MCF

Have a 2011 E350 with 13500 miles. Coming up on Service B. I am taking to the dealer to have it done. My dealer advised that service B AND a brake fluid change is due. Bought the car in September 2010. Does Service B include tire rotation and changing cabin filter? Is brake fluid change in addition to Service B and necessary for a 2 year old car with 13500 miles?

RSIKR

ABS, electronic traction control, stability control etc all use or are part of the braking system including the obvious, stopping the car. Do I think your brake fluid is contaminated already? Probably not. I am however a proponent of changing the brake fluid. If your vehicle develops a problem in one of those systems in the next two years while you are covered by the original warranty what do you think MB is going to say when you did not follow their required maintenance agenda?

The cabin filter may or may not require replacement. Where do you drive? Dirty environment, is it damp? Growing mold? You could probably decline although it is a required procedure of the B service. I think it could cause a warranty issue.

You could get an anonymous price on replacing a cabin filter from the service department and then try deducting it from the B service rather than asking how much is the B service without the cabin filter. It is relatively easy to change. The instructions are on this forum.

Shop some other dealers and get the lowest price on a B service and have your dealer match it is another idea.

I do business with a great dealership that has never said no to me with any issue so I let them do the entire B service. I asked them to return the old cabin filter. It could have served on for awhile.

RSIKR

Brake fluid flush and change, cabin filter, oil and filter are part of the required B service and all should be included in the price.

Konigstiger has posted the official MB list of required and recommended services under one of the stickys at the top of the thread list.

mikemargolis

I find this odd.

I understand that service is every 10,000 miles: A then B then A then B etc...

How are you at 13,500 and needing a B service?

hyperion667

I have a A1 service due in less than 1500

whatever, I just do what the car askes me too

RSIKR

Every year or 10k miles.

RENNTECH

Due by time, dealerships vary on whether they include the BFS in the B service. My current dealer and two previous all have not included it.

mikemargolis

Got it. As I drive over 20K/year, It mever occured to me that someone would go 12 months without putting 10,000 miles on the car.

Duh

BM2BZ

i drive less than 5k miles/yr and just picked up the car yesterday after service b .

blackbullit

When I took my ML in for B service this summer, they did not include brake fluid change in the $400+ cost for the B service. It was an extra $120 for that to be done!

mnje350

My b service did not include the BFF. However the enticement for the prepaid maintenance, an A,B and another A, threw in a brake fluid flush. All for about 700 bucks. Not sure if it was an overall good deal but the car has cost me nothing in the two years I have owned it. Only about 26k.

K-A

What I'm wondering, is *technically speaking*, is Service B *REQUIRED* on a car, or can you *technically* do just, say, an oil change, and be considered "safe" in terms of them not docking you when you Lease return, etc.?

Not looking for opinions on the matter, i.e what one shouldn't or should do, but I'm curious as to how technical the Services are, since much of what they charge you for are inspections and such. You can kind of get a good idea regarding the technical requirements VS the "recommendations" as to how much of the Service B for example, can be mostly means for profit generating (or not, for that matter).

hyperion667

I honestly wonder if the techs, do in fact, 'inspect' and check all the parts that are
supposed to be checked....that's kind of tedious no?...it just seems TOO easy to just sit there are mark all the things on the 'checklist' while smoking or drinking coffee......

it's a trust issue for me.....another reason to go Indy........easier to watch too, if you're into that kind of thing

E9090

Nice info
I just did my b service
Brake fluid replace incuded

El Cid

As noted above, Konigstiger has posted a sticky on this. However, it is also in your car's Maintenance Manual as to what is required and what is recommended. I have had both the "A" and "B" services as listed, even though I only have 11,000 miles on my 2010. Have the pre-paid maintenance so not really a cost issue and dealer does tire rotations as part of service.
The maintenance reminder in your car will come on a little before every 10,000 miles OR 12 months since last service.
As for brake fluid flush, transmission service, etc. at very low mileages; think of them as insurance. On other hand, I probably will not get the cabin filter replaced at four years since it will only have less than 10,000 miles on it. Have read instructions on replacing it (Thanks Konigstiger), but looks too complicated for me. Have replaced filters on American and Asian cars (real simple) and they show little wear or dirt in my area even with over 20,000+ miles on them.

RSIKR

I agree I don't think not changing the cabin filter would cause an issue. I had them show me mine after two years and it could been in use a lot longer. I have changed them in other cars as soon as a year and as long as four years. Neglecting the brake fluid or trans changes could cause a warranty problem and as you said it's cheap insurance on an expensive car. I also have the prepaid and get free rotations.

Dema

Is it so complicated to replace cabin filter yourself? I remember it wa easy for W210, not sure about W212. If you decide to decline B service, then you will need to resest your service reminder. Very easy procedure you can find instruction in the forum.

hyperion667

so I guess B service comes after A1 service?

MCF

No sh@t.

El Cid

I will get the four year service (is it "B" again or "D"?), but just not get the cabin filter.
I have read the instructions on both replacing the cabin filter and resetting the service reminder. Both are complicated to me. I especially do not like the idea of starting with removing part of the dash.
On my other vehicles, you open the glove box, drop down the door, reach inside and pull out the old filter. Slide in the new one, reattach the glove box door and close the box. All by hand - no tools needed.
In fact, the owner's manuals for American and Asian cars I have owned had sections on how to do it. The only maintenance they described in the manual.

K-A

Just be happy that they don't have to do THIS for a mere AIR FILTER CHANGE!!

If my plans go through on future 991 Porsche, I know the days will come where this will annihilate my comfort zone/peace of mind.

hyperion667

lol, wow, a 9 minute video?? haha...
I still don't see how you can feel so comfortable in a Porsche because at 6'2 I have felt too big in them all......with the exception of the Panamera....

BM2BZ

few things i've noticed:

1) that guy has to learn how to drive (watch it from the 21st second ).
2) that 911 badge has to go. i guess that's how they make people get the turbo or turbo s (no more that badge).
3) not sure it's smart or dumb but have to take half the car apart to change an air filter ?
4) they were taking a brand new car apart just for this video ?

K-A

Yeah, it's a little "small" in the 911 from a dimensional point of view, but shockingly that little 911 has about 1"+ full more headroom than the W212 (it's actually more comfortable for me when speaking vertically). One great thing about the 911 is how amazingly the inside provides room for the driver, considering the cars smaller proportions of course. The new 991 has more wheelbase length so is a lot more comfy thant the old 911's.

My only think getting in the way of going full steam ahead on a plan-basis is that I'm just not used to such a dimensionally small car..... even though it makes such great use of space and is more than comfortable, it's still technically "small" which being used to a larger floatier type car like the W212, makes me feel a little vulnerable. I'm sure I could get used to it quick.

Dema

With all my respect on MB, their engineers specifically made the car hardly serviced by customers themselves. Was it done with any specific purpose or it just happened I do not know. Anyway it makes me perfect explanation why Germany lost WWII, all their tanks required professional service instead to be fixed by the tank's crew. Just imagine “do service B” light came up in the middle of the battle.