Bought a 2007 S65 two months ago. It was a one owner car. Serviced at a MB dealer most of it life. Around 60K-70K miles it was being taken to a third party German mechanic with apparently good reviews. Since I cant verify what has been done recently with a detailed service record, should I just jump in at the recommended services? Do i go by the owners manual or is there somewhere else I should be checking? The cars at 97,xxx miles with a eurocharged tune.

 

How recently do your records run? By that age I would think you should see at least two of the following: (1) spark plug changes; (2) ABC fluid flush, filter and refill; (3) transmission fluid flush, filter and refill; and (4) brake fluid flushes. If you don't see that, do those for starters. I'd also throw a fuel filter at it. After that, I'm a 5k service guy and I just use the dealer A-B schedule. I also like to let it see a dealer every couple years. But my car is driven sparingly to say the least.

maw

 

The record is just carfax. Shows going to the dealer and mechanic but not what was done. Ill start with these. Brake flush doesn't seem to difficult. Spark plugs seem nerve racking with the coil packs. ABC needs star for rodeo mode or is there a way around this? Trans service is simple enough for anyone to do? I saw a video with the fuel filter change. Under the rear seat? Seems like it would be complicated with the rear seats being power.

5K service?

A-B services just general inspection and fluid changes?

 

I just realized you're on a V12. I wouldn't jump at the plugs just yet. My guess is you'll get to that soon enough with coil packs and voltage transformers.

Yes, ABC needs rodeo + I always want a dealer or a near dealer quality indy to do that. Trans service is straight forward. My fuel filter (55) is accessible from the rear passenger wheel well. If yours is under the rear seat, maybe don't worry about that either, or have the dealer throw one in with the ABC service, as it shouldn't be much added cost. Plus, the dealer will be able to run the VIN and give you more specific advice of what's been done or not. Oh, and don't forget the ABC dampers. They probably haven't been done but definitely should be with the ABC service. If they have been done, you just scored. But they probably haven't and the service plus the dampers will be around $1k.

I do every 5k just because its easy to remember and fits my driving pattern (~ 5k miles per year or 2). The A-B is mostly oil change, general inspection and fluid changes. The big items above come at fairly regular annual (oil), bi-annual (brake fluid), 3/30k (ABC) or 5/50k intervals (transmission and plugs). I just do brake fluid at 3/30k along with the ABC. People will tell you that's overkill on the ABC, but those are the same people who have ABC problems while I have had none in over 10 years and almost 100k miles of ownership.

If I were you, I'd stop by a dealer, get them to tell you what's been done. They'll probably run a VMI for you -- Vehicle Master Inquiry -- which shows all MB dealer work done on the car. Have them address whatever ABC work hasn't been done yet. The rest, you can do where and when your budget permits.

Sound like a plan? Looks like you have a few good dealers near you. I'd stop by all three, and the most helpful one is the one that gets my business. If they balk at the VMI, walk.

maw

 

Ill start with those and see what I can accomplish. Power steering pump hard to replace? Hard to turn the wheel when stopped.

 

ABC service might take care of that. It’s the same fluid that runs both that and the power steering. That pump is called the “tandem” pump — subtle hint. So see how it goes after the ABC. You don’t want to replace that pump, and if it was a problem the ABC system would not hold pressure.

GL, report back.

maw

 

'Tandem pump.' One section of it does power steering... Other half does ABC. Verify that fluid is at correct level when warm; idling. Any warning lights? The steering rack has an electrical connector plugged in down where the steering shaft connects. That circuit does variable steering assist.
That P/S pump is a treat to replace.

 

The level seems to be at correct level. No lights. Ill verify the electrical connector.

 

Power steering pump failures are very very rare. Change the fluid before anything else. Then check tire pressure.The PS pump output pressure is regulated so the assist varies with road speed. That connector may be loose.

 

Clarifying "tandem pump," just in case: It's two separate pumps, with two separate reservoirs, sharing a shaft and drive pulley for space in the engine bay. It's not one pump driving two systems.