Hello!
I was about to reset the maintenance indicator on my 2011 ML 350 after having changed the oil/filter. After entering the reset menu, I discovered a bunch of service item numbers. Where can I find detailed description of each of these service codes? Before I reset them all, I'd like to know what the car is trying to tell me. Lol. This is what I got in the menu:

ITEMS (I assume these two codes are the reason for the service notification in the cluster to show "Service A due in 1,200mi")

• Service 1
• Service 3

ADDITIONAL WORK

• Service 3
• Service 4
• Service 6
• Service 8
• Service 11
• Service 12
• Service 13
• Service 15

 

I always reset these myself when I saw them come up. The car is trying to get itself back to the dealer so you can spend more money. Follow the service schedule in the owner's manual.

 

To my knowledge, from what a dealer friend told me:
The service performed is based on the letters displayed, so A Service, B Service and so forth. The numbers that sometimes follow are related to the "number of additional items the service technician will check". They usually mark time periods of what additional items will be checked during a service that they know can show signs of wear and tear. Tire tread, brake rotor/pad thickness, and other seals, bolts, joints, etc. that their service system tells them to. I once had a "B-5 Service" message pop up which is why I asked, but it didn't require anything since I keep my car in great shape. So no big deal if you routinely check your car throughout yourself.

 

Since I'm doing the maintenance myself, I would like to know what these numbers mean in terms of maintenance operation. Again, I'm not looking for information on "letters" such as Service A, Service B, etc. but rather on service items (numbers) which are displayed on the cluster when I enter the menu.

• Service 1 - Oil change?
• Service 2 - Tire check?
• Service 3 - Transmission check?
• Service 4 - Air filter?
• ---
• Service 15 - Jet engine fan blade replacement? Lol.

 

I wish I had an answer for you there, but I really don't know... I know that for the B5 I had, a tire rotation and "check rear brakes" was recommended. Don't recall what the other 3 were. I overdo all the services and maintenance things anyway, so my friend told me not to worry about them and just clear them as per usual. I'm way ahead of the recommended service curve anyway, so I stopped paying attention to it so long as it's not a "malfunction" message.

I'd say, give your service advisor a call and ask. The stealership can't charge you for asking. If they start to mention your Jet engine fan blade failing or that you are running dangerously low on rare blinker fluid derived from the dew of tropical leaves in the Amazon, they're probably just trying to get at your wallet. I don't see why they wouldn't give you a direct answer.

 

Hahahaha, thanks man.

 

Service 16 - Your mechanic is due for a serving of bratwurst, kraut and boiled kartoffeln.

 

All service numbers are listed in the MB Maintenance Manual for your model. Grab the manual for your year and model here:
https://www.mercedesbenzraleigh.com/...intervals.html

About half way through (after all the pages that say 10,000 mi, 12,000 mi, etc, etc) you will see a table that explains what service #s are required at each mileage. After that is a complete description of each number.

Some of the items are simple like check horn/check tire pressure/etc. Decide what skill level you have and you can do some or all of these items yourself.

I have been following this book since I purchased my GL and it runs great. These are the same maintenance intervals the dealers use (other than the "additional" recommended items they try to upsell you on for additional profit -- tire nitrogen, fuel system cleaner, etc.). This is what MB corporate says is required for your vehicle, and nothing more.

 

Thank you. However I must be blind because I don't find it in the manual you provided (link in your message) or my own manual in the car. Please tell me which page in missing? (2011 ML 350)

 

I just went to that link, and downloaded the M class booklet under 2011.

Page 13 (it is titled 13 on the top right corner, but it is the 15th page in the PDF) has the 10,000 mile service for example.

If you look at the row of dots under "M-Class" you will see all of the items due on your car at 10,000 mi. Then look at the later pages for 20,000 miles and onward.

When the service indicator comes up, look at the mileage you are at in the book and perform those services.

 

Thanks for your help bha. However page 13 (and others) does not contain any service number so I wasn't able to pinpoint "Service 15" for instance.

I think I finally found what I was looking for. Here it is:

I found a service manual for a C-Class (model W204) which explains what they call Service Scopes.
The Service Scopes are the details hidden behind Service A, B, C, etc.

They say the following: "The maintenance procedures of the various service scopes are issued once and have been binding worldwide since model series 171 and for all subsequent model series. The advantage of this is that the various services now contain the same procedures for all model series throughout the world. Every service technician in the world is therefore familiar with the defined service procedures: Service 3 (engine oil + filter), Service 4 (brake fluid), Service 8 (air filter). The service procedures may vary from country to country only for Service A and Service B. Each service may only contain one service item."

Here are the service scopes for the C-Class W204 and therefore for all other cars (>2004).

• Service 1: Minor basic service (Service A)
• Service 2: Major basic service (Service B)
• Service 3: Engine oil + filter
• Service 4: Brake fluid
• Service 5: Combination filter
• Service 6: Dust filter (included in Service B)
• Service 7: Activated charcoal filter
• Service 8: Air filter
• Service 9: Tilting/Sliding roof
• Service 10: Panoramic sliding roof
• Service 11: fuel filter
• Service 12: spark plugs
• Service 13: coolant
• Service 14: main coolant circuit
• Service 15: trailer hitch
• Service 16: parking brake
• Service 17: emergency call system
• Service 18: brake algorithm
• Service 19: diesel particulate filter
• Service 20: automatic transmission oil and filter

 

I'll repeat it again: service codes are nothing but a gimmick to get you to spend more money at a dealer or mechanic. Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual and you'll be fine.

 

Gotcha. But I recently purchased the car and i just performed the first oil change on it. I wasn't sure these messages meant some things were never done until now or what. So I had to figure that out.

 

You bought the car without service records?

 

No, I have service records. But again, I didn't know what these service numbers thrown at me by the car meant. So now I'm all good. I needed to double check that they were not something I didn't know about. Now peace of mind.

 

my car check on or this number show i want information thank you

• Service 1 -
• Service 2 -
• Service 3 -
• Service 4 -
• Service 13
• Service 15