jamesegreen

I'm new. We just purchased an 08 SLK55. I asked the dealer mechanic about the oil dipstick "plug" and she said it didn't need one, oil levels were read by a sensor. Well, that's a really dumb idea. I want a dipstick for both the engine and auto trans. Does anyone here know where I can get one. (BTW, I'm not interested in paying MB $100+ for a $10 dipstick.)

I'm also looking for a factory service & parts manual (on DVD?) for this car, like the MB service techs use. The MB help line said one was available for the 2007 car on CD, part#P-2700-171-07. Does anyone know if this is actually the factory mechanic's service manual, and if not where I can obtain one?

Thanks, Jim Green

slk55er

I made a dipstick from a thin coat hanger wire. I had a post with photos at

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/foru...posts=1&fid=27, but it has been removed apparently.

For my '05 55, the wire needs to insert 23 inches into the dipstick tube. Put a loop on the end to allow you to pull it out. If you insert this, you can check the oil level and then mark the wire with some file notches. For mine, "full" yielded a mark 2 inches from the end (21 inches from the base of the loop). "Low" was 1 inch from the end.

A' La F1

My independent mecanic who also does my oil changes uses a similar solution - he is old school and doesn't fully trust the sensor method. I don't know of any available aftermarket sticks.

jamesegreen

You are right, I was never able to find an aftermarket dipstick for the 08 SLK55.

But I think I have solved the dipstick problem. Following the suggestion of slk55er just above, I found a web firm called webriggingsupply.com who sells 3/32" and 1/8" "very flexible" 7x19 stranded stainless steel cable for about $0.60/foot. They will even cut it to the lengths you specify, and they also sell things like loop ends, etc that go with flexible cable.

I haven't ordered this yet, but I am planning to order a couple 3' lengths in 3/32" and 1/8" diameter (less than $2 before shipping) and see how they work. A few dollars to try, not bad. I'll post my results when I get to it (after a business trip I am taking in about a week).

I'll probably have to calibrate it if it's different for my 08 car and I can't find the needed oil depth in WIS,

And A' La F1, I am also old school and have complete confidence in a dipstick oil-level reading being correct.

Regards, Jim Green

A' La F1

Let us know how the project unfolds. I, too, am old school and am interested in making/buying one. Thanks.

slk55er

Hmm. Why not just use a coat hanger as I describe above. You will find that it will have a slight curvature after being inserted.

I would be concerned that a stranded cable might be TOO flexible. It might not go into the tube fully or it might curl up and you might not be able to be sure that it is fully inserted every time.

Really, the coat hanger works just great and it is cheap and available. And it is easy to make a rigid loop in the top of it to allow you to pull it out. Wouldn't be awful to lose the flexible stranded cable down the tube?

jamesegreen

slk55er,

I ordered the flexible cable because I guess I didn't like the coat hanger wire idea. A little crude for a MB, don't you think? ;o))

And I don't think the flexible cable will be that flexible. The factory dipsticks you see are made from similar flexible cable. Aiso, I ordered a few crimp-on things that allow one to make a crimped-on loop at the end of the cable, so it definitely won't slip down the hole.

I ordered enough for 4 dipsticks, 2 3/16" and 2 1/8", so I could test several different designs. Maybe one for the transmission too? The total cost including shipping was only about $20. In fact, shipping was most of the cost.

The stuff I ordered hasn't arrived here yet, but when it does I'll test it and reply. But I will be traveling starting next week, so it might be several weeks until I can test this out.

Regards, Jim Green