Service scams, beware...
Almost a Member!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Germany - 4mo left :(
2007 C280 4matic
I'm scared to come home my service here in germany has been great. The two dealers that will be close to me is in Jacksonville Fl or Albany GA both about 1.5hr away. does anyone live near there and have dealt with a dealer in either town if so how was it?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 1
From: stix of florida
Honda Grom
The jax dealer is called brumos, if I remember correctly. Members here haven't been very happy with them. Duval is located in Gainesville (formerly Kraft), but I don't know if the change in ownership changed anything in their service dept. I drive down to MB of Orlando and they have always treated me fine. I get a loaner and I pick up my car the following day. Might be worth it for you to make that drive......... it's not like you have to take your car in for service frequently anyways... HTH.
Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
03 w203
A bit 
here....
When do the dealerships cover the service A and B? Do you have to be on extended warraty? I did notice alot of you guys posting up prices for these own 05s.
Can someone confirm that the 05 warranties are different from the 03s?
here....When do the dealerships cover the service A and B? Do you have to be on extended warraty? I did notice alot of you guys posting up prices for these own 05s.
Can someone confirm that the 05 warranties are different from the 03s?
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Lilburn Ga.30047
2002 Mercedes Benz
How do you reset the service mile on the dash.when you change the oil.
this is excatly the reason i do my own services on the car, because i know that I CHANGED the oil and filters. Plus when I used to take my other car to the dealer, they always seem to find something that I might need.
I only go to dealers for warranty work, service department will not get a dime out of me.
And id there is something I really need a professional mechanic to do, then I go to an independent that I know.
I only go to dealers for warranty work, service department will not get a dime out of me.
And id there is something I really need a professional mechanic to do, then I go to an independent that I know.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Northern CA
'02 C230 Sport Coupe
You just press and hold the trip reset button on the dash for 4 seconds while displaying the "service due in" screen. Press and hold it another 4 seconds when it asks you to do it again. It's in the owner's manual if yours isn't the same.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,498
Likes: 4
From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
First of all, you have to differentiate between SERVICE Agreement
and Warranty.
Two completely different things.
Up to 2004, SERVICE A & B are FREE for 4 years / 50,000 miles (whichever comes first). Granted WARRANTY is also for the same amount of time, however, SERVICES do not = WARRANTY.
WARRANTY work is anything wrong with the car that requires repairs or service beyond SERVICE A or B.
In 2005, Mercedes-Benz in its infinite wisdom got rid of its FREE Service A & B options, losing tons of potential MB owners to BMW which still offers FREE Service and even includes other goodies like brakes, alignments, +.
Bad MBUSA, Bad ! 
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: North Jersey
2007 C230 Sport manual
I asked my Dealer at MB Manhattan about that back in 2005. He said they did not feel that it would make that much difference to most of their customers and that most people where not fooled anyway, seeing that it is just a matter of how the car is priced.
I was never really convinced of that and I wonder if they will change it. I think we will have to wait and see of the W204 is priced so it can be compared with the latest 3 Series. From what I can tell so far, the w204 should be a better deal than the 3 series, even without the Service paid for. At least that is what I am hoping.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,020
Likes: 0
From: SoCal, Irvine
Stage 2 C7 A6, QX60
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
none
Another great scam is the maintenace levels.
Example would:
Owners manual states change of oil at 5k intervals and inspect a few items.
But the dealerships 5k service is oil,oil filter, air filter, and fuel cleaner.
When I owned a Honda I would have to directly ask for EACH single item that the owners manual stated.
Saving me countless amounts of money. The scamerships like to add in extra crap for alot of $$$.
Oil- Many/Most VW dealerships have destoyed new 2004+ TDI engines by using the wrong oil. So its good if your car requires a special oil to ask for the empty jugs to be placed in a bag inside the car. This also helps to prove that they actually changed the oil and not just a waterhose spray and close the hood.
Its all about $$$$$.
Example would:
Owners manual states change of oil at 5k intervals and inspect a few items.
But the dealerships 5k service is oil,oil filter, air filter, and fuel cleaner.
When I owned a Honda I would have to directly ask for EACH single item that the owners manual stated.
Saving me countless amounts of money. The scamerships like to add in extra crap for alot of $$$.Oil- Many/Most VW dealerships have destoyed new 2004+ TDI engines by using the wrong oil. So its good if your car requires a special oil to ask for the empty jugs to be placed in a bag inside the car. This also helps to prove that they actually changed the oil and not just a waterhose spray and close the hood.
Its all about $$$$$.
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, B.C
2007 C280 Avantgarde
mmmm, I agree...
When I had my old C240, I got it in to service every single time. And when my warranty expired, they kept changing my brakepads, and once I got pissed off, I ended up telling them to take it back off and replace it with my old brakepads.
They ended up putting a screws in my tire.... :| And it was one of the screws that are meant for cars, not like regular screws
When I had my old C240, I got it in to service every single time. And when my warranty expired, they kept changing my brakepads, and once I got pissed off, I ended up telling them to take it back off and replace it with my old brakepads.
They ended up putting a screws in my tire.... :| And it was one of the screws that are meant for cars, not like regular screws
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
none
I think alot of them are informally trained on how NOT TO honor warrenty work.
Support your independant mechanics. Just look around and you'll find some really great Non-dealerships mechanics.
Support your independant mechanics. Just look around and you'll find some really great Non-dealerships mechanics.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: So. Cal
1985 380 SL 2001 SL 500 2007 E350 Sport 2008 T & C Ltd.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,268
Likes: 172
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Buell,
I'm surprised they would try this on you.
I think, they tend to try this stuff, if they think they can get away with it.
But if know something about cars, and you ask good questions, they back down a little.
I've had them replace all kinds of **** under warranty I never asked for,
and caught them in lies, and said no thanks, I can fix that myself.
I'm surprised they would try this on you.
I think, they tend to try this stuff, if they think they can get away with it.
But if know something about cars, and you ask good questions, they back down a little.
I've had them replace all kinds of **** under warranty I never asked for,
and caught them in lies, and said no thanks, I can fix that myself.
