Hi All,

The oil quantity display on my 2020 CLS450C is weird. It always displays something even if the car has been sitting still for a few days. Sometimes it is close to the minimum, sometimes close to the maximum. Has not behaved as described in the Owners Manual. Took the car to the Sarasota MB dealer yesterday. They run a quick check and said that the display quantity was OK, but they could not explain the weird behavior, sometimes low, sometimes high. What is your experience with the system?

Also, the Service Advisor did not know what the oil quantity is between the MAX and MIN markings. Any info would be appreciated.

I have contacted MBUSA regarding the brand of oil and oil viscosity they would recommend. The Owners Manual does not show that. Important to know when the unreliable oil quantity system screams about low oil level and one is 100 miles from an MB shop.

This is my 9th MB and I'm getting disappointed with the brand.

 

The oil is 5W40 synthetic. MB part no.000-989-79-02-11. Our 2019 CLS450 has needed 1 qt. of oil prior to the first Service A and between Service B. When the graphics displays slightly below the "min", our service advisor has recommended one qt. oil and that has done the trick. These inline 6 cylinder engines due run very hot temperature. Good luck.

 

haibieb -- Many thanks for info.

 

Latest update on the oil level measurement on my 2020 CLS450C:

After displaying an oil level close to MAX for several weeks, it suddenly dropped down to about 1 millimeter above MIN. After picking up a can of oil at an auto supply store and checking the oil again before starting the engine, it now displayed half-way between MIN and MAX, which it still does a couple of days later. So what is the oil level: MAX, MIN or in-between?

This is on a car that when loaded gets close to $100K. MB should be ashamed for junk like this.

 

You probably were going up bigly uphill or park on the uphill. Problem is "recalibration" without adding oil to force the measure might take even 2 weeks from my experience.

 

No, I live in southern Florida. It is pretty flat here. My CLS now has 4100 miles, the oil quantity fluctuates between MIN and half-FULL and I have not added any oil yet. The oil quantity indication system is mickey-mouse, no doubt about that. "The Best or Nothing" no longer applies to MB.

 

This oil level sensor is very sensitive on even 1% uphill. My best was moving up on 4th floor of big parking and during this move oil dropped from max to 1/3. Ah and forgot : that happened on my eyes as had opened "oil level sensor screen".

I just hope on Florida you're not driving on 0W20?

 

My wife's X3M40 oil quantity indication is much more civilized. Hardly any variation at all between checks. The oil in my CLS is still original. Have no idea what it is.

 

I discussed that in your second topic @elmalo

https://mbworld.org/forums/cls-coupe...nsumption.html

I have BMW also and I shared my view there too... Yes by default BMW sensor is way way way more civilized and reliable than the one from Mercedes. If your oil is still original I bet on 99% it's 0W20 so it'll be burning this oil like crazy.

 

I have 4100 miles on the car and have not added oil yet, so I would not say it is burning oil like crazy. But the oil quantity indication system must be improved. Wish there was a dip-stick back-up. Wonder if the system on the S-Class is just as bad as on the CLS.

 

From my experience (got 22500km), car is almost 2Ys old, first OEM oil the sensor was going up and down like crazy (same as you're describing) I even came to Mercedes to say something is wrong - agree, expecting car burned 1L of oil per 1000km. 99% of my weird moves happened on OEM oil.

It had multiple times showing (without adding) "Performing measurement", but when I changed the oil to my own, first 5W30 later 5W40, it has never happened again and sensor is much more reliable (but still way behind the one from BMW).

OEM oil took 1200km, later 5W30 till around 6200km, later 5W40 changed another time at 12200km and 18500km ... No issues (I change oil twice a year so appox every 6000-8000km). After 4000km now I took a look for the first time at oil sensor (due to this discussion) it's showing around 90%. For the first year I was 90% of time driving with the oil sensor on the "top" to look it in real time.

Drive it until the car will make an alert "Add 1q of oil", that message is reliable (even Mercedes receives this message on "the fly" - if you won't add and you'll get problems they will tell you and show you it's your fault) . You will really get true calculation of "oil burn", otherwise don't look at this sensor. It took me some time to understand it how it works but on the beginning I was "panicking" like you do. If you won't be satisfied with the oil sensor make sure to change the oil to a thicker one (assuming the OEM one is 0W20), starting from 5W30 or 5W40 - list of approved oils by Mercedes I attached on your second topic. I personally use German oil Ravenol RUP 5W40 with 229.51 specs - it's a racing oil with super strong viscosity and lots of addons and true full synthetic, not sure if in the USA it's available. Funny thing is the fact they say 8.5L is needed, but when I'm going out after the oil change it's always 80% of oil topped. I add 0.2L almost the same time and it's 100% and I leave the oil alone.

