kompress

I obviously won't until the service period is up, but anyone know how to do it? I keep hearing bits and pieces about having to do it from the top because of no drain plug-- is that true?! I would hate to have to pay the dealer for future oil changes.

SLK Boy

You can get a topsider type product that siphons the oil from the top (through the dipstick hole). The oil filter is located at the top, so you don't have to go underneath the car at all.

That's the way MB does it now.

Periokid has a site that shows how it's done on a SLK 320:

How to change your oil

mdp c230k

The sarcastic guy says: "you go to the dealer and say - I need an oil change."

kompress

So there's really no drain plug!?! Or is it just a pain to get to?

avlis

False. There is a drain plug just like every other car. I've seen it and there are pictures around here to prove it. These rumors do nothing but **** me off. Anyway, the problem is- it's covered by the plastic belly pan so there are 3 options:

1. Remove the belly pans every time you need to drain.
2. Cut an access hole or panel in the belly pan to get at the plug.
3. Get a suction device.

I'm going for #3 after my last freebie.

mdp c230k

MB really does syphon the oil out of the engine. This is the proper procedure. There might be a drain plug but if they dont use it, I wouldn't either.

avlis

I believe MB syphons the oil from the top simply because it is cheaper, easier, faster to do so. No need to tie up a vehicle lift and no mess.

I don't believe the reports that it gets more old oil out, or whatever....It's just as effective or ineffective as draining only it's just CHEAPER!

lars

So what will MB do with the 1.8 L engine, now that there is no dipstick? Is there an extensive underpan system on the 2003 coupe?

I have trouble with the notion that syphoning the oil is as effective as draining it. In the first place, the dipstick tube on the 2.3 L engine is pretty small, making for a slow flow, one would think. Also, wouldn't syphoning would tend to leave behind the particles and sludge that sometimes settle to the bottom of the oil pan?

patronus

The 'no dipstick' engines still have dipstick tubes with a cap.

The suction method does get more oil out because, if you look, the drain plug is actually on the SIDE of the oil pan, not the bottom (on all of the MB's I have ever seen, although I have not seen them all).

The suction tube goes right to the bottom of the pan. The difference is not enough to worry about, but suction is at least as good at oil extraction AND easier.

truelove

can you get the oil changed at any place like a speedlube or something or does it have to be done at a dealership? assuming you've run out of freebies. i know next to nothing about cars so yes, i'm dumb.

dswildfire

at my dealership they hoist the cars up on lifts and drain from the bottom.

MB-BOB

There are a lot of good things to be said about STANDING UP to change your oil and oil filter, compared with crawling on your back under a car on jack stands. I intend to get a topsider, once my free maintenance period (4 years) expires. Everything I read about them says they are very efficient.

As for fiddling with the underfloor pans, I see more and more cars with their belly pans hanging loose, distorted, or scuffed-up, or twisted by running over things, etc. I get the impression that once you fiddle with these plastic bits, it's difficult to get them back into place properly. So, if you use a topsider, you can avoid this worry, too.

avlis

It's not bad. As long as you remember to put back ALL the screws it will be fine. But removing and reinstalling the pans is definitely not something I want to do every 10,000 or so miles. It takes a bit of patience and a good amount of time.

SoCal240/6

I take it you are not really a diy'er, as you are paranoid about even the most basic things (unscrewing 4 screws to take off the belly pan, changing brake pads, etc.)

The belly pan is very easy to take off and put back on. Its not difficult to get them back into place properly, despite your "impression" to the contrary.

I'd rate the difficulty of getting it back in place properly at around the same level of plugging a toaster in.

Working on cars is not rocket science. And, MBs, contrary to what many think, are mechanically no different than any other car on the road. People who don't know how to work on cars, or don't really know much about how cars work, shouldn't try to scare others off by saying things that they know nothing about and make no sense.

revstriker

Not that I need to stick up for MB-BOB, but I do not get why you think he is paranoid because he wants to use the topsider to change his oil. I'm sure the MB-Techs are not paranoid, but they use this tool also. The point is that one may choose to use this tool to avoid having to deal with the pan at all.

Now if you choose to do it the hard way....... that's your decision.

C230 Sport Coup

"Life is hard, but life is harder when yer dumb. Might as well smoke a bowl of Ooo-pium"....
(song heard on local radio station...KPIG kpig.com)

I'm dumb too, but only 'cause MBZ likes us that way....
I've never seen a owners manual that doesn't detail even the smallest of maint. procedures until I got my Benz.

The local MBZ guy, not dealer, charges well over $100 for an oil change. Geez! Glad the 1st 4 are free!

MB-BOB

SoCal, I'm sure you're right about the belly pan's simple removal and install procedure. (My comment about belly pans dangling loose was a generic observation about all cars, not MBs, and is based in part on my most recent experience with my Ford Probe, which is NOT easy to work with.)

However, at my age, financial condition and general sense of priorities in life, the only reason I would lay flat on my back on a hot driveway would be to stare up my wife's skirt at her panties, not to change my freaking oil...

SoCal240/6

No problem with that, but believe me, there are a lot of people with very, very nice financial conditions (some that are probably even better than you, believe it or not!) that enjoy working on their car.

Now, I don't know what your age is, but based on your Buick Gold, errr, I mean Desert "Silver" car, I'd guess you are up there. So I don't fault you for not wanting to do, or have any interest in doing, basic maintenance and mechanical work on your car.

