SLK Service

[gilberto]

My 2011 SLK has done 39000 miles with full MD service history except last one which was done at Indy
Have only covered 500 miles since last service Dash now say A service due in 23 days
Do I really need this doing?
Thanks in advance

 

[W1ghty]

It’s all up to you , it’s an old car , the oil will be fine , I would wait 6 months till you have put some more miles on (please God for a Covid free summer ) .
Do it at 24 months either way though

 

[gilberto]

It’s all up to you , it’s an old car , the oil will be fine , I would wait 6 months till you have put some more miles on (please God for a Covid free summer ) .
Do it at 24 months either way though

Cheers

 

[Teego]

Did your indy reset the service counter? How long since last service? Oil changes are cheap.

 

[Neiltodd]

I always do mine every 12 months even though mileage varies between 3 and 5.5K per annum.

 

[geoffus]

This has been debated so many times, some will say every 12 months even if it hasn’t done 100 miles. The other half will say that’s daft and nothing needs doing in such a low mileage, 500 miles is nothing for a quality Oil, the filters won’t be degraded so nothing needs changing. I myself would leave it till next year, no damage will be caused and the engine will still last 250,000 miles. It’s no very eco friendly to throw good oil away .

 

[gilberto]

Thanks for your views yes Indy re set it and updated digital service record
Maybe I should have it re set and do big service next time?

 

[gilberto]

Sorry 12 months since last service!

 

[E55BOF]

I've always regarded service intervals based on time as a bit of a con, and basically intended to generate work for the dealer network. Air filter, engine oil, fuel filter, pollen filter; none of these really need changing based on anything other than mileage covered. Checking yes, replacing no. I have my engine oil and filter replaced every couple of years, or every 10K miles, and that's probably overkill, but it doesn't cost much.

 

[geoffus]

I've always regarded service intervals based on time as a bit of a con, and basically intended to generate work for the dealer network. Air filter, engine oil, fuel filter, pollen filter; none of these really need changing based on anything other than mileage covered. Checking yes, replacing no. I have my engine oil and filter replaced every couple of years, or every 10K miles, and that's probably overkill, but it doesn't cost much.

I would agree, when I bought a brand new motorhome a few years ago the dealer said oil, filters, brake fluid and the pollen filter needed for the service in line with the manufactures schedule.
The van had done around 5000 miles, I did the pollen filter myself, It wasn't dirty and I saved around £60.

 

[gilberto]

What happens to digital service record if you do. It yourself?

 

[geoffus]

Does it matter on a 10 year old car ? You will still keep all purchase receipts to show future potential buyers, this would still show you are a fastidious owner. I’ve never had a problem selling a car if that’s what worries you. Put all bills in a wallet and show your an enthusiastic owner, that goes a long way.

 

[gilberto]

Cheers

 

[leef44]

I get mine done every year with annual mileage of 2000-4000 miles.

However this year with the lockdown it has been difficult. I normally go with my wife down to Olly's (PCS) and take a day out to Gunwharf Quays, (frequent toilet and food/drink requirement due to current health situation).

I've only done one big trip this year and in total less than 1000 miles since 12 months ago so I have decided to postpone it for now. It's an eight year old car for me and all receipts kept so I think it's pretty sound from a mechanical and history view point.

 

[MEMERC7]

We live in a litigious world & car makers are cynical enough to take advantage & apply the fear factor. Most fall for it so cars get serviced more often than necessary. Main dealer servicing is NOT the big deal it's made out to be & having bought & sold numerous cars some with main dealer servicing history & some with part main dealer & part specialist without exception such history made no difference whatsoever to the p/ex values. This applied to a 2012 SLK & an Audi A3 Cabriolet recently p/exed. It's all about car makers covering their back as it is in business especially if you work for the NHS where the fear factor is so off the scale it impacts on the work itself. However I digress. My current 2016 Mercedes with 25k on the clock will be serviced by my village garage who have exactly the same access to whatever technical information is required as a main dealer 20 miles away & a Mercedes specialist 10 miles away. All receipts will, as always, be kept in a file for inspection come p/ex time.

 

[geoffus]

The only car I bought brand new was a Honda Civic Type R, it was serviced by the main Honda dealer at great cost. It was polished every other week with Meguiars, treated with Supaguard inside and out, cherished and was spotless and immaculate.
When I bought my first Mercedes I took it along for a part ex, it gleamed in the carpark just opposite the showroom.
Then when it came do the deal he just typed in my reg no. Didn't even look at my car, just gave me basic trade value, I might as well not cleaned it let alone pampered it.

 

[Chrishazle]

Looking back at the OP it looks like we're talking about a weekend toy not a daily driver doing high mileage every day. Our cars specify fully synthetic oil - is that going to fall apart in 2 years and 15k miles (or less!), I rather doubt it. I concur with the opinion above that MB changed the service interval (about 2007, with the change from W203 to W204) from 15.5k miles/2 years to 15.5k miles/1 year to generate more work for their workshops, not to benefit owners. I have 2 x 2008 MB's that do little mileage each year (in normal times 7500 for the S204 and 3000 for the SLK) and there's no way I'll double my servicing cost by adhering to MB's 1 year edict, unless my respected indie finds something that warrants change.

 

[markjay]

Looking back at the OP it looks like we're talking about a weekend toy not a daily driver doing high mileage every day. Our cars specify fully synthetic oil - is that going to fall apart in 2 years and 15k miles (or less!), I rather doubt it. I concur with the opinion above that MB changed the service interval (about 2007, with the change from W203 to W204) from 15.5k miles/2 years to 15.5k miles/1 year to generate more work for their workshops, not to benefit owners. I have 2 x 2008 MB's that do little mileage each year (in normal times 7500 for the S204 and 3000 for the SLK) and there's no way I'll double my servicing cost by adhering to MB's 1 year edict, unless my respected indie finds something that warrants change.

The service interval prior to 2007 was Flexible ASSIST, with the car guesstimating when the next service is due based on the number of cold starts, number of short journeys, etc.

If you didn't reach the mileage interval, the car would work-out for you when the next service was due.

My low-annual-mileage W203 was asking for a service every 13 to 18 months, but some people on here reported that it might even go up to 2 years before the next service was required.

Another interesting fact is that on cars with oil quantity sensor, the car 'knew' when fresh oil was added, so if the car had high oil consumption or suffered from a leak and required frequent top-ups, this would further delay the next service on Flexible ASSIST.

From what I read, Flexible ASSIST was changed to fixed interval after fleet operators complained that the flexible schedule made maintenance planning very difficult.