Hi folks. My E 2019 is due for an A service (A5 according to the car’s computer) and I wonder if I should do a simple oil change or go with the full service. Either way I will go with an independent shop, just FYI. Please what do you think?

 

This is my opinion and I am sure others may and/or will disagree: If you check your manual the A service is an oil and filter change plus a lot of visual inspections. In reality it is an oil change and any competent indy shop can do it.

I am now scheduled for my 40,000 mile service. I do service by mileage not not time, as I average 8,000 miles per year, 666 miles per month, so every 10,000 miles for me is every 15 months instead of every 12 months: The 40K service is oil and filter change, change air filter and cabin air filter and flush the brake fluid. I changed the engine compartment air filter myself using a Fram filter, ($13.24 on Amazon), took about 10 minutes (most of the time re-tightening the cover). I will have my indy shop change the oil and filter and install the cabin air filter (Hengst $20 on eBay) behind the glove compartment, (too hard for me to do as work must be done on your back). After speaking to both my indy shop and the head mechanic for the Suffolk County Police department, both said changing the brake fluid is totally unnecessary and a money maker for Mercedes dealers. They point out the Mercedes are sold world wide and maintenance must cover the most severe and taxing environments - like driving on the Auto Bahn at 130 mph with rapid deceleration. In those conditions changing of the brake fluid every 20,000 miles might be necessary. Rather than different intervals for brake fluid change, both are of the opinion that Mercedes to cover themselves and any claim of brake failure, the service intervals are made to cover the most extreme conditions. Both point out many cars do not recommend changing the brake fluid and those that do recommend every 50 and/or 75,000 miles.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the insight, specifically the brake fluid part.

 

A is basic oil change given some fancy name to make it easier for dealerships to remove money from your wallet.

 

Your car should be inspected by a certified mechanic at least once a year, you could did it yourself if you are mechanically incline. Beside the engine oil and filter, are other fluids and filters that also need changing once a while, again, you could do those yourself if so inclined. If your car is still under warranty or had extended warranty, you should really follow the Mercedes maintenance schedule.

 

Wish that were true: At my Mercedes dealer and I venture to say it is true for almost all Mercedes dealers, for the "A" service we have "Express Service": it is done while you wait, without an appointment.

This service is not done by a "certified mechanic."

If you think a certified mechanic is changing your oil, then I have a bridge between Brooklyn and Manhattan that I would like to know if you are interested in buying.

The "A" service is oil and filter change - nothing else.

see" https://www.rallyemotors.com/service-specials/

 

I agree, sorry, I meant to say a certified shop. Bottom line is if you are not mechanically inclined, which I think the OP is not, he or she should have the car inspected once a year by a professional. While the OP is there for an inspection, he or she might as well change the oil and filter. Brake fluids usually do not need changing every 2 years under normal driving conditions, since brake fluid attract moisture from the environment, one should change the brake fluid every 3 to 4 years.

 

Is this the 50k mile service ? I assume it’s the 5th.

this would be oil change plus spark plugs and an air filter.

 

Nope this is the "A" service.

At20K, 40K, 60K is the replacement of the air and cabin filter. FWIW, at 40K just changed the air filter (engine) and it was dirty. Takes less than 5 minutes and needed to be done. Changed the cabin filter which took 20 minutes and it was clean - didn't need to be changed. In the future will change every 30K not every 20K.

Changing of the spark plugs is 50K: this might or might not be necessary. Most cars now specify changing plugs at 100K. Again this might be a "Mercedes" thing like changing brake fluid.

Just my $.02: If my car passes inspection, runs smoothly, gas mileage remains the same, I will not change the plugs at 50K. Changing the plugs is expensive for both parts and labor.

Hope this clarifies.

 

This makes me wonder if all the vehicles in Germany have to change their brake oil every 20k miles.

 

why are you spreading false information ? Come on.

50k is an A service (oil and filter) with spark plugs and an engine air filter. 20/40/60 are the CABIN filters.

and yes, the plugs should be changed.

 

You realize that there are TWO filters to be changed not ONE every 20K miles: one is the dust/air filter which is in the engine compartment above the battery: 5 minutes to change this filter. the other is the charcoal/cabin filter which is behind the glove compartment and takes 15 to 20 minutes to change.


Spark plugs: Here is what my post said:


I hardly see that as false information. I stated that Mercedes recommends changing spark plugs every 50K. I pointed out that most manufacturers recommend changing plugs every 100K miles not 50K miles. I then said this might be a Mercedes thing like changing brake fluid every 2 years or 20K miles whichever comes first, where most manufacturers do not require brake fluid change or if they do every 75K miles but never every two years..

 

Audi every 2 years:
see: https://www.fletcherjonesaudi.com/au...20of%20mileage


VW every 30K miles or 2 years.:
see: https://www.mcdonaldvw.com/how-often...%20two%20years.


