And You Wonder Why They Call Them Stealerships...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: SF East Bay
"Double Stuff" SOLD | Nor*Cals "Pesky Audi"
And You Wonder Why They Call Them Stealerships...
So my Service A is coming up probably next month or so. I needed to call around to the nearest MB dealership to get a qoute. I also was reffered by my parents who have a '77 450 SL to call an independant mechanic, as his service was rated as "excellent".
Knowing that both figures would be different, I still wanted to find out just exactly how much different they were.
Mind you, both of them were asked what the Service A entailed and gave nearly identical answers.
Mercedes Of Pleasanton Qoute:
$405-415 for parts and labor
Independant Mechanic Qoute [literally down the street from stealership]:
$120+/- for parts and labor
what and the hell man!? are you kidding me!? three and a half times more for the SAME service! and fof what!? oiy. theres my rant. also, ill let ya know how the services goes with [obvious] the independant mechanic. if any are interested, pm me for mechanic location/number.
Knowing that both figures would be different, I still wanted to find out just exactly how much different they were.
Mind you, both of them were asked what the Service A entailed and gave nearly identical answers.
Mercedes Of Pleasanton Qoute:
$405-415 for parts and labor
Independant Mechanic Qoute [literally down the street from stealership]:
$120+/- for parts and labor
what and the hell man!? are you kidding me!? three and a half times more for the SAME service! and fof what!? oiy. theres my rant. also, ill let ya know how the services goes with [obvious] the independant mechanic. if any are interested, pm me for mechanic location/number.
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
2006 E55 and 2002 E320
Well, I did warn you that the maintenance would be a killer.
I wouldn't bother with Stead of Walnut Creek, they're usually more expensive.
For a Service A, that's rather expensive. If I remember correctly, a Service A is around $300ish, not $400.
I wouldn't bother with Stead of Walnut Creek, they're usually more expensive.
For a Service A, that's rather expensive. If I remember correctly, a Service A is around $300ish, not $400.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: SF East Bay
"Double Stuff" SOLD | Nor*Cals "Pesky Audi"
The $120 doesnt bother me at all, even if it was $225, it still wouldn't. but the DRASTIC difference between independant mechanic and a dealership is disgusting. for the same damn thing.
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From: Oregon
2005 C55, 1988 260E, 2000 Chevrolet Silverado
There just isn't that much for service on these cars. Only oil and filters, and check fluids. My Porsche still has caps and rotors and all of the above so $400.00 would be a steal. But not these cars. $120.00 is about right.
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From: Tampa, FL
'14 CLA 45
Check in your manual what exactly they do for the A-Service. All the interior stuff you can check yourself. Some exterior stuff too. Insist on staying with your car when you bring it there. Show a presence to the mechanic and most likely your bill will turn out to be much less. They charge you ~90 dollars an hour for them to walk around the car, turn on and off every light in your car, apply the "hand"break etc. Tell them you dont want ANY parts replaced without your approval. Just you watching your car and their service gives them the creeps.
Its going to be somewhat a PITA, but well worth $150+ to annoy that stealership
Its going to be somewhat a PITA, but well worth $150+ to annoy that stealership
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Service A at MB of LN cost me $139 last time. Of course they told me I needed another $3K worth of stuff done but they did do it for $139. Oil change only (which is the only thing changed in service A) is $89. The rest is checks (brakes, fluids, etc). It's difficult to check the tranny fluid, you'll need to buy a service dipstick.
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From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
yes stealerships, you should read up on a thread I wrote "recent frustrationg with the 163" in the W163 thread.
dealers said i need to replace front/rear rotors/pads and I need a brake flush.
they said that I have less than 20% left of rotors and pads.
but the funny thing is that, I have just replaced them...recently. VERY recent.
dealers said i need to replace front/rear rotors/pads and I need a brake flush.
they said that I have less than 20% left of rotors and pads.
but the funny thing is that, I have just replaced them...recently. VERY recent.
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From: NJ
'08 E550 4Matic
yes stealerships, you should read up on a thread I wrote "recent frustrationg with the 163" in the W163 thread.
dealers said i need to replace front/rear rotors/pads and I need a brake flush.
they said that I have less than 20% left of rotors and pads.
but the funny thing is that, I have just replaced them...recently. VERY recent.
dealers said i need to replace front/rear rotors/pads and I need a brake flush.
they said that I have less than 20% left of rotors and pads.
but the funny thing is that, I have just replaced them...recently. VERY recent.
----
As for service A. Why not do it yourself. Its basically an oil change and fluid check.
Last edited by C24owner; Feb 6, 2007 at 08:32 PM.
Super Member
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From: Markham, Canada
C320 Coupe
to be honest, the mechanics in stealership are no where near expert. Most of them are even apprentice, and they usually don't have a clue on how to fix the car. I am not paying for so much for some apprentice to touch my car and i have to pay an expert price, no thx.
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
And also its a big labor rate difference. Most if not all MB dealers are over $100/hour now. I know my local MB dealer is $115/hour labor. Most indepdendent specialists charge much less, usually $60-$70/hour, depending on what they want to charge.
Plus the dealers "check this and check that" taking an hour to do so, etc.
Plus the dealers "check this and check that" taking an hour to do so, etc.
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Service A at MB of LN cost me $139 last time. Of course they told me I needed another $3K worth of stuff done but they did do it for $139. Oil change only (which is the only thing changed in service A) is $89. The rest is checks (brakes, fluids, etc). It's difficult to check the tranny fluid, you'll need to buy a service dipstick.
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‘23 EQS AMG
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
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From: Honolulu
MB C320
Back from Service A
I just the car back from Service A, first time out of warranty. The dealer charged $250. The total bill was $900, as they replaced the battery and rear brake pads. They also repaired a couple of things under warranty (my extended warranty?), and some things from a service bulletin, without charge. All in all I'm reasonably satisfied. If I had taken it to an independent shop the things they charged for would probably have been less, but they would not have done the things under warrenty and SB. And then I had a loaner. So, not unreasonable.
By the way, the loaner was a C230, and I was very impressed. In some sense I prefered it to my 03 C320. It was quiter and had a taughter ride, more solid and firmer. The only thing better with my C320 is more low-end acceleration. But the C230 was much better than the previous loaners I had, C240 and C230Kompressor. I assume the loaner I had was the V6 C230, as it did not have 'kompressor' in the badge, right?
By the way, the loaner was a C230, and I was very impressed. In some sense I prefered it to my 03 C320. It was quiter and had a taughter ride, more solid and firmer. The only thing better with my C320 is more low-end acceleration. But the C230 was much better than the previous loaners I had, C240 and C230Kompressor. I assume the loaner I had was the V6 C230, as it did not have 'kompressor' in the badge, right?
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From: San Jose, Bay Area
2002 C230 coupe , NOt THE AVATAR!!
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