jr_vette

Was looking at the wifes car (USA model) to see what service items are due. Most everything was pretty much expected, except for spark plug replacement. Her car is a 2004 with 35K miles. According to the service manual, it shouldn't be required until 5 years / 100K miles. Her car isn't even close to 5 years old yet.

Any ideas?

cgcedisto

Same question here. I own 2004 E500 with 30K miles and FSS says replace spark plugs, service item 7. The description for item 7 says "Every 100,000 miles or 5 years". The car is 4 years and 1 month old. Does the fact that it is 1 month into its 5th year trigger FSS to call for spark plug replacement? Anyone?

Diesel Benz

What is the build date of the car?

Clinton Horn

Please send me all of the take outs. I could probably wear my car out with two sets of 35,000 mile plugs. Seriously, how could a spark plug be affected by age? Someone mentioned seizing to the block. I recently changed sets in two other vehicles, both with aluminum heads. Other than the usual PIA to get to them, they came out with no extra force. Both 100,000 mile cars and both used platinum plugs that WERE worn completely out (tips gone). The only noticeable improvement was better mileage. Performance even with the tips completely gone was the same. You are looking at 12 plugs (or 16) and I am betting the discount auto price is close to $10 / each. I would wait until the car approached 75,000 miles. Just my opinion.

gnma

I just posted a similar question titled "service F @ 32K". My items include plugs, fuel filter, charcoal filter, to name a few. Serv. F is due in 20 days, and I was asking what jr vette is asking. How come, and more so - do I tell the dealer NOT to change the above items bec. they are due in 5/100,000 miles and will they agree and reset these items? ('05 E500 32K). thanks.

Diesel Benz

Where did you all read the 5 year spark plug change period? My documents all show 4 years for the 113 engine, mileage depends on the car model.

Does the car service sheet say 5 years? Perhaps it has been changed?

sosh

Could be that you will reach the expected calender life of the pugs before you get to the next service in 12 months.

Davel

I don't believe that the FSS system can account for the many different indivdual ways that these car are driven or not driven. It computes based on constant variables that likely happen and give a "ball park" recommendation of the required service interval and items. Especially when length-of-time is used as a factor. I wonder what FSS would recommend for my 03 Eclass if it had been parked for the last 4 years with 300 original miles? Since i'm only driven my E a few times per month now and highway only, FSS is constantly extending the miles for the next service.

cgcedisto

All, thanks for the responses & questions.

- The 100,000 miles/5 years for replace spark plugs came from Konigstiger's 211 service sticky post.
- I am not sure how to determine the build date (I bought the car used), however since it's a 2004 model I have to assume it was built sometime in the fall of 2003? ie, less than 5 years ago.
- I am scheduled for Service F as well. Taking another look, there are some other questionable items same as noted by gnma.

Re-reading of Konigstiger's post seems to say some of the FSS items are in fact "due when displayed", which would indicate it depends on how you drive, while others it seems are due based upon miles or years. So, my question remains: why am I seeing service items due soon that appear to be based upon miles/years when the car is apparently not that old and hasn't been driven that many miles? Replace plugs is 100K miles/5 years, replace fuel filter and charcoal filter are both 60K miles/5 year items per Konigstiger's 211 service post. I will also ask my service manager and see if he as an answer and post back.

Thanks again to all.

cyclerider

The ID plate in the drivers door jamb has the month and year of manufacture as well as the VIN and the paint color code.

cgcedisto

Thank you! Built 11/03.

sosh

If your FSS does not read service due after 4 years there is something wrong with it as it should also read out service due on Calender time in addition to mileage. Oil changes and services are due on an annual basis even if the mileage is not reached.

