What You Should Always Keep In Check
Maintenancing any vehicle is a hassle, especially when you have to keep up with so many moving parts. That’s why most people find a trusted auto repair shop they enjoy and stick with it. Having those records sorted and in order is crucial to making sure your Mercedes receives all of the love and care it needs. Sometimes, life doesn’t always work out like that, though. However, a regular maintenance schedule that ticks all of the necessary boxes is crucial to the lifespan of your Mercedes. So, below are the top four things you should always have looked at when maintenancing your Mercedes, and how often you should get that particular part of your vehicle maintained.
OIL CHANGES
This one is a no-brainer, but it’s at the top of the list for a reason. This is single-handedly the one thing that will increase, or decrease, the life of your Mercedes. If not kept up, it can shave months–or even years–off the life of your vehicle. The oil that runs through your vehicle is its life force. It’s the blood of your Mercedes, and if it’s not kept clean, then multiple things can go wrong. Think about all of the systems underneath the hood of your car that are touched with that oil. If that oil is old, or contaminated in some way, your engine won’t be the only system that suffers. So, every 10,000 miles, your Mercedes needs an oil change.
BATTERY LIFE AND CONNECTIONS
Stay on top of how much juice your car battery has. No one likes to be stranded with a dead battery, but running on a strained battery in the first place comes with its own consequences. Corrosion build-up can be caused by a number of issues, but the problem it presents is that it keeps your Mercedes from starting up safely and correctly. If there is something impeding the connection to your car battery, then you’re faced with an even bigger issue at hand. Whether you take it to a professional to have it cleaned, or whether you clean it yourself, make sure the battery posts are not only cleaned well, but dried well. A faulty battery connection impacts not only how your car starts up, but how smoothly it drives on the road. Whenever you get your oil changed, make sure to have your ASE-certified technician run a test on the life of your battery. If necessary, they are able to clean off corrosion build-up safely and effortlessly before helping you dive into why the corrosion is building up in the first place. So, every 10,000 miles, make sure you have your battery looked at, simply as a precaution.
BRAKE PADS
This goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: if your brake pads are worn down, replace them. In most Mercedes-Benz manuals, it states to have your brake pads changed every 50,000 miles. However, depending on how much you travel and what kind of condition the roads you travel are in, they may need to be switched out sooner. Stay on top of your brake pads. Make sure they get changed when necessary. Why? Because if you drive on worn-down brake pads for too long, it can start to warp other things–such as the brake discs–which are expensive to repair. Do your wallet and your sanity a favor and have your brake pads checked every 25,000 miles, just to be on the safe side. And while you’re at it, have your technician take a look at the tread on your Mercedes’ tires. They say that you need your tires replaced every 6 years, but it never hurts to stay ahead of the curve. Especially if you use your vehicle for work purposes and drive it often.
STAY ON TOP OF YOUR DRIVE BELTS
If the term “drive belt” comes with a blank expression and a dozen question marks popping up above your head, fear not. The important thing to understand about this component of your Mercedes is that it impacts many major systems. From your steering pump all the way down to your air conditioning compressor, your drive belt deals with everything necessary to generate power throughout your vehicle. Mercedes insists on replacing it every 40,000 miles after a thorough inspection of your car has been done, and we’d recommend the same. Staying on top of your drive belt’s health will keep you far away from costly repairs that can come from driving on a damaged belt while also extending the life of everything the belt touches.
A maintenance schedule for a Mercedes requires punctual tune-ups, oil changes, and staying on top of small repairs as they pop up. But, if you’re struggling to find a reputable auto repair shop that can handle that kind of rigorous maintenance schedule, then look no further. We here at Eurofed Automotive have a staff full of ASE-certified expert technicians ready to give the love to your Mercedes that it requires. Give us a call anytime at or stop in to see us at any of our 13 locations! We have auto repair shops scattered across Georgia in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Buckhead, Decatur, Duluth, and Snellville, along with locations in Austin, Texas; Charlotte, NC; and Jacksonville, FL. Come see why so many cities have welcomed us home amongst their citizens.
