E-Class (W211) E class servicing (w211)

[Monster]

I know there are a few w211 E-class owners in this forum, maybe you guys can help out

The service indicator poped up today, it says i have 4 more days before "service c" is due. So i went into the service menu, it says 4 days or 12 100km before service C is duel. I had a quick look through the list and it says i need service item 3,4,6,13 and 14. The car has only done 8000km even though it is almost 2 years old. Does it actually need a new dust filter, or a combination filter? What is a combination filter anyway?


I am surprised the service indicator showed up so soon after i took the car in for an engine oil+filter change a month ago. How come the FSS PLUS calculate the days as well as the mileage as well? I thought the mileage alone will be enough?

 

[PanterroR]

2 years and only 8000km? What are you people doing with that car? Only looking at it? j/k...

I'd only suggest you to change all filters; they're not expensive and can do only good to your ride...

 

[Monster]

2 years and only 8000km? What are you people doing with that car? Only looking at it? j/k...

I'd only suggest you to change all filters; they're not expensive and can do only good to your ride...

The E is like a school run car. My mum drives my little bros to school so they can sleep inside the car.

I think i will leave it until the car has done 20000km cause i know the MB service department will do the entire service and charge a bucket load. I got a feeling they wont' just change the filters. My friend took his A-class for a service and they charge him $8 to refill the windscreen washing fluid

 

[cawimmer430]

Hi Monster,

We have a 2002 E320 Avantgarde and we got a similar message after 2 years, which apparently is normal. My father is best friends with one of the chief mechanics at the MB Dealership (they grew up together in Mühldorf) and apparently, this is supposed to happen according to him. I don't know if this is an excuse on their part, but our car had parts of its A/C system replaced despite there being nothing wrong with the system. I'm talking about the Aktivkohlefilter (active coal filter ) and other non electronic materials that were simply swapped for a brand new replacement. Once the service is completed, your E-Class won't have to go in for another service unless something breaks or goes wrong.

BTW, here in Germany, we don't get "Service C" messages. Our E-Class tells us exactly what's wrong, aka the specific problem. I'd check with the Australian MB Website if they can define what Service C etc. is.

 

[PanterroR]

The E is like a school run car. My mum drives my little bros to school so they can sleep inside the car.

I think i will leave it until the car has done 20000km cause i know the MB service department will do the entire service and charge a bucket load. I got a feeling they wont' just change the filters. My friend took his A-class for a service and they charge him $8 to refill the windscreen washing fluid

You're so right about that!

I look at it like this: You just knock on the door and that's 100$ immediately!

 

[Monster]

Hi Monster,

We have a 2002 E320 Avantgarde and we got a similar message after 2 years, which apparently is normal. My father is best friends with one of the chief mechanics at the MB Dealership (they grew up together in Mühldorf) and apparently, this is supposed to happen according to him. I don't know if this is an excuse on their part, but our car had parts of its A/C system replaced despite there being nothing wrong with the system. I'm talking about the Aktivkohlefilter (active coal filter ) and other non electronic materials that were simply swapped for a brand new replacement. Once the service is completed, your E-Class won't have to go in for another service unless something breaks or goes wrong.

BTW, here in Germany, we don't get "Service C" messages. Our E-Class tells us exactly what's wrong, aka the specific problem. I'd check with the Australian MB Website if they can define what Service C etc. is.

Thanks mate ! i was digging around mbworld.org and found a list http://www.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=92554.
So service C include changing the active coal filter as well, which is completely useless for us cause we have never used the air con. I wonder if the FSS is as useful as it seems because the mechanics just follow the car computer and replace all the things on the list, even though they dont' need replacing.

 

[cawimmer430]

Thanks mate ! i was digging around mbworld.org and found a list

Glad I was of some help.

My father felt the same way. Our car was nearly 2 years old when the computer told us to get the car serviced. They replaced a lot of materials for the A/C system - even though we also never used the active coal filter system much (too much fresh air here, no need to use it ).

 

[ree]

Thanks guys!!
No, I know what will happened next to our E-Class. We have driven 39.950 km now, and the display says Service B.
I have to agree with you! It is completely incomprehensible why they replace materials, which were never used before.
Nevertheless we had to replace the first brakes after 17.000 km...

