ChescoBenz

Hi all. I'm getting the Service B warnings and need to schedule a visit to service. Anyone had it done and could tell me what to expect? What will they do and how much can I expect it to cost? Thanks in advance!

fabbrisd1

1) Ask your dealer how much for Service B

2) Then ask your dealer your cost for the 30K/3-yr prepaid service pack.

Frankly, depending on how long/mileage you plan to keep your GL - especially that 30K pack will get you savings - since you would get 20/B-30/A-40/B at the same price as A-B-A... kind of a great thing for some actually..

luv2sleep

If you want to give your money away, take it to the dealership. Call the service department and they'll give you a price over the phone.

Service B is just like Service A, except they "check" more things. It's basically a glorified oil&filter change along with the cabin air filter change. It has been my experience that cabin air filters are good for much longer than 20k miles. It can be changed out easily; just do a google search. You can go online and find out how to reset the FSS also. Just my 2 cents.

fabbrisd1

Well... just so you know... I am not trying to "sell" anything here... but if you pay out-of-pocket for the 10K A - and going into 20K/B - and your intention is to keep your ML another 3 yrs - what I am pointing out the 30K/3-pack gets you 20B-30A-40K/B++ - so you get @ B's and 1 A) - and the 40K/B is actually a B++ - for the prepaid 3-pack price that would cover 10K/a-20KB-30KA - (2B's + 1 A) for prepiad price for (2A's + 1B).

For the many that choose dealer service - it's a interesting loophole in the prepaid service program that works to the owner's benefit..

Keep the beat !

francotse

Fabbrisd1, my GL450 will be soon due for its first 10K A.

My question is: How could I get the service pack for 2Bs + 1A?

1. Go to the dealership and do A, tell them I want to get the service pack when I come back to pick up my car?

2. Go to the dealership, ask for A and at the same time ask for service pack for 2Bs + 1A?

Please advise. Thank you very much.

JimBarnhart

I bought mine just before my second service. The key is pay for your A service independently, then buy the package to cover your 2nd, 3rd and 4th service.

fabbrisd1

Jim is right on point - pay the 10K/A - then if you plan to keep the MB 2nd/3rd/4th yr - or out past 40K - buy the 3 pack before 20K/B...

lower14

Is there a particular SKU number to ask for? I'm approaching 17k on my 2014 350 and definitely plan on keeping it for years to come.

fabbrisd1

For most dealers the prepaid service pack is sold/registered thru the Finance dept - the key thing with prepaid service pack is you must purchase BEFORE the service ticket is opened -when purcahsed it is added to your MB VMI vehcile record - that way when the Service Dept opens the ticket that service shows as under the Pre-Paid pack.

I am trying to express accurately - and actually it flows more smoothly than it sounds..

Recent example - I have a good customer out-of-area that bought a CPO S350 diesel with 33K miles - follwing my "tip" - he went into his local dealer for his 40K service and asked for a 40K service quote - before he opened a service ticket - his quote for his MB at that dealership was $2100 for the 40K... he asked the Service Advisor if he could buy a 30K service pack - adviser looked blanked and said yes - he asked for teh 30K service pak quote for his MB - Service Advisor went off and came back and said $1600.. he asked SA if the pre-paiud pack covered everthing - he just been quoted for 40K - SA reviewed and said yes - meaning no extra/added issues - he saved $500 for the 40K alone on his car, and looks forward to free 50K/60K on top of that ! B-A-B baby, covering his B++ at 40K and his 60K B++ as well. with A at 50K...

francotse

Found the terms on MBUSA saying this,
"Mercedes-Benz Premier Pre-Paid Maintenance allows you to lock in the costs of these required services before your first service visit or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.- So you'll have the convenience of paying for maintenance in advance."

If the prepaid maintenance required to be purchased before my first service visit or 10,000 miles, the only available 3-pack would be A-B-A, right?

fabbrisd1

Unfortunately - the brochure is not correct - I admit that is confusing - the practical matter is if you are planning to own your MB for over 40K miles - best "savings" at this moment is to pay 10K/A out-of-pocket - then before 20K service - buy 3-pack that will cover 20K+30K+40K.

Don"t "over buy" pre-paid service - since pre-paid service is not refundable and it not transferable to your next MB.

Keep the beat !

