S550/560 add dipstick?
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
I think they didn't get rid of the stick until the 4.0 motor came out 2018 models. My 2018 AMG 4.0 does not have a stick, my 2015 4.7 does. No way to read oil level on display on the 2015, the 2018 AMG, reads out oil level on display screen.
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From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
The vast majority of owners, I’d bet 99%, never use the dipsticks. Newer engines do not burn or leak oil like their earlier predecessors. Do folks still dip a wooden stick into the gas tank to read the level like they did on the Model T? Do you open the radiator cap once a week to see if the antifreeze is at the correct level? No, there are gauges now that tell you what is going on.
Dip sticks are old technology and not needed.
Dip sticks are old technology and not needed.
Last edited by Utopia Texas; Oct 19, 2018 at 08:23 AM.
Thread Starter
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From: Canada
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The vast majority of owners, I’d bet 99%, never use the dipsticks. Newer engines do not burn or leak oil like their earlier predecessors. Do folks still dip a wooden stick into the gas tank to read the level like they did on the Model T? Do you open the radiator cap once a week to see if the antifreeze is at the correct level? No, there are gauges now that tell you what is going on.
Dip sticks are old technology and not needed.
Dip sticks are old technology and not needed.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Canada
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Unsure why as per the MY19 S class manual that the S450 has a dipstick and the S550 doesn't.
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From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
Last edited by Utopia Texas; Oct 19, 2018 at 12:34 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Canada
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No one said anything about anyone being ignorant. It is just useless antiquated technology. I suppose some would like to go back to black and white tube tv’s, no airconditioning, AM only radios in their autos, manual typewriters instead of PC’s, human elevator operators etc. New technology will happen whether one likes it or not and whining about it will make no diffrerence. You always have the option of buying a vehicle with dip sticks and there are still many out there until the liberals take over and then there will only be one brand of car in one color with no options that everyone will be forced to love.
I don't know why MB got rid of dipsticks on the 550, but that $10 item at best probably represents massive cost savings, although unsure why they kept it in the 450. That said, just because you don't use the dipstick doesn't mean other people don't. -and as someone who has owned a car without a dipstick, it was infuriating - just like as someone who has owned a car with RFTs, I will never have RFTs on my car.
Not sure how this became a political discussion about liberals, but the above is just my opinion on this matter. By saying that one doesn't need item A because folks never use it - all you are implying is that they are ignorant to a particular car maintenance option. I remember how wildly inaccurate the W220's engine oil dipstick was, btw.
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From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
To each his own. When I was a teenager there were no maintence free batteries so once a month or so you opened the caps on top and added distilled water to the proper mark and every so often used a hygrometer to check the acid/water ratio in the battery. Every 2,000 Miles or so you would adjust the valves, change the oil and filter and adjust the carburetor. Every 25,000 Miles one would repack the front wheel bearings and change out the transmission fluid. Every other year anti freeze was changed out in the cooling system. Many handy car owners spent a Saturday once a month doing all this if they had multiple cars.
Due to technology, better design and better fluids these procedures have been greatly extended or eliminated altogether and the use of dipsticks is just another change to this system. In the last 15 years, and with 12-15 different cars and trucks in my garage I have never added any oil to any of them between oil changes. If this was a huge problem you would see hundreds of vehicles on the side of the road every week broken because the oil level was a few ounces too low. It is a non issue with modern iron. My oldest car will be 100 years old in 2019, 1919 Model T, and yes I have to check the oil every time it is driven because of the really old technology. Most modern cars are mass produced and nothing special. If they break you just go buy another one. If you can’t afford a major break down maybe one should consider a 12k entry level car for transportation.
Due to technology, better design and better fluids these procedures have been greatly extended or eliminated altogether and the use of dipsticks is just another change to this system. In the last 15 years, and with 12-15 different cars and trucks in my garage I have never added any oil to any of them between oil changes. If this was a huge problem you would see hundreds of vehicles on the side of the road every week broken because the oil level was a few ounces too low. It is a non issue with modern iron. My oldest car will be 100 years old in 2019, 1919 Model T, and yes I have to check the oil every time it is driven because of the really old technology. Most modern cars are mass produced and nothing special. If they break you just go buy another one. If you can’t afford a major break down maybe one should consider a 12k entry level car for transportation.
