BIGjohnny

just had my second service completed at 26,000 something miles. advisor said it was pointless to do service B simply because it's just the same as service A. he stated that Mercedes dealership added service B making us think it's a major tune up when it really isn't. so basically Mercedes is making more money without doing any addtional work. so with that said, service A was done consecutively on my car twice. maybe you guys can take that into consideration when getting an oil change from mercedes

MB-BOB

Please check your Service Log Book that came with your car. It clearly delineates the differences between Service A and Service B. On Service B, you receive a tire rotation, new wiper blades, and a few other things NOT covered in Service A (that I will not tell you about, purposely to prompt you to visit your trunk for the Log Book and read up yourself.) It's not much, but it is different.

Your service advisor is a lazy lier. You should go back to the dealer and ask the management if they really expect owners to accept what incompetent service advisors tell them when they can read the paperwork that came with the car and learn differently.

BIGjohnny

forgot to mention that this advisor is a long time friend, have known him for approximately 8 years. he stated that Mercedes dealership, one he works for at Penske in West Covina does not replace wipers, or air filter unless requested for an additional fee, also with a staggered set up cannot rotate the wheels, and so forth. plus, remember that the advisors make their money by commission not hourly (service A is cheaper than service B). i would beleive his statement.

skahung

then this should be reported to MB of America....thats a BS practice by that dealer

mick1

but if he's wrong, your car will have problems later on.

i think most buyers would have a problem buying a used mercedes with more than 20k miles that only has service "A"s done, since the service history follows the car.

JohnCL

WRONG!!

A-Service — First visit at approximately 10,000 miles or 1 year, but determined by Flexible Service System; then every 20,000 miles or 2 years.

Services performed:

Interior

1. · Function check
2. · Check warning and indicator lamps, illumination and interior lighting
3. · Check windshield wiper, windshield washer system, headlamp cleaning system
4. · Reset maintenance service counter in instrument cluster

Wheels, brakes

1. · Check front brake pads for lining thickness
2. · Check tires for damage, condition
3. · Correct tire inflation pressure

Engine compartment

1. · Change engine oil and filter
2. · Fluid level checks of the following:
1. · Engine cooling system, antifreeze and corrosion protection
2. · Windshield washer system
3. · Brake system
3. · Check and correct battery fluid level
4. · Check battery condition
5. · Check catch, safety catch and hinges on engine hood for proper operation

Trunk

1. · Correct tire inflation pressure in spare tire
2. · Check battery condition


B-Service — First visit at approximately 20,000 miles or one year after previous service, but determined by Flexible Service System; then every 20,000 miles or 2 years.

Services performed:

Interior

1. · Function check
2. · Check warning and indicator lamps, illumination and interior lighting
3. · Check windshield wiper, windshield washer system, headlamp cleaning system
4. · Reset maintenance service counter in instrument cluster
5. · Replace dust filter (not applicable to SL-Class)
6. · Replace combination filter (SL-Class)
7. · Check parking brake (function test only)

Wheels, brakes

1. · Check condition/thickness of front and rear brake discs
2. · Check front and rear brake pads for lining thickness
3. · Check tires for damage and condition
4. · Measure tread depth, record in mm
5. · Correct tire inflation pressure

Underside of Vehicle

1. · Check for major components leakage
2. · Check for chafe marks, line routing, damaged components
3. · Check condition of front axle ball joints and rubber boots
4. · Check condition of mechanical steering components and rubber boots

Engine Compartment

1. · Check for major components leakage
2. · Check for chafe marks, line routing, damaged components
3. · Check and replenish all fluid levels
4. · Change engine oil and filter
5. · Check engine cooling system, antifreeze and corrosion protection
6. · Check brake system
7. · Check power steering
8. · Check Active Body Control
9. · Check windshield washer system
10. · Check and correct battery fluid level
11. · Check battery condition
12. · Check catch, safety catch and hinges on engine hood for proper operation
13. · Check condition of poly V-belt

Trunk

1. · Check battery condition
2. · Correct tire inflation pressure in spare tire

If they are not doing this it is time to report the dealer and find a new one.

BIGjohnny

i highly doubt they're doing all that work. i'm not sure about in your area, but i've been to this dealership numerous times... and they receive many cars each day for services. if they were to do all those things that are listed, they never get anything done.

BabyBenz6spd

So......my car is 55miles left from hitting the 26,000 mark, but my FFS says another 3500miles before service B (In the owners manual it says a service should be done at 26,000miles)........What do I do? Wait for the FFS or go do the service at 26,000 mile?

BIGjohnny

also, i found something that was very awkward... just 6 weeks ago i had my front brake pads change from another autoshop. so far it has 3,000 miles on them. after getting my service completed, Mercedes claim i have 20 percent brake pads left on my front?!??! also, my appointment was 8 am... received my car back within 20 minutes! even with service A that i had done, i doubt it would take 20 minutes for them to complete that entire list. i know Mercedes has always cheated everyone on the service A and B, but not by this far. Friend (advisor) warned me and say that if you plan on keeping the car for a very long time, just do service A or you're just giving them extra cash. i'd be thinking about it twice when going back to the dealership for another service. that's only my opinion

JohnCL

Wait for the FSS, as most dealers that I have talked to won't do it unless it is within like 1500 miles.

BabyBenz6spd

Thanks :p

CM208

Please notice the word "REPLACE" and "CHECK"! There are a lot of "CHECK" list on Service B but both service REPLACE the same thing. So I would assume they both pretty much the same. just my 2 cents! don't flame me!

JohnCL

Of course there is alot of "check" items. How do we know if there is a problem if we don't "check" it? They are not the same thing, I would think that is fairly obvious. In the service B the car also comes off the ground for major component checking.

MB-BOB

I suppose the difference is if you are paying for the service (with a 2005 model) or requesting service B on a previous model (under your full 4-year Mtce program, included with the car).

If you bought your car in 2004 or earlier, you should go with (insist on) the full A and B program, as you are entitled to it. As someone else already observed, the log book goes with the car, and I would not buy a used MB without all the log paperwork completed correctly.

Dealers unfortuantely vary in how they interpret their "requirements." I drive only 10,000 per year, and even though my FSS says 2K miles remain, my dealer has always provided the oilchange at 10K, or one year, whichever came first. I'm on my third set of wipers (changed without my request) and I've not paid a penny, yet.

I guess some MB dealers act like MB dealers, while others act like Ford dealers. Too bad.

Saprissa

sounds like a shady dealership.... 3,000 miles on brake pads, and they tell you, that there's only 20% left ! Hmmmmm.....

20 minutes for a Service A.
I would not take my car to that dealership ever again.

skahung

word....

you sure you drove into a MB service center or you were @ Midas???