BMW every 3 years, then every 60K miles
see: https://www.bmwofsouthaustin.com/bmw...%2C000%20miles)


I would urge Mercedes, Audi and VW to use the same brake fluid BMW is using: 3 years then every 60,000 miles!

 

I totally understand this because I thought the same thing and was skeptical about the need to replace the plugs at 50K until I discovered that Mercedes uses a multispark system that fires the plug around 4-5 times every combustion cycle so the service duty is much shorter than many other engines that use a single spark per cycle ignition system.

I think most of the manufacturers that use a 100K spark plug service interval are only firing the plug once a piston cycle.

So I think the 50K spark plug change is legitimate in our case, given how hard they are working.

 

I think you have a point if Mercedes alone was using multi spark ignition.

It turns out that:

Ford use it:

see: https://www.google.com/search?q=Does...t=gws-wiz-serp

GM:

see: https://www.google.com/search?q=Does...t=gws-wiz-serp


Nissan: (2019)

see: https://www.underhoodservice.com/mul...ition-systems/

Explained: Multi-spark ignition (MSI)

Article is from December 28, 2018

see: https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/exp...k-ignition-msi

In reality, Mercedes is not alone in using Multi-spark ignition but only alone in recommending changing every 50,000 miles.

Hope this clarifies

 

As we are the vehicle owners, we are welcome to do whatever we want. If you feel you can get 100K or 200K out of a set of plugs, go for it.

I do most of my own service, so my cost is very low. I understand the desire to extend the service intervals when you go to a dealer because it's so expensive to do just about everything.

I can speak to my personal experience though and I changed the plugs on my W205 at 48K and my W213 at 54K and in both cases I could actually feel the difference in sharper throttle response and overall smoothness so I have my own verifiable evidence.

If anyone wants to go longer on the plugs, I don't think it's a big deal but their performance is most likely diminishing.

 

With the V6 in my E450 changing the spark plugs is not an easy task: They are buried. In times past and on my tractor I had no problem changing plugs. But the Mercedes V6 is a different animal.

Update: I see your car is a AMG 43, so my hat off to you removing all the covers, ignition coils to change the plugs. When I went to YouTube, it was a job I wasn't prepared to tackle.

FYI, from my post #9:


Clearly your situation was different as you noticed a change in performance after you changed your plugs.

 

Thanks man. There was actually plenty of room and all the plugs were easily accessible, I was a bit surprised, I thought the rear ones would be difficult, but they were all a straight shot once you get all the intake components off. It went quickly. I also replaced the coils while I was in there.

Then again, it was economical for me doing it myself. I know it's pretty expensive to get it done at a shop... especially a dealer.

 

From the YouTube videos getting off the intake components was a job: Where I stopped was getting the coils off and not damaging them - but an easy solution as you did, was just to replace them!

At 79 just not a job I want to do anymore!

 

Yup, I was thinking that same thing... yanking on the coil boots could possibly damage them so I figured I'd just replace them since it's recommended soon anyway.

I completely get that! I'm definitely not getting younger myself and my body has no problem reminding me of that, lol.

 

And just to give everyone an idea of costs, this was my last service (with extra oil). Ordered from Rock Auto:


I can only imagine the cost of getting this done at a MB dealer!

 

Thanks to all of you for your messages, they are very helpful. An oil change runs $180 in my area. My Indy shop charges me a little over $200 for an A service. I will do the A service this time.

 

I'm not sure why you got the oil from Rockauto at that price when you could get it at Walmart for around $27 for a 5 quart jug. Also rockauto has an automatic 5% discount code that you can always use so you could have saved an extra $30 or so. Just search for the code on retailmenot and paste it in the how how did you hear about us field. Also I think you're still using the M276 engine which uses indexed spark plugs so I would have just gone with the Bosch which were OEM but I suppose maybe the NGK were also indexed but did you even check? Changing the coils is probably overkill as those don't seem to go too often.

 

Yeah, the oil was just laziness on my part of adding it to the order so everything just shows up in a box at my door. I definitely could have saved money there.

Thanks for the tip about the discount codes, nice.

Yes, I have a M276 and I'm well aware of spark plug indexing. The NGK 96427's have the proper crush washer and have been torqued correctly to index to OEM spec. Thanks for bringing that up because it's important!

In my weird mind the coils are free, as the cost of the coils is close to the labor cost I would've had to pay someone else do my plugs.

I feel like I'm winning, lol.

 

Just FYI this link actually spells out the different A* and B* services - what they should cover

https://www.sbautocare.co.uk/2023/01...s-a-b-service/


I had my A5 service at the dealer in June, and the stealership invoiced AUD1200 (USD800+) for the job. Lucky I had it as my last free service under their corporate plan. The service advisor specifically referred to the spark plug change as the reason why it’s a pricey affair; perhaps it is, but they’re still a rip off!

My next service will be a B1 and I’m definitely going to an indy merc specialist for that.