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From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
The new 177 series engines don't have a dipstick in most cars. Same with most of the other new engines coming out. The S450 still has the old 276.8 V6 from 5 years ago, so it has a dipstick. The replacement 256 I6 engine will not have a dipstick.
Yes, it's cost cutting and simplification, but the cars have a level sensor anyway if they have a dipstick, why be redundant?
Yes, it's cost cutting and simplification, but the cars have a level sensor anyway if they have a dipstick, why be redundant?
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From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
This will all be a mute point soon as new cars come out with no hood release. They will only be able to be opened by the dealership....
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2019 MB S560
To each his own. When I was a teenager there were no maintence free batteries so once a month or so you opened the caps on top and added distilled water to the proper mark and every so often used a hygrometer to check the acid/water ratio in the battery. Every 2,000 Miles or so you would adjust the valves, change the oil and filter and adjust the carburetor. Every 25,000 Miles one would repack the front wheel bearings and change out the transmission fluid. Every other year anti freeze was changed out in the cooling system. Many handy car owners spent a Saturday once a month doing all this if they had multiple cars.
Due to technology, better design and better fluids these procedures have been greatly extended or eliminated altogether and the use of dipsticks is just another change to this system. In the last 15 years, and with 12-15 different cars and trucks in my garage I have never added any oil to any of them between oil changes. If this was a huge problem you would see hundreds of vehicles on the side of the road every week broken because the oil level was a few ounces too low. It is a non issue with modern iron. My oldest car will be 100 years old in 2019, 1919 Model T, and yes I have to check the oil every time it is driven because of the really old technology. Most modern cars are mass produced and nothing special. If they break you just go buy another one. If you can’t afford a major break down maybe one should consider a 12k entry level car for transportation.
Due to technology, better design and better fluids these procedures have been greatly extended or eliminated altogether and the use of dipsticks is just another change to this system. In the last 15 years, and with 12-15 different cars and trucks in my garage I have never added any oil to any of them between oil changes. If this was a huge problem you would see hundreds of vehicles on the side of the road every week broken because the oil level was a few ounces too low. It is a non issue with modern iron. My oldest car will be 100 years old in 2019, 1919 Model T, and yes I have to check the oil every time it is driven because of the really old technology. Most modern cars are mass produced and nothing special. If they break you just go buy another one. If you can’t afford a major break down maybe one should consider a 12k entry level car for transportation.
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From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
Ford transit connect vans use the vehicle key in the front emblem to release the hood, there isn't even a release in the car. they say cost cutting, the real reason is that most of them are fleet and nobody will check **** so it's better if they don't mess with it until it gets back to the dealer. It's not a stretch to have that release use a different key and only open for the dealership, would be simple.
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From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
You know what? I don't think my 2019 S450 has a hood release. If it does, I sure can't find it anywhere underneath the steering wheel or anywhere else. The manual does say that it has a dipstick but if I can read the oil level by the computer, who cares. I'll call the dealer Monday to make sure that the hood release is not hiding somewhere.
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From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
You know what? I don't think my 2019 S450 has a hood release. If it does, I sure can't find it anywhere underneath the steering wheel or anywhere else. The manual does say that it has a dipstick but if I can read the oil level by the computer, who cares. I'll call the dealer Monday to make sure that the hood release is not hiding somewhere.
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From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
I guess I'm blind. I don't see it. I looked and felt the surface everywhere.There is the parking break underneath and to the left of the steering wheel but that's it.
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From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
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From: Florida
2013 ML350, 2019 S560
Dipstick is also useful for changing oil. Using a Topsider or Mityvac, you can suction all the oil out and not deal with lying on the ground to drain oil. Guess the future holds more time lying on the floor for those of us that change our oil.
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From: Canada
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So on this new engine, can one ADD a dipstick manually? I presume that's not an issue, right?
