Oil Change

[donaldej3733]

Question, a friend got her SmartCar today and the dealer said that the oil needs to be changes every 10,000 miles at a cost of $200.00 does anyone know if this is true?

[Turbo42]

depends on the dealer and yes some charge that much and change it before 10,000

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by donaldej3733

Question, a friend got her SmartCar today and the dealer said that the oil needs to be changes every 10,000 miles at a cost of $200.00 does anyone know if this is true?

Neither is necessarily true. It certainly should not go beyond 10k, but depending on use conditions, it may be half of that. The price to have a smart center change oil is all over the map, and $200 is excessive.

[Arch]

Well it's obviously true at her dealer, but the cost varies among them. Then again, not sure if another car exists with easier to change oil and filter. Ten minutes tops, and that's if you're one of those people who waits till the last drop drips. Or drip drops.

Arch

[saras]

the cost is probobly for the oil change and the schedule A service which is more than just the oil change

[RVGRINGO]

Just today, I stopped at an Auto Zone in Guadalajara to buy a little transfer pump to suck the oil out of my Smart Car when the time comes, in another 12,000 Km. You see, the 450 has the Mercedes engine, but it doesn't have a drain plug. Sometime later, when I pass the dealer, I'll stop in and buy the filters so that I'll have everything needed to do the 'A' service myself. It is well over the equivalent of $200 here and my two year warranty is finished. One can find out how to reset the car's computer by looking online.

[jwight]

RV, should you decide you'd rather drain the oil instead, here's a solution:

eBay Motors: MCC SMART Fortwo Car Oil Pan C/W Magnet. Oil Drain Plug (item 320320205914 end time Nov-30-08 12:32:23 PST)

[RVGRINGO]

Gracias, amigo.

[Dr.Custom]

I love my Smart, but why did they have to make it so hard to change the oil? I read somewhere that one of the reasons the Smart car is Smart is a skilled mechanic can take the engine out in a few hours. Yet it takes over an hour to change the oil? Something doesn't add up. Sorry for my stupidity about the Smart engine. I really don't know much about it, but I bet Toyota's iQ doesn't have that nonsense...or at least I hope they don't so Smart can get their act together and put an easy access drain plus and filter in the next engine. I didn't know about this prior to getting my Smart. I typically change my oil in my vehicles every 3k miles, which I know is too often but if I really like a vehicle I will keep it for life. I can't say I'm finding this generation of Smart to be a keeper. I just think they have too many improvements to make...and keep in mind I've bought two and going on three of these Smarts, so I'm not hating, just wish simple stuff remained simple, like an oil change. I hate how German cars make you take off a huge engine cover, but that seems like cake compared to the Smart.

[jefferios]

Dr Custom, changing the oil on the new 451 is super easy. I know 2 smart owners that have changed it themselves!