josh12

I don't drive my sl500 that often, so it does not accumulate much milage. Next scheduled oil change is in 6 thousand miles, however, it was last serviced 7 months ago. Is there a maximum amount of time before the synthetic oil needs to be changed? The dealer will charge me for the service if it is done before the established 10K miles.

blueSL

Assuming you have an R230 SL, you just need to be guided by the ASSYST service indicator; it will tell you, based on time or mileage when it's required. It will timeout after two years if you don't reach the (approximate) 10000 mile limit.

Some people of a nervous disposition change the oil more often because they think it will of the car some good and prolong its life. Oils are much better than they used to be and providing you use the correct grade, you need do no more. Change the oil yourself and use some gunk from Wal-Mart and you are asking for trouble.

You say the dealer will charge you. Are you on some sort of service deal where all scheduled maintenance is covered?

Twinturbo

I definitely agree that using poor quality oil will affect engine longetivity and such, however I think it will also do good if you change the oil and filter yourself inbetween services, providing you use good quality oil and filters. I also think that 2 years may be long, not because the oil might degrade over time, but because of other things such as coolant. It is important to replace coolant regularly regardless of mileage as in modern engines the use of alloy heads and many other metals throughout the engine require fresh and new coolant to prevent corrosion and and sludge build-up.

blueSL

I don't disagree about the need for proper coolant but changing it is not actually part of the "A" service...

Gunther

Blue --

I don't know where Josh is...but here in the US all service required while under the 4/50,000 warranty is covered by MB. So an oil change would be a $0 cost - but only when called for by the service "needs" of the car. If you go outside the scheduled service it is at your own cost.

However an "inventive" service advisor can write things up to be necessary and avoid the charge.

blueSL

That's worth having. Does that include things like brake pads or just the scheduled A/B Maintenance.

jettie1767

Service is not free anymore starting with model year 2005.

Gunther

Actually, starting in 2005 - there is one scheduled service at no charge. MB is stepping away from the mileage/time based combination. My understanding is that there will be one service interval at roughly 13,000 miles.

It covers scheduled service. Work that involves parts that wear based upon individual driving habits (ie: brake pads) is not covered.

LovinMercedes

My SL600 service manual does say 13,000 miles and 26,000 miles, not 10,000 and 20,000.

Funny enough however is that the instrument cluster is counting down the miles to service and the first one started at 10,000, not 13,000.

What a surprise.

jettie1767

For the SL55, the interval is every 10k miles. The only free 'service' is the tire check before 6000 miles.

blueSL

Yes, it counts down in units of 100 miles but not necessarily 1 unit for every 100 miles you drive. If my Service A had not been triggered by time, I would (I estimate) have gone about 11800 miles, a figure based on my style of driving. It does vary the service interval according to things like the number of cold starts the figure in the manual are only averages.

Chris 45971

Huh, that's strange. My 500's instument cluster count started from 13000.

Maybe someone at MB sped around with your car for 3000 miles before it was delivered?

MBZFAN55

PLEASE don't give that man a heart attack !!!!!!

josh12

I live in Southern California and my car is a 2003 SL500. I think I'm having difficulty trusting the ASSYST and not change the oil in two years. I had an E series 2000 and I had the same dilema. I would ask the dealer to change the oil after about 8 or 9 months (much less than 10.000 miles), at my expense, and the dealer would reset the computer to start with 10.000 miles again. I know that an oil change is not expensive, but the dealer never had to pay for it. It was my doing.

Gunther

I'd reconfirm that Jettie...I don't know why MB would isolate the AMG models from the rest of the line regarding the service...unless you have another dealer who thinks it's found a good way of making more money....

but wait? A dishonest MB dealer who'd scam a customer? I don't believe it's possible!

jettie1767

Gunther, all AMG models starting in the '05 model year will countdown from 10k miles instead of the 13k miles for the non-AMG models. Models with staggered width wheels will not get the free tire rotation at 6k miles or below but instead just get a free tire check...LOL! I read it on one of the inserts they have on that thick service manual they give you on delivery. And I also reconfirmed that with my dealer.

blueSL

Sounds like Mercedes are tryting to de-content the service package as well as the car for 2005; one more way of offsetting the decline in the value of the dollar.

jettie1767

Yes, BlueSL. I think MB should improve the initial quality of their cars to alleviate the congestion at the service center, instead. If they did that, there wouldn't be too many cars requesting warranty repairs and it will bring their costs down.

Gunther

Hate to hear that Jettie...I guess that's one reason not to buy an AMG.

tiggerfink

Some of you need to drive your cars more. A car that sitting for a while is dying.

josh12

I would drive it more, but my car was DOA. I mostly drive on weekends and to the dealership for repairs. Reliability-wise it behaves more like a Chrysler with Lucas (Prince of Darkness) electronics, than a Daimler. It is a beautiful car though.