 

[Monster]

I am just going to leave it til it has done the remaining 12100km. which will most likely take another 2 years or so.

I think MB are generating a healthy profit just from servicing, and most customers, who are less technically minded are willing to trust the car computer 100%, and pay for the unecessary service, and most MB owners are well off enough and not worry about the cost.

 

[Monster]

Thanks guys!!
No, I know what will happened next to our E-Class. We have driven 39.950 km now, and the display says Service B.
I have to agree with you! It is completely incomprehensible why they replace materials, which were never used before.
Nevertheless we had to replace the first brakes after 17.000 km...

wow , the front brakes or the rear? i have read a few owners were complaining that the rear disc wears out too quickly. something that was related to the SBC using the rear disc a lot more than other normal braking system

 

[ree]

I think, one of the problems is also that a lot of Mercedes Benz leased by companies and firms. And they want to have a running car without any technical or mechanical problems. So it is a check-up before sth. is going wrong...

 

[ree]

wow , the front brakes or the rear? i have read a few owners were complaining that the rear disc wears out too quickly. something that was related to the SBC using the rear disc a lot more than other normal braking system

Our car is MY 2006 and so it has the SBC brake system. In my opinion MB changed the front disc, but I don't really know it at the moment.
Fortunately, this was the only incident till now.

 

[Monster]

Ours was built Feb 05, so i guess it is a MY 2005. Everything works fine, accept for this one time when the car went into limp home mode for no reason. The problem went away after we retarded the car.

 

[JLBM]

I know there are a few w211 E-class owners in this forum, maybe you guys can help out

The service indicator poped up today, it says i have 4 more days before "service c" is due. So i went into the service menu, it says 4 days or 12 100km before service C is duel. I had a quick look through the list and it says i need service item 3,4,6,13 and 14. The car has only done 8000km even though it is almost 2 years old. Does it actually need a new dust filter, or a combination filter? What is a combination filter anyway?


I am surprised the service indicator showed up so soon after i took the car in for an engine oil+filter change a month ago. How come the FSS PLUS calculate the days as well as the mileage as well? I thought the mileage alone will be enough?

Here in South Africa you will compromise your warranty and maintenance plan if you ignore this warning, since parts will degrade over time regardless if you use the car or not. I wouldn't ignore the warning..

Cheers

 

[Monster]

hummmm good point JLBM, i guess i will have to ring the service department once again and ask them about this issue. How long can a normal air filter last anyway?

 

[PanterroR]

How long can a normal air filter last anyway?

Since it ain't expensive at all i change it on my car almost every 6-8 months...

 

[Monster]

Since it ain't expensive at all i change it on my car almost every 6-8 months...

Did you take it back to the dealers or you change it yourself? 6-8 months is very regular, do you notice any difference in engine response, performance or fuel economy after you change the filters?

 

[cawimmer430]

Damn, Ree.

What was wrong with the brakes?

Our 2002 E320 has been flawless, I am proud to report. In fact, when I heard all those reports of how unreliable the E-Class is etc., I couldn't relate because ours has been and still is reliable as hell.

 

[PanterroR]

I guess yours is one of the few...

Just kidding, man...

It's always so, by every brand, people complain about their cars and the others that own the same car, same year, same this or that say: My car works perfect, what are you talking about?...

 

[cawimmer430]

I guess yours is one of the few...

I think it is.

But then again, when I was working for the local MB dealer, there was a guy with an E220 CDI that was in the shop every week because the navigation system kept crapping out. On the W211, everything goes through the navigation system if you have it. It's like a circular line. If something breaks, then the flow of information etc. is broken and the system collapses.

Now, the technicians I was speaking to said all you had to do was change this particular part (don't know what it was, too technical) and the system will work fine. But the dealership managment according to them insisted that this not be done. So this guy with the problematic E220 CDI had to come in everytime something broke because the technicians were prohibited from exchanging some specific part. They complained that the "higher ups" had no idea about the problems and shouldn't make the decisions. In this case, the technicians should make the decisions. I agree of course.

Still, our E320 rocks.