed length intervals, or not being set to 15k as originally done. Is this possible/likely?

Any advice is very much appreciated.

 

[Rory]

Hi. My 2005 E320CDI (with ASSYST PLUS) has just had a 'B' service at approx 93K. I have a couple of questions:

The next service indicated is a 'C' service. What is that?

After the service guy dropped off the car the indicator said the above service was due in approx 9300 miles. Was something not reset properly?

For info, they picked up and dropped off the car. The odometer reading was only about 10 miles different, which equates to there and back and not a lot else, so they certainly haven't been using it as a runabout for the day. If the service indicator was reset to 10k, how come it 'lost' 700 miles in the 5 miles it took to get home?

Being a suspicious and cynical bugger at heart, I would like to ensure some work at least was carried out. Please can someone tell me where the oil filter and the 'combination filter' is on the E320CDI? I take it that the undertray fixing bolts should show some signs of recent disturbance too. Am I correct?

I use the car for business, so I do quite a few miles per year, mainly longer motorway trips. Being in the ecological trade, I tend to use the car quite gently as I am more interested in the mpg than generating high mach numbers. This I would expect to give me the best possible chance of getting the higher service intervals. I note from the cars service history that the first 2 or 3 services were at about 15k intervals, and then every subsequent service has been at around the 10k mark. I suspect the service settings in ASSYST have been changed to fixed length intervals, or not being set to 15k as originally done. Is this possible/likely?

Any advice is very much appreciated.

To put it bluntly, if you're doing quite a lot of miles and you drive gently, then you're being conned.

Talk to the dealer service manager and ask him to explain why the car used to do 15k but now only does 10K (I assume your use of the car is similar). Play your ecological credentials - it's a waste of oil (not to mention money) to change the oil more frequently than necessary.

 

[corned]

Thanks Rory.

I should perhaps have mentioned that this B service is the first service in my ownership.
​

 

[Dieselman]

Being a suspicious and cynical bugger at heart, I would like to ensure some work at least was carried out. Please can someone tell me where the oil filter and the 'combination filter' is on the E320CDI? I take it that the undertray fixing bolts should show some signs of recent disturbance too. Am I correct?

The undertray probably hasn't been off as tere is no need to remove it. The oil filter lives at the top of the engine under the cover and the combination filter is the pollen/charcoal filter for the ventilation system.

If the work was performed at a Mercedes dealer I'd be very surprised if it wasn't done, well, certainly the oil filter.

 

[corned]

Thanks, Dieselman.

Now I'm a bit more suspicious. I have removed the engine covers. There is a black filter-looking thing at the front of the engine block, mounted vertically downwards right next to the top hose. It has "25 Nm" embossed on it along with the star symbol and a clockwise arrow for direction of turning I presume. It this definitely the oil filter?

Also, please will someone tell me how to unclip the air con filter box at the back-right of the engine compartment? I want to look in there too, but don't want to break anything if poss!

Finally, the fuel filter was also replaced. CAn someone please tell me where this is. I can see a new-ish looking cannister not far from what I believe to be the oil filter. IS this it??

Thanks again.

​

 

[corned]

Update...

OK - I think (hope) that I have jumped too early here.

The afore-described oil filter is I think a cover for the real thing, and I am unwilling to undo it in case I flood the place in oil.

The reason I was questioning this is that the black casing (as described previously) is obviously not new, i.e. covered in dust. Therefore if it was the filter itself then I would be worried.

I have checked the fuel filter and air con filter, and both are spotless.

If anyone can confirm the oil filter status I would be grateful.

Cheers.

 

[springer]

Assyst further info required please

Hi everyone,
further questions for
Whitenemesis,

You posted some pdf files with regards to the factors to determine the mileage settings , in particular the " serice information -Engine oil change" it refers to a procedure or further document ref AP18.00.P-1840P.

Would it be possible to post this or send it as pm to me.

I too have quizzed the dealer over the oil changes and corresponding next sevice due issue.

I have always supplied my own Mobil 1 to the dealer techs,
When asked if they have set the car to the 229.5 oil spec they say Yes but do not offer to show or prove it . The display remains set at 10000 and counts down vertually mile for mile.

 

[pedrowk]

Oil Filter

The filter is sealed inside that casing you described.

