My trusted mechanic and I changed the oil today in my '99 CLK. When he reset the Service Reminder back to 12,000 miles, the warning changed to "Service in 0 days". Now the message appears each time I start the car. Looking for an explanation on why it changed from "miles to service" to "days to service"...and how to reset it back to miles and get rid of the Service in 0 days message.

Searching through the forum's post here, I found many detailed explanations on HOW to reset the Service Reminder, but nothing detailing how or why it switched from miles to days, nor how to reset it now that it shows Service in 0 days. Shouldn't it read "Service in 365 days"

Any assistance is appreciated.

 

Revisiting my dilemma now after getting the car out of winter storage. I thought I would re-post to see if there are any new suggestions for my problem.

Many thanks!

 

One would expect the service interval computer to track both days and miles, and alternate its advisory depending on which expiration is expected to occur first. Apparently what I can scribble on the back of an envelope kept in my console box eludes the genius software guys at MB. I keep my own service records and as long as the service indicator doesn't display annoying and meaningless warnings, I ignore it.

Here's my algorithm:
1. Write down the date and mileage of the oil change.
2. Periodically compare the current date and mileage with the oil change date and mileage.
3. When the date differential is 12 months or the mileage differential is 12,000, change the oil.
(my OCI is 5,000 miles)
4. Go to Step 1.

This complexity explains why the MB engineers are baffled.