MBnewby

Hey guys,

I'm fast approaching my next B service at around 35K miles and I'm wondering if I really need to pay $450 for a glorified oil change?

I bought my C350 with 22K miles and the dealership gave me the service record of the work performed right before I bought my car, which was a B service plus a few extras. They did oil change, full inspection, air filters changed, and cabin filter changed.

Now do I really need all of that done again just 13K miles later or can I go with just an oil change? If I only do have an oil change will that void my warranty? I've read my manual and know what B service includes but am I ok to save a few bucks this time and get the full service next time?

justthinking

35K miles should be service A, not service B...

MBnewby

By the manual it should be a service A, however, my maint. reminder display is saying B2 service in 15 days, which seems incorrect especially since the dealer did a Service B at 22K miles

This is a head scratcher...do you think the dealership failed to reset the maint. reminder correctly? There's no way I should have two back to back B services...and a B2 at that?

Should I just tell them to go with an A service then and have them correct the maint. reminder system so it won't have such an error again? Is there any reason for back to back B services?...

charliele729

It is definitely incorrect. Have them reset it to the correct service letter on the next service. Just remember that on the 09+ vehicles, service is only required at every 10k miles.

justthinking

10k or 13k miles?? my 08 has 13k miles service interval, did MBUSA changed that from 09 on?? If so, I wonder why...

charliele729

They did change it in 09 vehicles. I always though it was 12k then went down to 10k. Maybe they though 13k was just pushing it or could be a simple way of of helping the MB service dept. making more money. I though once a year or every 10k would be pushing it already, then found out that MB uses nothing but synthetic oil as OEM oil, so yes they can do 10k easily.

RLE

By Federal law, you can do all your own service work if it's backed up by records with no effect on the warranty. Changing your own oil, all filters plus brake pads will save a fortune if you have a place to do it. The rest of these inspections are just fluff.

jkoehn

Does any one know what the A0 service consists of?

Matt230K

MB now requires a transmission fluid and filter change at 39K miles, so if you are concerned about warranty coverage, you should do that soon. If you have a transmission problem, it will not be in your favor if you didn't do the service.

E92-Lighting

indy shops are the best for the buck, just find a local shop

Spec_Davis

my Service A light just came up at 22K i am just going in for an oil change that is all and get my service light reset

MBnewby

Me too, an indy shop here in KC quoted me $125 for the oil change that includes a multi-point inspection. The dealership wants at least $250 for service A which is basically the same thing...

mattmancustoms

The 05-08 mb vehicles are on a 13k mile service interval. the 09 and ups are on a 10k mile service interval. if you are at 35k miles, you are close to a 39k svc.

MBnewby

Ok so I got my oil changed at an indy shop over the weekend and they didn't reset my service indicator...after I basically had a standard A service. I have figured out how to do this thanks to youtube, however, now my next service indicator is incorrect.

Remember that my service indicator was stating B2, however, that was done in 8/2009 by the dealership so I was actually due for A service. I went into the system and entered "full service complete" or something to that affect. Now it says that service A is due in 13K miles...when it should be a B service next. The system thinks that I had a B2 service just completed.

Is there a way to go back into the system and change something so it reads correctly for the next service? I want this service system reminder to be set correctly permanently. It must not be too easy if the dealership set it incorrectly after they did a B service in 8/2009.

Also for those of you over 39K miles did you get a seperate reminder message saying that the car was due for trans. flush at that time. This appears to be a seperate service from the regular 36K mile service which is an A service.

Ah the confusion, what I wouldn't give for free service like BMW or even reasonably priced service then I could avoid using an indy and resetting this stuff myself!

OneOfaKindTrini

Change the oil yourself man, it's not that challenging.

Matt230K

If you reset it again, you should get back to B service. It's really not a big deal either way. The dealer should know what needs to be done based on the mileage.

It won't remind you about transmission service at 39K miles. That wasn't even a recommended service until earlier this year, they changed it to 39K. They used to not recommend a transmission service ever.

dandelos

27-28k thereabouts and B service indicator has been flashing. Took my car to my regular independent Benz mechanic over the weekend for an oil and cabin filter change. Little over $200 or so, and they reset the service indicator.

MBnewby

Thanks Matt! I will reset it so next service will be a B service.

My C350 is a 2008 so is the 39K mile trans. service required for all W204's? Or since this became a recommended service earlier this year is it just for the newer models? I never received notification in the mail or heard that MB changed it from never to 39K miles. The dealership told me in an email when I was asking about service costs...saying trans. service was due at 39K. It is not in the manual though. It is interesting that they did not explain this to me, that trans. service was a new development this year. Do you have more background info. on this, why MB decided our trans. requires this service? I'll get it done, it's just interesting how it came about just this year. Must have been some C's with trans problems?

MBnewby

The indys are great if you can find a good one. Did you get your engine air filters changed too? I think B service calls for that as well, which is more important than your cabin filter.

dandelos

Not this time because I don't think my mechanic (been using him for years since I started bringing my '97 C230 to him) felt there was a need yet, but I'm sure they'll be changed the next time I go in (at about 33k).

MBnewby

So I tried to reset it again so it will read B service next time. This apparently does not work since I'm getting a message saying "unable to confirm service complete at this time" or something to that effect. Guess I'll just stick to the manual and know what it's due for in 13K miles, it will read A but really need B service. There's got to be some way to correct it, might have to go to the dealer for this one, bummer.

tanktube67

I did, I do everything else my self

Mbnewguy

i am at 40k and my tranny seems to be slipping... how much is a transmission fluid/filter change? is the tranny slipping(clutch burning smell) warranty covered?

Matt230K

It probably won't let you reset it because you just did it. But you might be able to wait a little bit and then do it. I'm not sure.

I don't think MB notified owners of the addition of the transmission service. It is recommended for all cars, not just newer ones. It could be because of transmission problems, but I don't know that for sure. They added transmission services at 40K for 09+ models, so maybe they just decided it was a good idea to start doing it on all cars. My dealer was recommending it anyway even though MB didn't, but they were doing it at 50K or 52K depending on year. Now that MB switched, my dealer has switched to 39K, just to prevent issues with MB possibly rejecting warranty claims based on not doing the service.

RLE

MB changed their mind about the lifetime trans fluid in 2005 when they put out a bulletin (I saw it) recommending a fluid change at 39K miles so there is nothing new about this. Keep in mind that when another 39K miles is reached, the car is out of warranty and they have no further interest in the car.

As far as I can see, an owner should make themselves aware of all current thinking regarding service intervals and stop panicking.

And if it's now 40K miles, that's just because of the 10K service interval.