A3 Service Cost
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 39
Likes: 6
From: P. Pines, FL
E350
A3 Service Cost
Just went to my local MB dealer in Pembroke Pines and was quoted a $1,200.00 price for a A3 service on my E350 W212. This included, oil change and filter, air filter, flush the brake fluid and re-fill, check brake rotors and pads for wear, replace cabin air filter and reset the service interval on the computer. Are they crazy? What a rip off! Are these the actual costs for this work? I'm in shock! I own tractor trailers and an oil change costs me $185.00 with 11 GALLONS of oil, oil filter, fuel filter, lube all the moving points and if we have to top off the differentials and transmission it could go up to $240.00. Just use this as a comparison. Are they for real at MB?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 163
From: CA
2014 E350 W212
...or check with other dealers in your area, as $1200 for that service is excessive (and yes, crazy!). Paid $620 for same service in CA, and even that seemed high imo. Shop around or go for indy shop.
Welcome to mbworld, and good luck.
Welcome to mbworld, and good luck.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,695
Likes: 1,830
From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
No, they are not real, and have never been real. They assume you're willing to pay 3-times the price for an up-market car, so you must have more money than brains. Can't really blame them for this, as there really are some people with more money than brains...
Here's my Driveway "A Service"...
$38.64 – Seven Qts, Mobil 1 0-40 (the good stuff) from Walmart
$24.74 – OEM MB 2781800009 Oil Filter Cartridge from MB dealer
$16.08 - Cabin Air Filter from Auto Geek (for the price of one OEM CAF you can buy 3 cheapies and replace them on a whim)
$13.49 – OEM Mann C28004 Engine Air Filter from eEuroparts
$10.00 – DOT4 Brake Fluid (Not really needed until the 4th A Service, if then)
$102.95 - Total
The Dealer wants $1200 for all this? Since they apparently consider their time priceless, ask yourself if your time is any less priceless, (or $1100 priceless)? I find 2-hours of my precious time (in Oct so I don't break a sweat) and roll up my sleeves. Using my topsider oil evac, I don't even need to roll up my sleeves.
It takes me less time -- and far less effort -- to change the oil/filter than it does to hand wash my car.
Here's my Driveway "A Service"...
$38.64 – Seven Qts, Mobil 1 0-40 (the good stuff) from Walmart
$24.74 – OEM MB 2781800009 Oil Filter Cartridge from MB dealer
$16.08 - Cabin Air Filter from Auto Geek (for the price of one OEM CAF you can buy 3 cheapies and replace them on a whim)
$13.49 – OEM Mann C28004 Engine Air Filter from eEuroparts
$10.00 – DOT4 Brake Fluid (Not really needed until the 4th A Service, if then)
$102.95 - Total
The Dealer wants $1200 for all this? Since they apparently consider their time priceless, ask yourself if your time is any less priceless, (or $1100 priceless)? I find 2-hours of my precious time (in Oct so I don't break a sweat) and roll up my sleeves. Using my topsider oil evac, I don't even need to roll up my sleeves.
It takes me less time -- and far less effort -- to change the oil/filter than it does to hand wash my car.
Last edited by DFWdude; May 25, 2018 at 09:51 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
A service is usually around $300. For $1200 it must have a few other things in there like spark plug changes or transmission fluid change. Those rates are high because they have to pay for those free snacks/car washes and/or free loaner.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 347
2011 E-350 4Matic Sport
I'm in the same camp as DFW, except I use Mann oil filters and Pentius air filters . I typically buy a few from Rockauto to have on hand when I'm ready to do some maintenance.
Mann oil filter less than $10
Pentius air filter each about $5
Two Mann air filters about $17
I've used the Pentius air filters for years on our vehicles and I do oil analysis testing once a year. Zero issues about any contamination.
Oil filter info
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w212/581968-couple-oil-filter-pics.html
But the overall point is that if you want to, you are able to provide good quality maintenance at reasonable cost. Plus it gets you familiar with your own vehicle which is never a bad thing. Since my car is still in ELW there's been some dealer warranty items and I paid for dealer transmission filter/fluid change . That was $325 and worth it to me. My SA knows me and the car and I've never had any problems about doing my own maintenance.
Mann oil filter less than $10
Pentius air filter each about $5
Two Mann air filters about $17
I've used the Pentius air filters for years on our vehicles and I do oil analysis testing once a year. Zero issues about any contamination.
Oil filter info
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w212/581968-couple-oil-filter-pics.html
But the overall point is that if you want to, you are able to provide good quality maintenance at reasonable cost. Plus it gets you familiar with your own vehicle which is never a bad thing. Since my car is still in ELW there's been some dealer warranty items and I paid for dealer transmission filter/fluid change . That was $325 and worth it to me. My SA knows me and the car and I've never had any problems about doing my own maintenance.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 160
From: Southeastern USA
2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
Never understood the A3 type designation. My dealership refers to services as A or B and then adds on the additional items that are required for mileage or age.
