I owned a repair shop for over 10 years. Before that, I owned 9 trucks and trailer that were over the road for 13 years. So you can take the following advice for what you may think it is worth.

First, the mechanic that is "trained" on the Crossfire has not "worked" on that many---they only made about 73,000 or so---trained is one thing; doing the work is another. Find a good shop that knows MBs. You will be "happier" with them in the long run---that I will promise you.

Second, the Chrysler dealership was going to put the wrong coolant in my car. I caught them and stopped them, but you may not know---and they are the "dealer", but they do not know this car.

Third, when I had my shop, I would tell my customers---The fluid is ALWAYS cheaper than the part it is in---engine oil is cheaper than an engine---transmission fluid is cheaper than a transmission, etc. People change the engine oil like clock-work, and that is why you rarely hear of engine oil failure, but they all but never change the other fluids that go just as far---blows my mind.

Some may disagree, but I would change all the fluids. I just moved up from my 2004 that had 58k on her to a 2005 SRT. It had only 917 miles when I bought it---917. The first thing I did was to change the oil, trans, brake, power steering fluid, and the coolant. Waste? Maybe, but all have been in the car since the factory built it, and AGAIN---the fluid is CHEAPER than the parts that it is in. I call it insurance.

And remember this---there is no such thing as "catch-up maintenance"; it's called repairs, and I made money on them too. So, if you have the money and plan on keeping this great little car---does it make sense to buy the cheaper fluid now? That's the question. It's like eating at McDonald's; it does not kill you right away, and you may think that you are "getting" away with it, but when the triple by-pass comes.....Same with what you are asking. Do the maintenance plus some to keep the car in top shape.

As for the plugs---well, the engineer that built the car "thinks" so---go from there. The reason is all the cold starts that has the car in "open loop" which means more fuel used. This can lead to carbon build-up. That's why they put the time limit. The battery suggestion is "dead" on---if it is the factory original---change it.

I would also change the fuel filter and air filters if they have not been changed in the last year. Also, BEFORE changing the fuel filter put in a can of "Seafoam" for the fuel injectors and combustion camber cleaning---that stuff is great. Here in TN it's $7.77 and worth 10 times that.

Jimmy