The main goal of the development was to comply with environmental regulations and reduce the amount of disposal, and without compromising the safety and reliability of the car.
So, for example, the idle speed does not require checking, there is no need to change the oil in the gearbox, or to check the wear of clutch parts. There is no need to check the oil level in manual and automatic transmissions and the rear axle, since oil is not consumed in these units. It is enough just to visually check for oil leaks from these nodes. The air filter element must be replaced only after 90,000 km or every four years. There is no need to adjust the parking brake thanks to the installed automatic brake cable equalizer.
The maintenance plan below may seem too long and laborious to you at first. After one or two checks, you will realize that most of the points of the plan are carried out by simple operations. Make a copy of the plan so that you can cross off completed items. At the top of the plan is a list of activities under the heading «Regular check». These works should be carried out regularly by each driver. In addition, their implementation does not take much time.
Warranty Limitations
For a new car that has been in operation for less than one year, as well as for a new engine installed as a replacement, the manufacturer requires compliance with the terms for maintenance at a specialized Mercedes station. Otherwise, claims during the warranty period may be rejected. In addition, the four-year Mercedes mileage warranty will only be valid if all the work specified in the service book is completed in a timely manner.
HHT Vehicle Electronic Equipment Tester
HNT tester (Hand-Held-Tester) allows you to quickly and accurately detect and check faults in electronic systems. The E-class model has a large number of such systems with the ability to diagnose - from ABS to climate control. The controller of each system is connected to the diagnostic connector located in the engine compartment. With the help of the device at the service station, diagnostics can be carried out when malfunctions are detected, during repairs, when the car is handed over to the owner or during test drives. By pressing the button, the test program is activated, which is stored in the replaceable test module. Malfunctions of an electronic system detected during the express check can then be analyzed in detail during detailed diagnostic checks. The cause of the fault is shown on the instrument display.
From the controllers of electronic systems, those malfunctions that arose during operation, but by the time of the check at the maintenance station, do not appear outwardly, can also be read. Thus, it is possible to obtain information about hidden defects. The memory also stores the operating mode of the engine or vehicle when a particular malfunction was recorded. If the fault occurs repeatedly, the electronic devices record the technical data of the first and last occurrence, and also take into account the frequency of repetition.
The controllers are equipped with emergency programs that allow the system to operate even if, for example, one sensor fails. Some of these electronic systems function so smoothly that the driver may not even notice the occurrence of a malfunction.
Maintenance plan
Regular check
- Pour fluid into the windshield washer reservoir.
- Check windshield wiper and washer.
- Check engine oil level.
- Check the coolant level and top up if necessary.
- Check the power steering fluid level.
- Check tire pressure.
- Check brakes.
- Check brake fluid level.
- Check position, low and high beams.
- Check reverse lights and rear fog lights.
- Check brake and turn signals.
- Check alarm.
- Check sound signal.
- Check appliances.
Maintenance every 15,000 km or annually
- Check the correct position of the wiper in the idle state, as well as its operation.
- Check the operation of electrical appliances, switches, displays and other controls.
- Lubricate door lock parts.
- Check the electrolyte level in the battery and top up with distilled water if necessary.
- Check the tightness of the cooling system.
- Check the cleanliness of the radiator reservoir and drain hole and clean if necessary.
- Change engine oil and oil filter.
- Check the tightness of the engine lubrication system.
- Check the exhaust system for leaks and damage.
- Check the condition of the shock absorbers.
- Check tire condition.
- Check brakes.
- Check the operation of the parking brake.
- Check the brake system for leaks and damage.
- Check brake booster.
- Check the thickness of the brake pads.
- Check the condition of the brake discs.
- Check the electrolyte level in the battery, clean the terminals.
- Check battery charge.
- Check the operation of the heating/ventilation system.
Additional maintenance every 30,000 km or every 2 years
- Replacing spark plugs (release models before 03.1997).
- Check the condition of the accessory drive belts.
- Carry out an external check of the injection system.
- Check the tightness of the fuel supply system.
- Check the condition of the exhaust system.
- External check of the hydraulic clutch.
- Check for oil leaks from the manual transmission.
- Check the oil level in the automatic transmission.
- Check the oil level in the rear axle.
- Check the cuffs of the rear axle shafts.
- Check the clearance control system.
- Check the condition of the cuffs and the play of the tie rod ends.
- Check the condition of the anthers and the play of the ball bearings.
- Check wheel bearing play.
- Adjust front wheel bearing clearance.
- Check steering wheel play.
- Check the tightness of the power steering.
- Check the condition of the steering rack seals.
- Replace the filter for cleaning the air entering the passenger compartment.
- Check the condition of the lower crankcase protection. Have it repaired at a workshop if necessary.
Additional maintenance every 60,000 km
- Replace spark plugs (models with 4-cylinder engines from 03.1997).
- Change the fluid in an automatic transmission (production models before 03.1997, except for AKP 722.6 (from 06.1995 to 03.1996).
- Clean the air filter and replace the cartridge.
- Replace fuel filter.
- Replace fuel pre-filter.
- Check clutch parts for wear.
- Change brake fluid.
- Clean and lubricate sunroof guides.
MOT every 80,000 km
- Replace air filter
- Replace the gasoline engine fuel filter and the diesel engine fuel pre-filter.
Maintenance every 120,000 km or every 4 years
- Change the fluid in the cooling system.
- Check fuel tank ventilation
- Check the oil level in the gearbox.