First attempt to Change oil Filter

DiNZi said:
I've just booked the family car in for a full service, will cost around £250. All the best with this, if I had the knowledge I'd be giving it a go as well.
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I recently got the car serviced at the dealer aswell. Need it for warranty purposes which is depressing since they charged £370 (got a 20% discount to bring that down)

Oil Filters were separate though and they wanted £120+vat for it. I'd rather spend £50 on parts and buy tools with the extra and have a bash myself :)
 
GeForce said:
Do you mind me asking what is included in that service?

Oil and filter changing is something anyone can do, especially with the help of internet forums :) Once you've done it once and know what you're doing, it's a very easy way to save money on running a car*.

* Unless you have very good reason to have it serviced at a dealer, e.g., warranty, etc.
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Dear Customer,

Thank you very much for your email to us with regards to a service price. I have run the vehicle through our online service system and it is showing that an A-Service is now needed. The price for that is £232.86, we also need to replace the Brake Fluid which is £93.60, Air Filter which is £67.44 and the Fuel filter which is £134.40. All totalled coming to £528.30 or £578.30 if you require a loan car or a collection and delivery service. Below is a full list of the work carried out on the A-Service.

Service reception protocol for service on vehicle - The service scope is only completely performed when all acceptance items and the maintenance items listed in the service sheet have been fully processed (To be performed by the service advisor) AP00.20-P-0009Z
Carry out brake test on test stand - Enter results in the table AP42.00-P-4290BA
Conduct additional operation “Top up with AdBlue”
Yes
No
Conduct additional operation “Replace dust filter” (MODEL 205) AP00.20-P-0047U
Yes
No
Conduct additional operation "Factory inspection work on driving aids" AP00.20-P-0047U
Yes
No
Fill up/replace perfume atomizers flacon
Yes
No


Interior
After confirming service in ASSYST/ASSYST PLUS make sure instrument cluster message changes to next service 15,500 miles (for AMG variants please check FIS guide within ESS) - For vehicles on Fixed Interval Servicing (FIS) Only SI18.00-P-0011A
Check warning and function indicator lamps in instrument cluster AP54.30-P-5449U
Check horn for proper operation
Read out map data status from navigation system, check update - Card data status: AP82.85-P-8249U
Read out maintenance data from instrument cluster, note and reset service indicator. AP00.20-P-0049U


Wheels
Check tyres for damage and crack formation, measure tread depth and enter in end table AP40.10-P-4051EW
Check condition and tread depth of tyres AP40.10-P-4052B
Assess condition of brake linings AP42.10-P-4248U
Assess condition of brake disks AP42.10-P-4249U


Underside
Check condition of vehicle underside AP60.00-P-6049U


Exterior
Check condition of vehicle exterior AP60.00-P-6048U
Check condition of windshield AP67.10-P-6750A
Check condition of wiper blades AP82.30-P-8253G


Engine
Air/water duct: Check water drain for passage - Record findings below AP82.35-P-8232A
Air/water duct condition: Blocked (If blocked clean soiled water drain subject to a separate repair invoice)
Air/water duct condition: Clear
Brake system - Inspect fluid level AP42.10-P-4210CW
Check coolant level AP20.30-P-2049U.

If you would like for us to go ahead and arrange your service booking please don’t hesitate to let us know.

I look forward to your reply.

Kind Regards,

Ben Van Aalst
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The garage will do a 50 point assessment and use the Mercedes schedule/checklist as above. Replace any worn wiper blades, clean the brake disks, replace filters, top up the oils ect..

I plan on getting myself a smaller car in a month or two, maybe a VW Golf MK6 and will definitely look into servicing it myself such as filters/oils.
 
Some good how-to videos on youtube.

ericthecarguy
chrisfix
scottykilmer (he's a bit reckless at times, but has good tips etc..)
 
DiNZi said:
The garage will do a 50 point assessment and use the Mercedes schedule/checklist as above. Replace any worn wiper blades, clean the brake disks, replace filters, top up the oils ect..

I plan on getting myself a smaller car in a month or two, maybe a VW Golf MK6 and will definitely look into servicing it myself such as filters/oils.
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Looks like the only things that are changed are: oil & filter, air filter, pollen filter, fuel filter.

You'll save yourself a lot of money doing those yourself, and they're all very easy :)

Did these for about £50 on mine last week (although admittedly mine is a 13 year old Peugeot rather than a posh new German motor) :D
 
GeForce said:
Looks like the only things that are changed are: oil & filter, air filter, pollen filter, fuel filter.

