Carpenter Maass

I am going to start topping off my adblue tank and If possible I'd like to have the oil changed anywhere outside of the shop as long as it's doable.

Do you guys take your diesels to other shops? Which ones? What do they charge for the 10k oil change?

Thanks

Hifidude

Find yourself a good local mechanic. My guy used to run the service dept at the local dealership before he struck out and opened his own shop. You'll need it much more than just for fluid checks and fills

If your in Southern California, ping me.....he's awesome.

Abrown3mtg

Carpenter Maass, Where are you located? I bet someone will have an amazing suggestion for a solid indy in your area. We are blessed to seemingly have one of the more active groups on the forum!

Carpenter Maass

I am located in San Antonio - there are a few exotic as well as diesel shops nearby but I am pretty much clueless as to what the going rate is outside of the dealer's in-house service rates. I basically want to pull up every 10k and tell them to skip the oil and ad-blue. I will be curious to see if the dealer charges me for adblue when I take it in even after I've already filled it. I will take time-stamped video showing the odometer and me topping the tank off and then I will take it in and see if they charge me for a few gallons and labor .

Purna

Hi,

Below is what I would suggest which worked for me best for my 2011 E350 bluets oil changes:
1. Go to MB dealership and buy genuine mercedes oil of 9 Quarts and an oil filter (about 90 $ total)
2. Go to the nearest Pep boys for 22$ oil change where you provide the oil and filter.
3. For adblue
3a. For evac and refil: Visit any nearest diesel shops, it can get done pretty cheap, if you buy adblue in walmart...(11$ for 2.5 gallon)
3b. Just a refil: you can do it yourself, if you buy adblue in walmart...(11$ for 2.5 gallon)

Done and enjoy the ride for another 10000 miles...

aquinob

I'd be more than a bit leery about going to any place to have them work on my car, let alone a MB late model diesel. If you don't want to take it to the dealer (and I don't blame you there) then at least find a good, reputable indy shop and cultivate a relationship there. Places like jiffy lube, pep boys, walmart etc, aren't known for hiring folks with lots of wrenching experience or paying them top dollar. Pay a few bucks more for the service and you're chances of having it done properly should go up as well.

looney100

Guys,
You're turning mole hills into mountains! The service on these is very simple!


1) DEF (Adblue) refill is very simple. Just buy a jug, and empty it into the reservoir in the trunk via the supplied hose. It's not much more difficult than putting fuel into the fuel tank. You can buy the DEF anywhere that sells it. The cheapest source for me just happens to be my local dealer - where they sell the same brand of DEF (not Adblue) that I could get from my auto parts store.


2) The Dealer will charge an arm and a leg for your annual service, and your money need not be spent there. If you're going to the dealer, don't prefill the DEF tank as they'll likely have an all-in price for the service that includes a DEF top-up.


3)There is nothing special about the oil change in a diesel, it still goes in and comes out the same place as with a gasoline engine. The oil required for diesels is less popular, so you'll want to call your shop of choice in advance to make sure they have it in stock for you when you arrive.


For my recent service on our 2014 E250, I bought DEF for $15/10L jug, and put it in myself. I called my local Mobil 1 Lube Express and told them when I was coming, so they could order in my grade of oil. I wanted 0W oil, and they only stocked 5W, so they had to order it in for me. The job was handled without issue.


I would have done the oil change myself if the oil and filter were available at my local auto parts store, but given the rarity of the car, I would have needed to drive all over the city to source parts, and it was just easier to have the shop do it.

CarolinaBluetec

I had the turbo oil cooler seals fail at 65K out of warranty on my 2008 E320BT. MBUSA picked all of the VERY expensive repair. One of the primary reasons they cited was that I had all of the major services done at the MB dealer.

YYZ-E55

Very common problem that still affects the OM642 (up until about 2 model years ago); anyone buying one used should inquire if the repair has been done - it is inevitable.

Airmousam

Pep boys :-)