W212 Service Time - Tough coming from VAG!
- Thread starter silver1011
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I am assuming your car had an additional service due to mileage (i.e. within less than 12 months from the last service) at some point of its life?
Because otherwise all it would have needed in year 3 is a Service A, and nothing else. The two 'big' services would have been year 4 (B+filters+BF) and year 5 (A+ATF).
This can also explain why the brake fluid is not due yet (because it's time-bases and not mileage-based).
Because otherwise all it would have needed in year 3 is a Service A, and nothing else. The two 'big' services would have been year 4 (B+filters+BF) and year 5 (A+ATF).
This can also explain why the brake fluid is not due yet (because it's time-bases and not mileage-based).
silver1011
Active Member
Yeah, I mentioned this in the opening post.
The car is new to me but almost four years old, I like a clean slate, not knowing how the car has been driven / treated before I bought it.
Many moons ago I owned a 2002 E46 BMW 320d with an auto box, which was apparantly sealed for life. It was a little slow on cold morning's shifting between drive and reverse. After protesting with the dealer they reluctantly swapped out the ATF oil and it was noticeably better.
To do the ATF on the E-Class is going to cost me £200, but at least then I'll know it'll be good for another 5 years/ 75,000 miles.
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Regarding brake fluid change intervals, I would caution against extending them unless the fluid is sampled and the water content ascertained.
The two-year interval is undoubtedly playing it safe, but due to the hygroscopic nature of brake fluid it’s impossible to tell without accurate testing how much water has been absorbed and therefore how much the boiling point has been reduced. Also, if you’ve ever seen the corrosion in a brake system that has had fluid left in it for too long then you’d be inclined to the view that changing the fluid every two years is cheap insurance.
The two-year interval is undoubtedly playing it safe, but due to the hygroscopic nature of brake fluid it’s impossible to tell without accurate testing how much water has been absorbed and therefore how much the boiling point has been reduced. Also, if you’ve ever seen the corrosion in a brake system that has had fluid left in it for too long then you’d be inclined to the view that changing the fluid every two years is cheap insurance.
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Well, if you are OCD... 
When the car is being serviced, ask also for software updates for the transmission TCU, engine ECU, and COMAND/Audio20 (firmware upgrade, which is separate to maps update). Any dealer, or indie with genuine STAR and valid subscription can do that.
Of course, you could ask them to update all of the ECUs for which there's an update, but that would be OTT and I can't think of anyone who would want to do that. Apart form me, that is
- I got all of the ECUs updated 
When the car is being serviced, ask also for software updates for the transmission TCU, engine ECU, and COMAND/Audio20 (firmware upgrade, which is separate to maps update). Any dealer, or indie with genuine STAR and valid subscription can do that.
Of course, you could ask them to update all of the ECUs for which there's an update, but that would be OTT and I can't think of anyone who would want to do that. Apart form me, that is
- I got all of the ECUs updated 
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What's your reg number (PM of you like)?
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If it's the car you posted a picture of it's been serviced October every year.
A
B + Dust Filter
A + Brake Fluid
So brake fluid was done 2018 on an A service so not actually needing done this year.
A
B + Dust Filter
A + Brake Fluid
So brake fluid was done 2018 on an A service so not actually needing done this year.
silver1011
Active Member
Sorry for the delay in responding guys, I've been away for a few days.
My reg number is Y7 RGM, which was previously FL16 DLK...
When I bought the car these are the service print-outs Mercedes-Benz of Leicester gave me...
So it looks as though it has had the brake fluid changed last October at 28,600 miles.
My reg number is Y7 RGM, which was previously FL16 DLK...
When I bought the car these are the service print-outs Mercedes-Benz of Leicester gave me...
So it looks as though it has had the brake fluid changed last October at 28,600 miles.
Last edited:
silver1011
Active Member
Prestige Servicing finally got back to me.
About £40 cheaper than the other two North East based independants but I'm hearing some mixed reviews about them, so likely to give them a miss...
