I have a 2018 E400 W, purchased last week. The dealer was trying to sell me a maintenance package and I am trying to determine if it is worth the US$.
I cannot find an actual schedule of the service done or the mileage at which it is done. The owner's manual references an A or B service interval, but not what work is done? Has anyone purchased this prepaid maintenance? Is it worth it? Thanks

 

Mercedes-Benz A Service

The A Service first visit is at approximately 10,000 miles or 1 year. The exact time is determined by the vehicle's Flexible Service System.

Services Performed:

1. Synthetic Motor Oil Replacement
2. Oil Filter Replacement
3. All Fluid Level Checks & Corrections Are Dependent On Factory-Recommended Service Intervals For Your Vehicle's Year & Model
4. Tire Inflation Check & Correction
5. Brake Component Inspection
6. Reset Maintenance Counter

Mercedes-Benz A Service adheres to all required elements listed by model year and specific model as indicated on the corresponding service sheet for Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Systems in the USA.

Mercedes-Benz B Service

The B Service first visit is at approximately 20,000 miles or 1 year after the previous service. The exact time is determined by the vehicle's Flexible Service System.

Then it is typically every 20,000 miles or 2 years (approximately).

Services Performed:

1. Synthetic Motor Oil Replacement
2. Oil Filter Replacement
3. Cabin Dust/Combination Filter Replacement
4. Brake Fluid Exchange
5. All Fluid Level Checks & Corrections Are Dependent On Factory-Recommended Service Intervals For Your Vehicle's Year & Model.
6. Tire Inflation Check & Correction
7. Brake Component Inspection
8. Reset Maintenance Counter

Mercedes-Benz B Services adheres to all required elements listed by model year and specific model as indicated on the corresponding service sheet for Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Systems in the USA.

 

Is there any particular reason a person would bring their car to a MB dealer to get the oil changed and the tires checked?
On my current 2011 Audi A4 I only had it at the dealer once, shortly after purchase for a loose fuel line. Its had all its scheduled services at the proper intervals. Just done by a good mechanic who owns his own business.
I could see bringing it in for service updates (bug shooting), but that would be covered under warranty, correct?

 

the prepaid maintance package is worth the money spent imo.
you will never know how much dealer will charge you every time it comes to a service, and $1500 for 4 years or 40k miles is definitely cheaper than 2 A + B services

 

$1500 for an oil change seems excessive, even for an MB

 

You can sometimes shop various MB deals and/or get dealer specials which reduce the cost substantially. Also, as previously noted, there is no need to go to the dealer -- especially for Service A, which is not much more than a Mobil 1 oil change and service indicator reset.

BTW, does anyone have instructions on how to reset the service indicator? On my S211, this was a matter of pressing the correct steering wheel buttons.

 

Timing is important when subscribing to prepaid maintenance. Wait until after your first A service so that the 3 year service is for B, A, B instead of A, B, A. B services can be quite expensive.

 

I agree. The reason is simple, MB service is quite expensive. Furtheremore, many local lube centers will not even service them since they dont even carry the non standard filters and parts that MBs use.

 

I understand why MB is limiting the program to 4 years. Looks like after becomes expensive. I wonder if MB or others sell policies to cover 8 or 10 years?

 

 

THIS! I was even told this by my salesman & service advisor.

At risk of having rotten tomatoes thrown at me, I've found service costs for my MB to be much less than what I was spending on my Infiniti. Yes, individual oil changes were less for the Infiniti, BUT the car was going in ever 3500 miles for them which more than made up any savings...and if I tried to stretch it, the car would "remind" me by the engine chattering due to low oil when cold.

Also, labor-wise, my Infinitis were terribly-designed for repairs. Take something as simple and as common as replacing a headlamp bulb. $400. They only charged me $105 for the bulb. Autozone wanted $99 for the same bulb at the time, so the markup wasn't huge. The remaining was all labor. To change the low beam, you had to:
1)Remove front grill,
2) Remove fender cover,
3) Remove front bumper,
4) Pump down AC system,
5) Remove AC refrigerant lines,
6) Remove headlamp assembly.
7) Replace bulb,
8) Put the whole mess back together.

 

No tomatos necessary the fact that MB service is expensive doesnt mean other brands are just as bad or more.

 

I would never buy their service plan.

