greasykid

Will soon have to have 1st 1 year service. Have read maintenance book .
My dealer charges approx $300 for Recommended A service. Will be getting price for Required A service soon. How much difference have you found in the cost difference between the 2 services? I do all the usual checks myself that are included in the Recommended. Also tire, wiper,etc. maintenance.

ddeliber

Service A is just an oil change and a bunch of visual checks. A complete gouge at $300. If you ask the dealers around here for just an oil change they quote $90, and they do the checks anyway. Some might not reset the maintenance reminder, but that takes about 2 minutes with a couple clicks of the steering wheel buttons.

Six_Speed

My dealer quoted $130 when I inquired about an oil change so I just changed it myself instead. I also reset the service reminder. I purchased the oil and filter from the dealer for about $70. Although I did purchase a fluid extractor and an oil filter wrench to do the job ... another $100 but that's only a one time cost.

Mbenz260e

I paid $220 all in for the service A required on my diesel. Oil change would be about $120. I didn't feel too bad with the $220, given the cabin air filter and the "checks".

ddeliber

I am pretty sure you don't get a cabin air filter with service A, but you do get ADBlue fill for you diesel which would be an extra on top of the oil change.

hyperion667

this is where I go for all my needs, top notch!

http://www.cwperformance.com/

Mbenz260e

Yes now that you mention it you are correct. Will have to go back and check my records. Not sure why I remember discussing the cabin air filter with the service adviser...

BenzE350

If you are leasing make sure you reset the service indicator or MBFS will try to charge you $300 at lease end for a missed service.

Arrie

I drive the V8 engine that takes 9 quarts of oil. I take my car to the dealer for all the services recommended in the book, i.e. every 10 000 miles. In addition to this i change the oil in between myself at every 5000 miles. I buy 9 quarts of Mobil 0W-40 oil and the cheap $8 pump and suck the old oil out thru the dip stick tube. I don't replace the oil filter, just the oil.This way i know for sure my engine gets the right kind of oil at least every 10 000 miles.

This may sound weird but i have noticed my engine burns some oil always after oil change at the dealer but never after i change it myself. Wonder what oil they put in it...

As long as the car is under warranty i recommend doing what the MB recommends at a MB dealer shop. You will save pennies when you fish for cheaper options and then can be left with questions if it was done right and for sure will face questions if something goes wrong during warranty.

You drive a MB E350. Why are you worried about $300 service anyway???

Six_Speed

My dealer uses Mobil1 5W-50 Formula M; I buy it at the parts department for $6/quart ... it's a better deal than the 0W-40 at Walmart.

paulkchoi

Flex A service = overpriced oil change. I recently paid $95 for the A service at an independent shop run by 2 ex-BMW techs that only work on MB's and BMW's. The car was completed in 35 minutes. The time savings alone was worth it, I know the dealer would have taken way longer. In 3 years when the car is out of warranty, the relationship I am building with the owners of this shop now may help if and when I need repairs later.

greasykid

How long have you been using them? Have you ever had a warranty issue with MB after using CWP?

hyperion667

been going there since 2010, and no, no issues that have come up, cars have been great!
only problem I had was with an E63 last year-non related to CWP

BenzE350

Your question is amusing. I live in a million dollar house but I don't overpay to have my lawn mowed.

hyperion667

i'LL BET YOU HATE PROPERY TAX

skromfols

I couldn't agree more. Just because I can afford something doesn't mean that I'm willing to overpay.

Mbenz260e

Ditto. People sometimes assume people who can afford to overpay enjoy overpaying?

greasykid

Today I called 3 different MB dealers and asked for cost on required or recommended A and B services. Nobody knew what I was talking about! When I carefully explained that there 2 ways of doing both the A and B services as outlined in the owners Maintenance book nobody had a clue. Furthermore no one was interested to get a manual and find out. One service adviser hung up on me.

Is this something new? The Maintenance book is very clear on the requirements and what the difference is between the two. What is going on here? Apparently the service departments don't know what MB is telling car buyers. And doesn't seem to care.

Finally a call to a fourth dealer said that they would research this and call me back. We'll see what happens.

hyperion667

which one hung up on you? lol, sorry, but that's lame!
unbelievable nobody knows the answer to your question!
where is your primary dealer again? don't remember where you live...
just for giggles, try calling CWP and ask them the same questions...

goodluck sir

BM2BZ

i don't care if they don't know the differences between the two or not. main thing is they need to tell you the price of at least one or the one that they know. all i can say is don't go to those three dealers that you called, especially the one hung up on you. rate them on yelp if you want.

El Cid

My understanding is that MB came up with the Recommended and Required levels because of so many people complaining about the costs of service. It was to give the owners an option.
I think many dealers may not be aware of it because probably very few people know there is a difference, much less ask for the Required only.
The vast majority of MB owners who use dealers for service probably just take it in and say "service it."
I have a pre-paid maintenance and the dealer does both even though the plan actually only covers the Required. Probably easier and more cost effective for him than trying to coordinate techs doing different levels of "A", "B", etc. services.