How can I tell if my oil was actually changed?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 205
From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
Unfortunately, there's no way to know for sure unless you actually watch the whole process. Most reviews are written by people who just had a good experience -- good coffee, a comfortable lounge, quick turnaround -- and that gives you an idea, but not the full picture.
The reality is, most customers have no idea if the service was actually done properly, or more importantly, if it was done to spec. Modern cars are too complex. Even something as simple as an oil change requires using a torque wrench, tightening the filter housing in two steps, and filling with the correct spec oil.
Now think about more complex services, like a transmission job. It requires specialized software, lots of time, and with high hourly labor rates, shops still want to maximize profit while customers want to pay less. That's why $200 for an oil change sounds crazy to some, but it reflects the cost of doing things right.
The bottom line: you should expect flaws in services. And the more complex the service, the more corners are likely to be cut.
I came from a country where the tech is held responsible for mistakes. I was shocked to find out that here, shops can't charge a tech for incorrect work or damage. If there are no consequences, why bother doing it right?
The reality is, most customers have no idea if the service was actually done properly, or more importantly, if it was done to spec. Modern cars are too complex. Even something as simple as an oil change requires using a torque wrench, tightening the filter housing in two steps, and filling with the correct spec oil.
Now think about more complex services, like a transmission job. It requires specialized software, lots of time, and with high hourly labor rates, shops still want to maximize profit while customers want to pay less. That's why $200 for an oil change sounds crazy to some, but it reflects the cost of doing things right.
The bottom line: you should expect flaws in services. And the more complex the service, the more corners are likely to be cut.
I came from a country where the tech is held responsible for mistakes. I was shocked to find out that here, shops can't charge a tech for incorrect work or damage. If there are no consequences, why bother doing it right?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Unfortunately, there's no way to know for sure unless you actually watch the whole process. Most reviews are written by people who just had a good experience -- good coffee, a comfortable lounge, quick turnaround -- and that gives you an idea, but not the full picture.
The reality is, most customers have no idea if the service was actually done properly, or more importantly, if it was done to spec. Modern cars are too complex. Even something as simple as an oil change requires using a torque wrench, tightening the filter housing in two steps, and filling with the correct spec oil.
Now think about more complex services, like a transmission job. It requires specialized software, lots of time, and with high hourly labor rates, shops still want to maximize profit while customers want to pay less. That's why $200 for an oil change sounds crazy to some, but it reflects the cost of doing things right.
The bottom line: you should expect flaws in services. And the more complex the service, the more corners are likely to be cut.
I came from a country where the tech is held responsible for mistakes. I was shocked to find out that here, shops can't charge a tech for incorrect work or damage. If there are no consequences, why bother doing it right?
The reality is, most customers have no idea if the service was actually done properly, or more importantly, if it was done to spec. Modern cars are too complex. Even something as simple as an oil change requires using a torque wrench, tightening the filter housing in two steps, and filling with the correct spec oil.
Now think about more complex services, like a transmission job. It requires specialized software, lots of time, and with high hourly labor rates, shops still want to maximize profit while customers want to pay less. That's why $200 for an oil change sounds crazy to some, but it reflects the cost of doing things right.
The bottom line: you should expect flaws in services. And the more complex the service, the more corners are likely to be cut.
I came from a country where the tech is held responsible for mistakes. I was shocked to find out that here, shops can't charge a tech for incorrect work or damage. If there are no consequences, why bother doing it right?
Tech's are responsible for "comebacks." The must complete the work correctly if it Comes Back (without pay), or have their pay withdrawn to pay another tech to do the work properly.
A tech with Comebacks won't make much money, and probably won't remain employed if it continues.
The shop is ultimately responsible for work being done correctly. They won't charge a customer twice for a job.
If their reputation falters, they might lose their entire franchise. That's a pretty big Consequence.
Last edited by mikapen; Sep 2, 2025 at 11:59 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 205
From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
That's absolutely false.
Tech's are responsible for "comebacks." The must complete the work correctly if it Comes Back (without pay), or have their pay withdrawn to pay another tech to do the work properly.
A tech with Comebacks won't make much money, and probably won't remain employed if it continues.
The shop is ultimately responsible for work being done correctly. They won't charge a customer twice for a job.
If their reputation falters, they might lose their entire franchise. That's a pretty big Consequence.
Tech's are responsible for "comebacks." The must complete the work correctly if it Comes Back (without pay), or have their pay withdrawn to pay another tech to do the work properly.
A tech with Comebacks won't make much money, and probably won't remain employed if it continues.
The shop is ultimately responsible for work being done correctly. They won't charge a customer twice for a job.
If their reputation falters, they might lose their entire franchise. That's a pretty big Consequence.
