C280
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
C280
Just purchased my 1st Benz last month 99 C280. Had the oil changed today w/castrol syn. 5w30. I am looking to upgrade the suspension. If anyone can help with suggestions please post. Also, would you recommend the K&N replacement air filter?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 34
From: san jose
too poor now
i think my kn killed my MAS again..dats abuot 300 bux down the drain heh. some people dont have that problem with their KN filters.
u can do ebiach, HR, brabus springs. with koni or bilstin shox. ur choice.
there is no ride height difference on those. every car is different.
u can do ebiach, HR, brabus springs. with koni or bilstin shox. ur choice.
there is no ride height difference on those. every car is different.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
1998 C230
i think my kn killed my MAS again..dats abuot 300 bux down the drain heh. some people dont have that problem with their KN filters.
I'm about 3k miles on my k&n filter and no check engine light
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham, Alabama
2008 SLK-280
Why 5W30? Is this what your manual recommends. That just seams way to light of oil for such a high compression engine. I run 20w50. As far as springs, H&R, Eibach, Brabus, and other springs are all very good with similar results. As tp said, don't ask us how much it will lower your car, as it will vary with eery car. I have Carlsson springs but I don't know where you can get them anymore. The place I got them doesn't carry them anymore. My MAS went out after I put in my K&N also. I don't know what caused it. I put in a new mas, and left in my K&N, no problems after 8,000 miles.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,559
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
Originally posted by 3Bricks
I really don't know why the shop I went to put in the 5w-30. Do you think it will be okay? This is the first time I've used synthetic.
I really don't know why the shop I went to put in the 5w-30. Do you think it will be okay? This is the first time I've used synthetic.
-s-
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham, Alabama
2008 SLK-280
You should be ok this time, but I wouldn't do it again. I only say you are ok because you are using synthetic and it is a fairly new engine. Your seals are still new so they can handle the thin oil.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,559
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
My engine with 175,000 miles handles the thin oil just fine.
You need to look at it this way. A 5W-30 oil vs. a 20W-50 oil has viscosities that overlap, so what makes you think that at any given time, the 20W-50 is going to be "thicker" than the 5W-30?
I used to swear by 20W-50 in my hot rodding days, but the Mercedes engines I use now are machined to tighter tolerances so I think the "thinner" oil is better even as the engine gets older.
Also, no one even asked where the guy lives! The temperature and weather makes a HUGE difference as to what oil one should run. If he lives in the Arctic circle would you still be recommending 20W-50?
-s-
You need to look at it this way. A 5W-30 oil vs. a 20W-50 oil has viscosities that overlap, so what makes you think that at any given time, the 20W-50 is going to be "thicker" than the 5W-30?
I used to swear by 20W-50 in my hot rodding days, but the Mercedes engines I use now are machined to tighter tolerances so I think the "thinner" oil is better even as the engine gets older.
Also, no one even asked where the guy lives! The temperature and weather makes a HUGE difference as to what oil one should run. If he lives in the Arctic circle would you still be recommending 20W-50?
-s-
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 789
Likes: 55
From: Henrico, Virginia
2014 ML350 4Matic
Check out the following link which has a list of MB recommeded oils http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.htm MB is recommeding full synthetic in your engine if you use the FSS system to tell you when to change oil. Personally, I change mine evry 5,000 miles and I use one of the recommended oils from the list. If your shop doesn't have one of these oils, simply buy it somewhere else and have the shop fill the engine with your oil.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 789
Likes: 55
From: Henrico, Virginia
2014 ML350 4Matic
3Bricks, while that is true, MB oil charts indicate all oil grades are good for the temps you speak of. It is at the low end that the charts differentiate. 20W-40/50 should not be used below +23F. 10W-30/40/50/60 should not be used below - 4F. 5W & 0W have no lower limit (on the chart). For most use, synthetic 0W-40 should be good all year. For hard, high temp use, synthetic 15W-50 might be in order.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham, Alabama
2008 SLK-280
3Bricks, while that is true, MB oil charts indicate all oil grades are good for the temps you speak of. It is at the low end that the charts differentiate. 20W-40/50 should not be used below +23F. 10W-30/40/50/60 should not be used below - 4F. 5W & 0W have no lower limit (on the chart). For most use, synthetic 0W-40 should be good all year. For hard, high temp use, synthetic 15W-50 might be in order.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,559
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
Originally posted by vinceC
3Bricks, while that is true, MB oil charts indicate all oil grades are good for the temps you speak of. It is at the low end that the charts differentiate. 20W-40/50 should not be used below +23F. 10W-30/40/50/60 should not be used below - 4F. 5W & 0W have no lower limit (on the chart). For most use, synthetic 0W-40 should be good all year. For hard, high temp use, synthetic 15W-50 might be in order.
3Bricks, while that is true, MB oil charts indicate all oil grades are good for the temps you speak of. It is at the low end that the charts differentiate. 20W-40/50 should not be used below +23F. 10W-30/40/50/60 should not be used below - 4F. 5W & 0W have no lower limit (on the chart). For most use, synthetic 0W-40 should be good all year. For hard, high temp use, synthetic 15W-50 might be in order.
Like I said, this is the recommendations for my car. Also note that Mercedes has changed the recommendations for many cars in the past couple years. If you are using an oil chart older than that, you may be out of date.
Of course, oils other than true synthetics will have other properties and a different viscosity might be in order.
For instance, Castrol is not a true synthetic.
-s-