Davel

Nope, my FSS is calculating fine, i was just asking a hyperthetical question about FSS using years as a factor. As i stated, i noticed that its now extending the next service since i'm not driving the car on a regular basis. Its been over 14 months since the last service, so i will schedule and oil change despite FSS indicating another 7K miles before service. SOSH, i see your still driving the ML, we use to trade messages about 4 years ago on the ML forum, how many miles on it now?

sosh

Re my ML, If it was 4 years ago the one back then was an 02 ML500. No longer have that one but now have since Sept 05 an 06 ML500 which has been flawless and very enjoyable. It is, of the 3 ML's I have had, by far the best one. As foe miles on the 02, I have not seen it since traded but my original ML, a 98 320 I still see around town and at last sighting it had 417000 miles on it and the guy uses it in his business (goes phl to NYC and back every day!). He told me that he has all services done by the dealer per the FSS and it just started using a qt of oil between changes.Original engine/trans and trans fluid. No issues of any consequence, everything still works. He had it to Alaska last summer on a family vacation. He is starting to think about upgrading to a later ML and either selling this one or giving it to his 17 yr old son (that would be the end of it!!)

vettdvr

If my 03 only had 30K miles I would not change the plugs. I would change them on mileage not time. I realize rush hr stop and go traffic can have a heat issue, but I still would not change them.

Consider rpm/2*total run minutes= total # of times each plug fired. I would expect given a good engine and normal cooling system and fuel that run time on the plugs would determine the change. If you pulled the engine and put it in a piece of farm equipment most on run hrs alone for plugs, not time.

SO I would not change them. But my E500 has 72,000 miles on the origional plugs and I might change them next year. The charcoal filter is constantly exposed to the atmosphere adsorbing contaminante into the activated charcoal and that might be possibly changed on time. The air filter,, never time,, run hrs equates to scfm of air pulled through the filter. If there is no air flow (engine not running) the filter is not loading up with contaminates. Oil however might ? deteroriate depending on additive package but I have run cars that sat for 3 years with clean oil the full mileage after start up. So each item can be considered for form and function with some judgement to determine if it should be changed on time alone. Just another $.02.

gnma

Tks. for the response vettedvr. (I was waiting for your response) I'm in the same boat as the original post. I have a Serv. F due in 15 days and what is your recommendation? Do I tell them NOT to replace the plugs, fuel filter, and other items that MB recommends to be changed much later? I can't see them saying "ok". THis is a golden opportunity for them to say "we gotta go with what the car asks for" and bill me $$$. (I have a '05 E500 and 32K miles), and there's no way my car needs new plugs, or a fuel filter. If they are honest (yeah right), and do the basic required service, will they reset the items not needed?

Again, I'd love to DIY, but while the car is under warranty, I'd rather have MB service her.

As always, thanks.

vettdvr

I would have a list from the FSS and cover the specific items that are needed and follow MB recommendations from the FSS with exclusions as I covered before. I would not change the plugs at 35K,, not on a MB with the 100000 mile long life plug. Just the plugs will cost you about $200 and dealer labor at $100/hr, will set you back another $200 or so,, therefore your plug change will cost you close to $500. The car will be out of warranty at the 100000 point and you can do them yourself. Don't buy what you don't need. If they tell you the warranty won't be honored if you don't change the plugs at 35K miles show them the MB maintenance list.

Do you have the service listing for each item vs mileage?

gnma

Here's the listing from a thread I had started recently titled "serv F @ 35K", which is similar to the original post above:

2 weeks ago, I had a "serv. F due in 4,xxx miles." Last week, I started her up, and it said "serv, F due in 25 days." (Don't understand that, but anyway),

I have a number of items that come up on the FSS, of which I describe below to be questionable. I have also listed the MB recommended replacement time/mileage (from my maint. book), next to each item I have below:

Item 5 - Replace Fuel Filter - every 65K or 5 years.

Item 6 - Replace Activated Charcoal Filter - every 52K or 5 years.

Item 7 - Replace Spark Plugs - every 91K or 5 years.

Other items include oil/oil filter change, ck. brakes etc., which seem more appropriate

I hear what u're saying about showing the dealer the MB recommended intervals, I guess I will take that approach. Thanks for any help.

