What is service A3
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Infiniti M35x
What is service A3
So my 2019 E300 is 5.5 years old at 37k miles and I just got the service warning for an A3 service instead of just an A service. What does that entail? Is that with a spark plug change or something else?
Thanks
Thanks
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
It's basically just a oil and oil filter change and a bunch of checking things as with all A services. Spark plugs are not until 60K miles. Might want to think about changing out your engine air filter if it's original and also since the car is over 5 years old doing a trans oil change. Trans oil is really not due until 60K miles but since the car is over 5 years old like mine cant hurt to do the trans oil, I started a thread about that a week ago or so.
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From: Australia
W213 e300 MY19 (Aus market)
Spark plug change and air filter
It’s an A service plus a spark plug change and engine air filter change.
i had mine last June.
https://www.sbautocare.co.uk/2023/01...s-a-b-service/
i had mine last June.
https://www.sbautocare.co.uk/2023/01...s-a-b-service/
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Infiniti M35x
It’s an A service plus a spark plug change and engine air filter change.
i had mine last June.
https://www.sbautocare.co.uk/2023/01...s-a-b-service/
i had mine last June.
https://www.sbautocare.co.uk/2023/01...s-a-b-service/
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2019 E300
Changing the plugs at 50k miles is pretty conservative, if you are at 37k, I would wait another year since plugs are not really time based. However, the upcoming tranny and diff fluids changes are time sensitive.
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From: Australia
W213 e300 MY19 (Aus market)
edit: see my next post; it seems MB USA specifies spark plug and engine air filter change at 5 yrs/50k miles.
Last edited by aks_19_ak; Mar 30, 2024 at 06:09 PM.
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GLE 580
So when is transmission and differential fluids changed?
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From: Australia
W213 e300 MY19 (Aus market)
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2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
BTW, 37K is only about 23,000 miles. In the US the recommendation for both spark plugs and transmission is 50,000 miles or about 80,000 km.
Remember Mercedes recommendations are not only ultra conservative but also profit driven!
My $.02 and hope this helps.
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2019 E300
Here there is going to be disagreement: I believe both the transmission and spark plugs are mileage not time based. The transmission is a sealed unit. No moisture or other contaminants to worry about. Unlike an engine, there is no high temperature build up.
BTW, 37K is only about 23,000 miles. In the US the recommendation for both spark plugs and transmission is 50,000 miles or about 80,000 km.
Remember Mercedes recommendations are not only ultra conservative but also profit driven!
My $.02 and hope this helps.
BTW, 37K is only about 23,000 miles. In the US the recommendation for both spark plugs and transmission is 50,000 miles or about 80,000 km.
Remember Mercedes recommendations are not only ultra conservative but also profit driven!
My $.02 and hope this helps.
Most lubricant will degrade overtime, sealed or not. The automotive tranny is not a 100% sealed system. Most transmission has a vent to atmosphere on it because without it, the tranny would basically explode as it warmed up.The fluid has to expand as it warms. This also exposes the ATF to a small degree of moisture from the outside air which may cause contamination overtime. Also, modern day transmissions are design for shift comfort, that means a slower clutch which produce more metal shavings. Changing the transmission fluid and filter will remove the shavings.
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I think the OP meant 37k miles not 37 km.
Most lubricant will degrade overtime, sealed or not. The automotive tranny is not a 100% sealed system. Most transmission has a vent to atmosphere on it because without it, the tranny would basically explode as it warmed up.The fluid has to expand as it warms. This also exposes the ATF to a small degree of moisture from the outside air which may cause contamination overtime. Also, modern day transmissions are design for shift comfort, that means a slower clutch which produce more metal shavings. Changing the transmission fluid and filter will remove the shavings.
Most lubricant will degrade overtime, sealed or not. The automotive tranny is not a 100% sealed system. Most transmission has a vent to atmosphere on it because without it, the tranny would basically explode as it warmed up.The fluid has to expand as it warms. This also exposes the ATF to a small degree of moisture from the outside air which may cause contamination overtime. Also, modern day transmissions are design for shift comfort, that means a slower clutch which produce more metal shavings. Changing the transmission fluid and filter will remove the shavings.
