johnnyCLK

Ive had my car for a lil over a year bought it in Jan03 yet I rarely drive it..i only put 6K miles since then. Can't remember if its every 10K or 12K, that the oil change reminder light comes on and tells u whether u need an A or B service. Anyways...should I wait for the oil change reminder to come on or should just get an oil change since its been a year? And if I dont decide to wait for the computer to remind me..will the change oil light still come on as scheduled?

GDawgC220

depending on your driving habits, temp, climate, etc, the computer will factor all those into calculating the time between services. Usually, give or take, around 10k miles. I believe after a certain amount of time when the service has not been done, it will count down days instead of miles left.

If you scroll through the display, it should tell you how many miles remaining till service. Within 1000 miles left, it will flash for a few seconds when you start the car to remind you.

hobby guy

I am in the same position, my 430 is just about 1 year old, and I just hit 1900 miles. I was talking to a friend who has a Porsche that he only drives about 3500 a year and he insists on changing the oil once a year no matter how low the mileage, he says the oil will break down after time and not be as effective. I am going to call my dealer for an appt. and see waht they say. If I drive the way I am driving now I won't need an oil change until the year 2008!!!
My screen in the car still says 8000 miles til "A" service , it has not looked at the age of the car in relationship to the mileage.

E55AMG99

They will change it regardless of mileage if it is has been a year since the last change.

GDawgC220

I've heard some dealers will charge you out of your pocket for an oil change/service because the FSS system has not called for it yet, so MB will not cover it for you?

GDawgC220

It's true that oil does break down overtime, but you should be on synthetic forumla, which lasts much longer than conventional dino oil.

They've done tests on syn forumla that it is even good till 15k miles and still pretty clean at that rate. But, since you drive so little miles in a year, probably you should change it before the FSS system calls for service :p

E55AMG99

They change my CLK oil once a year under the included maintenance plan. I drive it only about 5,000 miles a year. If you are 10+ months, they'll do it. FSS will eventually light up based on time, too.

blackbenzz

Do you have to use synthetic?

GDawgC220

If your car is 99+, you should use synthetic in the engine, as it was made for that. Using conventional oil mixed with the synthetic forumla already being used in there for a long time can leade to sludge at the bottom of the engine.

there was a class action suit i believe a while ago when MB did not tell dealer's or customers that they needed to use synthetic in engines and that lead to some engines with sludge sitting at the bottom.

theine

For me it's every 2500 to 3,000 miles or once a year, with Mobil1, I don't care what the FSS system says.

hobby guy

Just got back from the dealer, they did the "A" service for me at 1978 miles. The car will be one year old March 30. He said that they will do a "A" service for me once a year as I am not driving the car too often. They did use synthetic.

WhiteTrash

same here.
i brought the car in for some warranty work - have owned it 11 months and have 6000 miles.
service advisor offered to do service A no problem.