JoeMa

Thanks for the info.

audi40

current rates from my dealer for 20/30/40:

20K B service ( oil and filter change, top all fluids and reset of computers, replacement of cabin air filter, flush brake fluid) $479.20
30K A service (oil and filter change, top all fluids and reset of computers. $ 199.10 plus tax.
40K B service ( oil and filter change, top all fluids and reset of computers, replacement of cabin air filter, blush brake fluid, fuel filter replacement) $792.20

The DEF fluid is an additional $ 132.00 per service

2014gl550

I have a 2014 GL 550 19k miles

Dealer A:
20K service $663
30k service $250
40k service $1183

2yr pre paid plan $1550
3yr pre paid plan $1900

Dealer B:
B service base starts at $349
A service base starts at $99
waiting on pre paid quote

350gunner

Always add your own DEF. The price my dealer charges for that is insanity.

sakodik

I pay 99 for service A and 199 for service B. Indy shop owned by former Mercedes tech that refuses to cheat customers.

audi40

I do

luv2sleep

$199 for oil & filter change, check fluids, and reset FSS... That's highway robbery.
Cost me $57 (approx. $40 for 7.4 Qts. of Mobil1 0W-40 oil and $17 for oil filter) and 20 minutes of my time. A 5 Qt. jug of Mobil1 0W-40 costs around $26 at Walmart. Yes, it's 229.5 spec. approved. Resetting the FSS is a breeze.
If you invest in a fluid removing pump ($50 online), you can suck the oil out from the dip stick tube so you don't have to remove the drain plug from underneath. Most dealers use such a pump. The oil filter is on the top so it's easily accessible. If you can read, you can check the other fluids. I'd pay $99 at the most for someone else to do this simple job but that's just me.

cordoor

Are these sort of maintenance intervals required by MB and if so, how does the "box get checked" if you do them yourself or have an indy shop do them?

luv2sleep

Keep ALL of your receipts. Auto makers cannot void your warranty just because you don't have the dealership perform the required service. It's the law, at least in California.

cordoor

Ah, good point. In fact, here's more info on this:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/article...ne-maintenance

Your answer is correct: The auto manufacturer cannot void the warranty if you have routine maintenance performed elsewhere.

This is good to know, because those prices people are quoting here for routine maintenance are insane. Being that I personally drive BMW's (we are getting a new GL for my wife), I've never had to deal with this before since BMW includes all routine maintenance in the price of the car.

Silver0066

How do you reset the FSS?

sakodik

99 for service A YES, lots of money for so little. The service B I receive gets a little more attention. They don't only check and say replace that fix that. They DO it for me (I got charged for engine mount parts only). He trades me brand new batteries for my used one, recharges a/c, all the little things that adds up to 199. That keeps me as customer. Every 3 home oil change I go in for a shop visit.

Bottom line, don't ever go to dealership. I made that mistake for a year before realizing the fancy lobby and free coffee wasn't worth it.

Dreamszalone

Sorry to say but $99.00 sounds resonable to me where my dealer (Chicago) charges anything over $150-$199 for Service A yes that is expensive technically paying $100 for your free coffee but anyways $99.00 its a good deal and driving Mercedes (more than 70K truck) and think $100 is more humm

To do the math GL takes around 9 Quarts ($27 Inclusive of Tax) is the cost for 1 jug in Walmart so 2 is around $55.00 and then Oil filter roughly around $13 so you ended up paying anyway $70.00 and paying $30.00 to dealership or a guy who is making his living through this is not a bad deal its a win win situation for everyone. But anyways for some people $1 also makes a lot of difference. I am not here to offend anyone I know money does not grow on trees and you had to earn it by working hard, but when you already invested $70-100K and each fill up cost $100 (GAS) then spending another $30 is absolutely fine...I would rather pay the dealer\indy $30.00 and not drive my GL for 1 -2 day and keep it parked if I had to compensate the $30.00 loss.

Thanks

And about

skw

Shouldn't the 20k service also include the fuel filter? I'm referring specifically to the diesel models here. I've been doing the services on my own, changing the oil & filter, engine filters, cabin filters, wiper blades, ad blue fluid, brakes, etc. I took it in to have the dealer change the fuel filter and brake fluid. I'm considering the pre-paid maint on the next one, not sure yet. Have to sit down to see what I've spent to see if it's worth it.