Merc returns to fixed service intervals

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Mercedes seeks to make service history simpler
Cars' unique computerised system abandoned
New intervals set to 15,000 miles or one year

Latest News

Mercedes is abandoning its variable service intervals, in a surprise return to fixed maintenance schedules, What Car? has learned.

Currently, every Mercedes has a computerised system to calculate when each car needs a trip to the dealer. Depending on urban usage, driving style and even the temperature, drivers can stretch service intervals to up to 25,000 miles.

However, from October Mercedes will revert back to fixed intervals on every model, apart from the A- and B-Class, and high-performance AMG variants.

Mike Belk, managing director of customer services, told What Car? that the intervals would be set to around 15,000 miles or every year.

He said the change would make it simpler to check if a car had been serviced properly by checking its history. It would also make it easier for fleet and private motorists to plan their maintenance schedules, Belk added.