chilledbenz

MB rolled out four Star Service Pre-Paid Maintenance plans this week. The previous plan has been gone over on this board before and from what I can tell the general consensus is that its was a good deal if you didn't want to be doing the maintenance yourself. The catch was that many of us receive coupons for servicing on a regular basis, thus cutting into the savings the plan offered. At any rate here are the new plans offered - all based on the E350.

Pre-Paid Maintenance for 2 Years or 20,000 miles = $610

Pre-Paid Maintenance for 3 years or 30,000 miles = $769

Pre-Paid Maintenance for 4 years or 40,000 miles = $1,760

Pre-Paid Maintenance for 5 years or 50,000 miles = $1,942

I haven't compiled the numbers yet, but at a quick glance these new plans don't look like much of a savings, especially that 2 year plan. As mentioned above, I've been getting coupons for half off my service bill, so as of right now these plans don't interest me. But, if I stop getting those coupons, I do like the convenience these plans offer. Maybe someone out there can run some numbers and figure out what, if at all, the savings will be on these four plans.

El Cid

Have not seen any coupons from my MB dealer and do not expect to see any. Do get them from my Toyota and Ford dealer for other vehicles and got them from Hyundai before.
Compared to what my dealer is charging now, I calculated that by paying the $769, I saved about the cost of the third service. This assumes they/MBUSA does not raise prices on parts/service duiring the next two+ years.
BTW, guess you noticed the big leap for the four year service? Does that mean the four year service by itself will cost about $1,500?

JhonnyLever

From what I understand, they are targeting these maintenance plans to support customers that lease cars. Hence the reduced pricing for the first 3 years.

SalTheMan

Do you know if these services apply world wide?

SalTheMan

Or if they offered world wide warranty?

MCF

Is it just me, or does the pre-paid service for three years seem pretty good, or would it be substantially less to take it to an authorized 'non dealer' shop to have annual services done?

Westwind

I do not get coupons. I have to check with my dealer, but is there a place you sign up or something?

hyperion667

hehe, yeah, the sign up should be buying a MB, LOL......

HBerman

Take the 3 year plan. The cost for a E550 is 805. That way you get a bit of a discount while MB is doing the servicing. Just in case there are issues where maintenance might be called into question.

Arrie

I just bought the 3-year/30 000 mile service plan. I was thinking to buy the 5-year/50 000 mile plan but my dealer service manager said I should get the 3-year/30 000 mile plan because that is the only one giving real savings. And he told me the reason that makes sense too.

3-year plan is cheap because it is targeted against BMW, who gives three years free service. Obviously MB does not want to give free service but with low cost 3-year plan they can compete a little bit against BMW.

chilledbenz

I have gotten a coupon for 50% off service up to $500 for the past two years, so I have saved half off my servicings on both my MB's for the last two years. The newest coupon is for $50 off service totaling more than $250, it apparently all depends on your dealership. But, as long as I keep getting coupons, it makes these plans less and less appealing. I do like the peace of mind that my service is covered when I need to take it in and don't have to mess around with paying for them each time though.

As for the pricing, I was thinking along the same lines as some of the other posters. It appears the first two plans still have savings with them like the previously offered plan, but the last two seem a little out there. Although if I remember right, the servicings go A,B,C,D, the A and C being the same, B and D being essentially the same but the D service tacks on more things and results in a much higher price. Anyone know about that for sure? I can't remember exactly what they are, its been so long since I've kept a car that long ha ha.

JoeVal

Arrie, I agree with the dealer's advise. The program might be targeted toward the 3-year lessee, usual companies' term, which is the most common and preferred by those who change cars often.

As for giving competition to BMW, this is gravy to attract more subscribers. Nevertheless, the BMW is not a free program, Everything that entitles a direct cost is carefully included in the sales price of the goods. Only the customer pays for everything he gets, no Company will risk to loose ANY money via giveaways.

