interlaced

Hello, my x167 GLS is due for Service B soon and I would like to know if they will do a tire rotation if necessary? Has anyone got tire rotations and how long do you need to have this done? In addition, what does Service B consist of? I don't want to go to the dealership anymore and I would rather have my local mechanic do the same Service B at home.

wildta

Tire rotation is not included. It also isn't needed for staggered setups. What size are your wheels?
​​​​​​If you have a square setup, just have your local tire shop do it, they'll have to remove the tires though because even square setups have different offsets front to back.

interlaced

The size wheels I have is the AMG Line 21" wheels that came from the factory. Front: 275/45R21, Rear: 315/40R21 I'm not sure what is a square setup sorry

wildta

Square is same size tires front and back vs staggered which is different size tires front to back

nc211

No rotations needed for you. The rear's will last 25k miles, the fronts will last around 45k miles. I'm in the same boat, 65k miles, never once rotated any of them, zero problems because of it.

A/B is basically oil change (a), oil change and air filter plus brake fluid flush (b). Now that is just the normal stuff. There are other service markers along the way that might get pulled into one of those, like spark plugs or differential / transmission fluids, etc. But for the most part, cars under 50k miles, it's oil changes, air filters, brake fluid every 20k miles. Good to have a MERCEDES Indi mechanic do these, will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Just had "a" done on mine from my well trusted MB Indi, $180 with genuine MB oil/filter, vs $500 at the dealership for the exact same thing. Granted, they have better cookies at the dealership, but nobody is trying to sell me a $125k electric golf cart either while I wait.

TonyCA

I bought the prepaid maintenance and this was what's done by dealer.

wildta

Thx. Just curious how much they normally charge for your service B.
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TonyCA

I didn't ask how much it would have been for the GLS450 because I bought the 4 yr package. For my E450 without the prepaid maintenance, B service was $895 at the local dealer but I know price is higher in San Jose area because both local dealerships are owned by AutoNation and my prepaid maintenance was 1K cheaper when I bought from an out of state dealership.

nc211

this is a great example of “finding work”… wiper blades, at 20k miles? We didn’t have to replace ours until 60k and 3 years…and they were $70 at the parts counter and one of the car porter guys outside put them on for me in about 30 seconds. In fact when it was in for the seat cover replacements recently, they were pushing for new brake pad at $1k. At 65k miles now, we’re not even close to needing them, and when we do, it’ll be fcpeuro for them for about 20% of the cost. Changing brake pads is easier and faster than taking the wheel off.

if I had mine serviced by the dealer, I’d probably of paid for the car twice by now…

I’ve had my 2014 w212 for 7 years and 80k miles, and only had to change the wipers once at 65k miles..

TNS550

As another data point, I just had B service done in December. My dealer has three tiers, plus there are coupons on their website for $75-100 off. Basic, which is MB list plus car wash, is $734. Value, which adds wiper blades, Xentry OBD test, Midtronics MCR 717 test, and zMax Lubricant is $914. Recommended, which adds tire rotation & balance and vehicle detail is $1,049.

mikapen

Exactly. Most dealers also offer "oil change only" if that's all you want.

If you want to do the bare minimum to keep your warranty intact, then the price is approximately what an independent would charge.

If you want to maintain it like it's something you want to take care of, the price is approximately what an independent would charge.

I know of two independent Mercedes mechanics, only one of which I trust to work on my car, but one's shop rate is higher than the dealer (the good one) and the other is lower. YMMV.

When I was an Independent (70's) I quickly learned to raise my rates to approximate dealer rates, because customers didn't respect my work unless I charged local rates. My comebacks immediately stopped. Funny how that is.

nc211

$1,050 for “recommended”? And what are the odds they would realize the staggered 21” wheel setup can’t be rotated and refund me that cost, or would tack on another $750 because they had to remove the tire and rebalance because of “special circumstances”…

sorry, but I stick by my own opinion. A $750 oil change is BS. I’ve owned damn near 25 vehicles in my 34 years of driving. I have never seen a main stream vehicle that complicated to even remotely require a $750 oil change.

“detail”? Is that with or without the swirl marks? Probably without so long as you keep the spray bottle of turtle wax on it every 10 days….

End of the day, they’re just cars. If they are so fragile to require that level of “expertise” to maintain them, then they have no business marketing to the main population.

z28lt1

Since we keep saying that staggered wheels don't get rotated, wanted to note that as long as the tires aren't directional, you can still swap left and right sides -- which won't buy you much if the car is aligned well, but the dealer might actually do it in one of these services so they are actually doing something. These cars seem to come with a bunch of different tires, so not sure who has what tires now and which are directional or not.

My OEM tires are staggered but not directional so I try to swap left and right when I put them on in the spring. My winter tires are square, but directional, so try to swap those front to back each year. Have to keep remembering that they are opposite of each other.

Now on my track car, swapping left to right is a big deal since most tracks have many ore turns in one direction (usually right) so do that often, but less important on a street vehicle (if well aligned).

mikapen

If all you want is a basic oil change, you can ask the dealer for a basic oil change.

If you need diagnostics that require $50,000 machines, your Indy can't help you.

If you don't want to go to a dealer that's just fine, but saying that you can't get a basic oil change for a basic oil change price, is probably incorrect at most places.

Some places even ask "Would you like fries with that," but you don't have to take them.

ygmn

A&B is covered in your SERVICE booklet in glove box.
Or check MB Website:
Scroll down on this page and they define A & B Service.
Mercedes Service & Maintenance | Mercedes-Benz USA (mbusa.com)

A Service (from site) =

• Mercedes-Benz motor oil replacement
• Oil filter replacement
• Fluid level checks and corrections
• Tire inflation check and correction
• Brake component inspection
• Reset maintenance counter

B Adds Replacement of Cabin Air filter & Brake Fluid Flush.

Oil & Filter online can set you back $70-100 depending where and brands.
I bet dealerships pay mechanics 0.5 book hours for A service.
you do the math.

My dealership charges $200 for A & $300 for B.
Which is fair for the amount of Coffee I drink while waiting.

A Service is what I would hope any oil change shop does for any make or model vehicle - My Local does it for all my vehicles I bring in.
Local Oil change guy charges $125 for my MB if he supplies stuff or $24 if I bring oil and filter for the A service. (same for my Volvo due to amount of oil and expensive Filter)
My truck is $70 with Synthetic as less oil and spin on filters are cheap.

PPL1

Reasonable prices for A and B as you also said. In Sacramento, it is fixed pricing by all 3 MB dealers at about $400 for A and $945 for B service, they through in a small token coupon once in a while to make the customer feel better. After the first couple of years of ownership, I started doing the easy stuff myself.

interlaced

Awesome, thanks for your input! Does transmission fluids, differential fluids when do they need to be changed?