Few brands have managed to combine performance and luxury as seamlessly as Mercedes-Benz has. High-performance engines, leather-clad interiors, and technological innovations are now the standard for Mercs across the board, with older models still feeling modern, especially when compared to rivals in the space. Picking up a Benz, whether new or used, as your next vehicle is now more appealing than ever. However, finding the right Benz mechanic is the real secret to prolonging your Merc’s life and enjoying it for years to come.

Why Choose A Mercedes-Benz Mechanic 

There is no doubt that Mercedes-Benz are special cars, but working on them can be tricky, especially when i it comes to AMG models, with large angry V8s regularly shoehorned into small chassis, it takes a special kind of person to choose these vehicles to specialize in. A Mercedes specialist will also have the right tools. Metric sockets, torx bits, dealer-level diagnostic computers, and of course, following the trend among automakers, an array of Mercedes-Specific tools to ensure the job is done to the Stuttgart Standard.

Vehicle Familiarity

On the early Biturbo v12 cars, like the legendary C215 CL65 AMG, would develop severe oil leaks that could only be repaired by replacing an O-ring that would require the heads to be removed.

Mechanics familiar with the platform began replacing this O-ring alongside other service items, such as the timing chain service or when replacing head gaskets.

Removing an engine is not a cheap activity, so keeping with a mechanic who is familiar with Mercs​​​​​​ allows them to recommend multiple tasks be done when the engine is out, reducing the number of times the engine must get pulled and inevitably saving you money in the long run.

Preventative Maintenance

Sticking with the story of the O-ring, one of the biggest things that kills these German tanks is when service items go undone. As parts fail, they tend to have a cascading effect, impacting other components of the car, and leading to expensive repair bills that usually spell the end of these cars.

Preventative maintenance catches parts that might fail before they fail and puts measures in place to prevent your Mercedes from breaking down.

Important Maintenance Items

These are the 5 essential maintenance tasks that you should be on your Mercedes Benz maintenance check-list to ensure you prolong its life.

1) Fluid Change and Flush

The first thing most people think of when we mention a fluid change is oil. While an oil change is the ​​​​​​most frequently changed fluid in your Mercedes, there are plenty of other fluids that need to be ​​​​​​inspected, flushed, and replaced at regular intervals.

Coolant, transmission fluids, brake fluid, and differential fluids all break down over time, become ​​​​​​contaminated, and slowly become less effective, which requires them to be replaced. Your owner’s ​​​​​​manual is the best place to find how often you should change your fluids. However, if your Benz has over 100,000 miles on the clock, your mechanic may recommend more frequent changes

2) Brake Inspection

While replacing brake fluid makes up a portion of a brake service, it is recommended that you have your Merc’s braking system inspected as part of your routine maintenance. During the inspection, a ​​​​​​technician will ensure that there is sufficient brake fluid in the reservoir, that there are no leaks, inspect ​​​​​​the brake disk face for uneven wear and make sure there is enough brake compound left on the pad.

Finally, the parking brake will be adjusted to ensure it is still within spec. ​​​​​​Having your braking system inspected allows for repairs to be done before a life-threatening failure ​​​​​​occurs.

3) Tire Inspection and Rotation

Tires and brakes go hand in hand when discussing safety. A sound braking system without the right ​​​​​​rubber to grip the road is much less effective. It’s smart to have your tires inspected and rotated regularly, as an inspection will find damage or uneven wear that might affect the tire’s performance and adversely impact your safety Regular rotation ensures that your tires wear evenly without requiring you to change your driving ​​​​​​habits, extending your tire’s life span.

4) Belts, Chains and Hose Inspections

Another important piece of rubber to keep an eye are belts and hoses. Depending on the manufacturer your engine may use a timing belt or a timing chain, which connects the camshaft to the crankshaft and ensures that the engine keeps in time. Should your timing belt or chain stretch, it can skip a tooth on the timing gears, leading to the engine running out of time, resulting in poor performance, a no-start condition, and catastrophic engine failure in interference engines.

Most manufacturers recommend you replace the timing belt every 60,000 miles or five years; however, your mechanic might recommend early replacement if cracking is present. The same process is followed with hoses. Constant exposure to heat causes them to crack, leading to leaks and overheating issues.

5) Battery and Alternator Inspection

One of the worst experiences of car ownership is jumping in your car and having it not start because of a dead battery. While you can always jump-start a dead battery, it’s best to try to avoid this situation.

Batteries are consumable items and degrade over time, losing the maximum amount of voltage they ​​​​​​can store. Similarly, alternators are a moving part that can fail with age, either undercharging the ​​​​​​battery, or overvolting the battery, which both cause damage.