K-A

The question is, do these things cover EVERYTHING required when you bring the car in? Or is it another clever way for the Dealer to squeeze out an extra little $50 here, $100+ there, etc. each time? We all know, when one pays for something in advance, it's a bit of mind trickery when you go to Service (for example), and they throw you a "small" bill, as it still might seem like you're getting a "deal".

kingofire

I don't think so. All it entails is 3 oil changes essentially. Its AFTER 30,000 miles where you need more work like brake fluid, diff changes(AWD cars) and power steering fluids. Everything else on that list is to inspect this and check that. Mobil 1 0w40 at $6.50/qt and a 8qt sump is $52. Oil filter is around $15. Calculate labor and you should be able to do an oil change for $100. Grand total of $300. They ARE supposed to top off all fluids at every oil change for free. So why pay twice as much for a plan that doesn't give you any leeway or wiggle room?

mg-E550

Also includes air filters, tire rotation and balance, brake fluid change every 20 k and tranny oil at 40. Dont get me wrong though i am by no means defending the price of these services...it's jaw dropping.

chilledbenz

As previously stated, this thread is for those that can't, or just don't want to do the servicing for themselves. Yes you can save some money by doing the work yourself, but many of us just don't want to do it. So no matter how much you save (which usually isn't all that much when you factor in having to buy the tools, the oil, and take the time to do it) for some of us, we would rather just have someone else do it.

To follow up on what is covered, its just the usual maintenance services, A, B, ect. that you would be paying for normally. This way you can pay for it ahead of time for convenience and save a little money in the process. I found a list of what all is covered under these plans, the first link is to the web page, the second is to a .pdf file.

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/servic...ts/maintenance

http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalA...e_brochure.pdf

Some of you that have been with Mercedes for awhile now probably remember that these servicings were covered "free of charge" for four years/50k miles with all new Mercedes vehicles a few years back. I was mad when they dropped this practice and was told by a salesman that BMW and the like would be dropping their plans as well. Hmm well its almost 2011 and BMW still has theirs, Lincoln has one, oh and Toyota has just added free servicing for the first 2 years among others..so yeah you get the idea. This could be a feeler to see how the Mercedes customer reacts to the services and they may just roll one of the Pre-Paid plans into the base price in the coming years and just call it "free" again.

JhonnyLever

I thought that the Mercedes service goes ABCDAB. The price sheet I was shown for an A service was $250+, B service was $580 and C was similar to A. For the B service more than $200 was labor costs in the $580. So for the 3 services you'd be at about $1K. The $800 seems to be a saving.

I do understand your point of the services being purely an oil change. The labor rates for MB seem to be way out of whack!

kingofire

My calculations were based on the owner buying the items and then bringing it to the dealership so they only charge for labor. I didn't realize that MB required brake fluid replacement every 20,000 miles(most require it at 30,000 miles). If they rotate the tires at 5000 mile interval then the 3 year price is worth it.

I have learned from experience that if you tell the dealership to do Service X, you always pay more for it. I usually go in tell them to do oil change, tire rotation and so on. This way my itemized bill reflects price for each service.

$250 for Service A is a ripoff. All it entails is a oil change and tire rotation from what I gather reading the service manual. Everything else is a preventative check of wear items.

El Cid

Even though my Operator's Manual says to rotate tires every 5,000 miles, my Star Service Plan does not cover it. This is straight from MBUSA.
BTW, you purchase the plan from a dealer, usually the finance guy.
I checked to see what a front end alignment would cost just out of curiosity. $170 vs. $70 at Sears. That's from dealer where I purchased the car and as a member of MBCA. Guess where I'll go if I need one?
Having read the Manual carefully, for the first three years the car will go to the dealer for service. Too many caveats about voiding warranty if not done to MB standards by MB certified technicians. That's why I bought the plan. Consider it insurance - or part of owning an MB.
I did check with MBUSA-cost is based on the model, e.g. diesel plans cost more as they require more services.

Dema

Just curious why oil change stations do not service MB? I had plenty of them around with advertisement of servicing BMW. I believe they could make good money starting servicing MB.

kingofire

My guess has to be demand as well as availability of parts. For example, BMW lease prices are so attractive that every joe shmoe and aunty betty can afford to drive a 3-series and many do. When it comes to MB, I don't see as many C-Classes rolling around my neighboorhood since it is not really "cool" to drive one like BMW is.

Another thing is the availability of the supplies. MB cartridge filters cost around $12 and are hard to find as well as keeping MB approved oil aka 229.5 and 229.51 spec oil. It is costly as well and the large sump in a MB the quickie oil change price can soar to over $120-150. Quickie oil shops like to change oil fast and cheap. Something the MB doesn't allow them to do. Just a guess on my part.

El Cid

I doubt very many people who can afford an M-B, even older ones, are going to use an oil change service. They will use dealer or an independent shop.
Have never and would never use an oil change service, not even for my 14 year old Ford Ranger.