For a petrol E280 or conventional E350 W211/S211, plan servicing around the oil-and-filter change, inspections, and the recorded renewal of air filters, cabin filter and six spark plugs. The inspected Mercedes handbook gives both named models an 8.0-litre oil-change reference including the filter. Check the complete service reminder and additional work when comparing quotations.
Coverage: conventional petrol E280 W211 saloon / S211 estate with M272.943 3.0-litre V6 (170 kW / 231 hp), and E350 with M272.964 3.5-litre V6 (200 kW / 272 hp). CGI, 4MATIC and diesel versions are outside this guide’s combined application.
E280 / E350 petrol service checklist
| Item | What to check or request |
|---|---|
| Engine oil and oil filter | The 2008 handbook lists 8.0 litres including the filter and MB 229.3 / 229.5 for the named petrol models. MANN lists HU 718/5 x. |
| Engine air filtration | MANN lists C 3698/3-2 for the covered E280 and E350 applications. Check the full supplied reference and contents. |
| Cabin ventilation | MANN lists FP 3172/1 for right-hand drive; CU 3172/1 is its particulate-filter entry in the shared W/S211 catalogue. |
| Spark plugs | NGK UK lists six PLKR7A plugs, stock 4288, for M272.943 and M272.964. |
| Brake fluid | Check the dated replacement record and matching service information, rather than assuming a basic package includes renewal. |
| Coolant | The inspected handbook specifies renewal by 15 years or 250,000 km at the latest, recorded in the Service Booklet. |
| Transmission and condition work | Establish gearbox maintenance history and separate the work due from repairs found during inspection. |
These items help you review the history and quotation. They are not a requirement to replace every component at every service.
W211 service letters: read the correct system
The inspected 2008 W211 handbook describes letters A to H as the workshop time required, from a shorter to a longer service. That is a useful distinction from later Mercedes descriptions of A as minor and B as major.
Give the garage the complete displayed message, mileage and previous invoices. If its price list uses A/B packages, ask it to match the actual operations due on your W211. Our service-code guide explains why different code systems should not be mixed. The general Service A and Service B explainers provide wider context.
ASSYST PLUS reports time or distance to the next service. The handbook says battery-disconnected periods are not counted, so retain the due date and elapsed-time history if storing the car.
UK service costs: advertised package examples
Checked on 24 October 2026:
| Provider and advertised scope | A package | B package |
|---|---|---|
| Simon Light, Ware: engines over 2400cc; labour, genuine Mercedes parts and VAT included | £250 | £350 |
| MB&B, Cheltenham: E-Class group; VAT included | From £200 | From £330 |
These are published group/package prices, not individual E280/E350 quotations. Both providers explain that age, mileage or additional prescribed work can increase the bill. The advertised letters do not establish your car’s full maintenance scope.
Ask for separate prices for the basic visit, plugs or filters due, brake fluid, transmission work and repairs. Check VAT, the oil product and the service-record entry. Comparing itemised work makes the quotations more useful than comparing headline package names alone.
Six plugs, not the older E320’s twelve
NGK’s UK catalogue lists six PLKR7A plugs for the covered M272 engines. The older M112 E320 has a separate twelve-plug application. That makes the engine identity a practical quotation check: “E-Class petrol V6” does not settle the plug count.
Use our E280 / E350 filter and spark-plug guide for the exact references and buying checks. Confirm when the correct plugs were last renewed and whether replacement is included in the proposed visit.
Coolant history and owner-supplied parts
These cars are old enough for the handbook’s coolant age limit to matter. Look for a documented renewal rather than a top-up entry, and retain the date and mileage. A service history made up only of oil changes leaves this question unanswered.
The E280 / E350 oil guide explains the eight-litre reference and a named approved oil option. Agree owner-supplied parts with the workshop before buying; its package may already include them. Keep the full oil name, approval, filter and plug references with the invoice, then have the reminder confirmed after the necessary maintenance is complete.
Browse the Mercedes maintenance hub and our Mercedes diagnostic scanner guides for other models and separate fault-investigation questions.
Sources
- Mercedes handbook, printed pages 243–244 — A–H letters and ASSYST PLUS; printed pages 386–388 — oil tables and coolant.
- NGK UK catalogue, printed page 47 / PDF 49 — exact M272 engines, PLKR7A and six plugs.
- MANN catalogue, printed pages 215–216 / PDF 271–272 — W/S211 filter applications.
- Simon Light prices and MB&B price guide — advertised UK packages and inclusions.
Checked 24 October 2026. The Mercedes-hosted English handbook used here is the February 2008 W211 edition, document 6515 3416 02. It includes saloon and estate information, although the URL says saloon. Its introductory notice specifies German-market applicability; match the references to your car’s supplied documents. Manufacturer catalogue dates are application ranges, not UK registration cut-offs. Contact Unusual Cars with corrections.