(Although other than discussing mechanics and how to fix things, I don't know what else is really interesting to discuss on an automotive BBS).

Its fine that you are not a Do-It-Yourselfer, but you should just say that, and not put your paranoias on others who would like to work on their car, and are asking questions about how to do it.

You say things like "I get the impression that once you fiddle with these plastic bits, it's difficult to get them back into place properly" when you've never done it and have no idea what you are talking about.

MB-BOB

What's the problem, dude? Having a bad day? Tired of razzing tommy and shifting your focus to my old age, my "gold" car, my paranoia about getting my hands dirty, or feeling that such work is beneath me?

Please reread my two previous posts on this thread. I was simply stating that I like the inventiveness of changing the oil from above, not beneath the car. It's my opinion, and like you, I'm entitled to it. I mentioned that based on my direct EXPERIENCE with my previous FORD, that working with belly pans can be a mess, and that I wasn't referring to any mercedes-benz.

Further, I'm intrigued at your chiding me for not being a DIYer. I have received two PMs in the past year, asking me what engineering degree I have, based on some of the posts I have shared here. And while I have no engineering degree, my name does appear on two U.S. Patents (agricultural machines), my work appears in several books on plastic modelling, I invented the muzzle brake for Olympic Air Pistol use, and I work daily in my miniature metal machining shop on several projects... each one of them more interesting and challenging than changing the oil on my car, from either a standing or prone position.

I DO enjoy working on my car(s) when needed, but it is no longer at the top of the skillsets listed on my man card, and I am quite content with that. I'm glad you enjoy laying on your back under your car. Be sure you put on the parking brake... or not, I don't care!

SoCal240/6

Actually, I don't have any major problems with you.

Its just your "know-it-all-ness" gets annoying after a while. Esp. when you are so willing to post things that you have no idea about, and so often post misinformation or pure speculation as the truth.

There are a ton of examples. like the last time we went at it for all the simply wrong misinformation you posted about BMWs. I could probably find the thread if I was willing to look.

Its no big deal, there is a lot of misinformation (and some flat out ridiculous things) posted here. This isn't a BBS filled with people with a lot of automotive experience, esp. hands on mechanical experience. No bigge. But something about people who post misinformation in such an "authorative" tone get to me. That's all.

MB-BOB

My posts have no more credibility than yours. Where I know something to be a fact, I post it as such, and will back it up. If offering an opinion, I ALWAYS state it as such.

All of my posts regarding BMWs have been OPINIONS... I am not a BMW expert, and have absolutely no interest in becoming one. The subtle differences between this E-X 3-series and the next model don't interest me, they all look essentially the same to me, which is an OPINION, not a statement of fact.

My comment regarding mangled belly pans was based on direct observation of several examples yesterday morning on the way to work. My comment, "I get the impression that once you fiddle with these plastic bits, it's difficult to get them back into place properly," is just AN IMPRESSION, sic, OPINION, not fact.

A few weeks ago, you suggested that the "Ignore" button was always available to me. If my posts aggravate you so, then by all means, take some of your own advice.

This argument should hold us for another few weeks, right?

Lockbuster

Here is my 2 cents. I have been working on Benz since 1983 as a locksmith repairing the locking mechanisms. There is only a few of us qualified in the United States that are able to make keys from scratch to these animals. I have also had the pleasure on countless occasions, have had to remove the ignition using several grinders and drills. Removing an ignition requires the removal of the instrument cluster dash parts etc. Thee Benz is not forgiving when you make a mistake. The door panels are very expensive and when you make a key for a Benz, you need to remove the door panel and glove box lock. If you break a part, it cost $$. I have had my mistakes in repairing the Benz few but costly, however the profits outweighs the mistakes. In short, I am not inclined to remove anything from the Benz if there is another path that is shorter. I have been able to work on a Benz cutting the dealership time to repair a Benz by half.

If you are working on a Benz and a part is lost in a door, you need to retrieve it or it may end up in the electrical and cause a short. That is true for any part of the Benz if you decide to work on it. I have seen amateur work on there on cars and produce more harm than good. The most harm is when someone removes a part from a vehicle and gets the screws mixed up when putting the part back. That causes screws to be stripped and the part that is being attached, to be destroyed.

SoCal240/6

I would NEVER use the "ignore" button. That is for wimps who only want to hear things they agree with. What's the point of that?? Its the cyberspace equivalent of a kid who cries, takes his ball and runs home when he gets tackled too hard. Or puts his hands over his ears and says "lalalalala I can't hear you."

Disagreements and debate are what keep things interesting, esp. on a BBS involving new cars that are under warranty. (Other car BBS, involving older cars, are extremely useful for the exchange of technical and repair information - not really essential with our new cars).

Although I guess this list stays interesting with all of the stories of the various defects people are encountering with their C's, and with all of the ricer lighting mods, neon underlighting, blue inside lights, cutting or torching coil springs, etc.

Benzer

My question is : If you did the oil change yourself do you have to reset the computer? Or does it taste the new oil and figure out that this is new and fresh oil and give itself a 3 fingers salute? Meaning resetting itself for another 10K ???

If you do have to reset the ECU how would you do it? Or you still have to bring the coupe to dealer and get charged 180 bucks?

Peace y'all

Lynn

Benzer, please see page 140 of the operator's manual for resetting the FSS.