Regardless, dealership charges $250 for A and $550 for B. The B is an A plus replace cabin (combination) filter, brake flush and fluid. For my vehicle both services also include a tire rotation. Dealership always has coupons or specials which reduce the above charges.
Due to low mileage have sometimes delayed services for a year or two - cabin filter for instance. SA agreed.
Regardless, dealership charges $250 for A and $550 for B. The B is an A plus replace cabin (combination) filter, brake flush and fluid. For my vehicle both services also include a tire rotation. Dealership always has coupons or specials which reduce the above charges.
Due to low mileage have sometimes delayed services for a year or two - cabin filter for instance. SA agreed.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 163
From: CA
2014 E350 W212
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: montreal area
2010 & 2016 W212 E550`s 4 MATICS
Hello,
I own 2 W212`S .
2010 & 2016.
Both are E550 4MATICS
Great cars , Maintenance done by MB dealerships only.
$$$ But trustworthy dealerships.
Not some mechanic learning on my car??
I own 2 W212`S .
2010 & 2016.
Both are E550 4MATICS
Great cars , Maintenance done by MB dealerships only.
$$$ But trustworthy dealerships.
Not some mechanic learning on my car??
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 39
Likes: 6
From: P. Pines, FL
E350
Nothing else wrong, just a plain simple A3 service. I bought the car with 37,600 miles and in a year it has 43,200. Why that stupid service interval is coming up, I don't know!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 39
Likes: 6
From: P. Pines, FL
E350
Thanks DFWdude, you're justifying what I thought, but I thought it be fun to go find out what they would try to screw me for. The local guy down the street that works on MB's and is probably more honest quoted me $230.00. Most of the crap MB recommended isn't needed yet he said. Figures this is an AutoNation dealer (stealer). My mom was quoted in a AutoNation Nissan stealer $700.00 for some crappy service parts replacements on her Sentra with less than 12,000 miles. But they were so busy trying to screw her, they missed a simple tail light bulb out. For shame, taking advantage of an 80 year old woman! But this is why I hate MB stealers in S. Floriduuuh. This is my fifth Benz and I haven't learned my lesson yet. I love the cars, but jezzz...
Last edited by BubaE350; May 29, 2018 at 01:17 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,695
Likes: 1,830
From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Thanks DFWdude, you're justifying what I thought, but I thought it be fun to go find out what they would try to screw me for. The local guy down the street that works on MB's and is probably more honest quoted me $230.00. Most of the crap MB recommended isn't needed yet he said. Figures this is an AutoNation dealer (stealer). My mom was quoted in a AutoNation Nissan stealer $700.00 for some crappy service parts replacements on her Sentra with less than 12,000 miles. But they were so busy trying to screw her, they missed a simple tail light bulb out. For shame, taking advantage of an 80 year old woman! But this is why I hate MB stealers in S. Floriduuuh. This is my fifth Benz and I haven't learned my lesson yet. I love the cars, but jezzz...
Furthermore, Service Departments don't "fix" or "repair" things anymore. They REPLACE parts only. Back in the day, I used to replace parts to repair pre-electronic ignition distributors. But no more... several years ago, I paid a Ford dealer $600 to "replace" a distributor, because the dealer refused to "work" on it. Sad, because to this day I just know that distributor needed a part replaced that cost no more than $5.
The downside of today's "plug-n-play" tuning is that it also promotes a "plug-n-play" attitude for everything else.
Last edited by DFWdude; May 29, 2018 at 08:39 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 17
Likes: 4
glc 300
You're welcome... and thanks to you for observing a phenomenon that is not just confined to Mercedes-Benz dealers. It appears to me that ALL car dealer service departments want insane amounts of cash for menial and in many cases un-needed services.
Furthermore, Service Departments don't "fix" or "repair" things anymore. They REPLACE parts only. Back in the day, I used to replace parts to repair pre-electronic ignition distributors. But no more... several years ago, I paid a Ford dealer $600 to "replace" a distributor, because the dealer refused to "work" on it. Sad, because to this day I just know that distributor needed a part replaced that cost no more than $5.
The downside of today's "plug-n-play" tuning is that it also promotes a "plug-n-play" attitude for everything else.
Furthermore, Service Departments don't "fix" or "repair" things anymore. They REPLACE parts only. Back in the day, I used to replace parts to repair pre-electronic ignition distributors. But no more... several years ago, I paid a Ford dealer $600 to "replace" a distributor, because the dealer refused to "work" on it. Sad, because to this day I just know that distributor needed a part replaced that cost no more than $5.
The downside of today's "plug-n-play" tuning is that it also promotes a "plug-n-play" attitude for everything else.
