KosherBenz

Picked it up 1 week ago and I put on over 850 miles!

In the warmer months I plan on ridin the motorcycle 50% of the time, but my normal round trip to work is 90 miles.. Maybe I should go get the extended warantee to 100k?

mw231

That's not that much, considering its a diesel.... How far do you make it on a tank?
Did you buy or lease the car (do you have a mileage limit?)?

KosherBenz

I averaged like 30mpg cause I was trying to break it in the right way. Ive been averageing 35 on the highway.

I think it should get better as it breaks in.

CE750

that engine doesn't break in properly until 10,000 miles!

seriously.. do this (if you're A-type like me).

-1000 miles oil change
-3000 miles oil change/filter
-6500/13000/19500/etc.. oil change/filter

And for God's sake, dump out that Mobil 1 0W-40 and get your self some REAL diesel oil.. Mobil 1 5W-40 DELVAC. I called MBUSA and in a rare moment got a compitent engineer who agreed with me DELVAC is better for the CDI, but said the 0W-40 was also fully acceptable, and MB just wanted to keep it simple on the dealer network and no force them to carry DELVAC for their service. I buy mine on-line.. $50 covers a single oil change of about 7.5L

KosherBenz

Do you still let them change it? or do you?

Mercedes said to bring it in at 2500-3000 for the first change, then 13k later and so on.

CE750

they do it... and I did the 1000, then a 3000. MB actually tells you to wait for 13K which is crazy!

KosherBenz

they are gonna give me a free change at the 2.5K-3K mark. after that, Im on my own..


How much do the usually charge for changes? is it every 13K miles after that?

CE750

it's $99 with their own oil... but I bring the Delvac and pay $49.

13K is the "normal" interval, but it's BS.

KosherBenz

so you do it every 6.5K?

Why is MB say 13K then? Wouldnt they want my money?

CE750

I do it every 6.5 after my break-in regiment, as for why? here is my logic.


1. DCX AG, MBUSA, LLC, and company don't make 1 red cent on oil changes, the dealer does, but they do make money on car sales. Therefore, the trend these days (i.e. the "lifetime" transmission fluid) with car makers, including DCX is to make cars less expensive to maintain, buy taking advantage of newer tech engine/oils/fluids to extend these service intervals... which are "good enough" for the short term, but ultimately at the expense of the engine/transmission in the long term. The one thing I got from my engineering classes is that lubrication fluids ARE KEY to long lasting equipment.. and in Aviation, this is also true.

2. Also.. MBUSA gave me a warranty on my car for 4 yrs/ 50K.. which with todays modern engines is a no brainer for them even if I never change the oil.. the real wear and tare occurs well after the 50K point, and in the case of a diesel well after 100,000K, it could last for 300,000 if well maintained. So they're attitude is short term, and not long term like mine. I may or may not get rid of this car in the near future, but just in case I hit hard times, and end up married to it for several years.. I want it to run well for all of those years, therefore a $100 oil change every 3 months or so is a non-expense for me, when compared to a $10,000 engine replacement..

this is also why I use Redline 85+ additive in my car (even though MB doesn't recommend it).. every MB tech I spoke to swears by it, and every diesel engine mechanic I spoke to agrees it's a great way to keep injectors clear, piston rings lubed, and combustion chambers free of carbon buildup.

$6/container lasts me 2 tank fulls or about 1200 miles.. not expensive for what I get.

I'm all about preventative maintenance, and thus far, in 9 cars I've owned, some for over $100,000 miles none have had engine/transmission problems.

frogstaple

I’m at 7000 miles since July. This thing simply gobbles up the miles. And diesel just dropped fifty cents a gallon (in one week!) in my area. Life is good.