I've got an '07 C230SS, still under factory warranty at 30,250 miles. I also purchased an extended warranty when I purchased the car. It's time for a service A... is there any good reason to not just do it myself and keep receipts of the oil/filter?

I did a search and I know what else is inspected for the service, and I found how the 'service due in xx days' display is reset.

If I can save myself from the huge price tag and the whole paper filter deal, then it's definately worth it. I can make my own coffee, lol.

 

i did it myself for 180, that includes K&N filters, mobil 1, oem oil filter and cabin filter. other then that all they do is inspect wear parts and lubricate things.

 

I would say do it yourself. The only issue you have is possibly missing something that a tech would notice on inspection. If that peace of mind is not worth the difference (and I honestly don't think it is), then you've just saved about 200 clams.

 

Is there any risk of being denied a warranty claim for something engine related if I do this myself?

 

I'm also interested in this topic.
Service A due in ~25days...

Peace of Mind VS Saving Money

Damn...

Two quotes that've been resonating in my head recently:

"You get what you pay for."

and

"You don't stop paying for your Mercedes when you leave the dealer."

vs.

 

Save your receipts, oil etc.

I can be worth it if it's your 1st time taking the to a dealer, they will very likely find other warranty stuff and do it for free while you're in the for the oil change.
Just don't let 'em sell you stuff you don't need, like rear brakes.
If you never take your car to the dealer, well you'll never get any free
stuff under warranty.

Don't you have ANY complaints to take to them? Nothing is to small...
a creak? Check for leaks? A smell?

 

There is a small problem that I am going to take it in for, but I'd rather take it in for free and do my own $86 oil change than take it in for $200 and let them do it. I have taken it in a couple of times before as well, but they always give me the good old "cannot duplicate problem" routine.

 

In my experience it was worth spending a few hundred extra dollars on oil changes at the dealer while the car was still under warranty. As others have mentioned, with the inspections and your own checking, you can generally get your money back (and probably more) in terms of items/service done under warranty. Also, if something big does happen while under warranty, you know they can't claim it was something that should have been caught with regular dealer oil changes and inspections (regardless of how many receipts you may have).

Plus, you're building trust and a relationship with a service advisor. Maybe my dealership experience has been unique, but I have a good relationship with an SA that I trust because I have consistently taken my car to him. If you're a complete DIY'er that can handle pretty much anything that would come up regarding the car, then that aspect might not mean much to you.

 

i dont know about you guys but 90% of the time my dealers are idiots... from my cars to my family's car (benz, bmw, hondas, porsche), it never fails. I do my research before going in, narrow down the problem, take it in and it takes them a day to confirm what i said after saying that i was wrong. The only person i ever trust at any dealership is the Honda SA, i trust him because i went to high school with him and he does everything he can for me and my family, but even he said his tech are total dumbass most of the time.

 

well i am way out of warranty know and i still think i would take my car in to the dealer to do even service a. i have changed the oil in my c class and it wasn’t bad at all but as stated here before you need to have a good relationship with your sa. like today i walked in to the Mercedes dealership to ask about the xenon=present setting. i talked to my sa who said that he would need to ask the shop foreman he took me into the service bay area and introduced me to the foreman who told me to go get my car and drive it into a bay and he then helped me for at least 30 minutes for free. he also told me about two stored codes. so sometimes it is nice to have a good sa who knows you very well and wants to help. on a side note the star computer was hooked up to a sl65 black series before my car so do you think that it might have leaked some hp to my car. lol so until you are out of warranty i would find every little problem you can and then have the dealer fix it when it is in for service. and even when they give you back the car with the cannot replicate just keep taking it back. oh one more thing if you sa knows that you are a good customer even when you are out of warranty they might goodwill stuff so in the long run it could save you a lot of money i know it saved me about 1000 dollars.

 

If you need an oil filter and oil wrench I am selling them.

 

How about Service B? Isn't this the same as Service A? Oil, Oil FIlter and Cabin filter?

 

A & B is the same thing.. more things the "check", but required parts to change are the same, oil, oil fiter, cabin filter. I dont think there is anything major until 100k i think, well for me that is when i would do the fuel filter and alot of underhood maintance.

