mikapen

We are about to buy our 2019 GLC 300 out of our 4-year single-pay lease.

I am actually considering a PPM (prepaid maintenance) for the next 48 months. It's interesting because of the ever-increasing shop rates, but more so because the transmission service and spark plug changes are part of the scheduled maintenance, but I don't see them included in the PPM brochures.

An 'X' factor is that we've only put 16,000 miles on the car in 48 months and don't expect to drive any more than that. So if that rate continues, we'll be nowhere near the transmission flush and spark plug changes as specified in the maintenance schedule.

I'm wanting to become more conversant on this before I go in to finalize the transaction.

I'll buy it if those services are included, but won't if they're not.

Any guidance out there?

chassis

You could walk into the dealer with this in your hand.

https://www.mbusa.com/content/dam/mb...%2009.2018.pdf

mikapen

Thanks, @chassis I have that, but it's ambiguous about whether spark plugs are "scheduled maintenance" based on time and mileage, or time alone.
Wanted to be prepared before going to the Dealer.

More specifically, if we only have 35,000 miles at the expiration of the ELW (likely), will the Factory ELW cover plugs? It's a $1200 question. The trans flush is another $1200 question.

Our quote for 2yrs maint is $2750. I doubt that MB would include that $2400 in a plan that only costs $2750 and includes 2 A and 2 B Services.

I'm getting mixed answers but no written confirms. Any experience with this specific question?

chassis

If it was me, I would DIY the maintenance. I know not everyone does this. Second choice, and especially for spark plugs on a four cylinder, I would have an Indy do it. It’s dead simple. Save the receipts, MB can’t deny warranty if the work was done with proper parts on schedule.

Or accept any price increase for services in the future. What if the price goes up by 50% in the next 2 years? In the big picture it’s not alot of money considering the value of the car.

tisi_03

I agree with chassis 100%. If the plugs need changing at 50K, have an indy do it. Same with the trans fluid exchange. That's a lot of money to spend for 4 oil changes, air/cabin filters that don't need changing and a brake fluid flush that cost me $200 at the dealer this past summer on my 2019 that has only 17K miles on it.

mikapen

My wife doesn't change oil or go to Indy's. And, currently, I'll take my Dealer over any Indy reasonably close. That's not what I was asking.

If I can spend $2750 for 2 A, 2 B, spark plugs and transmission flush, it's a good deal for us.

My question was if anybody has experience getting PPM to cover plugs and trans covered based on time, not mileage.

chassis

Call a dealer other than your normal dealer and ask. Or drop in and visit and ask the not-usual dealer. Then go to your usual store and tell them what the deal will be.

no_mulligan

I believe it's the mileage that will drive tranny and spark plugs work. 35K is just too early. Hope you find out officially and report back for others.

PandaSPUR

I always thought maintenance intervals are "whichever comes first" and it seems like they only offer up to 4yr/40k on a new car so the question of covering spark plug replacement and trans fluids never really comes up.
I'd bet the dealers giving you these quotes dont realize you're already in a 4yr old car.

no_mulligan

Some are "whichever comes first" such as oil change because of the exposure over time but not all. Think about a tire rotation where you want to even out wear. The other idea that could be behind the time and mileage pairing is that it's much easier for the average consumer to judge time milestones and forecast when certain services are due.
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PandaSPUR

Yea I get that not all maintenance items in reality need changing after X years despite low mileage. Normally though, dealerships push the "whichever comes first" line to make more money. So its quite interesting when stuff like PPM forces them to rethink that lol.

Either way, I guess we wont know for sure till mikapen reports back.

mikapen

Here's the answer from my Service Manager, who researched this question for me. He was out of pocket the past week.

As we all surmised, tranny flush and spark plug change coverages are mileage OR time, whichever comes first.

Which means that they will be covered at my next B service in 24 months, under a Prepaid Maintenance contract purchased on a 4 year old car with 2 A and 2 B Services already completed.

Which for most would be around 60,000 miles / 6 years.
In our case that will be 6 years, but likely only 35,000 miles.

Interestingly, even though our car only had 16,000 miles at our B Service completed yesterday, they called it a "40,000 mile service" on the Repair Order.

The .pdf that @chassis showed earlier is correct, but the ELW brochure left out Services beyond 48 months because of "space limitations" in a brochure.

My SM says he can count on me to read the contracts I sign, and we laugh about it. He works hard for me if I appreciate it.

So we bought the PrePaid Maintenance Plan for $2750, which will include 2 A's, 1 B, Tranny flush and spark plug change.

It will be a stellar deal - IF we keep the car for two more years.

That won't be hard because its a highly optioned auto, the first my Wife personally spec'd out, and it's perfect for her.

Thanks for everybody's thoughts.

eddieo45

I've noticed that on all my cars with lower than average miles, which includes all my current cars. My SL got plugs at +/-40K miles and my 86K miles ML has already had the 90K service. That said, I've never seen the value in PPM unless you're paying absolute top dollar for your service A/B's. My SA always seems to find a "coupon" when billing out my service so my general recollection is I pay $300 or so for a Service A and maybe $600 for a Service B. I'll look up my "50,000 mile Service" that included plugs and edit that in later. EDIT: "50,000 mile" Service A (at 44,750 miles )was $1037 on my SL400, including replacing 6 spark plugs, which were $135.00

Curious who your CO dealer is as my daughter moved to Denver in September; I was happy to see that she not only has a dealership nearby but also an MB-specialist indy within walking distance.

ralawren

That appears to be a great deal from a MB Dealer. I just went had the "BG" service done on our 2017 GLC300 with 43,000 miles by an independent and it cost $980. Changed Oil, Plugs, Transmission Filter/Pan. Brake fluid was done last year off schedule and the cabin air filters were in good shape. I am sure this was at least $1500-$1800 at the dealer. So if you are getting two As and two Bs for $2750 that includes the transmission filter and fluid that is a great deal.

Good luck. And yes, my independent uses time or mileage whichever is first as a guide but then verifies it is needed. i.e. brake fluid change was accelerated but cabin filters just checked...

no_mulligan

I have a '20 &' 21 GLC. I've personally replaced it a few times. I'd like to know what checking filter means. If it's pulling it out and looking at it, that doesn't make sense for 3 reasons. That filter gets damaged half the time pulling it out so never put it back in. The labor cost is the same to check versus replace. The particles it traps is not completely visible to the naked eye. I've never found a filter with 15K miles not needing replacement. Just look at a YouTube video to see what I mean about pulling out.