alextaylor29

All,

Bringing in my '04 E55 next week for it's standard service. As I'm a new owner and it's a low mileage car (only 26K total) I'm going to have the oil changed and everything checked, just in case.

Questions for you all:

• What oil type/weight should I request & how many quarts?
• Also what is the interval to have oil changed as I believe it's synthetic? (Every 12k?)
• Anything else I should have them look at that has a history of wearing out quickly? (Brakes, etc.)

Also doing my LET Stage 1 tune tomorrow with their laptop they sent me so any idea what HP/TQ I can expect realistically on a stock E55?

Thanks!

Alex

lkchris

Call 800.for.merc and purchase an owners manual and a maintenance guide for your car.

In them you can read the required service intervals and learn that Mercedes requires motor oil that meets Mercedes specifications. The specification is MB229.5 and this has nothing to do with viscocity, brand, or anything else but instead is a specific test. If this number is not printed on the bottle, the oil does not meet the specification.

If you plan to take your car for service to someone for whom you need to advise the oil quantity, you're taking it to the wrong place and are asking for trouble. Even for an oil change, your car should not be in the hands of anyone but a dealer or an independent mechanic who has previously had Mercedes training and--most importantly--has a subscription to Startekinfo, i.e. factory Mercedes service procedures.

alextaylor29

Thanks for the reply. I am taking it back to Carmax from whom I purchased it and has the ability/know how to service MB's, so is bascially qualified a a dealer.

Was looking for more general guidance as to the oil type/brand/weight you all recommend as sometimes that is slightly different that one the dealer recommends where you're looking for performance increase.

The Royal Purple fluid line line is a great example. While never recommended by a dealer it's fluids has show to better performance depending on the make/model.

Alex

amdeutsch

There are numerous posts on this forum discussing all your questions. Might be best if you get familiar with answers. And personally I'm not sure that carmax qualifies as a knowledgeable dealer.

P.S.
Thread moved to correct forum

Timeless

+1 on the Carmax part...be VERY carefull using them as others have had nightmare stories.

izzyz28

Nine quarts of Mobil 1 0W-40 and a filter are what you need. The service interval is 10K, and if you are even a tiny bit handy you can do it yourself.

emoving

27300man

I use 9qts 5w40 Mobile1 Synthetic

Yuille36

Mercedes benz recommends Mobil 1 0w-40 synthetic oil be used in all their AMG and passenger cars period. If Mobil 1 isn't available in your area then a motor oil that meets Mercedes specifications MB229.5 Not 10W-30, or 5W-40 just Mobil 1 0W-40 that's it.

alextaylor29

Got it, thanks guys.

Lawrence1

do yourself a favor and dont let those hacks at carmax touch your car. find a reliable independent Mercedes shop and take your car there ... or go to the dealer.

these cars are a "little" different from your average nissan that carmax services on a daily basis, and when someone on this forum says dealer it reffers to a Mercedes Benz dealer, not a used car dealer like Carmax or Bubba frank's used car sales.

good luck.

SterlingE55

I'm still not brave enough to go to 10k. If you DIY it can be done for under $50. I usually change around 5k. I'm sure 10k is fine otherwise MB wouldn't spec it for cars they warranty. But its cheap and reassuring to change it more often.

SterlingE55

Oh and I change the cabin filter more frequently than suggested as well, but I live in Houston and well...do the math.

BrianS

I use 9qts of this every 5000 miles.

Hammer Down

Is that an L96?

izzyz28

I've gone 10K twice since I got the car, and after seeing the oil I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Of course only an oil analysis could tell for sure if it's ok, but I'm pretty confident that 9 quarts of synthetic oil in an engine that just loafs along most of the time will last quite a while. I also noticed that the car used only ~0.2 quarts(that's two tenths of a quart according to the oil level display in the IC) over the course of the last 10,000 miles. Seems like a pretty tight engine. BTW, I believe BMW is suggesting 12.5K between changes, but a lot of that is because of the free maintenance for 50K that they offer.

Also, I'd like to know where to get Mobil 1 for ~$4 a quart. I don't see it on sale much anymore, and I paid about $85 for 9 quarts and an MB filter the last time around.

BenzoBoi

I change my oil every 5k miles if I drive it "normally". If I get a lil happy, I change it every 3k miles.

bobgodd

My car burns oil

alextaylor29

Again thanks very much for the input guys. I will look at finding another MB shop/tuner to do my reguarly scheduled maintance.

Appreciate the input as always.

Alex

BrianS

No. It's an AI AW in .338 LM with AAC Titan can. Close to an L96.

itsmeek

How can you do it for under $50??? Mobil1 costs about $7/quart, the oil alone costs more than $50..

amdeutsch

Probably got a deal with a MIR to knock down the price. And now whenever anyone mentions it this member chimes in with that price and no additional info on how it was achieved.

Timeless

Ditto...highly recommend it!

sack5000

The filter alone is close to $30. Oil change is around $100 at the stealer.

izzyz28

I can get an MB filter for less than half that from any parts retailer. Are the dealers really charging 30 bucks for a filter? Mobil 1 is now a bit over $7 a quart around here, so with oil/filter/tax It's around $85 for a DIY change. I called MB of Westmont and they quoted me $129 for a service, which sounds about right if the tech gets 0.5 hours.