 

[Rory]

If anyone can confirm the oil filter status I would be grateful.

Yes, it's just a cover. The filter is a cartridge type which fits inside.

 

[Jasper Blue]

How to change service interval on W203 facelift

Chaps - I have finally worked out how to input the 229.5 oil grade into ASSYST and thereby hugely increase the interval displayed until the next service from 10000 to 17000 miles on my 2006 C230. :bannana:

I will post this in the How-To section for those no longer following this thread.

1. Put key in ignition and turn to position 1;
2. Press Reset button 3 times in quick succession (knob to left of dash you use to reset normal trip counters etc);
3. Turn key to position 2;
4. Press down arrow key on steering wheel once to display the service indicator.
5. Press reset button once to display the Oil Grade menu.
6. Scroll to highlight standard, 229.3 or 229.5 as required (using +/- key as shown on menu);
7. Press up arrow to confirm selection;
8. You then get a prompt to press reset button for 3 seconds which you obviously do;
9. 'Service Confirmed' then displayed and new service interval will now be displayed in the normal menu.

I found selecting standard or 229.3 gives 10000 miles and 229.5 gives 17000 to next service. Quite a difference! Hope that helps some of the previous posters.

Matt.

 

[Rory]

Interesting post today on PistonHeads, regarding an 06 C180K always resetting to 10K miles:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=96&t=506204&

"Update! I emailed Mercedes customer care, within 24hrs they'd acknowledged my query/complaint and within a further 24hrs someone from my local Merc dealership (who supplied and service my car) called me to ask me to take the car in for them to look at, Merc head office technical had emailed a list of instructions to my dealership on how to reset the indicator properly.

Bob's your uncle, they follow the instructions and 13,000 miles until next service comes up on the dash, as it should with the higher grade fully synthetic oil used. The dealership admitted they weren't aware of this method of resetting the indicator, and that grades of oil could be selected on my model of car (apparently none of the technicians were aware so how many people in central Scotland get their cars serviced 3,000 miles early each time, big £££s for a dealership). Anyway, to be fair to the chap he's offered me a discount on my next service as compensation, and they now know how to reset service indicators on one of their biggest selling models."

 

[corned]

Thanks, Jasper Blue. An intriguing post.

I have tried that in my E320, and yes, you can get into the service menu OK. What is different is that I can't find any way to select the oil specification. Can someone please show me how to do this?

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I have managed to reset my service interval (not intentionally I might add) back to 9300 miles. I'm not concerned about the inadvertent reset (but the reset mileage is disappointing) because it was serviced only last week, but I am a little worried because it now says that the next service due is a 'B'. Which it had last week... Doh.

Before I meddled it said the next one due was a 'C' - whatever that is.

 

[Rory]

Before I meddled it said the next one due was a 'C' - whatever that is.

Replied to this in the other thread, but, basically, it doesn't matter. Mercedes dealers have an electronic service sheet which tells them what to do according to car's age and mileage. The letters are only a guide.

 

[MarkP80]

Hi,

This is a very interesting thread. Is there a way to check the setting of the oil standard without resetting the service indicator? I'd like to know what mine is set at ('07 R171), as it had a service recently, but I'd rather not reset the counter.

Thanks,
MarkP

 

[whitenemesis]

I think one would need to use STAR?

Interestingly one also is required to have a "fleece" type oil filter. Is this a standard fitment?

 

[corned]

Interestingly one also is required to have a "fleece" type oil filter. Is this a standard fitment?

I think that bit relates to the dealer charges...

 

[whitenemesis]

I think that bit relates to the dealer charges...

PMSL

 

[nickwilcock]

Well, following their latest useless e-mail, a phone call to M-B customer service elicited the following statement from their 'Tech. team':

"You must use 40-grade oil in your car"

I then asked them to put this in an e-mail statement, which has just arrived:

"Thank you for contacting the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center Maastricht N.V.

Further to our conversation today I can confirm that your vehicle requires engine oils with grade 0W40 or 5W40 as listed in the oil sheets previously provided.

Should you have any further requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us."

I will now, in the words of Basil Fawlty, be visiting the dealership with a large garden gnome....

I wonder how many other AMGs they've used non-recommended oil in?