Find a reputable Indy that specializes in MB's and have them change the oil a 10K/1year. Everything else is just an inspection.

Price the B service with the Indy and you'll find you're paying double. Changing the cabin air filter takes about 15 minutes to do yourself. $30 for the filter on Amazon. Dealer is figuring close to $100 for it.

Ultimately it's your money but their service plan does one thing. Makes the dealer money, your money.

Warranty: Yes, take it to the dealer.

 

Well the only other reason would be to get the free snacks/drinks/rental at the dealer. It's probably only worth it at 40/50/60k interval where you have to replace the spark plugs and transmission fluid at the 40/60k mark and those are included in the maintenance package. Otherwise they're just simple A and B services. But you're right, with the package it's probably about the same price or less at an indy, but no free snacks...

 

does anyone know where to buy a service manual for a 18' E 400 coupe on line?

 

isn't it too often? I think brake fluid can last way more than that.

 

It probably can, but that's MB's standard service schedule. The oil change used to be every 13k too, but I guess that was too long for US customers that were used to 3k oil changes so now it's every 10k although some synthetic oils are good for 15-25k. Brake fluid does absorb moisture from use and changing it frequently will prevent your brake parts from rusting out.

 

I have a 2018 E63s and have had and b service (oil and brake fluid) but was wondering when you do other things like filters and trans oil change?

 

Note that both A & B services have a "required" list of tasks and a "recommended" (extra cost) list. Details are in the attached. You can talk with your service advisor about costs for the recommended items and get their thoughts. The "required" list is probably needed to keep the warranty enforced. You can pick items from the "recommended" list "a la carte" at my dealer. For example, I get new wipers every 3 or so years rather than every year.

 

I have a close friend that is generally regarded as the best European auto mechanic in our Region. I ski with him a lot and he always serviced my 2012 Volvo S60. I asked him about the brake fluid exchange interval (20K miles) and he said it's wasted money. He told me has had clients that insist on it and when he inspected the fluid, it looked brand new. His suggestion was maybe at 80,000 miles.

He's going to do all my maintenance and I trust him implicitly.

 

Sorry, I strongly disagree:

First if you really want only the dealer to change your oil, then dealers run specials. My dealer has the "A" service specials for $225. If you think any good reliable mechanic can change your oil, as I do, then the oil change is about $150. The rest of the "A" are nothing more than visual inspections. Again any good mechanic can do this. In fact you may be better off with an independent shop, as the "A" service at my dealer is an "Express Service": In and out in under an hour. This service is not done by trained technicians but by lower staff people with far less training who only change oil and do no mechanical work.

The "B" service is the "A" service plus cabin filter, air filter change and change of brake fluid. Without rehashing ad nauseum whether the brake fluid needs to be changed every 2 years/20,000 miles, neither my local Indy mechanic nor I feel it does, any mechanic can change those filters: in fact I changed the air filter myself, took less than 10 minutes and bought the filter online for $15. I let the indy shop change the cabin filter as it requires lying on your back and crawling under the passenger side glove compartment. Took the indy shop about 15 minutes to change the cabin filter. I also supplied the filter: $20.

The exception is when you lease: If you lease and buy the pre paid service it is put into the lease and residualized.

 

I bought a used 2021 E350 and the 2 yr extended warranty. It runs out in Feb 2029.

I'm concerned that if I use an independent shop, my warranty won't be honored.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks

 

Seriously? Then he'll not touch my car. Brake fluid is time-based, not mileage-based. Every two years.

From ChatGPT:

 

Did you buy a warranty or a vehicle service contract? It is a violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act to void a manufacturer's warranty if the work is done by an independent mechanic or even yourself. If there is a warranty claim that is denied because the dealer didn't do the work, the manufacturer must show that the work done caused a failure AND only that specific failure can be denied.

 

Total and complete nonsense:

I too have an extended warranty on my 2019 E450 which runs out in December 2025.

There is nothing in the extended warranty that requires maintenance be done at a Mercedes Benz dealer.

Further, even if you do not do the service(s) that will not void the warranty - unless the failure to do the service is the cause of the problem: For example under my extended warranty I had a problem with the exhaust system which had to be replaced. Whether I did the "A" or "B" service was not considered.

Hope this helps and clarifies.