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Hello, does MB USA publish their prepaid maintenance cost online like BMW does? Just wanted cost info before I meet with finance department when picking up my car.
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Originally Posted by webby87
Hello, does MB USA publish their prepaid maintenance cost online like BMW does? Just wanted cost info before I meet with finance department when picking up my car.
Suggest you calf Jeff Jackson at Mercedes of Louisville.
There are many threads on this subject:
I put the pre paid maintenance in my lease where it was residualized, otherwise it does not make economic sense to buy the prepaid maintenance
The "A" service is basically an oil + filter change. Many dealers run specials on this. An alternative is having an Indy shop do it.
The "B" service is the "A" service plus brake fluid change and filter change. Filters are very easy to change
The prepaid maintenance requires the service to be done at 10,000 mile intervals or a year whichever comes first. Be aware if you only drive 5000 miles in a year you will be required to do the service. That means a brake fluid change at 10,000 miles.
There is no requirement for warranty work that the "A" and "B" service be done by MB
I like my dealership (MB of Scarborough) so I would use them anyway. They don't hesitate to offer a loaner. There is a discount if you pre-pay and with the way pricing for items year to year have escalated, I wonder if there's an additional benefit of locking in a "today's" price.
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Originally Posted by TulsaVic
I like my dealership (MB of Scarborough) so I would use them anyway. They don't hesitate to offer a loaner. There is a discount if you pre-pay and with the way pricing for items year to year have escalated, I wonder if there's an additional benefit of locking in a "today's" price.
The only way to determine if there is a discount, or economic advantage, in purchasing a pre paid maintenance plan is to compare it to what the "A" and "B" service cost.
The "A" service at my dealer with coupons is $225, Indy shop $150. The "B" service is about $650/700. So for 3 years, two "A"'s and one "B" that would be about $1200.
How does that compare to the cost of a 3 year prepaid service plan?
As I posted, the only time I found that the pre paid maintenance made sense was when you could put it in a lease and residualize it.
Don't know how the prices compare. But I asked them to do the "A" visit after I accumulated 1000 miles. Been doing that since 1969 with my cars. Should have taken maybe 45 minutes. Instead I waited almost 3 hours. I said I think I should get a discount for the wait. They agreed, and did it at no charge.
As I said, I would use them anyway so ANY discount they give me for doing a pre-paid is to my benefit.
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Originally Posted by TulsaVic
Don't know how the prices compare. But I asked them to do the "A" visit after I accumulated 1000 miles. Been doing that since 1969 with my cars. Should have taken maybe 45 minutes. Instead I waited almost 3 hours. I said I think I should get a discount for the wait. They agreed, and did it at no charge.
As I said, I would use them anyway so ANY discount they give me for doing a pre-paid is to my benefit.
Point of clarification:
What did they charge you for the "A" service before they agreed to do it at no charge?
Take that number multiply by two and then add in $650 for the "B" service and then compare it to the cost of the pre paid maintenance for three years. Which is cheaper?
In both cases you are using your dealer as you indicated you wanted to. This would then be apples to apples.
You are totally missing my point. The only comparison I needed was when they said the normal price is X and the prepaid price is X minus Y. As long as Y is bigger than zero, then for me, prepaying is better. (I'm not going to factor in the monetary loss by not investing that prepaid sum for 3 years. Life is too short.)
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Originally Posted by TulsaVic
You are totally missing my point. The only comparison I needed was when they said the normal price is X and the prepaid price is X minus Y. As long as Y is bigger than zero, then for me, prepaying is better. (I'm not going to factor in the monetary loss by not investing that prepaid sum for 3 years. Life is too short.)
To cut to the chase: How many years is the pre paid maintenance for and what did you pay for it?
Once we all know that cost, each of us, depending on what our dealer or Indy shop charges, can determine if it makes sense to buy it or just pay as you go.
Anytime you pay for something in advance there must be a savings: So if the pre paid maintenance (your "X" minus "Y" above) is more than $1200 (Your "X" above), you are better off paying as you go.
In my neck of the woods, the charges for the A-Service and the B-Service varies drastically from dealer to dealer. All the way from $299 to $499 for an A-Service and from $699 to $899++ for a B-Service.
So I personally go with a dealer that has the best technicians in the region, but coincidentally, charges very reasonably. This dealer in turn, has a top-notch Service department, but an absolutely lousy Sales Department !