AdamG@NorCal

And we found out that using non oem spark plugs will affect your engine's reliability. Always use OEM plugs

PS: We change ours at 75,000 miles.

cgcedisto

I discussed the situation (E500 4 years 1 month old, with 32K but FSS calling for service F which includes 60K/5year & 100K/5year items) with my service manager. We decided to do only those items that were due given the age/mileage of the car: change oil&filter, and change air clearer insert. We threw in change combo filter for the heck of it even though FSS wasn't saying it was due, but per years/mileage, it IS due. I also strongly suspect, as mentioned by some others on this forum, that for US 2004 E500's, the change oil/filter item has been re-programmed in FSS to call for service at 10,000 mile intervals regardless of how you drive & what the condition of the oil is (duh, I did the math...).

The net sum of all this for me is that for a 2004 E500, FSS is worse than useless, it is misleading.

E500Newbee

Here is my service calls for a 2005 E500 @ 38,340 calling in for service in 25 days. The FSS listed these:

US Service 4 @ appro every 30,000 miles or 2 yrs
Egine compartment
8381 Replace dust filter

US Service 9 every 2 yrs
9850 Check bodywork for paint damage
Underside of Vehicle
0900 Chasis and load-bearing body components: Checks for damage and corrosion
Engine compartment
4281 Replace brake fluid, check preload pressure of pressure reservior

US Service 10 every 5 yrs
Passenger compartment
7731 Sliding/pop-up roof: Clean slide rails and shoes

US Service 12 due when displayed in multifuction display
Engine compartment
0101 Engine - oil and filter change

US Service 13 due when displayed in instrument cluster
A whole bunch of checks
1. battery
2. windshield wiper
3. blah blah blah

But my whole point is each car have it own mind. Depend on the weather, road condition, and so on. My car mostly used on the highway about 80% of the time. Therefore, mine is different from your and your is different from mine. It's really all boiled down to how much are you paying for the service? The dealer quote is ranging from $290-$490...I'll find out next month when it reached 39,000 miles that is what I'm thinking when the service is due. I'll keep you guys posted.

gnma

E500 Newbee: At least your service F is not as involved as my service F. (Spark plugs, fuel filter etc). In fact, I don't even know why u're getting a "F" based on the items you listed above. But I think u're FSS is on the money.

cgcedisto:glad to hear your dealer worked with you. I hope mine will do the same, bec. I am NOT changing plugs, fuel filter, with only 32K on my '05 E500. (Thanks for the advice vettedvr). Did they reset your FSS correctly?

tpowel2

Just has service F performed today at the dealer, wish I had read this thread before hand! The car has 43,000 miles, and they replaced the plugs, fuel filters, cabin filter, oil/filter, brake pads, and all the recommended lube/checks. Total bill $1,100.00! They also said I needed two new tires (Continentals and they wanted $385.00) I'm waiting on those, because I want to change the rims to the new 07+ style and hoping to find someone with new take offs for sale.

E500Newbee

Wow...they had a field day with your car. Call me cheapo but I'll ask them to call me first before anything will be done. If they don't call me I won't pay for it. I came from a third world country, ripping you off is an everyday event. Therefore, ask for the price first than decide. The dealer just like a 3rd world country street vender. hahaha...

cgcedisto

I had my oil/filter change, & the FSS Plus computer reset. When I got the car back, it said service D due in 10,000 miles, service items 4,9, 12, 14. The requirement to replace the plugs and the fuel filter at 32K miles had magically disappeared without the work being done. One can only wonder how many thousands of $$$ are being spent each day by MB customers on unnecessary service just because "the computer says so." Also, based upon my car's service history, it seems clear in the 2004E in the USA at least, the miles to next service is usually determined by a fixed interval of 10,000 miles, for the oil and filter change, and has nothing to do with how you drive.