saulgoodman

Hey all,

Got a '12 with only 22k miles and the car is telling me a service "A3" is due now.

Did some research on the forums and it should be a basic oil change service?

Asked for a quote from my local dealer for service A3 and they want to do the following things in addition to changing out the motor oil:

-Change Brake fluids
-Assist Plus service(?)
-New Spark plugs

For a total of 797$.

Is it just me or does this seem a little excessive for such a young and low mileage car?

I am thinking about changing the oil myself, unless I am missing something here (brake fluids and new sparkplugs so soon..?).

Thanks in advance,

Saul

Ambystom01

It's an AMG. Get used to it.

SuckaGDog

Brake fluid ages by time instead of mileage. (Naturally absorbs moisture, thus lowering the boiling point of fluid)

KrisKeeney

I think it is too soon for spark plug replacements, unless they are saying it is because the car hasn't been driven enough, and this somehow causes spark plugs to age prematurely. My last AMG (W211 E55) didn't need to spark plugs until 100k miles.

But wait, when all else fails, let's check the C63 service manual, which I have in searchable pdf format....... here it is: page 30 "Service at 60,000 Miles or 6 years....Replace spark plugs (except engine 642, 651)." Maybe your car is approaching that 6 year mark, depending on the build date of your 2012 Model Year and thus it would be appropriate to change spark plugs.

hachiroku

brake fluid should be changed every 1-2 years regardless of mileage. 1 year if high annual mileage 2 years MAX if little annual mileage.

spark plugs last 100k or more.

servicing your car at the dealer has the added benefit only to provide service records in case of future sale. beyond that if you have an able RELIABLE independent mechanic, you'll save a lot of money going that direction. my independent mechanic charges 160 for an oil change on my car using Motul and factory filter.

if you're still under factory warranty i believe its recommended to do all service at your dealer.

Ugly-Nugget

I just had my 3 year A service done with 15,000km and the brake fluid was done as well as an wheel alignment. The total came to 1000$CAD so about the same. These things are not cheap.

MTV10

Which is why I do not service my car at the dealership....

Ugly-Nugget

Yea mine is still under warranty after the warranty is over, I don't think I will be going to the dealership anymore.

C63fora2w1

my dealer charges 800 for A abd 400 gor B

AMG6.3

Its a stealership for a reason and marketing ploy to get more money. Look at what the dealership is actually servicing I.e. Oil and brake fluid change and just pay for them separately the cost will be under $300. You don't need spark plugs.

I once went to MB when I got my car it had 8,000 miles they said my front brake pads where getting low. I did not replace them, I knew car had a sensor. I went to 40,000 miles before pad replacement.

C63fora2w1

Complete service history is an important part of ownership and will have a direct impact on your resale value. Look at it this way your car only needs service at 10k intervals which for most people is once a year. You own an 80-90k car and if you can't afford $800 a year to maintain it then maybe this is not the car for you. Its not a Honda civic or a chevy that you do all the service yourself and it doesn't matter.

kevy3

vehicle is either due by time or mileage. keep in mind its always good to do the service at Mercedes and pay a little extra because if you ever run out of warranty and you have a major failure with engine or anything thing at all they will be more leeway with a goodwill and take care of the issues for you for no charge or a certain small % you might have to pay, as long as your kept up on services

Ugly-Nugget

Thanks for the heads up on that gem. No where did I say it was a cost/money issue.

Truth be told I don't have a issue with paying for the dealer to complete the service while the car is under warranty. that being said the MB dealer close to me is not mod friendly so continuing the visits after the warranty doesn't make sense, when I have a decent Indy shop that understands the want for modifying and will work with you. The last time I checked I did get paperwork for the servicing and will show the service history, it never affected previous vehicles serviced at Indy shops especially a well known one.

Alex.currie44

Plugs? I doubt it. Did they pull one and check it? I bought a 2001 SLK320 with 61000 km on the odometer in 2013 and the plugs were still good to go with a clean and regap. Most of my recent cars from 2003 say 100000km (62500 mi) for plugs.
Do brake fluid change every 3 yr. It runs about $150,

You will have to explain what this Assist Plus Service pertains to as there are a couple of things in my docs of service that refer to things this way the least of which is a reset.
Figure an hour and a half of labour for an A service, filter at about $30, oil at $125 so what is that, about $250.
So what is the other $400 for?
Seems steep to me unless you are not telling all.
Did you get a complete service history in the form of at least an up to date record book? Do you have a maintenance manual to tell you what should be done and at what intervals and did you compare it to your service record?
The problem is your car is 5 yr old and has not yet approached the warranty mileage so it expired on time.
Your service should therefore like mine unless you live in a hot dusty climate be based on doing what is required annually. It is all in the book. In my estimation absent any other info you need to do either the 10000 mile service or the 20000 depending on what was done last and as I said, change brake fluid. I would consider doing coolant as well.
When I got my car last September I gave it to them after a discussion re mileage (41000 km 2013 with an ISD of March 2013) and I did a B service, all filters including cabin, changed brake fluid, serviced transmission, did alignment, serviced the rear diff, updated ECU software and reset and spent $1800 all in.
Still running original plugs.
Recently changed brake pads all 4 corners.

saulgoodman

This is what I ended up doing. Just asked them to complete the Oil & filter change along with brake fluids (Total came out to $280). The dealer warned me that if I don't follow their advice the car will no longer have the rust-free warranty (not gonna be an issue during my ownership..)

Thanks for all the replies, lots of good insight!

Alex.currie44

WTF! What has anything you listed got to do with the body warranty?
This guy sounds hinky to me. Find another dealer,

Phil_T

Spark plugs are not due till 4th year service.

saulgoodman

He said that if you don't follow the Assyst Plus directions that the car gives it will void the body warranty..

Tlnt60

Yea just like if you don't brush your teeth twice a day, then we won't cast your broken leg.... cause you know.... logic.....

Euler

Not only that, but they are really easy to change yourself.

NotABaller

Hahahahaha

Tex5

As already told by other members, brake fluid need to be change at leat each 2 years. (if you do not track your car otherwise it need to be done often)
For the spark plugs, it is 90-110 000Km or 4 years. so even if your car has a low mileage, for a 2012 car, the 4 years delay is attempted .
It is not abnormal the dealer indicated it to do. It is mentionned like that in WIS.

I don't say your spark plugs were out of order and needed to be changed, but if you ask the dealer to respect the MB service program it was not excessive, for me.

Alex.currie44

What I am trying to figure out is why are we still talking about this.
There is a maintenance service manual that spells out this stuff. It is usually set out as do this at xxxxxx miles or xx yr which ever comes first.
If your car has no service history you can find the safe way is to just change plugs, belts, hoses, fluids service the trans and diff and be done with it.
Ya! It costs a bit of coin but you get some peace of mind and a base to restart measuring from.
As I said I did this on a 2001 SLK320 in 2014 and I did it on my 2013 C63 in 2016 except plugs. I don't worry and go on and on. It is not difficult. Read the book, figure out where you are and make a decision.

Tex5

I do agree.
When I bought my CLK BS with only 16000Km (9 years old), I ask for a full service (motorl oil, Transmission oil, Differential oil, Spark plugs, brake fluid, air filters,, etc). For this kind of car/engine this is not the milage that must be taken into account but the age.