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Just went to my local MB web site and found their pricing on prepaid maintenance and the supposed "savings".
This is the same dealer who advertises Express Service, under 1 hours, for the "A" service with coupon $225 and the "B" service in under 90 minutes, cost less than $700. The labor rate at the dealer is $195 an hour. So the three year service, Two "A" services @$225 each, total $450 and the "B" service at $700 would come to under $1,200. The estimate from the screen shot is $3,290 - which is just plain ridiculous.
With the above as a guideline there is no way I or anyone else can figure out how the savings are calculated: It is in fact pure "puffery" - not to be taken seriously or to be taken with a grain of salt!
If you look at the 2 year, one "A" and and "B" the price is $1380. The three year service is one extra "A" service and the price is $2350. That is a additional cost of $970 for an "A" service which is an oil change and filter. This makes no sense at all.
Going from the 3 year which is two "A" and one "B", $2350 to the four year which is two "A" and two "B", $2520 that is only $170 for the "B" service.
To me the pricing makes no sense at all.
Here is a screen shot of the "costs" and "savings:"
I just did my first "official" 10K service, otherwise known as the A-Service and paid $223.15 total out the door price. They initially quoted me over $700 + tax for their recommended service which besides the oil, filter, and standard safety inspection included a detailed diagnostic on all vehicle systems. Much of the cost is the additional 2 hours of labor. I declined that and did what amounts to an express service, no coupon needed.
I say official in quotes because I've changed the oil at 722 and 5079 miles myself. It's takes about 1 hour total to change the oil and filter which includes putting the car on ramps, draining the oil from below, and all the other necessary steps. I only used the dealer so that the minimum service intervals are recorded in the official system. I'll continue to change the oil myself between dealer services to effectively have a 5K oil change interval. I'll replace the engine and cabin air filters myself too. I save money, time, and have the satisfaction of doing it myself.
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Originally Posted by L1Wolf
I just did my first "official" 10K service, otherwise known as the A-Service and paid $223.15 total out the door price. They initially quoted me over $700 + tax for their recommended service which besides the oil, filter, and standard safety inspection included a detailed diagnostic on all vehicle systems. Much of the cost is the additional 2 hours of labor. I declined that and did what amounts to an express service, no coupon needed.
I say official in quotes because I've changed the oil at 722 and 5079 miles myself. It's takes about 1 hour total to change the oil and filter which includes putting the car on ramps, draining the oil from below, and all the other necessary steps. I only used the dealer so that the minimum service intervals are recorded in the official system. I'll continue to change the oil myself between dealer services to effectively have a 5K oil change interval. I'll replace the engine and cabin air filters myself too. I save money, time, and have the satisfaction of doing it myself.
I agree 100% except for the filter under the glove compartment. My body no longer bends that much and working on my back with the arms above my head is just too difficult!
Mine is a 2019 E450 with the dip stick. I use an extractor with an air compressor. So my actual time is maybe 20 minutes: setting up the extractor, removing and replacing the oil filter and adding oil. Far less time then driving to the dealer and back and doing the under 1 hour express oil change which is the "A" service
I paid ~$450 for the B service at the MB dealer a few months ago and my recent A service was ~$255 also at the MB dealer. In both cases I declined the "extras".
I paid ~$450 for the B service at the MB dealer a few months ago and my recent A service was ~$255 also at the MB dealer. In both cases I declined the "extras".
In addition to oil and filter all "A service" multi-point inspections and adjustments listed in the service booklet such as fluid levels, tire pressures and brake pads were done and noted. Key fob battery was replaced and the car was cleaned the inside and outside. I had an EQE sedan loaner. IMO they gave me the exposure to the EQ line for marketing purposes as I usually get an E or an S loaner.
In addition to oil and filter all "A service" multi-point inspections and adjustments listed in the service booklet such as fluid levels, tire pressures and brake pads were done and noted. Key fob battery was replaced and the car was cleaned the inside and outside. I had an EQE sedan loaner. IMO they gave me the exposure to the EQ line for marketing purposes as I usually get an E or an S loaner.
That sounds like the A service. I was inquiring about the B service.
That sounds like the A service. I was inquiring about the B service.
My B service was everything on the AP00.20-U-1208DN Service sheet for 7 year old car except the tire rotation. (see attached)
My car is a factory ordered 2018 model that was built in June 2017 and delivered shortly thereafter. It is almost 8 years old.
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