German Car Zone

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?

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

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.

You're so right about that!

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

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.

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 ).

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...

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.

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