The Value of MB "Service A" and "Service B"
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 738
Likes: 163
From: Orlando, FL
2016 E400 Coupe (C207)
The Value of MB "Service A" and "Service B"
My car is going in this week for its first maintenance "Service A" since I acquired it last September. My service adviser provided me with a checklist of the items that they're supposed to look at, replace, adjust, etc. during Service A and Service B at various mileage points and I honestly can't believe they expect customers to pay hundreds of dollars to have them verify that the horn, headlights, turning signals, etc., are working.
When my adviser informed me that "Service A" costs $365, I told him that I monitor all of those little functions myself during daily driving and am only looking to them for the big items, like fluid changes. He replied that I only want an oil change, which costs $210, and that they "can't reset the service indicator for you if you don't purchase the full service". The price of an oil change alone is ridiculous (BMW only charged $89 for synthetic oil/filter change on a six cylinder), so I really can't see paying another $155 for them to check my brake lights, etc. I understand that "Service B" is significantly more expensive than "Service A".
I'm just wondering if anyone else with a late model vehicle that's still under warranty opts to pass on "Service A" and "Service B" and only has the dealer do things like major fluid changes. Also, can this legally affect my warranty? Thanks for insights.
When my adviser informed me that "Service A" costs $365, I told him that I monitor all of those little functions myself during daily driving and am only looking to them for the big items, like fluid changes. He replied that I only want an oil change, which costs $210, and that they "can't reset the service indicator for you if you don't purchase the full service". The price of an oil change alone is ridiculous (BMW only charged $89 for synthetic oil/filter change on a six cylinder), so I really can't see paying another $155 for them to check my brake lights, etc. I understand that "Service B" is significantly more expensive than "Service A".
I'm just wondering if anyone else with a late model vehicle that's still under warranty opts to pass on "Service A" and "Service B" and only has the dealer do things like major fluid changes. Also, can this legally affect my warranty? Thanks for insights.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 163
From: CA
2014 E350 W212
that's complete bs... and -s h i t t y- trying to coerce customers into paying outrageous prices by refusing to reset the service indicator... time to find a new dealer... and if so inclined, spread the word about this coercion tactic being employed to gouge customers by this dealer...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 738
Likes: 163
From: Orlando, FL
2016 E400 Coupe (C207)
Thanks for the input, folks. Can anyone advise whether having only the oil changed (and other big fluid items, like brake fluid) on schedule and skipping all of that "check horn operation, check interior lights operation, etc." B.S. will affect the warranty?
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 163
From: CA
2014 E350 W212
part of the magnuson–moss warranty act -
Prohibition on conditions for written or implied warranty; waiver by Commission
No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name; - 15 U.S.C. § 2302(c)
No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name; - 15 U.S.C. § 2302(c)
No warrantor may condition the continued validity of a warranty on the use of only authorized repair service and/or authorized replacement parts for non-warranty service and maintenance (other than an article of service provided without charge under the warranty or unless the warrantor has obtained a waiver pursuant to section 102(c) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 2302(c)). For example, provisions such as, “This warranty is void if service is performed by anyone other than an authorized `ABC' dealer and all replacement parts must be genuine `ABC' parts,” and the like, are prohibited where the service or parts are not covered by the warranty. - 16 CFR 700.10(c)
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 738
Likes: 163
From: Orlando, FL
2016 E400 Coupe (C207)
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 140
Likes: 7
C220 CDI W204.008 2007
Bought a Chinese $25 12V pump to suck the oil out through the dip stick, from Hong Kong an $8 cap to screw off the cap to the oil filter, voila, all done myself. I am not going to pay for: Check, check, check, etc.
Can buy after-market or Merc genuine filters. Fuel and air filter is accessible from the top. Have even done the partial oil change for the automatic gear box by sucking the oil out via the dip stick. The factory had put such torque on the drain plug, that no dealer had drained the oil, not at the recommended 60,000km, nor at 120,000km. It was black and stank! The fuel filter was still the original with "Made in Austria" 2007 stamped on it, I cut it open and it was full of junk. When I complained to the dealer, who had done the 120,000km service, he told me the client "refused" those services - rubbish. Those services are stated in the service booklet and the customer delivered the car for a service, so no-one is going to ask him if he really wants a service.
That dealer had not noticed a slow rise to 80 degrees, so I had to change the thermostat as it must rise to 90. That dealer had recommended a brake rotor change as the thickness measured by the dealer was 25.3mm, bulls..., min. is 25.4, but it measured 26.1mm! Lies, lies! Guess what I think of Merc dealers, at least in Perth, Western Australia?
Can buy after-market or Merc genuine filters. Fuel and air filter is accessible from the top. Have even done the partial oil change for the automatic gear box by sucking the oil out via the dip stick. The factory had put such torque on the drain plug, that no dealer had drained the oil, not at the recommended 60,000km, nor at 120,000km. It was black and stank! The fuel filter was still the original with "Made in Austria" 2007 stamped on it, I cut it open and it was full of junk. When I complained to the dealer, who had done the 120,000km service, he told me the client "refused" those services - rubbish. Those services are stated in the service booklet and the customer delivered the car for a service, so no-one is going to ask him if he really wants a service.
That dealer had not noticed a slow rise to 80 degrees, so I had to change the thermostat as it must rise to 90. That dealer had recommended a brake rotor change as the thickness measured by the dealer was 25.3mm, bulls..., min. is 25.4, but it measured 26.1mm! Lies, lies! Guess what I think of Merc dealers, at least in Perth, Western Australia?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 738
Likes: 163
From: Orlando, FL
2016 E400 Coupe (C207)
I certainly don't trust that the dealer actually does all of those little "checks" on the list; it's just a money-grab for clueless customers. I recently took my car in for Service A because I had a discount coupon for it (I would not have paid them full price for this "service"), and when I got the car back I quickly noticed that the tire pressures had not actually been checked/adjusted, the windshield washer reservoir had not been checked/topped off, etc.