You'll save yourself a lot of money doing those yourself, and they're all very easy :)

Did these for about £50 on mine last week (although admittedly mine is a 13 year old Peugeot rather than a posh new German motor) :D
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On this occasion my back is against the wall, it's about a month overdue a service and the dash is popping up with a few notifications so best get it done asap.

I'm all for getting my hands dirty and doing the job properly to my own preference and will look into it for sure in the future.
 
DiNZi said:
Dear Customer,

Thank you very much for your email to us with regards to a service price. I have run the vehicle through our online service system and it is showing that an A-Service is now needed. The price for that is £232.86, we also need to replace the Brake Fluid which is £93.60, Air Filter which is £67.44 and the Fuel filter which is £134.40. All totalled coming to £528.30 or £578.30 if you require a loan car or a collection and delivery service. Below is a full list of the work carried out on the A-Service.
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WAT
 
Mercedes no longer replace wiper blades for free on the services, thieves. They do a value service for those with cars over 7 years old for £119 which isn't too bad though.
 
Mercedes prices, robbery, never for a moment did I intend to get it done with them. I just wanted the schedule/checklist and rough idea on pricing from themselves.

I will be using this place http://www.advanced-autos.com/ recommended by a friend, they have told me £200+VAT, they will be using mann parts/filters which I'm told is what Mercedes use themselves. All booked up for Friday morning, should have it back when I'm finished at work.

A bit of a silly question, but after the work is done and I've brought it home, is it easy to check if they have changed everything? Spotting the filters and stuff? If I look at the right place, it's a 2010 Mercedes C-Class W204.
 
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Well parts are ordered. £80 down which would probably pay for the oil filter to be changed at a garage but at least I end up owning some axle stands (got ratchet style ones which seemed like a better invested for not a lot more cash).

Depressing how much oil costs!
 
TBH the first thing I would suggest is buying a Haynes Workshop Manual.

These are invaluable for first time DIY servicing attempts.

And as you get more experienced/confident you can use it to attempt larger jobs as well.
 
Sadly there are none available for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. I do have one for the MX5 and it was my first thought to look for one.

Sounds like everything is an online resource called Elearn available only to the Fiat group.
 
Don't laugh, but I think when I've passed and got myself a car in the next couple of months I'll be considering doing a course like this one http://www.cwc.ac.uk/Courses/Pages/TVD.aspx. I work in IT, if I've got a server/pc I'd want it to run to the best of it's ability, same goes for a car I'm investing £4-5k into, these days any small problem you bring it to a garage and they do the work and it's overpriced parts and labor.

Interesting article here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/road-safety/9025655/DIY-vehicle-maintenance.html
 
When I used to do oil changes in the student days.

Oil filter removal - tap screw driver through the filter with a hammer and rotate filter off.
Replacement filter - primed with oil and screwed on tightly by hand.
 
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Also a good point about priming the filter (just pour some oil into it).

One warning though. Once you get the hang of it there is a whole world of exciting tools and toolboxes to spend money on :D
 
Priming the filter is great if the filter fits onto the block with the opening upwards. Mine doesn't, so priming it is impossible :(

Also good point about tools and toolboxes :D
 
Also that only works if it's the metal can type oil filter that just screws on.

On some cars like mine and assuming the OP's from the page he linked to, it's a paper style cartridge filter where you unscrew a large cap (mine needed a 27mm socket to remove) and then the cartridge filter sits in a chamber in there.
 
delta0 said:
Oil filter removal - tap screw driver through the filter with a hammer and rotate filter off.
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I had to do with on my bike recently, the claw wrench I use for the car wouldn't fit as the exhaust gets in the way. I wouldn't recommend the screwdriver method though because if you tear the filter to bits and it's still stuck on you'll be pretty fluffed.
 
I had the service done today at the garage recommended by a friend, pretty naff garage, won't be using them again. They didn't change the Fuel Filter as apparently it costs £90, but if I get one they will change it free labor. On my £240 invoice, I have the following things changed/performed below.

full service and check over, oil filter, 5w/30 oil, air filter, pollen filter, brake cleaner, engine flush, fuel conditioner, all lights and levels, full check over, tyre pressures, clear service indicator.

I will definitely be looking into servicing the vehicle next time. It's just a matter of knowing which parts and which oils to go for. If only there was a small page/video for this would make it easier.
 
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