So I Did My First Oil Service Today (E350 CDi)...

[fbkane]

Just thought I would share my experience as it might be usefull to some.

Well firstly, jesus the filters are stupidly expensive. I have paid £230 For just the Oil, fuel, cabin and 2 air filters at the dealers. I bought the oil from ECP, 10 litre (x2 5 litre) of Mobil 1 ESP 5W30 for £72.

This was my first time on this engine so I took my time with it. I changed the oil using oil suction method from the top which went fine. After taking out 8 litre of oil, I filled 0.5 litre of new oil and used pump again to suck it out to pickup any left over dirty oil.

Air, cabin and oil filters were an easy job, now the fuel filter on the other hand is definetly not.

The location of the fuel filter is just between the 2 air filters so pretty much on the top middle of the engine. Now the problem is, you also have a pipe going through on the right side of the fuel filter and the pipe has an small extention that is just placed on top of the filter and I think its been put there for no other purpose but to be a nuisance. Unfortunetly the pipe has to be moved out of the way and to do that you also have to open up other bits which is quite a pain in the bottoms.

So basically as I did not have the right tools to reach certain bits, I gave up on it and now will ask Terry from WG to do the fuel filter aswell when he does my gearbox service this friday.

 

[markjay]

Good write up.

But on a general note, many simply change fluids and filters and ignore the long list of checks included in the official A and B service schedules.

Granted, some of the checks overlap with the MOT, but most do not.

Regular checks of power steering fluid level, transmission and diff fluid levels, condition of sarpentine belt, pad and disc thikness, etc etc etc, will all help prevent future problem.

A service is more than an just an oil and filter change...

 

[ringway]

This was my first time on this engine so I took my time with it. I changed the oil using oil suction method from the top which went fine. After taking out 8 litre of oil, I filled 0.5 litre of new oil and used pump again to suck it out to pickup any left over dirty oil.

I've been sucking out the oil for years and the above idea of adding half a litre and then drawing out again never occurred to me. Great idea!

 

[fbkane]

Good write up.

But on a general note, many simply change fluids and filters and ignore the long list of checks included in the official A and B service schedules.

Granted, some of the checks overlap with the MOT, but most do not.

Regular checks of power steering fluid level, transmission and diff fluid levels, condition of sarpentine belt, pad and disc thikness, etc etc etc, will all help prevent future problem.

A service is more than an just an oil and filter change...

The checks you mentioned are a must do for any driver really.

I've been sucking out the oil for years and the above idea of adding half a litre and then drawing out again never occurred to me. Great idea!

It's funny you say that, I dont usually use the suction method from the top infact, I always drained it from the bottom before but was told Mercs are suppose to be done this way.

I am not sure if what I did helped taking out the leftover oil but and of the day, I have only sacrificed half a litre of oil.

 

[ringway]

The checks you mentioned are a must do for any driver really.


It's funny you say that, I dont usually use the suction method from the top infact, I always drained it from the bottom before but was told Mercs are suppose to be done this way.

I am not sure if what I did helped taking out the leftover oil but and of the day, I have only sacrificed half a litre of oil.

BMW have been sucking for around 25 years and Mercedes-Benz for around 20 years. Just make sure you don't swallow.

 

[Mike Walker]

Banned for sexual innuendo. Oops wrong thread!

 

[renault12ts]

Live and learn. Kwik Fit could have done the dirty job for you for less than you paid for the oil

 

[Major774]

Nice write up.

For me, I am still on the drain method, it allows me to check the wear and tear parts as well.

 

[st13phil]

Air, cabin and oil filters were an easy job, now the fuel filter on the other hand is definetly not.

Do I remember reading somewhere that you have to "tell" the ECU via Star that the air filters have been changed on the OM642 engine?

 

[KeithJG]

Don`t know the in`s and out`s of adapting the air filters and some say rubbish.......
But when i purchased my Merc. the air filters had just been installed by a Land Rover Dealer.....driving home 120miles was ok.....

Had the ATF changed after a few weeks and also the air filters adapted on STAR and the motor was completely different to drive....so it must make some sort of effect!

 

[fbkane]

Do I remember reading somewhere that you have to "tell" the ECU via Star that the air filters have been changed on the OM642 engine?

Don`t know the in`s and out`s of adapting the air filters and some say rubbish.......
But when i purchased my Merc. the air filters had just been installed by a Land Rover Dealer.....driving home 120miles was ok.....

Had the ATF changed after a few weeks and also the air filters adapted on STAR and the motor was completely different to drive....so it must make some sort of effect!

Interesting, I have heard the same from the service manager before. Well I have full ATF service booked this friday at Wayne Gates so I'll get them to do it if its needed.

Speaking of the Air filters, when I took the old ones out yesterday, both filters were in a really bad state as if its never have been changed before (current mileage at 93k), even though the car has full dealership history with last service done about 7000 miles ago.

This is one of the reasons why I like doing my own service.

 

[Grovsie31]

230bits for some filters and oil? Say whaaaaaaaaa

 

[fbkane]

230bits for some filters and oil? Say whaaaaaaaaa

No its £230 just for the filters actually.

 

[Reggie-rock]

I have also done my oil and filter service exactly the same way myself. This way I am sure the expensive fully synthetic oil goes in and the filters are changed with oe parts.
I have done this as not only I am confident things have been changed too the highest spec but will save me money when the car goes in soon to have the rest of the service done at an independent garage as there is less for them to do.

 

[G.P]

BMW have been sucking for around 25 years and Mercedes-Benz for around 20 years.

BMW garages here in the Midland's haven't, neither has my local Merc dealer, thankfully..

 

[ALFIEBEARD]

I service my S Class 350CDI Bluetec when I bought it as I was a little unhappy about a service invoice I found in its history.

I bought a pair of Air Filters from Newcastle Mercedes they advertised them on flea bay and are genuine filters, I paid £65 inc postage for them. I also replaced the oil filter and used my Pela pump to suck out the oil, I bought 8ltrs of Castrol Edge Professional from my local Motor Factors for £70 inc vat.

My car was not due a service, but the last owner had a full service done by an Independent Merc "Specialist" who had also supposedly changed the gearbox oil, but on looking at the gearbox oil pan it didn't look as if it had ever been touched.

I took the car to my local Independent and had the autobox oil changed and also the MAF reset for the new air filters. mine were pretty clean but looked original the car had only done 30k he done the oil change and didn't charge for the Air Filter adaption.

I wrote to Mercedes asking at what mileage my 7G+ Autobox would be due an oil change, they wrote back and said as my car was built in 2011 it wasn't due until 77.500mls. but I was happy that I had peace of mind. I also went over the ancillary belts and fluid checks etc etc.

Sadly as others have also said I don't trust dealers when it comes to servicing as ive had a few bad experiences after my cars have been "serviced" by them.

Alfie