El Cid

Took my car in for its 10th anniversary and had an "A" service done. Noticed a 20% increase in cost and most is due to inclusion of a 6538WOR Oil Change Kit. Have never had this charge before.
What is this and what is its purpose? Is it new or just something I never paid for before?
Thanks,

Gazwould

Propaganda to fleece .

El Cid

Dealership replied to my question that it is a new "kit" for the service.
I googled the part number and name and appears that the "Kit" is the oil, filter insert and various rings and such for which I was charged separately before. Also charged separately this time in addition to the kit.
Can't find the same part number, but apparently the Kit ranges from $85 to $100+ online. But that includes the oil and filter, etc.
Separate charges at dealership for oil, filter, etc. was $99.59. Then $34.05 for the kit. This did not include labor.

DFWdude

Ah the double-dip fleece...

(Discounting that a $200+ oil change is a fleece all by itself.)

El Cid

Latest from dealership is that it is an additive to clean the engine and fuel system. I know they used to put Techron in as a part of service in the past, but that was only a few dollars. Actually I do it myself about once per year, but using Premium gas it is not really required. Per Chevron and others, it is in Premium gas.

kajtek1

My 1st MB service cost $68 back in 1998 and that was 1 of the most expensive dealership in California.

The Critic

Sounds like it is a BG Products or MOC Products service kit that dealers bundle with their maintenance packages.

El Cid

Thanks. I looked up both BG and MOC. A little confusing as to what products should actually be used with oil change. I guess the "kit" the dealership uses contains more than one additive. Of course they aren't providing the name of the product.
From what I read online, it probably is not a bad idea on a car that is over 10 years old and only gets oil changed once per year. Would help if dealer just said that and provided names of products used.

kajtek1

Somewhere on this forum I posted pictures of internal parts of engine from W124.
The engine spend its whole life running on dino oils and at 293,000 miles the cylinder walls still had factory honing marks on them.
When new engines require oils with special additives for emission systems, the MB engines were making million miles 50 years ago on oils 1/4 classification today's cars use.

jonUF02

35 bucks for M278 OEM filter, crush washer for drain plug, and a bottle of windshield washer concentrate.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Mer...M/123417592521

2 Jugs of Mobil 1 0w-40 from Wal-Mart is about 50 bucks, I usually buy the oil when Mobil has $12 per jug rebate, so half price.

$85 or less for oil change and washer fill about once a year.


I also keep a gallon bottle of MB blue coolant that was about $30 at the dealer, top off a few ounces 50/50 with distilled water once or twice a year when the warning comes on.

El Cid

It appears that the dealer is doing the oil, filter, etc. change AND then doing the BG Products or MOC "kit" that The Critic posted about. Two different things, so that explains the two different charges.
Of course, on invoice dealership codes is as 6538 WOR Oil Change Kit.
Be interesting to know how they do it.
I did notice that last year, they used 9 qts. of oil and this year used 8 qts. So I guess they just add it to the oil.

DFWdude

Since these dealers seldom pour oil into these engines by the individual quart -- and the oil capacities are widely known -- I really do question why they overcharge for the oil. My standard E350 uses just shy of 7 qts (6.9qts per the manual and my experience changing oil myself). So, why does the dealer seem to think they can get by charging for 8 quarts, or more? At $7 a quart, it adds up for the dealer, since the dealer only uses 7qts.

I guess the dealer has to pay for those free car washes, donuts and coffee somehow. But why so openly fraudulent?

kajtek1

You believe they use 7 qts becouse that what you drain?
Try to open the plug and put it back immediately when big flow comes to small drizzle.
I bet $5 it will take not much more than 6 qts till you reach max mark.

El Cid

I would assume because Daimler/M-B says it holds 8.5 qts. Which is why they used to charge me for 9 qts. Of course this raises the question of how do they determine how much oil they actually put in the vehicle. How do they measure it?

DFWdude

I believe the car uses 7qts, because the manual says the M276 uses 6.9qts (I think 8qts for 4-matic?).

My topsider has drawn 6.7qts easily on it's first try. I'm not bothered if the engine has burned .2 quarts, or more likely I've left .2qts behind.

I am bothered that the dealer says it needs 8qts, because I know what the manual says, AND that all MB dealers -- in this area, at least -- use an industrial sized topsider to suck out the oil... they don't drain from below at all, and they can't say that they use an extra quart anywhere to flush old oil out through the drain.

In my C-Class, adding more than the amount quoted in the manual will result in an instant RED overfill warning. I suspect a dealer installing 1 full quart more than recommended in a W212 will result in the same warning.

Since they don't actually use an extra quart, they should not be charging for it. That's all I'm saying.

kajtek1

We do have several reports that members, who had their car serviced by dealer had the overfill warning.
What I am saying is that even when you put the book amount of oil into engine, but will not take the time to let it drip or gargle when using extraction, the +- 1l left in the engine with new addition will go well over MAX mark.
Meaning if your oil is not going above the max mark, dealer cheated you on 2l of oil.

DFWdude

OK, I understand what you referred to now.

jonUF02

Extraction is just silly when there's a good old drain plug at the bottom.

kajtek1

Sure, why extract in 5 minutes wearing "white gloves" when you can drive the car on ramp, or jacks, put a coverall on, spend 1 hr on removing belly covers and opening the plug >>>>to enjoy oil running down your sleeves.

jonUF02

Takes 30 minutes in my driveway with a jack not spilling a drop to do it properly and change ALL the oil. Add to the list of reasons why I do all maintenance myself.

kajtek1

MB plugs are design to hold some oil in the pan, so you will never get it all.
Dipstick tube on other hand sits in the corner, so 2X under opposite wheel and extractor will gargle the oil to film only.