Keep in mind most cars other than German cars, have no changing of transmission fluids or at 100,000 miles.
I do not understand why German cars do not use the same fluids, transmission and brake, etc. , that American and Asian cars use. I would save the buyer a lot of money:
OH: of course I understand: every time the buyer spends money, the dealer makes money?
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From: Northern NJ, USA
2018 E300 4Matic Sport
Never any harm, except to your wallet, by changing fluids sooner than recommended.
Keep in mind most cars other than German cars, have no changing of transmission fluids or at 100,000 miles.
I do not understand why German cars do not use the same fluids, transmission and brake, etc. , that American and Asian cars use. I would save the buyer a lot of money:
OH: of course I understand: every time the buyer spends money, the dealer makes money?
Keep in mind most cars other than German cars, have no changing of transmission fluids or at 100,000 miles.
I do not understand why German cars do not use the same fluids, transmission and brake, etc. , that American and Asian cars use. I would save the buyer a lot of money:
OH: of course I understand: every time the buyer spends money, the dealer makes money?
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S550 4matic
I have to follow the specified changes to keep my car under warranty. Mercedes Australia specifies spark plugs and air filter at 3 years or 75,000 km whichever comes first. My car had done 40,000km or 24.8k miles at that point. Overly premature, I agree; but have a read through Billyismyname’s recent posts - the spark plugs can foul up over relatively short intervals compared to say my old Honda that lasts 60k miles between changes.
edit: see my next post; it seems MB USA specifies spark plug and engine air filter change at 5 yrs/50k miles.
edit: see my next post; it seems MB USA specifies spark plug and engine air filter change at 5 yrs/50k miles.
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Think about this: Mercedes cost more than almost every car, their parts cost more but they have you believing that in spite of this, their parts last 1/3 or 1/2 as long!
The Mercedes schedule of maintenance is nothing more than an additional revenue stream for Mercedes.
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2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
I have to follow the specified changes to keep my car under warranty. Mercedes Australia specifies spark plugs and air filter at 3 years or 75,000 km whichever comes first. My car had done 40,000km or 24.8k miles at that point. Overly premature, I agree; but have a read through Billyismyname’s recent posts - the spark plugs can foul up over relatively short intervals compared to say my old Honda that lasts 60k miles between changes.
edit: see my next post; it seems MB USA specifies spark plug and engine air filter change at 5 yrs/50k miles.
edit: see my next post; it seems MB USA specifies spark plug and engine air filter change at 5 yrs/50k miles.
If the oil pump fails, not changing your spark plugs will not void your warranty.
For a warranty claim to be denied, Mercedes must show that the failure was the direct result of a spark plug failure.
One of the first signs of the need to change spark plugs are;
- Hard starting
- rough idling
- decrease in mpg
Mercedes spark plugs cost double that. One would think that paying double would give you twice the length of service. But no, you only get 1/2 the length of service.
Many years ago, before fuel injection, emission controls and gasoline without present day additives, changing spark plugs every 20/30,000 was necessary.
Pull a spark plug at 50,000 miles from todays clean burning engines and they will often look like new.
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GLE 580
Another factor to consider, how frequently someone should change fluids, etc is driving style: peddle to the metal or driving Miss Daisy and everything in between. In reality, all of this shouldn't be only based on mileage but also somehow include RPMs divided by miles (total number of revolutions the engine crankshaft makes over a certain distance).
The dealers and us (as owners and prospective buyers) need to hold some type of common standard to ensure vehicles that get returned from leases, traded in, or sold to a 3rd party has some type of accepted scheduled maintenance history that protects the vehicle in the worst case scenario on the bell curve (spirited driver).
Last edited by wildta; Mar 31, 2024 at 10:25 PM.
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2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Warranty terms could be different in Australia.
Another factor to consider, how frequently someone should change fluids, etc is driving style: peddle to the metal or driving Miss Daisy and everything in between. In reality, all of this shouldn't be only based on mileage but also somehow include RPMs divided by miles (total number of revolutions the engine crankshaft makes over a certain distance).
