2020 Mercedes E Class Service A includes an oil check.

[alpaco45]

reetings, everybody.

Seeking guidance, please. I own a 2020 Mercedes E Class Saloon (e220) diesel type. Last Friday, I brought my car to the major Mercedes dealer for a Service A. After returning home after the servicing, I inspected the oil level on the instrument cluster and found it to be quite low. Mercedes informed me that the oil level I described is correct, since it will increase as the vehicle warms up. After driving around 60 miles on Saturday, I inspected the oil level and it remained low.

Mercedes claims there are no issues and that the situation is typical, although my invoice indicates that 6 litres of oil should have been added. I have sent an image of the instrument's reading.

Is this accurate given that my vehicle was serviced on Friday? Where should the reading be when the engine is cold and warm?

I would much appreciate any suggestions. Mercedes has informed me that they would replenish my oil at my residence tomorrow. I am concerned about how I can verify that they have really added the 6 litres for which they have billed me.

Any advice on this would be much welcomed as it seems like a mistake made by the dealer where they emptied the oil but did not fully tilt it up.

Please refer to the accompanying image showing the current oil reading.

Thank you in advance.

[alpaco45]

[DSM10000]

If the gauge indicates a level below the minimum mark, I suggest adding 0.5 litres first and then rechecking the level after the engine has been running for 15 minutes.

[alpaco45]

Thank you, DSM10000. On Saturday, we drove for 40 minutes, and after checking, the level remained same.

[DSM10000]

Please arrange for MB to come and top it up.

[alpaco45]

Any suggestions on the appropriate amount for the top-up depending on the present levels?

[Matt865]

Some owners report to authorised dealers that their oil level is not at the maximum mark; it should be at the midpoint between the minimum and maximum levels five minutes after the engine has been turned off, with the engine oil at operating temperature.

Your snapshot indicates that the level is below the minimum, which is unacceptable, particularly after a 60-mile journey. When was the most recent time you inspected it prior to the service? I am inquiring about the possibility of a sensor malfunction.

When adding more, do it gradually and check the level again to prevent overfilling, since it is easier to add than to remove. Avoid adding more than 250 ml or 500 ml at a time until you confirm the sensor is working.

[alpaco45]

Thank you for providing this information. I verified it around one month before to the service, and the bar consistently displayed a green colour. This is the lowest level I have ever seen. Is fixing a sensor problem costly?

[Matt865]

Regrettably, I am unaware of the potential expense. It is likely that the container was not filled to the proper level after servicing, particularly if there was a greater level recorded a month earlier. It is advisable to add modest amounts of liquid to ensure that you do not exceed the recommended capacity.

[BEERMAN]

1. The oil level should be below the maximum mark when cold since oil expands when heated, and the minimum and maximum markings indicate levels for hot engine oil, not cold. Dealers often replenish the engine oil up to the minimum level while cold to avoid engine damage from overfilling, particularly in Diesel engines.

2. In this situation, it seems that the dealer was too cautious in avoiding overfilling, since BD said that most dealers often fill it up to halfway between the minimum and maximum levels while the engine is cold. Return the vehicle to the dealer and demand they add additional oil, or you may do it yourself.

Dealers consistently bill for the whole quantity of oil specified for the engine, irrespective of the actual amount of oil used. I confronted them about it once, but they were quite dismissive. It's frustrating since they clearly profit from billing for engine oil they never provided.

[Matt865]

This also applies to time. Main dealers charge based on "book" time, which is the duration Mercedes specifies for completing a work, rather than the actual time taken.

[BEERMAN]

Years ago, a friend's father, who owned a car dealership, shared a story about a customer who wanted a job done quickly. The father offered to complete the work in half the originally quoted time, but at the manufacturer's book time rate. The customer agreed, and the job was completed promptly, with the customer paying the full amount....

[Matt865]

Approximately twenty years ago, I had the spark plugs changed by a Vauxhall main dealer on a Saturday morning. The technician was assisting me directly due to the absence of service advisers, resulting in a very peaceful atmosphere.

The technician recommended that I observe in the workshop if I choose to do so. From the moment he opened the hood to the moment he closed it, it took 10 minutes, despite speaking. However, the standard time shown in the book and invoice was 60 minutes.