bigben320e

Exactly what I was told by MBUSA, dealers, SA's too. Mobil1 Synthetic has been my oil of choice in all my cars.

Untertürkheim

Actually, Avia Synthetic was very often used as factory fill in non-AMG models, and many Pentosin products are often factory fill at MB, although I am not sure about motor oil in particular.

AMGC60-3

I received contracts from the company G&H which we built sound proof rooms at Unterturkheim where their engines are tested and built.I had part in building rooms for motors to include their Formula one division as well at AMG and they all test and use Mobil one oil only.

martz

its easier and cheaper for me to replace the oil and filter than an engine.I never follow FSS. Better safe than sorry!
My brother works for Ferrari. They use quaker state Q syn. I do too.
No need to go to a ferrari dealership, its available at wallymart

http://www.streetracing.org/article1186.html

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=1130545

ohlord

because Ferrari uses QS Q syn does not mean it meets MB spec.It does not meet the shear factors and the properties the mb was designed for.
Changing synthetic oil every 3500 miles is a waste of money and natural resources.Get with the program.0w40 m1 syn and fleece filter will keep your engine running longer,cleaner at fss interval than the wrong oil at 3500 mile wasteful changes.
mb spec quaker state only approved oil is European formula full syn 5w40 is that what you are getting at walmart

Air Marshall Eldritch

My mech swears by Elf. Has it imported by the barrel.

martz

Ohlord, unless you have $5k to 7k to give me when my engine accumulates sludge or blows and I need a new motor I will not follow yours or anybody elses advice of 10k changes. I spend $50-60 dollars on my changes. thats 150-180 a year( 3 changes a year). Why harp on it, its my money not yours, isnt it? I never said its the best oil. I just pointed out what I use. You obviously know what the best oil is out there for your car and for others to use, more power to you and your choices.

BTW........
Q Advanced Engine Full Synthetic, including the European Formulations,

meets the performance specifications of:

API SM

API SL/CF

ILSAC GF-4

ACEA A1 and A5

GM 4718M

MB 229.3 and 229.5

BMW LL-98 and LL-01

Q Advanced Engine is the only North American motor oil approved and

recommended for service by Ferrari North America.

AMGC60-3

All I know you guys is "what is the best oil for my 2000 C280" I have been to MB and Porsche in Stutgart and have seen many things at these places and they test their current and future motors with Mobil 1. I have driven a Mercedes since 1987 and have only used Mobil 1 and also have a C280 which I change the oil 2 times a year both Benze's.Sure you can use other spec oil's but the question was what is the best oil for his MB.

whoover

These are approved 229.5 oils:
Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W-30*
Pennzoil European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
Quaker State European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
ELF Excellium 229.5 5W-30*

And 229.51
Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40
Valvoline SynPower MST 5W-30*

229.51 is required for 2007+ diesels but controversial for gasoline engines. 229.5 is approved for gas engines.

Note that the starred oils (everything but the Mobil 1s) are not approved for AMG engines. That's why dealers tend to only stock Mobil 1.

ohlord

Mercedes spec sheet Quaker State Full Synthetic European Formula 5W-40
http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html
FSS engines in service MY 98-04
You are quite correct in using what ever you want in what ever amount your desire.Fleece filter and mobil one 0-w40 changed on the fss interval of 10-11 k miles and at 20k miles driven a year Zero sludge,no oil used between changes and never been broken down.Have owned Ferrari's and the MB is no Ferrari.
besides martz if iI am not mistaken you own a oil leak prone M104 that was never designed for use with synthetic oil anyway,so if you haven't already got the traditional oil leak problem from using synthetic oil in the m104
by all means continue using the current practice and you will shortly be replacing a head gasket and timing cover
When you are ready i can tell you how to do the diy
I don't understand why people muddle things up with oils for engines that aren't even inquired about in the first place
" Whats the best oil?
Hey guys,
What would be the best oil for my 2000 C280?"
Not what's the best oil for my M104 that is a known engine prone to oil leaks at the head gasket and timing cover at 100K engine?

