Ulmer

I was specing out a GLK250 on mbusa.com and noticed the maintenance plan is twice as much as the GLK350. 3 year/30K of service is $1465 vs $769. I know you have to add the ADblue urea stuff every year, but $700 more? Isn't it a like a $100 item?

Is there another aspect of these Bluetec diesels that adds to maintenance costs. The added maintenance cost seems to negate the fuel savings pretty quickly unless you drive a ton of miles.

ScottTX

At 20k you need to replace the fuel filter on the GLK250. That is the only additional item.

Alex Bel

This is the same question I have. The AddBlue tank is ~7gal, the cost for 2.5gal of AdBlue in the local WalMart is ~$11.


What else there? Pure profit?

ScottTX

They claim that they "drain and fill" the AbBlue tank so that sounds like code for "one hour labor". I am sure they just top it off. As for the fuel filter, I can't imagine that is more than one hour labor and a $50-$75 part at most.

Ulmer

Interesting. I got the maintenance plan on my C300 because it seemed like an OK deal. I honestly like working on cars though, so I think I'd handle a fuel filter and AdBlue tank top off on my own and save a $1000 vs getting the plan. Or maybe I'll skip the diesel...

kozak79

I paid about $400 for 2 year prepaid maintenance on my 2013 GLK.

ScottTX

I was wrong...it looks like the filter is $140 through MB. So a safe estimate of a filter change is $140 + $100 (hour labor)= ~$240.

Alex Bel

I still don't get it. 5 years or 50,000 miles for diesel is $3,045 vs. $1,679 for gas version. You do not change fuel filter every year. This is clearly a 'hidden' charge. I don't think that "...Save up to 30% versus "purchasing maintenance as you go* "..." worth it in the case of GLK250BT.

Bob338

I didn't get any prepaid maintenance on any of the cars I've bought, all diesels, and I'm sure I'm way ahead of the game. I didn't get it for the one I'm picking up in two weeks either. I've had one service on the E350 BlueTec and I got that on a dealer special for $190. Much cheaper than the prepaid estimate.

Figure it this way - they have figured to make money on it. They're not 'giving' you anything but they have your money on which they are earning interest. Why are they so eager to sell it? It's just like insurance, extended warranties, etc. Are they 'giving' anything other than piece of mind? They're certainly not 'giving' away money! I'll dispense with my money as the time comes and when I see fit.

ScottTX

I didn't buy the prepaid either as I am pretty handy myself and plan to do it myself. The finance manager told me that most of the "30% savings" is because the service cost go up over time and he told me that it is "foolish not to buy it now as I can roll it into the loan". I just rolled my eyes and told him that the NPV of money today is worth more than money 5 years from now and that rolling it into a loan also increases my interest costs over the loan term. He's eye glazed over at that comment like I am sure they did when he failed senior algebra in high school.

I agree with Bob338. Look for deals and do the little things yourself (like topping off the Adblue) and you will be way ahead.

glayfan40

You might be interested to know that the 2013/14 MB maintenance manual actually has slight revisions in regards to fuel filter replacement intervals for diesel engines - it's 4yr/40K miles now instead of the previous 2yr/20K. The requirement for draining DEF tank has also been removed - only calling out for topping off every 10K/1yr now.

fabbrisd1

For GLK350 the 3ts/30K maintenance plan is the best value - on the GLK250BT the current MB maintenance plans charge the same amount as the 350 diesel - so best to go "open service" until we see what the next round of maintenance plans are priced out by MB most likely in Sept

Remember if you lease, maintenance plans are "residualized" meaning over the course of the lease you will only "pay" about 50% of the maintenance plan cost in your payments - MB eats the rest in the residual on their dime..