Did you purchase prepaid maintenance for C43? Pros and cons?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 56
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles, CA
2020 C43 AMG Sedan
Did you purchase prepaid maintenance for C43? Pros and cons?
Hi all,
I've been following this forum to learn as much as I can about the C43 as it will be my vehicle of choice when my Audi S4 starts to give me problem and I will need to dump it. I would like to know if any of you purchase the dealer's prepaid maintenance plan when you purchased your vehicle (I am not familiar with leased vehicle). Did anyone get their oil change/maintenance at independent mechanic instead of dealer?
The reason I am asking is I purchased the Audi prepaid maintenance plan at the time I purchased my Audi S4. But after 5 years, it appears to me that all were done was oil change and inspection every 10,000 miles. I am wondering if I should skip buying the prepaid maintenance plan and just use an indy shop for oil change. I would love to hear all your opinions and advices.
Thanks.
I've been following this forum to learn as much as I can about the C43 as it will be my vehicle of choice when my Audi S4 starts to give me problem and I will need to dump it. I would like to know if any of you purchase the dealer's prepaid maintenance plan when you purchased your vehicle (I am not familiar with leased vehicle). Did anyone get their oil change/maintenance at independent mechanic instead of dealer?
The reason I am asking is I purchased the Audi prepaid maintenance plan at the time I purchased my Audi S4. But after 5 years, it appears to me that all were done was oil change and inspection every 10,000 miles. I am wondering if I should skip buying the prepaid maintenance plan and just use an indy shop for oil change. I would love to hear all your opinions and advices.
Thanks.
Prepaid maintenance is worth it if you plan to have service done at the dealership. Which is sometimes worth it for the concierge type service you can get with the car being picked up and delivered to you (not all dealerships offer this service).
But, you'll save money going to independent shops and my SA basically said they won't know the difference.
But, you'll save money going to independent shops and my SA basically said they won't know the difference.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 400
Likes: 44
From: North East
2017 AMG C43, AWE Touring, BMC Air Filters- 2015 BMW X3 3.5i (JB1 Equipped)
I paid something like $650 for the pre paid service, so far not impressed. I can do a complete oil change with better oil than the Mobil 1 they use for $60, the dealer charges $180 and I do my oil change from the bottom drain plug, the way it should be done, I don't use the vacuum pump oil filler method, like I'm told the dealership does. You are supposed to get free wiper blades also with the oil change service.
Only thing that would cost a few bucks in the service package would be the spark plug change, I am told the car has 12 spark plugs and getting to them might be time consuming. Aside from that I think there is a transmission flush at 40k mi that might be expensive & time consuming to do on your own.
if your a weekend warrior like me and like to wrench your own vehicle, I would not buy the pre paid maintenance package- I regret buying that and the Wheel protection package, which raised my bottom line by $2200- neither package has proven to be satisfactory and I change my oil twice a year anyway, so.... bringing it to the dealer is a hassle. I used the Wheel coverage once and they had my car for over a week to repair a cracked rim? I could have taken the cracked rim to a local place, near my home and had it repaired for $100- found out that MB would not replace the cracked rim with a new one, so they welded it? Hmmm $1650 for a wheel insurance package and they wouldn't replace the rim with a new one, I got screwed.
Also I just read an article where dealers are making less profit on the actual vehicles, so they are using add on services in "the business office" to raise profits- Just something to think about.
Only thing that would cost a few bucks in the service package would be the spark plug change, I am told the car has 12 spark plugs and getting to them might be time consuming. Aside from that I think there is a transmission flush at 40k mi that might be expensive & time consuming to do on your own.
if your a weekend warrior like me and like to wrench your own vehicle, I would not buy the pre paid maintenance package- I regret buying that and the Wheel protection package, which raised my bottom line by $2200- neither package has proven to be satisfactory and I change my oil twice a year anyway, so.... bringing it to the dealer is a hassle. I used the Wheel coverage once and they had my car for over a week to repair a cracked rim? I could have taken the cracked rim to a local place, near my home and had it repaired for $100- found out that MB would not replace the cracked rim with a new one, so they welded it? Hmmm $1650 for a wheel insurance package and they wouldn't replace the rim with a new one, I got screwed.
Also I just read an article where dealers are making less profit on the actual vehicles, so they are using add on services in "the business office" to raise profits- Just something to think about.
Last edited by Lazz83; Apr 10, 2019 at 07:32 PM.
Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 140
Likes: 24
From: SF, CA
Current: 2019 C43 Old: 2016 C450
I leased for 3 years and opted for the 2 years service. It wasn't much to be honest and although i can do most of the minor maintenance myself, I just don't have the time these days. It's a personal choice.
I did 2 years because the 3rd year I'm turning in the car and normally it's before the 3rd service is due. For leased cars, you can bake it into your monthly payment rather than paying upfront.
I did 2 years because the 3rd year I'm turning in the car and normally it's before the 3rd service is due. For leased cars, you can bake it into your monthly payment rather than paying upfront.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 510
Likes: 64
From: Dallas Texas USA
2023 AMG EQE 53
It was about 1/2 the price of paying in the service dept, like previous poster, did only 2 years as I,'ll turn it it at the latest the day before 36 months so I won't need the 36 months.
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