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2015 ML350, 54,000 miles, based in NJ. Went in Dec for oil change, and dealer suggested and quoted the following services? reasonable? Google similar services, only found price
mark couple years ago. Thank you all and Happy New Year!
You need to find an honest independent MB specialist. Ask in the forum for one near your area.
The 2015 ML350 is very similar to 2012 ML350, and I did the spark plug replacement myself following YouTube, and some posted instructions from @chassis . Cost = spark plugs + appropriate spark plug socket + patience. < $150. MB procedure by the dealer requires more steps, and more parts (gaskets + more error prone to me).
Transmission service: sister's ML350 got serviced for 120K miles with an Indy here in Tampa two weeks ago, transmission, rear differential, front transfer case, brake flush @$1200 (including all fees and taxes)
For brake parts, you can look at FCP Euro (not sponsoring anyone here) FCP Euro: 2015 ML 350 - Brake parts . Take your pick for parts + $200/wheel labor and still $1000 below the dealer's estimate.
You NEED an honest Indy, or you will be working to service the car, not the car to service you.
2015 ML350, 54,000 miles, based in NJ. Went in Dec for oil change, and dealer suggested and quoted the following services? reasonable? Google similar services, only found price
mark couple years ago. Thank you all and Happy New Year!
1. Necessary
2. Necessary
3. Up to you - is the pad wear indicator light turned on?
4. same as 3
NJ + post pandemic means prices are higher on average, and higher than what they were 2 years ago. Having said this, $900 for transmission service is too high. $775 for spark plugs is too high, but it was around $600-$650 two years ago at a dealer, so maybe $775 in NJ post pandemic is about right. I DIY so wouldn't pay any of these prices.
If you have the time and desire you can do everything easily, except the transmission service. That one is a pain even for intermediate to advanced DIYers. I let the dealer do that one.
Call another dealer, and at least one indy in your area. 2012 with 50k miles = out of warranty unless you have ELW. In any event, no worries about where you get the car serviced. Just be sure that you do get all of the services, when they are specified according to the maintenance booklet (in the DIY in my signature).
1. Necessary
2. Necessary
3. Up to you - is the pad wear indicator light turned on?
4. same as 3
NJ + post pandemic means prices are higher on average, and higher than what they were 2 years ago. Having said this, $900 for transmission service is too high. $775 for spark plugs is too high, but it was around $600-$650 two years ago at a dealer, so maybe $775 in NJ post pandemic is about right. I DIY so wouldn't pay any of these prices.
If you have the time and desire you can do everything easily, except the transmission service. That one is a pain even for intermediate to advanced DIYers. I let the dealer do that one.
Call another dealer, and at least one indy in your area. 2012 with 50k miles = out of warranty unless you have ELW. In any event, no worries about where you get the car serviced. Just be sure that you do get all of the services, when they are specified according to the maintenance booklet (in the DIY in my signature).
Thank you. The indicator lights haven't come on yet, dealer said it could be any time ( sounds familiar, right?) I would call another dealer nearby. This dealer is my default one as I found them charge lower compared to others in the area. i.e. $165 vs $199 for oil change. Not sure what does Indy mean? Independent shop?
On the brakes, my W212 is @90K miles on original brakes and I do not drive it softly, so I am spoiled compared to SUVs which are heavier, and 4MATIC plus with Automatic Lane Recognition (sister's is currently on the 2nd brake set @120K). But, if the brakes service is worth up $1000+, I will definitely double-check them even if Indy say is ALL for $1000. Perhaps you have more mileage left which you will be putting into the trash bin.
You need to find an honest independent MB specialist. Ask in the forum for one near your area.
The 2015 ML350 is very similar to 2012 ML350, and I did the spark plug replacement myself following YouTube, and some posted instructions from @chassis . Cost = spark plugs + appropriate spark plug socket + patience. < $150. MB procedure by the dealer requires more steps, and more parts (gaskets + more error prone to me).
Transmission service: sister's ML350 got serviced for 120K miles with an Indy here in Tampa two weeks ago, transmission, rear differential, front transfer case, brake flush @$1200 (including all fees and taxes)
For brake parts, you can look at FCP Euro (not sponsoring anyone here) FCP Euro: 2015 ML 350 - Brake parts . Take your pick for parts + $200/wheel labor and still $1000 below the dealer's estimate.
You NEED an honest Indy, or you will be working to service the car, not the car to service you.
Thank you. For Spark plugs, the dealer quoted ~$200 for parts and 2.9 hrs labor. Front brake pads+ rotors: ~$720 parts+ 2.5 hrs labor. Rear Brake Pads+ rotors :~ $620 parts +2.5 hrs labor.
Now i am wondering why my dealer charged so much for parts compared to FCP site you mentioned...
You need to find an honest independent MB specialist. Ask in the forum for one near your area.
The 2015 ML350 is very similar to 2012 ML350, and I did the spark plug replacement myself following YouTube, and some posted instructions from @chassis . Cost = spark plugs + appropriate spark plug socket + patience. < $150. MB procedure by the dealer requires more steps, and more parts (gaskets + more error prone to me).
Transmission service: sister's ML350 got serviced for 120K miles with an Indy here in Tampa two weeks ago, transmission, rear differential, front transfer case, brake flush @$1200 (including all fees and taxes)
For brake parts, you can look at FCP Euro (not sponsoring anyone here) FCP Euro: 2015 ML 350 - Brake parts . Take your pick for parts + $200/wheel labor and still $1000 below the dealer's estimate.
