SLK/R170: Free Service
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: punta gorda, florida
Slk 230 & CLK500
Free Service
When I bought my 2003 SLK230 my salesman told me that the FSS is set for 10,000 miles & I am entitiled to the free "A" service at 10000 & 30000 & the "B" service at 20000 & 40000 or every year whichever comes first since I only drive that car about 5000 per year. Now I am told by my dealer that it is 10000 miles or every 2 years. The FSS is not as sophisticated on the SLK as on the other models. This car comes with regular oil not synthetic, low miles are worse on an engine as the contaminants are not burned off & without changing the oil for 2 years the engine will be toast after the warranty runs out, maybe MB figures it that way to make more money off of us. There is no way I will go 2 years & will have it change myself but wanted to bring this out about the BS of MB's free service.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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I have same question
I bought my SLK32 from my friend, ande he told me he did 25k service a year ago. I am wondering if I should change the oil even FFS doesn't show up yet. Will dealer charge me if FFS doesn't how? Because as I know, oil quility will be poor and will damage engine if people don't change it for more than a year.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 569
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From: Chandler, Arizona - USA
'02 SLK32 AMG
Re: Free Service
Originally posted by steve1173
When I bought my 2003 SLK230 my salesman told me that the FSS is set for 10,000 miles & I am entitiled to the free "A" service at 10000 & 30000 & the "B" service at 20000 & 40000 or every year whichever comes first since I only drive that car about 5000 per year. Now I am told by my dealer that it is 10000 miles or every 2 years. The FSS is not as sophisticated on the SLK as on the other models. This car comes with regular oil not synthetic, low miles are worse on an engine as the contaminants are not burned off & without changing the oil for 2 years the engine will be toast after the warranty runs out, maybe MB figures it that way to make more money off of us. There is no way I will go 2 years & will have it change myself but wanted to bring this out about the BS of MB's free service.
When I bought my 2003 SLK230 my salesman told me that the FSS is set for 10,000 miles & I am entitiled to the free "A" service at 10000 & 30000 & the "B" service at 20000 & 40000 or every year whichever comes first since I only drive that car about 5000 per year. Now I am told by my dealer that it is 10000 miles or every 2 years. The FSS is not as sophisticated on the SLK as on the other models. This car comes with regular oil not synthetic, low miles are worse on an engine as the contaminants are not burned off & without changing the oil for 2 years the engine will be toast after the warranty runs out, maybe MB figures it that way to make more money off of us. There is no way I will go 2 years & will have it change myself but wanted to bring this out about the BS of MB's free service.
I have friends that work for Mercedes in Sindelfingen. Three years ago, the factory fill was semi-synthetic (there were 3 different brands, all European, but I forgot which). I should ask again. I asked my service advisor about the oil requirement for US models and was told tha the oil in US models gets replaced with synthetic at the prep center. This seems unlikely, but maybe it's true. They definitely changed the oil my '04 Euro-Delivery E320 wagon, but that could be just because it was a Euro-delivery.
Your "low miles are worse" statement is correct only if the low miles are caused by short-trip driving.
Alot of us change the oil in between services. Just do it if it makes you feel better.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
you should have your dealer change it out to synthetic...MB realized that they not inform owners of 98 models which was when FSS was introduced and owners changed oil with regular dino oil. That lead to build up of sludge in some engines. As part of a class action, MB extended the warranty of the engines to 100k/10 years for those part of the suit.
I know that in 98 engine's did not ship with syn, but I thought after that, they did...FSS is based off of the long running syn formula which has been tested to run up to 20k miles without it degrading very much.
but yes, service is included in the 4yr/50k warranty. After a certain period of time, if you do not have accumulated enough mileage, the FSS will count down days instead of miles till service. Some dealers are nice and will change it out as part of the warranty even though FSS did not call for it.
FSS has been proven on the SLK...there was a SLK with over 400k miles using FSS and the engine was fine. But definately have the oil changed over to syn if it already hasn't...
I know that in 98 engine's did not ship with syn, but I thought after that, they did...FSS is based off of the long running syn formula which has been tested to run up to 20k miles without it degrading very much.
but yes, service is included in the 4yr/50k warranty. After a certain period of time, if you do not have accumulated enough mileage, the FSS will count down days instead of miles till service. Some dealers are nice and will change it out as part of the warranty even though FSS did not call for it.
FSS has been proven on the SLK...there was a SLK with over 400k miles using FSS and the engine was fine. But definately have the oil changed over to syn if it already hasn't...
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 569
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From: Chandler, Arizona - USA
'02 SLK32 AMG
Originally posted by steve1173
Won't be the first time a dealer lied. Spoke with the service manager & lead mechanic & they both said only AMG comes from the factory with mobil 1.
Won't be the first time a dealer lied. Spoke with the service manager & lead mechanic & they both said only AMG comes from the factory with mobil 1.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: punta gorda, florida
Slk 230 & CLK500
Customer service called me back after sending them 2 emails. What a bunch of idiots, I feel I can trust a saleman more then them. He claimed that the SLK comes from the factory with synthetic oil no matter that I tiold him my service manager & lead tech said no they even call MB tech support when I had the problem with my SLK & tech support confirmed it. I asked to speak with a supervisor but he said there is no supervisors in MB corporated HQ in NJ. He also said that it is perfectly okay to go 2 years without an oil change & the FSS is a good thing. That is when I told him that I read for 2005 the FSS is gone, I think his jaw dropped. Customer service is a real joke.
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