ubrs

I took it to the dealership for Service A and paid $300 for an oil change, however, I do not feel like paying upwards of $600.00 for Service C. I am sure, me or Jiffy Lube will do just as good of a job for Service C. Advice?

Thanks

BeanCounter

My advice would be to find a different dealer. My dealer, who has a palace of a building and is not cheap in any way, shape, or form, charged me $178 for Service A and charges around a $100 for an oil change. There is a lot of stuff on Service C that I would not consider to be mandatory for warranty coverage (i.e. wiper blades, cabin air filters, tire rotation, etc.) so you might want to have that conversation with the dealer prior to getting the work done. If you do go the alternative route I would ensure that you get everything done that needs to be done for warranty coverage.

dariof

I changed my oil myself. It was very easy to say the least.

My dealer here in Vegas wanted $300.00 for Service A, which is basically an oil change.

I now live with the light that says "Service A exceeded" because the dealer won't reset it...unless of course I pay the $300 and let them change the oil.

scottybdiving

I believe there is a topic here somewhere on re-setting the service indicator. You may try doing a search.

stonecliff

Click here for an earlier post on resetting the service indicator.

lkchris

Jiffy Lube should not be allowed anywhere close to your Mercedes. They'll break it. Plus it's unlikely they have Mercedes-spec oil, which IS required to maintain warranty.

All the money you paid for your Mercedes didn't go toward a status-providing star in the grille. It also went for a level of engineering that makes American cars look like 3rd-world jalopies. Guys at Jiffy Lube and Pep Boys are trained only to the 3rd-world jalopy level and you should stay away. You haven't stopped paying for your Mercedes once you leave the dealer.

Brocktoon

+1

dariof

Thanks for the link. All is reset!!

Although the instructions were not exactly what was required for my certain GL CDI model, they were close enough. The instructions brought me into the correct screens, and I was able to figure it out from there.

Thanks, again.

KA8

Just ask them to do oil change only. Should cost around $100 and reset the service msg yourself.

llnatem

Driving a GL doesn't mean we shouldn't spend our money wisely. I have a friend who work as a service tech in the mercedes dealer for over 15 years. He told me that in service "A" the dealer only do the oil change using Mobil 1 oils (and filter) and check the tire pressures and inflate them as neccessary. Service "B" is the same as service "A" with the addition of cabin filter replacement. One thing we all should know is that the service reps are commission driven. Which means the more services they offer you, the more money they make. If you have the time to do the oil change, I don't see why not, just make sure you are using Mobil 1 oil and oil filter from the dealer. You can easily save youself $200+ to take your old lady to a nice dinner. One last thing, the dealers recommend to perform service "A" every 10,000 miles. However, my service tech recommended every 5,000 miles if you plan to keep your GL for a while. No offense to all the service reps out there. I just wanted to educate all the GL owners how the dealers are operated.

dariof

+1. Services "A" and "B" can be done at home, just as well as the dealer, and with substantial time and money savings.

lkchris

Yes they can, but don't assume there isn't some investment required.

First, start with the Service DVD and reference that for descriptions of special tools required. Equipment to vacuum-extract motor oil via dipstick tube is also highly recommended.

dariof

I already had the pump for the motor oil, and of all the oil filter wrench's I had saved over the years, one of them fit perfectly.

For service "A", the expense of course is the oil and MZB oil filter. But after shopping around I purchased both for about $75.00, which was $225.00 under local dealer's quote.

I found (on this site) instructions for resetting the service reminder, and I was good to go.

Brocktoon

That is way too much. I paid that in Canada for mine!

stonecliff

Is there an online source for the oil and filter? My local MB dealer charges much more than that...

LEOSOPHIE

MBZ of Fresno Ca has Service A for 129.95 and B for 249.95. April special.

dariof

Laguna Niguel MZB charges 149, but they have competition from a myriad of So. Ca dealers.

The reason the dealer out here in Vegas charges so much is because they are the only game in town.

dariof

Here is one of the sources for the oil.

http://store.avlube.com/mo1espfom5wc.html. I understand many of the MZB dealers now sell the oil at approx. $7/qt.

I purchased the oil filter from Mercedes of Laguna Niguel for $14.00. (The dealer out here in Vegas wanted $35.00 for the same filter).

Derekholbrook

I have used the instructions, but I can not get it to reset a full service. What did you do diffrent from the instructions?

ksdprasad

any idea on service E. mine showing that i am past due for the Service E. what consists of service E?

bigben320e

+100.

To add, guys do your homework on prices for the A/B services at different dealers. Go for the best price, but got your sevicing done. It's not "just an oil change" as someone mentioned earlier, and some others say. I watched the tech do the A service on my car (eye-opening):

1. Checking over a lot of systems visually and on the Star diag machine
2. Change oil
3. Check over all fluids
4. Test all batteries in car
5. Checked over belts, seals, on top and under the car.
6. Lubed and check lube on doors and sunroof

The A service for me with $267.


Some areas to save money are in air filters, cabin filter, wipers, etc. DIY, and save a lot of money there.

43221B

On my Toyota 4Runner, Jiffy Lube put Antifreeze in the windsheild washer reservoir. How do you screw that up? They also kept opening the plug on the rear differential to "see if I needed to change the dif oil." They kept telling me that it needed to be changed even though I had it changed at the dealership on the recommended intervals.... I finally bought a pump and started doing it myself. The GL has to go to the dealership to get some $250 urine put in the trunk so I guess I'll just let them change the oil too.

GLguy

Is pump a must for an oil change? Can't I just drain oil? Which pump do you use if required?

Fourdiesel

You CAN 'just' drain the oil, but it ain't easy. [Get the car up in the air, drop the skid pan, drain oil into a drain pan - 9 L for the diesel - replace drain plug (make sure it won't leak) replace skid pan, lower car.] MUCH more convenient to use a vacuum pumping system and suck the oil out through the dipstick tube. When you are done, use the same vacuum system to suck the residual oil from the oil filter case.
MUCH easier and more convenient! Trust me!!

GLguy

Thanks. Do you recommend any particular pump?