The dealers and us (as owners and prospective buyers) need to hold some type of common standard to ensure vehicles that get returned from leases, traded in, or sold to a 3rd party has some type of accepted scheduled maintenance history that protects the vehicle in the worst case scenario (spirited driver).
Another factor to consider, how frequently someone should change fluids, etc is driving style: peddle to the metal or driving Miss Daisy and everything in between. In reality, all of this shouldn't be only based on mileage but also somehow include RPMs divided by miles (total number of revolutions the engine crankshaft makes over a certain distance).
The dealers and us (as owners and prospective buyers) need to hold some type of common standard to ensure vehicles that get returned from leases, traded in, or sold to a 3rd party has some type of accepted scheduled maintenance history that protects the vehicle in the worst case scenario (spirited driver).
I have been leasing for over 40 years, my first lease was on a 1982 Mercedes 300 Turbodiesel.
Back then the leases were structured in such a way that almost 100% were turned in at lease end. Knowing this, and wanting to have the most marketable used cars for resale, Mercedes covered the entire cost of maintenance! Ditto for BMW!
My how things have changed!
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GLE 580
Interesting point of information:
I have been leasing for over 40 years, my first lease was on a 1982 Mercedes 300 Turbodiesel.
Back then the leases were structured in such a way that almost 100% were turned in at lease end. Knowing this, and wanting to have the most marketable used cars for resale, Mercedes covered the entire cost of maintenance! Ditto for BMW!
My how things have changed!
I have been leasing for over 40 years, my first lease was on a 1982 Mercedes 300 Turbodiesel.
Back then the leases were structured in such a way that almost 100% were turned in at lease end. Knowing this, and wanting to have the most marketable used cars for resale, Mercedes covered the entire cost of maintenance! Ditto for BMW!
My how things have changed!
And what was the schedule like back then during those first 3 yrs of ownership vs the A, B, A we all know now?
Senior Member
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From: Northern NJ, USA
2018 E300 4Matic Sport
Absolute nonsense: Is there something so unique about the fluids that Mercedes use, or the components in their transmissions and/or brake lines that Mercedes recommends changing fluids twice and sometimes three times as often as every other manufacturer?
Think about this: Mercedes cost more than almost every car, their parts cost more but they have you believing that in spite of this, their parts last 1/3 or 1/2 as long!
The Mercedes schedule of maintenance is nothing more than an additional revenue stream for Mercedes.
Think about this: Mercedes cost more than almost every car, their parts cost more but they have you believing that in spite of this, their parts last 1/3 or 1/2 as long!
The Mercedes schedule of maintenance is nothing more than an additional revenue stream for Mercedes.
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From: Northern NJ, USA
2018 E300 4Matic Sport
I started leasing Mercedes in the mid-90's -- every three years I got a new ML and E -- and I specifically remember maintenance free or maintenance programs no longer being offered around the late 90's, definitely around 2000. When maintenance was included -- every single time I brought the car in -- every single time -- they told me this was needed, that was needed, and so on, and none of it was covered! I declined all of it. If there was ever an issue, it was covered by warranty. Today, they infer whatever the problem is "may not" be covered by warranty. Massive, complete pendulum swing changes in the last 20 to 25 years.
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2019 E300
I would say the Mercedes maintenance intervals and parts cost is in line with BMW, Jaguar, Range Rover and Audi. Lexus, Infiniti and Acura are cheaper to maintain. Compare to VW, the Mercedes parts are better quality. The way most Americans drives their Mercedes, some of the maintenance items could be certainly be extended.
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However Mercedes used very soft brake pads. Back then black wheels were very common. 10 to 12,000 miles were all you got. Mercedes claimed soft brakes pads were necessary.
Then Mercedes stopped but BMW started offering free maintenance for 3 years.
Mercedes followed suit: Guess what happened to the brake pads: When Mercedes had to cover them, they changed and brake pads lasted 30 to 40,000 miles.
Beyond changing the oil every 10,000 miles and air filters every 20,000 miles, most of the maintenance on the Mercedes is purely profit driven.
