Rev 2 Liv

This happened months ago, but I just found this forum and thought I would post.

The two dealers i've been too in Massachusetts Smith Motors and Herb Chambers have both in my opinion been less than stellar. The 4 year free is supposed to cover all recommended services in the service booklet at recommended intervals.

The booklet states that brake fluid should be changed every 2 years while coolant flushed every 3 years if I recall correctly.

Well, after changing the brakes (after being quoted $1200 for 4 discs/rotors) I looked through my records to find that my brake fluid was NOT flushed. Service advisor claimed that they only perform that service if SPECIFICALLY requested. As a result the brake fluid in the car is 4 years old. At no time during the 4yr did either dealer recommend changing the brake fluid.

For my last service before the end of the 4yr/50k allowance, car stated that it still had about 3000 miles before it needed the FSS (B). I didn't think to bring it in on the dot since I was busy and didn't see a point in bringing it in early believing that this would easily be covered w/o any questions.

Even though this happened months ago, I am still planning on calling MBNA and also possibly filing a complaint with the MA State Attorney General's Office for false/deceptive advertising practices.

Anyone else have stories like this?

mleskovar

My brake fluid was replaced under the 'free' maintenance program without me asking.

E55AMG99

Nope. Sounds like a bad dealer to me. Smythe in San Jose goes out of their way to fix things and do work under warranty for me. I get reminders on every car I maintain there under warranty. They even called 2 months before my 4 years was up on the CLK to remind me to get it into them.

Even the sales staff goes over the top. I called the salesman to tell him I was shopping for an E for my mom. I gave him the options over the phone and he had one of every color waiting for us to see when we got there. Picked it out in 30 minutes and he delivered the car to the house that evening with a woman service advisor to go over all of the controls with my mom. He did all the paperwork at the kitchen table with a glass of wine and some dessert!

GGM

So was mine.
GGM

MB Fanatic

If I am correct, they are only supposed to do free maintanence on what the FSS tells them to do, not other things that are listed in the service manual as well.

I tried to get them to replace my brake fluid and coolant in the W210 E320, but I was told by the regional service manager that MBUSA only does free work on FSS items.

amdeutsch

In regards to the brake fluid change; my SA replaced it at the 2 year level at cost to the stealership (in between FSS services). Thereafter he advised me that MB would pay for in conjunction with a FSS called for service at 2 year intervals.

HTH

E55AMG99

Isn't FSS also linked to time? In other words, if 12 months rolls around since last service, FSS say service in xx days, no?

amdeutsch

Thats only on the MY 05s and later where MB no longer pays and therefore shortened the time interval. Previously to that it could go as long as 16 to 18 month prior to giving notification.

E55AMG99

OK, that makes sense. My 99 E55 acts just that way as well. The 00-04 cars we have in the family get driven much more often so they get oil changes every 10-12 months or 10-15k miles according to FSS. I have to say that MB paid for brake fluid flush 2X on my 00 CLK430. We'll see what happens on the 03 S500 and the 04 E500.