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[jerry]

Just been speaking to the guy who does my car and he was telling me that his sister asked him to do a service on her merc (a softtop SLK). Anyway he thought he was going mad because he couldnt find the dipstick. Turns out they dont have one, you have to rely on the level that the onboard computer tells you. Must be getting old. Soon the complete engine will be in a box you cant access.Anyone else heard of this? Could be quite common for all I know, but surely youd want to physically check some things and not rely on the computer? maybe I'm just a ludite

[PhilRich]

Just been speaking to the guy who does my car and he was telling me that his sister asked him to do a service on her merc (a softtop SLK). Anyway he thought he was going mad because he couldnt find the dipstick. Turns out they dont have one, you have to rely on the level that the onboard computer tells you. Must be getting old. Soon the complete engine will be in a box you cant access.Anyone else heard of this? Could be quite common for all I know, but surely youd want to physically check some things and not rely on the computer? maybe I'm just a ludite

Well that's two of us then!

[Mysteryman]

I didn't like my astra not having a temperature gauge. By the time the warning light comes on, it's too late.

[Del Boy]

Same with the BMW always tells you when oil is needed, you get a dipstick symbol on the i-Drive and it's got min an max, with different digits. It's only the petrol cars that do this though on BMW and Mercedes, I'm pretty sure the Merc has a dipstick.

[joshwyatt]

Both petrol and diesel Merc E-Classes W212 series (2003 - 2009) don't have dipsticks. I had two 2004 one's, a E220 CDI estate and E240 saloon. And when I first got them I spent a good 30 mins looking at each trying to find the dipstick 
But, nope...it's all done by computer. It's all documented in the handbook, you press some buttons in a certain order (which I can't remember now) and it tells you how much extra to add to the max mark.
I do agree it is completely and utterly stupid, there is no way to look at the condition of the oil without simply dropping it. I believe Merc did that so it'd always be taken to a Merc main dealer for something as simple as an oil change.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Mercs have dipsticks, there sat behind the steering wheel

[feeutfo]

Mercs and beemers have dipsticks, there sat behind the steering wheel

...daw, beet me to it

[joshwyatt]

  I think you'd be a dipstick to pay Merc prices. You don't get a lot for your money on the used scene.
I sold an '04' E220 CDI for £7900. It had 102,000 miles and it was 'Classic' spec which is the bottom of the range. Was silver and had cloth trim, wood, dual zone climate control, single CD, trip comp, alloys, auto lights and wipers. Not much else really. No xenon's, parking sensors, auto dim mirror, self levelling suspension, no memory seats, sat nav, leather, heated seats.
It wasn't a bad car to drive, manual and RWD...but was just a lot of money for what you get...coupled with the servicing issues mentioned above.

[albitz]

Mercs have dipsticks, there sat behind the steering wheel

Oi ! I resemble that. ( got one that I cant get rid off )
Merc stopped putting dipsticks in their auto transmissions in the late 90,s. You can take them to a dealer, where they charge you for the use of their dipstick. Or you can buy a dipstick from them as an additional part for around £35.
I nicked one found one in the boot of my car one day after a trip to the scrappy.

[Del Boy]

I'll have to go and check the Merc later, I've checked the oil twice, I can't remember how though 

[Terbs]

Not quite same topic, but the mention of dipsticks reminded me of a time about 40 years ago, when one old boy that worked with me, made a special funnel in the sheet metal shop and was trying to put a pint of oil in the dipstick hole.
Had I not witnessed it with my own eyes I would never have believed anyone could be so thick 

[moggy]

Ive had a dipstick in evry car i have ever owned,my brother in law