On S-class I think it'll be the same as S500 is for example the same engine as CLS53 (but just guessing).

 

Thank you for info. I only have 6600 km on the car, and the oil will be changed at the annual service. However, after (4) S-Class it is hard to get used to something less, so I'm planning to take a look at the new S500 once it shows up here, which it should have done months ago. Have no need for the S580, but need rear wheel steering for maneuvering. Wish there still was a short body S-Class, since we seldom use the back seats.

 

If I would have to choose a car today I would take S500 short version, same as you S580 is not needed. In Europe you can take short version or long one, not sure how it looks in the US. I prefer the short one.

 

MBUSA used to import the short version but has not done that for years. So did Audi wtth the A8, and I believe BMW with the 7-series. But not now. I think the short S-Class is still imported to Canada.

The S-Class would be much easier to live with and use for daily commuting if it were shorter. .

 

Weird ... but looks like different politics in the US... In US you got mostly pre-configured cars - you take it or not, while in Europe we're ordering them exactly what we want and have like 60 pages of options, what I bet you won't be able to do that in the US... Long ... is too long for S-Class unless you are a chairman and you're traveling only on the back seats otherwise long is "too long"

Anyway good luck with your 450, if it'll be annoying you more remember to ask for thicker oil 5W30 or 5W40 and your problems with vanish. On Florida I bet 5W40 should be even needed ... High temperatures, great for W40 scale.

 

Thanks for e-mail. Where we live now, oil for 10-50 C would be appropriate. We have 34 C right now in the shade. Perfectly normal for this time of the year. We can order cars built to our spec here also, but the wait could be 3-4 months and there is always a risk for mistakes, I 'build' the car based on options and prices on the MBUSA website and then search the inventories for one. Found my (loaded) 2020 CLS450C at a dealer about 1000 km north and had it shipped to a dealer that gave me the best deal. My wife once ordered a BMW to be built to her spec. Several options were wrong and the car had the wrong tires. We did not take it and had to wait for a rebuild. A friend ordered a Volvo to be built, but it was painted in the wrong color so he had to wait for a rebuild.

 

In US you build a car and looking all over the US on inventories. In Europe nobody is doing that your order is getting directly to factory. Now it's a bit trouble because of COVID, almost impossible to order a car you like because it's removing lots of options due to "supply chain problems". I saw even BMW cars on BMW parking lot with 360* camera "free holes" with no cameras. BMW will be sending cameras to dealers to retrofit them. That's how it is screwed even here.

Finally after 4200km I catched the oil sensor to get into "Performing measurement" (didn't add oil) ... Drove 10-15min on flat road and it's like 98% But it's 5W40 oil. I had to buy my BMW ex-demo car with just 5000km because wasn't able to order the one I wanted. I was lucky I did resign from the order after 1 month because others are still awaiting 6-7 months and no luck.

Oil 10W50 might be appropriate but it's not "officially" approved by Mercedes. Maximum 0W40 or 5W40.

 

I have no idea what viscosity oil I have in my 2020 CLS450C. Oil is still original. Have the A-check and oil change coming up in 100 days. Then I'll know.

Why would oil viscosity cause the oil quantity sensor to give phony readings all over the scale?

 

I think it's going crazy, because it's 0W20 (I am sure in 90% it is). This oil is just too thin. I bet it should nominally burn this oil around 1L/8000-10000km - that's why oil sensor probably feels it and requires more often measuring (that's my theory don't spread it). Believe me this sensor is ULTRA sensitive on even 1 degree slopes. If you drive on a "slope" oil will be higher if you drive on an uphill oil will be lower. If you leave a car on a "slope" even if it is 1 degree for more than 15-30min, prepare to see lower amount of oil.

You don't have no-limit autobahns like in Germany and I remember when I landed in Miami took a car to get to Naples and I almost fell asleep and never in a history of my driving experience was so bored driving const 70mph for around 2 hours!!!!!!!!! My ability to crash in this case was higher than driving 270km/h (with AMG Drivers Package which I have) on German highways! Revving the car higher with higher speed requires much higher oil viscosity to save the engine and I'm less fatigued driving the car like this for 4h than driving 70mph for 2 hours seeing mostly same cars all the time! Driving in US is a nightmare...

Leave it as it is. When you'll be changing oil make sure you'll not get 0W20 oil with 229.71 norm. Share your experience here later about oil sensor. Go to 5W30 or better 5W40. I'm subscribing this topic so will be awaiting for your comments. My problems gone totally after much higher viscosity oil was poured.

 

Question for F1le. By any chance do you know the part number for the oil filter? My 2021 CLS450 just finished 1200 miles and I want to change the oil and filter both.

 

 

Thank you very much. I truly appreciate it.

 

I went to the local MB dealer and got the exact filter that is needed via VIN number.

 

According to the manual oil quality and capacity is