Some highlights:
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
If that shop doesn't insist on accountability then it will soon fail.
I'll go further. If the Service Manager in your first internet (!) quote was allowing a fancy, self-indulgent technician to not perform his duties and still get paid, the Dealership Owner would terminate that Service Manager once it was discovered. As I said above, he could lose his Franchise if such things prevailed. No fancy privileged tech is worth a Franchise.
Last edited by mikapen; Sep 2, 2025 at 03:43 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
GLC63
Unfortunately I experienced the opposite. I just wanted to speak to the techs about some pulleys and belts on my car as service advisors don't know diddly squat as they are just a sales team. I was hoping to get a different response but I wound up just servicing my car myself like I always do just to avoid the incompetence.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
GLC63
You think the average person can prove a mistake or negligence in labor quality for that to happen? The customer goes back the techs fix the mistake but hide it another a different issue and bill the customer again. I took my wifes car to get serviced at a VW dealership just to maintain the warranty and they left the damn oil cap off in the engine bay. I drove 100yards and had lights mess etc. you cant make it up. They tried to charge to run a diagnostic and then i told them why dont they open the engine bay and look. You shouldve seen their faces. A large percentage like I said are hacks. Its across the entire industry
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 900
From: DFW
SL63
A lot of experienced mechanics have worked for decades, and are now retiring, or ready to retire.
If they don’t retire, they may be accepting a promotion to service managers or some other office job.
Meanwhile, for those same decades, more teenagers went to college, instead of trade schools, and fewer went into automotive maintenance, repair, or body work.
So now there is a shortage of experienced mechanics, with a reduced potential supply to fill all the mechanics positions.
What we do get are entry level, or other apprentice level mechanics, with car technology they are altogether ignorant of.
If they don’t retire, they may be accepting a promotion to service managers or some other office job.
Meanwhile, for those same decades, more teenagers went to college, instead of trade schools, and fewer went into automotive maintenance, repair, or body work.
So now there is a shortage of experienced mechanics, with a reduced potential supply to fill all the mechanics positions.
What we do get are entry level, or other apprentice level mechanics, with car technology they are altogether ignorant of.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
A lot of experienced mechanics have worked for decades, and are now retiring, or ready to retire.
If they don’t retire, they may be accepting a promotion to service managers or some other office job.
Meanwhile, for those same decades, more teenagers went to college, instead of trade schools, and fewer went into automotive maintenance, repair, or body work.
So now there is a shortage of experienced mechanics, with a reduced potential supply to fill all the mechanics positions.
What we do get are entry level, or other apprentice level mechanics, with car technology they are altogether ignorant of.
If they don’t retire, they may be accepting a promotion to service managers or some other office job.
Meanwhile, for those same decades, more teenagers went to college, instead of trade schools, and fewer went into automotive maintenance, repair, or body work.
So now there is a shortage of experienced mechanics, with a reduced potential supply to fill all the mechanics positions.
What we do get are entry level, or other apprentice level mechanics, with car technology they are altogether ignorant of.
However a well-run Dealership shop might have a waiting list of Certified technicians. Mine does, and it's a reason I chose them. Their newest tech has been there four years.
I'd say the odds of a well-run Dealership shop are lower with those nameless huge Dealership Groups, but only as a broad generalization.
Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 134
Likes: 39
2020 GLC 300
If you watch enough YouTube videos of dealer and independent mechanics talking about the shenanigans that go on, especially in the flat-rate shops, you would be extremely wise to be suspicious at all times, especially of services which are extremely impractical to crosscheck their work, like fluid changes. There's no way around it, there's a huge financial incentive for them to play the "let's don't and say we did."
I caught a mechanic that charged me hundreds for a brake fluid change they didn't do on a used car that I had just bought and sent straight to them to get the services up to date. I got suspicious from other shoddy work they did, so I changed the brake fluid change myself within a week of getting the car back and it came out black as night. Over the next 10 years of ownership, it always came out clear after that doing my every two year brake fluid changes. Good luck making them pay for their deception when you do catch them. They have no real consequences, which combined with the massive profit they make skipping doing the work means you are almost certainly getting ripped off by your mechanic at some point.
I caught a mechanic that charged me hundreds for a brake fluid change they didn't do on a used car that I had just bought and sent straight to them to get the services up to date. I got suspicious from other shoddy work they did, so I changed the brake fluid change myself within a week of getting the car back and it came out black as night. Over the next 10 years of ownership, it always came out clear after that doing my every two year brake fluid changes. Good luck making them pay for their deception when you do catch them. They have no real consequences, which combined with the massive profit they make skipping doing the work means you are almost certainly getting ripped off by your mechanic at some point.