 

This is my main concern. I don't want saving $100 to come back and bite me if something major occures.

I already bought the oil and filter. I don't really trust the dealer to use the fleece filter after seeing the thread about the PN superceeding. I wonder if I can just supply the oil and filter and they can deduct that from the price...

I need to just talk to my SA and ask about their policy on me doing my own service and then having warranty claims.

 

From what I know, the cabin filter is on Service B only.

Also, don't forget to top off your battery - I do that on all of my B's. Unless later batteries are sealed, which I'm not sure of (never thought I'd have to worry about water in the battery again ).

 

If you take it in under the auspices of an A service, then likely whatever they find they'll fixed for free, since it includes the inspections etc. You could also pull the trick of just asking for an oil change and not an A service. And then ask them to give it a look over for warranty issues. Most dealers will have a field day with that request, since they can bill the mothership for $$$$$$$$$.

If you take it in for just the complaint, they'll likely charge you a diagnostic fee + if they can't duplicate the problem, the cost of their time.

Just this once, so close to the end of the warranty, don't be penny wise and pound foolish.

Let 'em have at it. And if you haven't had the tranny flushed, you may want to have them do it, if you have a 7 speed. It's gonna cost a few bucks, but nothing compared to the damage of
not flushing the tranny.

 

They've never charged a diagnostic fee before, and I have complained about the same thing and they just said they couldn't duplicate it and charged me nothing.

I'll ask about the trans flush, but isn't that a lifetime fluid?

Good advice on the "oil change" versus "service A". I'll give that a shot and see what they say.

 

Supposedly, I changed mine for good measure.

 

Lifetime fill?? Oh Lo-rdey!
OK, lets not open that can of worms here.
Thats been discussed to death.
"The lifetime fill" was a bunch of BS only told to people with 5 speed trannies who were given free service back in the day, and apparently only on the US. It's not true. The fluid gives out long before the tranny itself.

With the 7 speed, I believe it's recommended every 35 or 40K miles.
And it's pretty much not possible to do yourself correctly, no dipstick,
it's filled from underneath will special fittings etc.
It's gonna cost ya, but the other option well, don't even go there.

 

Anyone know how much a transmission flush would cost at the dealer?

still got 10,000 left but curious.

Thanks

I'm also taking my car in Monday for a transmission problem. Hopefully they will change the fluid??
If they get to taking transmission apart.

 

I just got my W203 back tonight from an oil and brake fluid change. I finally decided I am not paying for an A service. They replaced oil and filter for $100 even parts and labor. Very fair. The filter is about $24 and you should get it from the dealer since it is a special MB filter, also would make it harder for them to deny a warranty claim if you use the proper parts.

One other thing: light bulbs are fully covered under the 4yr/50K new car warranty. Do not let the dealer charge you for light bulbs!!! My car is now under the extended warranty and they charged me for $35 labor +$3 bulb to replace a side marker light which I did not ask for nor did I authorize its replacement. I told them I would not pay that portion and they removed the charge.

 

I had my transmission flushed on my last A service at 37k. cost was $414.58. a service was 283 because i opted for wiper blade replacement as they were streaky. They also took care of a squeak issue i had and replaced my cup holder for the second time because i complained of the chrome strip peeling. Getting close to end of warranty so i bring it in for the mini gripes for them to fix while it is still free.


Kenny Slater
2007 Black/black C230WZ

 

wow 415 dollars for transmission flush? I should start saving now then

Thanks

 

But I mean what kind of problem can you really get yourself into?

There was a "sticky" here and a member showed how he pumped out the oil and replaced the filter then added the new Mobil0-40 oil.

I'm not a car expert but what can really go wrong?

Pump out oil
Open cap and remove old oil filter
Replace new oil filter screw on cap
Fill with new oil. amount = amount removed (I read different amounts from 7.5 removed to 8.5 removed)

 

nothing can go wrong if your not an idiot (sorry for people that have messed it up )
i've notice that alot of people with german cars or higher end cars are scared about things they should not be, saying that its not a honda. Well tell me the differenc between removing a bolt on a honda oil pan and removing a bolt on a mercedes oil pan? anyone?
do it yourself, learn something, and save some money.