SudiBenz

Hi,

I bought 2021 GLE350 in the last week of Dec'20. At the moment I don't have any Servicing plan and the dealer was giving me the following options(in Florida):
2 year: $2400
3 year: $2940
4 year: $3500

I know that the servicing flips between A and B. So what do you guys recommend ? Should I pay for the first one separately and then get the 3 year ?

Thank you!

Lucky 777

I'm not a believer in service plans. I'll get the scheduled maintenance and pay for it. Seems to me Ma Benz is making more money or they wouldn't offer it.

hyperion667

Welcome to the forums, not sure where you live but do a search for an Independent MB shop that specializes in MB and compare prices......I agree with Lucky 777 that prepaid options can be more expensive and drain your wallet.....proceed with confidence that there is a better deal available to you The Indy I use is always cheaper, better and a better value in terms of service, transparency and
willingness to earn my business. GL to ya and enjoy the ride

Ron.s

And the Service contract stays with the car so if for some reason you sell early you won’t get much for what’s unused. If you go out of pocket you may not decide to get the expensive Windshield wipers every 10k. I’ve found that a car that’s garaged and out of the weather a lot will go at least 2 years on the factory wipers. The 2020 wipers had a skipping problem, on my 2021 they are very good. An advantage of Dealer service is software updates that might be important for the first year or two. I ask for a check at each service interval. Also it’s a good time to build relationships with the Service people before you have a problem. At a mega Dealer you are probably just a number so a relationship may not be possible. That’s a lot of $$$ for 4 services. Audi is about half that amount but doesn’t cover as much.

Retired@52

Seems kind of steep, I paid $1,640 for 3 years prepaid maintenance in August.

BACnMercedes

That does sound steep. I don’t think we did that much for our AMG. I’m kind of split on the service plans though. I like the fact that I pay nothing at the time of the service and if the price ever goes up (I doubt it will by much) then I’m good. What I don’t like is that my service department doesn’t always know what they should or should not be doing each time. I had to argue with them that the E car had an early service (I forget what it was but somewhere near 2k miles) before it was time to do the normal service. Then they argued that that took up one of the regular services.
I probably wouldn’t do it on a 350 and just find that great Indy dealer if you can. If you don’t have one, then I’d buy it.
Welcome!

mikapen

Does that include a brake fluid flush every two years?

SudiBenz

Thank you for your response.

Noob question - What is Indy dealer ?

SudiBenz

Thank you for your response.

Noob question - What is Indy dealer ?

SudiBenz

I have asked them to send me all the details. I will share once I have those.

hyperion667

Independent MB shop that specializes in MB ie NOT the dealer!

SudiBenz

Got it, thank you.

Ron.s

They are packing the price with more than the normal service contract...there are options for several items like a lost key fob, windshield, dent and ding, wheels & probably a lot more overpriced things someone can dream up.
The AMG 53/63 pricing is higher than the 350/450/580. Here’s my quote for my 2021 GLE 53-4 year standard A/B contract $3250

jcapotos

These seem high, unless there was a big price increase from 2020.

BACnMercedes

I just remembered this. There might have been an increase since I noticed the Audi’s went from $999 to over $1600 at the first of the year.

Ron.s

There was mention of a small increase...your number is close to what I saw earlier. We get to pay even more for an AMG model...l I have an electric Turbo and different brakes so why not?

mikapen

I don't know if it would take longer to check the electric turbo or big brakes - it might.
But it DOES take a long time for the diagnostic machine to do an initial scan and report, then there's the potential downloads/updates for the new tech systems. Lots of time spent by the Technician just waiting for the machine. And now that the Mercedes Me Connect App is involved in troubleshooting, it may take longer yet.
So I wonder if the Flat Rate time allowance has increased because of technology?

Ron.s

I was being sarcastic about the only two items that are different. I can’t think there is much else difference between a 450 and the 53 except for the price. They have a longer check list for the AMG but I don’t recall anything significant. When it gets closer to service I’ll pay more attention.

Ron.s

GLE-450(350)-Mercedes-Benz Premier Service / 4 years or 40,000 miles-$2,250

You can find this quote-check the Online Configurator so unless their has been a price increase Jan 1 not updated this should be the number.

jcapotos

I remember when I bought my 2020 GLE 450, the "finance mgr" was the one who quoted the price at the time and it was extremely high. After doing research on this forum, I decided to go back to my salesman and he worked it out to the list price. I think some dealers try to gouge the price. You should only pay the mfg listed price.

mikapen

The "list price" is basically immaterial unless you have no trade, will not be financing, and want no additional stuff.
The "out the door" price is what you pay for what you want.
Include any warranties, glass, wheels, service, floor mats, clear masks, finance rates, sales tax, EVERYTHING - in the negotiations.
Let the Dealership structure the deal any way they want - it may be to their advantage to write it in a particular way - but those intermediate numbers don't matter. What matters is WHAT YOU PAY.
If you focus on (get fixated on) one particular number you can get trapped somewhere else.
That's why many dealerships present you with the "Four Square" diagram scribbled on the "Deal Sheet. (both are Dealership terms). The Four Square wants you to tell the dealership which "number" is most important to you, and then they can structure the Deal around that number - you forget about what you will actually be paying for the car, with what you want, when all is said and done ("out the door"). That's how "back end profits" are generated by the Dealer.

In the quoted text above, who cares if they want to mark the car up $20,000, if the give you +$21,000 for you trade. The Out the Door price is improved.
Or if they throw in $3500 of dealer options but decrease your trade allowance by $1,000, you have won, even it you pay $500 Dealer fees.

You won't know these final numbers (especially if calling around and asking dealers to "Shoot me a Price") until you finish with F&I, UNLESS you focus on the Out the Door price DURING negotiations.

GregW / Oregon

The electric turbocharger is the only significant standard thing with your AMG model, and that should not be a maintenance item. Plans are not tailored to specific options, so things like the performance brakes and ARC should not affect the price. You're just paying the AMG tax.

ic0dex

they are a rip off in my opinion. The car needs oil, oil filter, AC filter, that should not cost $1200 for a single visit. All the other inspections they do is to benefit the dealership. It’s a $$60k yearly maintenance should not be more then $250-$300.