sach22

Appreciate everyone's insights on this forum.

I just dropped off my 2015 S550 4Matic for a Service A / 50k mile service. One dealer told me that at this service the spark plugs are due to be changed and the transmission service will need to be done at 60k miles (the next service). Another dealer has told me that the car is due for the spark plugs and transmission/differential oil change service now at 50k miles. (Obviously the costs will be quite different between these two dealers). Does anybody know which is the truth? I have also informed the dealer that the transmission has the common rough 5 to 4 rough downshift and they have already told me that there is no solution for that.

Would appreciate anybody's insights and suggestions for these issues.

Thank you all

2012 merc amg

I had a 2015 S550 4 metic and the trans service is due at 60K miles and at least with me I don't bother with plugs and rear end gear oil change until 100K miles. So many people have pulled the plugs out at 50K miles and they look brand new so I figure what's the sense, same with rear end gear oil. Your last question there is a fix now for that rough shift, was not available when I had my car so I just lived with it but it is now. Here's the thread https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ng-w222-5.html Sounds like the dealer just does not want to take up the 5 hours it takes to do the update, maybe time for another dealer.

konigstiger

MB requires spark plugs 50,000/5 years whichever comes first, transmission 60,000 miles/6 years. MB does not require differential oil change however, proactively it is recommended to do so at transmission increments and not documented on sheet. See attachment.

Katie22

I do all the maintenance on my 16 Maybach. You can look up my posts for pictures and discussion on what your asking.

I did the trans change myself at 60,000 and for my car that ended up being half the fluid since the torque converter did not have a drain plug, the diff fluid change is very easy and have done that twice in 75,000 miles.

As far as the plugs you can learn that NGK makes them they are the laser iridum plugs and they last between 80-10000 miles by NGK standards on their web site. I have no idea why Mercedes asks for 50000 but I took my plugs out at 50000 and they looked new. Out of COVIS 19 boredom I did change them all at 75000 miles and they still at that time look new with no gap erosion or anything.

So like the other people said I would consider not changing the plugs till later and the diff fluid you can wait or have it changed but it should not cost much since its an easy job. The trans fluid is the ONE thing I would certainly do at 60,000 miles. I have no idea what your dealer would charge but I think it cost me less than 200 dollars in consumables to do the job. I did have to buy an Icarsoft mb2 scan tool to get trans temp readings when I did the job HOWEVER I would suggest if someone did not want to buy a scan tool they could accurately measure all the fluid that is removed from trans and reinstall the exact same amount back into the trans...

LILBENZ230

It was my understanding that Mercedes recommends 50,000 intervals on plugs due to multi-spark ignition. Anyone know if that is it?

Katie22

If I had to guess I would say they recommend the plugs at 50000 so that there is never any issue with plugs seizing in the heads due to dissimilar metal corrosion. Of course the dielectric grease should help prevent corrosion but...........

Tom in Austin

Do plugs have a time element? Seems odd, if the engine isn't being operated how would the plugs 'wear'?

Katie22

Millage is the gauge they use not time.

sach22

Thank you for this information and the attachment that documents the Service requirements and schedules. It's nice to have this because it can be hard to convince the Service Advisors sometimes.

sach22

Katie, I love seeing all your posts and how much work you do on your cars is admirable. I wish I had this much know how, tools, time, etc. Wish you were my neighbor! One of the reasons I take my car to the dealer and try to stick within the recommendations is because I drive the car a ton and still have a warranty on the car. It becomes a fine balance of doing the true required maintenance to have a beautifully functioning S class and not getting ripped off by the dealers.

That said, I do have a lift in my garage, and I'd be curious to know, what would be some good basic tools to have to work on these cars? Fluid and filter changes etc? That may be a topic for a separate thread.

Thank you again for the technical pearls.

Katie22

You need a copy of Mercedes WIS which you can buy on Ebay for less than 20 dollars. It is the same exact service software the dealer uses it has the parts manual, service manual and others. It takes some learning but its literally the key to your car.

As far as tools. I have a pump out device i got at harbor freight to change fluids, an adapter off amazon to put fluid in the trans, a icarsoft scan tool, a hockey puck for my jack so the puck sits in the jack and touches the cars instead of metal. Thinking here, oh yes standard hand tools with torque wrenches and a set of Etorx sockets. Not too much other stuff. Its really not hard these cars are actually pretty easy to work on.

greasykid

I believe that your owners manual will have a schedule for your required services.

Katie22

You can also go into the service menu you access through the steering wheel and a series of button and key settings. There you can see what the upcoming service codes are and then in WIS MSS you plug those codes in and you get a car specific upcoming service event.

for example screen wiLl have workshop code, and then additional service procedure codes.

sach22

This is all super helpful!

sach22

This is great stuff! I'm going to look for the WIS.

LILBENZ230

I recently got WIS - and it does indeed take some learning.

Katie22

So the fluid sucker I got from Harbor freight is also good for fluid change out on the brakes.

I should also say that my other car is an AMG GTC and in that forum a guy compiled a general list of ALL the maintenance procedures for that car off of WIS. IF you want to see what WIS looks like here is the link. https://mbworld.org/forums/coupe-roa...intenance.html

If you own WIS you plug in your cars VIN number and you get car specific maintenance. So my car has the ceramic brakes so the above link is not showing those brakes but my WIS does.

HERE is a link to a video on how to access the upcoming maintenance on your car as well as the menu to reset the service warnings when you finish the procedures.

Nice Ride

Back to Katie22's response above, possibility of Corrosion and not being easy if not impossible to remove over time.

OnlyGerman

I changed plugs and did trans service at only 26k. I was up for time and need to maintain records for my third party warranty. Can't go wrong changing the fluid - as long as it is done right.

Jay04SL

Hi- anyone recall if Trans temp is listed in the service menu (or elsewhere)? I do not believe so, as so many have had to purchase scanners to verify temp. Frustrating as my 2014 Ram 1500 even has trans temp as a menu toggle : ) (I'm sure for towing etc...)

Thanks!

Katie22

For trans temp I used a scan tool.

BUT knowing what I know NOW. I would probably simply measure exactly what came out of the trans and reinstall exactly the same amount back into the trans and be done with the whole thing. KEEP IT simple comes to mind.

2012 merc amg

I’m definitely doing the trans oil change this summer. I’ve got 58k miles on the car now so gonna need it soon. The plugs I’m thinking about letting go until 100k miles. Looks like a tough job not much room in there. Electronic ignition I’d think they’d be ok until then.

Katie22

Did the spark plug change on the V!2 and that took some time no doubt. With that said it was not as hard as changing the plugs on my AMG GTC.

S_W222

Do you all recommend changing the Transmission Fluid after 6-years even though the car still has much lower mileage than 60K? In example: 6-years old by 40K miles only...? Same question about the Spark Plugs.....

Katie22

in reference to the spark plugs. Having done them and noticing they were like new at the 60000 mile change interval they are iridium tip plugs that wear very little. What can happen though is over time the steel spark plug can corrode in their holes to the aluminum head so that is the best reason to change them at the pre determined intervals. I always put a small amount of anti seize on the plug threads. Also the spark plug boot can get stuck to the plug worse over time so changing at the intervals reduces the chance of damaging boots and coils. Be sure to but a dab of dielectric grease in boot before installing on new plug.

In simpler words changing the plugs at specified intervals reduces the chance of higher costs associated with changing the plugs if one waits much longer between changes.