Here's what I found at 94,449 miles...
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Iowa
'03 G500, '11 S550 4Matic, '12 SL63 AMG, '13 ML350, '16 AMG GTS Ed. 1
Here's what I found at 94,449 miles...
I just got back from my mechanics after he did a 20,000 mile service on my 430, which included a tranny service. He replaced the plugs and showed me the old ones, I could not believe how much the "electrode" had worn to nothing. It was literally almost completely worn to the top of the spark plug. My car was reading a miss fire in cylinders 1,3 & 4 prior to the new plugs...no longer getting this reading. The plugs were Bosch platinums with 20,000 miles on them.
He also said the tranny fluid "needed to be changed!" I now have a much, much, much smoother shifting tranny. I had not realized how the tranny was not performing over the course of 94,449 miles! For those of you considering changing the tranny fluid and filter, do it at normal intervals, not the MB way. It took 11 quarts of fluid at $8 per quart, $5 for pan gasket and $11 for filter, roughly, plus labor. Worth every penny.
Take care!
He also said the tranny fluid "needed to be changed!" I now have a much, much, much smoother shifting tranny. I had not realized how the tranny was not performing over the course of 94,449 miles! For those of you considering changing the tranny fluid and filter, do it at normal intervals, not the MB way. It took 11 quarts of fluid at $8 per quart, $5 for pan gasket and $11 for filter, roughly, plus labor. Worth every penny.
Take care!
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Iowa
'03 G500, '11 S550 4Matic, '12 SL63 AMG, '13 ML350, '16 AMG GTS Ed. 1
It was getting a rough idle when stopped, but that was from the misfires in the cylinders...according to my mechanic. The tranny is just so smooth now it is hard to believe how it used to be. I feel as though I had neglected service on my car. Some really assuring preventative maintenance.
I took it to an independent MB mechanic who specializes in MB and Volvo only. He has very reasonable shop rates, very knowledgable and very fast. I would trust him with my wallet. One of the more honest people I have come across. He is also an aviation mechanic.
Hope this helps!
I took it to an independent MB mechanic who specializes in MB and Volvo only. He has very reasonable shop rates, very knowledgable and very fast. I would trust him with my wallet. One of the more honest people I have come across. He is also an aviation mechanic.
Hope this helps!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Iowa
'03 G500, '11 S550 4Matic, '12 SL63 AMG, '13 ML350, '16 AMG GTS Ed. 1
I have no idea how long these plugs are supposed to last, but these plugs had only 20,000 miles on them and they were physically shot.
Could that possibly be a symptom of something wrong with the engine? In my car, there is no way they would ever come close to 100,000 miles...and I do not drive agressively.
Could that possibly be a symptom of something wrong with the engine? In my car, there is no way they would ever come close to 100,000 miles...and I do not drive agressively.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: SJ, CA
CLK430
I’m not a mechanic so I am not really sure…. But may be the sparkplug gap was set incorrectly or something…
May be someone here would know more about this then I do. It just seem strange that they would only last 20K. I had about 45K on mine when I had them changed... and the ones that they took out looked ok, I mean you could tell they were used and all, but they didn't look that bad.
May be someone here would know more about this then I do. It just seem strange that they would only last 20K. I had about 45K on mine when I had them changed... and the ones that they took out looked ok, I mean you could tell they were used and all, but they didn't look that bad.
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From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
not sure if it was on this forum or somewhere else, but i heard someone took their car to jiffy lube for an oil change...and they forgot to put oil back into the engine. our personal experience was that they used the wrong size tool and stripped the screw for the oil
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From: Earth
W208 CLK320 & E39 M5
Originally Posted by proform
I brought my W208 CLK55 to Jiffy Lube and they were happy to change the oil.....Iam not proud of it but I did it.....
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From: Earth
W208 CLK320 & E39 M5
Originally Posted by iosmart
not sure if it was on this forum or somewhere else, but i heard someone took their car to jiffy lube for an oil change...and they forgot to put oil back into the engine. our personal experience was that they used the wrong size tool and stripped the screw for the oil
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern Virginia
1999 CLK430
i work at my dad's shop and you wouldnt believe how many ****ed up jiffy lube'd cars we get, if you can afford a benz, take it to a shop with mechanics, not teenagers making minimum wage. That being said you don't have to take it to the dealer and get raped either. Take it to an independent shop that will do a good job that will be a little more than jiffy lube but just as good quality service as the dealership.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Iowa
'03 G500, '11 S550 4Matic, '12 SL63 AMG, '13 ML350, '16 AMG GTS Ed. 1
Bagher, my point exactly. Not saying Jiffy Lube does not have good people, but I know my mechanic, I know the local Jiffy Lube reputation, and for the difference, my mechanic is light years ahead of anyone in the area, especially the dealership.
With that being said, the local MB dealer just lost their rights to the line and it has moved to a dealership about 2 blocks from my office. Wonder why that happened...? i only hope they will do a "better" job than the prio dealership.
With that being said, the local MB dealer just lost their rights to the line and it has moved to a dealership about 2 blocks from my office. Wonder why that happened...? i only hope they will do a "better" job than the prio dealership.
