Rhodeislander

My 2002 ML500 is due for a 60K service

I find a certified MB shop and just ask for an oil change price. They say 70.50
I then ask for the 60K service price and whats included:
Change oil and fliter
change fuel filter
Change air filter
Inspect:
Brake fluid, tires,brakes,blah blah blah. Basically look for more crap to replace.
This is 404.00

So 70.50 for the oil change
333.50 for a 20.00 air filter a fuel filter?

Now state inspection is coming up, thats 47.50. They must check all the same stuff for the state sticker.

I just don't understand why the big price difference. Seems I can get all the same things done for 150.00 or so?

Am I missing something?

PaulX608

$70 is a damn good deal on the oil change. It'd cost that much to do it yourself. As far as the other charge, half of that is probably labor. That fuel filter is no fun. You could very easily do all of that yourself. I have 66k, and I just did the same for about $175 plus my own time.

Oil - 9qts Mobil1 SuperSyn 0W40 @$5.59 per at Autozone
Oil Filter - $12.50 at NAPA
Air Filter - $19.95 at Autozone
Fuel Filter - $91.50 online

Now, consider that they'll charge you a good bit more for parts. Then add 1.5 hours labor at $85 or so per, and that gets to be $400 pretty darn quick. I guess that was a really long way to say it sounds about right to me!

Rhodeislander

I guess the fuel filter throws the price out a little. That must be one super filter for 90 bucks! I've worked on Cat diesels, Keith Black 501's in a Fountain 41, and even they never required a 90.00 fuel filter.

In addition to the above work to be done, its time for front brakes again. Just did the rears. The fronts should come with pull pins so I can change them when I fuel up! Oh yeah, tires are shot too. Pirelli Zero's I guess will be the next purchase.

Any experience with Pirelli's?

pointman

you want a benz but toyota service rates?

Rhodeislander

No,
Just don't like getting screwed.
Smart enough know the so called inspections, that do not replace anything, should not take hours to complete. They should be inline with a mandatory state inspection, which is very invasive and costs 47.50.

The dealers 770.00 rear brake and rotor job cost me under 300.00 afer I had asked questions here. I found a very professional brake installer that charged 90.00 after I had bought OEM parts.

As far as Toyotas, they are more difficullt to work on and I think should me more to fix than a MB. The engineers at MB have made it easy on mechanics by designing the vehicle properly to begin with.

Thanks for the informative and positve comment.

pointman

you think toyotas are tougher to work on that a benz?

Tino

Rhodeislander I agree with you we only have one Benz dealer where I live and because they know that there is no one else around here to work on it they mark up their labor/parts too. I even spoke with the manager of the local dealership and he told me that all the dealers do same thing based on far the next nearest dealership is....all geographic crap. Anyway it's not about being cheap but you really do have to know what you are getting done and you have to do your research. Have a good one!