2mbusa

Boy am I confused about which oil is OK in my 1999 SL500? The dealer gave me a bottle of Mobil 1 0W-40 to carry as a spare. It has the words "European Car Formula" on the bottle. As my SL is now out of warrenty I want to change my own oil -- don't have the extra $200 plus to have the dealer chang the oil!!! Anyhow, I found Mobil 1 0W-40 at a local store, however, it does not have "European Car Formula" printed on it. It does have the same UPC codeof 71924 44962 though. Thought I would call Mobil and ask them the difference. They stated that they could not be bothered with printing different UPC numbers for oil of the same weight. However, the Mobil guy further stated that the one from the Mercedes dealer was a special secret formula made only for Mercedes and he was not allowed to tell me the difference. The bottle from the dealer has API Service SL/CF while the one from the local store has API SM/CF. The Mobile guy said the dealer had given me old stock and the new stock from my Mercedes dealer would also reflect the latest API Service of SM/CF to which I ask again if there was any difference between the Mercedes dealer 0W-40 and the one I got at the local store and he roudly told me that was still a secret he could not disclose to me. There is also a difference of $7 at the dealer from $5 a quart for the oil at the local store. Is some one playing games here, or is someone playing games here????? Is there anyplace to get a streight and truthful answer? I also posted this question on the SL 129 site but have only received one response.

paulv

The API SL service M1 0W-40 originally had the words "European Formula" on the bottle. The newer designated API SM service has dropped those words on the bottle.

You can also put in a different oil providing it meets MB's requirements. Check out this link Oil Recommendation

Since your car is a '99, it probably has 229.3 specs for oil.

Regards,
paul...

benzeboy

I have used Amsoil synthetic European Formula 5w - 40 over the years and love it. My openion best oil in the world.

Hal H

Each new formulation will advance a letter in the API service designation

The SL/CF would have come out earlier

The SM/CF forumulation will be a newer iteration.

For example, I have an old plastic quart bottle of oil that I use as a funnel (with the bottom cut out) that is from 20+ years ago that was API SE/SF and about 15 years ago the API SH designation was out.

So the newer forumulation is fine to use in your car as it will meet the MB oil spec.

Mobil revises their packaging designs from time to time as well, so what we have today may likely change on the label in a couple of years from now.

I've been using Mobil 1 for 15 years now, and there's been a lot of changes in the product packaging over the years...