RE: Website Contact - Service
<[email protected]>
Tue 01/10/2019 12:27
Hello,
Please find below the service costs for your vehicle
Service B including engine oil and filter change, air filter, fuel filter and pollen filter £380.00 inclusive of vat.
Gearbox service £200.00 inclusive of vat.
If you would like to make an appointment please contact service reception on 01642 669100.
Kind Regards,
Adelle
01642 669100
prestigeservicing.co.uk
2c Opus Park, Preston Farm Industrial estate,
Stockton on Tees TS18 5BP
About £40 cheaper than the other two North East based independants but I'm hearing some mixed reviews about them, so likely to give them a miss...
RE: Website Contact - Service
<[email protected]>
Tue 01/10/2019 12:27
Hello,
Please find below the service costs for your vehicle
Service B including engine oil and filter change, air filter, fuel filter and pollen filter £380.00 inclusive of vat.
Gearbox service £200.00 inclusive of vat.
If you would like to make an appointment please contact service reception on 01642 669100.
Kind Regards,
Adelle
01642 669100
prestigeservicing.co.uk
2c Opus Park, Preston Farm Industrial estate,
Stockton on Tees TS18 5BP
silver1011
Active Member
Thanks for all the advice gents.
All booked in with George at MB of Darlington for Tuesday next week.
Cabin filter isn't included in the price so they've said they'll check it on the day.
The £220 quote for the ATF change is just for the gearbox oil and filter. To fully flush the torque converter and cooler would need quite a lot more oil, plus some extra labour - roughly another £150.
If I remember correctly from the phone conversation the whole system holds about 9 litres of oil, the gearbox oil change requires 7 litres of oil which presumably means the torque converter and cooler hold about 2 litres. To flush the system means quite a bit of oil is discarded afterwards?
I'm hoping that the cleaning of the magnets on the pan plus 7 litres of fresh oil diluted with 2 litres of old oil will be OK.
B Service - £252
Air filter - £45
Fuel filter - £113
Gearbox oil change - £220
TOTAL - £630
Optional - Cabin filter - £50
Optional - Torque converter and cooler flush - £150
If it wasn't for the warranty I'd do the oil and filter service myself, so I may just do the cabin filter myself, can't see the warranty company knocking back a claim for it being missed off the electronic service record.
All booked in with George at MB of Darlington for Tuesday next week.
Cabin filter isn't included in the price so they've said they'll check it on the day.
The £220 quote for the ATF change is just for the gearbox oil and filter. To fully flush the torque converter and cooler would need quite a lot more oil, plus some extra labour - roughly another £150.
If I remember correctly from the phone conversation the whole system holds about 9 litres of oil, the gearbox oil change requires 7 litres of oil which presumably means the torque converter and cooler hold about 2 litres. To flush the system means quite a bit of oil is discarded afterwards?
I'm hoping that the cleaning of the magnets on the pan plus 7 litres of fresh oil diluted with 2 litres of old oil will be OK.
B Service - £252
Air filter - £45
Fuel filter - £113
Gearbox oil change - £220
TOTAL - £630
Optional - Cabin filter - £50
Optional - Torque converter and cooler flush - £150
If it wasn't for the warranty I'd do the oil and filter service myself, so I may just do the cabin filter myself, can't see the warranty company knocking back a claim for it being missed off the electronic service record.
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The increased cost for TC and cooler flush is presumably for the labour as well as the additional ATF?
The torque converter flush should not be 'optional'.... MB Brooklands did this as a matter of course when they serviced the automatic transmission on my car (under Service Care Plan). Although to be fair, the 7G+ on my car has a drain plug on the TC.
Not sure about the cooler flush, it may get drained anyway when you empty the TC, but if not I can't see how the tiny radiator can hold any signifiant amount of ATF.
The torque converter flush should not be 'optional'.... MB Brooklands did this as a matter of course when they serviced the automatic transmission on my car (under Service Care Plan). Although to be fair, the 7G+ on my car has a drain plug on the TC.
