Courthaven

Hi all,

So I have a 2019 E300 and last December I properly received the A service from my dealer at around 10k miles. Now this year I have only put 3500 miles on it and am wondering if it even makes sense to do my B service. I know they recommend every 10k or 1 year, but is there really a benefit to doing it now considering the low mileage?

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks
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elnos

It's 10k miles or one year, whichever comes first.
So I think you should get a service B done in Dec.

ua549

You need to follow the recommended service intervals to keep your warranty in good standing.

Hundens

Some things deteriorate from use, other things over time. But I doubt if a year is enough to invoke that rule. I have cars that are used only seasonally for a couple of thousand miles and quite frankly most years I just change the oil. Some years I do a full service. But given the cost of a B service I would talk it over with a service person you trust. Not a warranty issue for me.

DFWdude

I thought about taking my MB to the carwash last week. But with this pandemic, I decided I didn't want any strangers crawling in my car to vacuum the carpets and clean the windows. So, I washed it by hand on my driveway, Of course, the carwash doesn't void any warranties.

OK, seriously... Your car is just a year old or so, so maintaining the warranty is important. I would see a reputable independent German car service center and get copious documentation for your records. MB cannot void your warranty for having a documented oil change outside a dealership.

Of course, if you are like me, you'd change the oil yourself, saving receipts for the oil and the filter. Your documentation is as good as any independent or dealer.

JTK44

I am in the exact same position.

There are "myths" out there including paying a "certified mechanic" at $195 an hour to change your oil and not changing your brake fluid every two years and oil and filter change every year - that if you fail to do this it will somehow void your warranty. That is absurd and I personally do not subscribe to these "myths".

The fact is that many car manufacturers now specify oil change every 15,000 miles.

Synthetic oil is totally different than non synthetic oil that was used 20 years ago. The shelf life of synthetic oi is over 10 years. There is nothing to make me think that synthetic oil sitting in your crankcase for 18 months or even 24 months is going to deteriorate.

Air filters do not deteriorate with age: they only get dirty through usage. If the car is not used the air/cabin filters are not dirty and do not need to be changed.

Let's us never forget two things:

• Service centers are huge profit centers for dealers. Where else can a dealer charge $195 an hour for a mechanic? At 40 hours per week, that is $7,800 per week, more if the mechanic works 5 1/2 days or overtime. For a year that generates income of over $400,000 per mechanic for the dealer. Add in parts where you are charged three times the dealer costs and you begin to understand why the service center is so important.
• Most of the fluids that are changed primarily deteriorate through usage - mileage not time. Brake fluid on many manufacturers are not changed for the life of the car. If you are not driving the brake fluid is fine.

Let's go to an extreme example to make my point: You picked up your car in November of 2019 but because of covid you only put 1,500 miles on it. Would you change the oil and oil filter after one year? I for one would not - unless it was a BMW where it is free.

My "B" service is also due in December, having done the "A" service last December when my car had 9,000 miles on it. Today it is 11,000. I have driven only 2,000 miles in the past 12 months. I see absolutely no reason to do the "B" service now: the brake fluid, oil and cabin/air filters have very, very little mileage.

I intend to wait until 19/20,000 miles, probably next September to do the "B" service.

If there is a problem before your warranty expires, the dealer will take care of it: As I pointed out above the dealer makes a ton of money in service: the dealers want the warranty work - it is a huge profit center for them. It is their "bread and butter".

Just my $.02 and hope it helps.

ua549

If you have an engine problem and have NOT changed oil and filter per the maintenance schedule, warranty coverage can be denied based upon neglect.

DFWdude

Well, I am glad my car is now out of warranty, so I can act rationally during this pandemic. Like many others here, I've put less than 2,000 miles on my car since I changed the Mobil 1 with OEM filter last Feb. I fully intend to wait another year (at least) before changing it again. It just doesn't need it.

Not coincidentally, my dealer is autodialing my phone twice a week, trying to book a service appointment for me. It's funny the dealer never bothered the 2 years before... But this pandemic OBVIOUSLY has them trying to drum up service business. I guess I'm not the only one balking at lining the dealer's pockets without reason.

JTK44

+1

JTK44

Not so fast!

• It is in the dealers interest to find a warranty problem: with a warranty problem they and not an independent shop will be doing the work. Warranty work is highly lucrative for the dealer. They do not want you going elsewhere and lose that revenue. This is not a battle between you and the dealer: the opposite is in fact: the dealer wants to find as much warranty work as possible.
• The operative word is "can": but before this could happen, "denial of service under the warranty," the dealer will have to demonstrate that your failure to not change the oil and filter after 2,000 miles is the direct cause of the engine failure. That simple will not and cannot happen.

There are course people who insist on changing their oil and filter even more frequently, perhaps every 3/5,000 miles - because this is what they have always done. At one time that may have been the norm. Changing your oil and filter more frequently will not do any harm except to your pocketbook - but it is completely unnecessary especially in modern cars that run so much cleaner and use synthetic oil.

Remember when we used to change spark plugs every 15/20,000 miles? When you took them out they were fouled with carbon and other deposits. Today many manufacturers do not recommend changing spark plugs until 100,000 miles. Often this is just "preventive" maintenance as the spark plugs even after 100,000 miles upon removal look "like new".


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joesama

I don't know.. What does 2nd year B service look like?
I did mine recently in July and it consists of Oil, oil filter, Dust filter, Pollen Filter and Brake fluid change?
How much are the Merc asking for the service? I did them myself as I am fairly experienced and know how to service them. Only costed me parts. (Around AUD400 in total?)

I wouldn't skip on service purely because I haven't driven it much. Especially when the service sched clearly states miles or time based... And more so like the Oil and Brake fluid.

Frank Rizzo

I'm in the same spot - got the car in Jan 19, did Service A at 10k, have only put on 5k miles since then. Service indicator keeps coming on warning me that "B" is due in 29 days...
I dont see the point, especially because the car is leased and there is no way I am keeping the thing.

Maybe I talk them into service A instead.
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ua549

You can reset the service indicator to eliminate that annoying reminder.

JTK44

I have never considered buying a car at the end of the lease because 99% of the time the residual is "upside down". My lease ends December 2021. I presently have only 11,000 miles on the car.

However, for the first time I am perfectly satisfied with my E450 and because of Covid my E450 is retaining its value, so at the end of the lease it may not be upside down and I might consider buying it.

Rather than do the "B" service in December 2020, two years, I plan to do it, as I posted, at 18/19,000 miles which will be next September/October 2021. Then in November of 2021, depending on the market value of the E450 I will decide whether to return it or buy it. If I buy it, the next service with be the "A" service which will probably not be until the beginning of 2023. In December 2022, my car will be 4 years old, the warranty will end, and I will probably get rid of it.

If I buy the car, by delaying the "B" service until about 20,000 miles, I will have no additional expenses through four years of ownership.

As per UA549 I will just go into my dealer and have them reset the service reminder.

JTK44

Thanks!

What is the procedure?

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ua549

I've posted this previously, but here it is again.

JTK44

THANKS!

Courthaven

Thanks all. Maybe I will ride it out until I get the Service Reminder and then do it then.