Untertürkheim

I do not know if it is entirely accurate to say the M104 was not designed for synthetic oil, I know my family over there was in the majority in using synthetic oils (from personal memory) since the early 90s, and well before.

The US is far behind in this and many areas of car care, just like mobile phones.

This is one of the reasons why the oil spec sheet reccomends using a 229.3/5 oil for ALL MB engines.

Untertürkheim

The M1 is Porsche approved, is the QS?

Also, from what I remember in my reseatch, QS is not a true group IV/V synthetic like M1 and other high quality oils, it is a Group III base stock, which was only allowed to be called synthetic after a court ruling.

martz

You're too funny. What are you now, Houdini, looking at your crystal ball and through past threads on what I drive. FYI, I did have a 96 m104- thats long gone.
Listen, we, well I, (don't really know what your true agenda is) participate on this forum to share opinions and am not here to bash people. You on the other hand tend to overreact, .....but listen you are entitled to your own opinion and I will respect that.
You owned a Ferrari???? Would that be the MG and it turns into a Ferrari when you are asleep?....just kidding...lighten up ohlord , its all good.

BTW if you need to know, before you start assuming AGAIN, its a 99e3204m,
99c280sport, 05BMWx3, 97BMW318i.

AMGC60-3

The M104 motor was tested and designed for Mobil 1 full synthetic oil which is also the smaller brother of the E320 motor and the mighty AMG C36.

ohlord

was designed with conventional oil in mind.That is why all the head gasket problems up to the MY 96 and MB had the lawsuit to change specs to syn in the fss engines after the omission in 98 on the m112 and m113.M104 was not an extended oil life motor and did not require synthetic oil.
If someone has a m112 and they want to toss out perfectly good synthetic oil every 3500 miles have at it.
I choose to race MG's nowNote the side pipes at 147 rw h.p. and 2100 lb's it holds it's own

AMGC60-3 m104 was a 3.2 engine in the 96 and 97 e320 it was just the lucky few later ones that did not suffer the crappy wiring and the oil leak problems out the head gaskets and timing cover.Wonderful engine otherwise.

Back to the OP now that he is completely confused Mobil1 0w40 fleece filter.

AMGC60-3

All I know is that my my one W202 2.8 M.104 came out of the factory with Mobil 1 and I have changed the oil two times a year and serviced with Mobil 1. The motor is still very strong and is approaching 400 thousand km. Oil leaks at the head gasket is a common problem on these motors but is still built like a rock and will give you many years of service.

BenzMan1

Taffel Motors here in Louisville has changed to 5-40. I still use 0-40 mobile 1. Pep boys and auto zone have the best prices.

Untertürkheim

Just to clarify a few points here:

No MB for the past 20 years has an oil service interval of 3500 miles, the pre-fss models specified 7500 mile "lubrication service" intervals, although I go with 5k miles because it is closer to the 10kKM service interval specified for Germany, and in this case a little cushion keeps my mind at rest.

Also, MB currently reccomends using synthetic oils in all of their engines if you read the literature. MB reccomends using 229.5 or 229.3 oil in all cars (although they advise using the latest spec, 229.5 if possible), regardless of FSS or not. MB oil standards supercede each other, so there is no issue with backward-compatability.

Also, saying that the M104 was not designed for synthetic oil is wrong, period. At the time this engine was released most people in Germany were running synthetic, and this engine was designed to be using synthetic. Just because it can tolerate convention oil means nothing. I am not questioning your knowledge or experience as a mechanic, but I know the people who designed this engine.

Lastly, you may be interested to know that the test engines for the MB oil standards are engines you would argue are "not designed for synthetic" OM601 for the diesel tests and M111 for gasoline tests.

dominik123

mobil one is the way go

Untertürkheim

Valvoline SynPower 5w-40 is also 229.5, and it is an excellent product.