Not sure about the cooler flush, it may get drained anyway when you empty the TC, but if not I can't see how the tiny radiator can hold any signifiant amount of ATF.
silver1011
Active Member
By 'optional' it isn't included in any of the standard ATF or gearbox oil changes prices I've been quoted from three Mercedes-Benz independents, hence to have it done is optional.
Yes, the £150 included the additional labour, as well as the extra oil needed to both flush the system and refill it.
My gearbox is also the 7G+, I may have got it wrong but I got the impression from the phone call with the garage that the ATF and torque converter oil are one and the same thing? Dropping the pan off the bottom of the gearbox yields 7 litres, the TC holds another 2 litres, but the 2 litres is left in situ whilst the AT fluid is removed?
Incidentally, the same 'gearbox oil replacement' at the main dealer was £450. The extra money might be because they drain and flush both the gearbox and torque converter?
Yes, the £150 included the additional labour, as well as the extra oil needed to both flush the system and refill it.
My gearbox is also the 7G+, I may have got it wrong but I got the impression from the phone call with the garage that the ATF and torque converter oil are one and the same thing? Dropping the pan off the bottom of the gearbox yields 7 litres, the TC holds another 2 litres, but the 2 litres is left in situ whilst the AT fluid is removed?
Incidentally, the same 'gearbox oil replacement' at the main dealer was £450. The extra money might be because they drain and flush both the gearbox and torque converter?
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I don't know what the cost of my ATF change was because as said MB Brooklands did it under the Service Care Plan (so the cost of each service was a fixed amount of £420, regardless of what needed to be done), which covered Service A + Spark Plugs + Air Filter + Brake Fluid, and then Service B + Cabin Filter + ATF.
But the tech did say that the TC on my car had a drain plug and that they drained it (though I am not sure if they would have gone into the trouble of draining the TC if did not have a drain plug?).
But the tech did say that the TC on my car had a drain plug and that they drained it (though I am not sure if they would have gone into the trouble of draining the TC if did not have a drain plug?).
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Some places will do it using a machine.
At this rate the quotes from some independents may not be the like for like, in fact quite confusing, I'd want the system flushed if I was paying for it.
At this rate the quotes from some independents may not be the like for like, in fact quite confusing, I'd want the system flushed if I was paying for it.
silver1011
Active Member
That looks to be quite a complex / expensive piece of equipment, I can't imagine many independent garages being able to justify installing one?
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Probably not, my point is that there is a procedure for doing this and you would expect a main dealer to follow it.
If they don't have this equipment then Mercedes have another "official" procedure to flush the system.
Either way you would expect to have the job done correctly.
silver1011
Active Member
I guess you'd also expect that an independent garage, especially those that advertise themselves to be Mercedes-Benz specialists would mirror the procedures recommended by Mercedes-Benz?
I am somewhat confused though now. Assuming I don't want to deviate from the official service regime (aside from having the gearbox oil change done early), should I be having the torque converter drained and fully flushed i.e. is this what a Mercedes-Benz main dealer would do?
I am somewhat confused though now. Assuming I don't want to deviate from the official service regime (aside from having the gearbox oil change done early), should I be having the torque converter drained and fully flushed i.e. is this what a Mercedes-Benz main dealer would do?
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There is fluid in the pan, torque convertor, oil lines, oil cooler and the actual box.
Draining the pan does not do it all and neither does draining the torque convertor, there is always a little left if draining.
Lat one I did I flushed it according to the Mercedes procedure, quite quick, simple but costs the extra labour and 9L of extra ATF.
If I were you I'd forget this as it does not "need" it, I'd go with the service and get the ATF flushed later.
Draining the pan does not do it all and neither does draining the torque convertor, there is always a little left if draining.
Lat one I did I flushed it according to the Mercedes procedure, quite quick, simple but costs the extra labour and 9L of extra ATF.
If I were you I'd forget this as it does not "need" it, I'd go with the service and get the ATF flushed later.
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I saw recently that the fuel filter on diesels has changed to 3yrs. Don't know if air filter is same.