You NEED an honest Indy, or you will be working to service the car, not the car to service you.
Thank you. The followings are breakdown for my dealer quotations. Compared to FCP site you mentioned, i am wondering how much premiums they are charging for parts.
1. Spark Plugs: ~$200 parts+ 2.9 labor hrs
2. Transmission service: $450 parts+ 2.0 labor hrs
3. Front Brake pads+ rotors: ~$720 parts+2.5 labor hrs
3. Rears Brake pads+ rotors :~620 parts+ 2.5 labor hrs
Thanks for reminding me on the mileage for brakes. I am at 105k and still on the factory fronts with reasonable life left in them. I changed rears at 70k miles.
Sounds like the dealer is trying to fleece you. Surprise, surprise. Get the spark plugs and transmission service done at an independent shop.
Consider doing those services all yourself, not hard to do, and save a TON of money. Rotors have plenty of meat on them to turn a time or 2 (despite what repair shops say). Turning Rotors is only about $20 each, and will save buying new ones unnecessarily. The shop will Mic them before and after to make sure within spec. If you can get to plugs on the 6cyl, those are pretty simple to do (My 550 V8 is too tight to get to em, so I had dealer do). Tranny service is straight forward too. FCP Euro sells bundles of required bolts (1 time use) fluid and seals. Ive found doing myself saves about 75%, and I know it was done right.
and to be honest, a few months back when visiting an MB Auto Nation dealership parts department, there were several Duralast (Autozone brand) boxes with brake parts: pads, rotors, etc. on the floor for cars in the shop.
2015 ML350, 54,000 miles, based in NJ. Went in Dec for oil change, and dealer suggested and quoted the following services? reasonable? Google similar services, only found price
mark couple years ago. Thank you all and Happy New Year!
Last February I had the 60K B Service performed at my local dealer including spark plugs. Labor $1117.50, Parts $577.29
Three months later I had a full 4 wheel brake service done at the same dealer. Labor $845.00 Parts $1393.10
Yes, that's very expensive and, no doubt, could have paid less at a local shop. Your quotes are comparable to the high prices I paid.
Consider doing those services all yourself, not hard to do, and save a TON of money. Rotors have plenty of meat on them to turn a time or 2 (despite what repair shops say). Turning Rotors is only about $20 each, and will save buying new ones unnecessarily. The shop will Mic them before and after to make sure within spec. If you can get to plugs on the 6cyl, those are pretty simple to do (My 550 V8 is too tight to get to em, so I had dealer do). Tranny service is straight forward too. FCP Euro sells bundles of required bolts (1 time use) fluid and seals. Ive found doing myself saves about 75%, and I know it was done right.
Thank you. I wish i am that handy. I am comfortable to watch youtube videos to change filters, and that's about it. Changing brakes , especially on wife's car, gets me really nervous.
Last February I had the 60K B Service performed at my local dealer including spark plugs. Labor $1117.50, Parts $577.29
Three months later I had a full 4 wheel brake service done at the same dealer. Labor $845.00 Parts $1393.10
Yes, that's very expensive and, no doubt, could have paid less at a local shop. Your quotes are comparable to the high prices I paid.
My dealer charges ~$800 for B service, so my quotes are quite close to what you paid. Thanks for sharing
Thank you. The followings are breakdown for my dealer quotations. Compared to FCP site you mentioned, i am wondering how much premiums they are charging for parts.
1. Spark Plugs: ~$200 parts+ 2.9 labor hrs
2. Transmission service: $450 parts+ 2.0 labor hrs
3. Front Brake pads+ rotors: ~$720 parts+2.5 labor hrs
3. Rears Brake pads+ rotors :~620 parts+ 2.5 labor hrs
A. For #1 and #2 above, you can buy OEM items on-line from actual Factory Mercedes dealers (i.e.: parts.mbobr.com is just one example) and save upto 30% on your dealer's quoted OEM part.
B. For #3 front and #4 rear rotors, I would go with Brembo replacement rotors from newparts.com (a.k.a. partscontainer on eBay), then purchase OEM pads from one of the online dealers as stated in A. above.
C. Then take all parts and have your Mercedes dealer install them. You will save at least 30% plus tax vs. prices quoted by your dealer with their greatly marked up parts.
You will have to find a dealer that will install "third-party" parts. Most dealer shops do NOT install parts not provided by their own parts department, even if sourced from the same provider.
^^That is a good point. However, my (very expensive charging) dealer, located only about 60 miles South if you, does and not only MB OEM parts (they had no issues installing Brembo and Zimmerman rotors on my AMG). Having sourced parts as I specified above and have it installed by a good indy, will save 50% vs. quoted dealer pricing in the OP's original post.
^^That is a good point. However, my (very expensive charging) dealer, located only about 60 miles South if you, does and not only MB OEM parts (they had no issues installing Brembo and Zimmerman rotors on my AMG). Having sourced parts as I specified above and have it installed by a good indy, will save 50% vs. quoted dealer pricing in the OP's original post.
Most dealer's parts department has a three-tier system:
1 - Genuine MB parts (with the Star logo stamped),
2 - MB/We certified parts (our own profit margin). MB cannot police them for every part they sell.
3 - Not from us, do not install
That is, the fact the parts department provides the parts, does not mean they are MB Genuine, for example, Brembo or Duralast
Similarly, some shops have a "not in the books" repair policy that they will not do anything that is not stated in the books. Their creativity is ZERO. They do not question anything, mechanic lambs.
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