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Hi - I have a 2020 GLC 300 that I initially leased for 4 years, but bought it off the least last year. It is primarily a weekend car in NYC, with 38k miles on it.
Im almost due for my next maintenance and had 3 questions:
1. Should I go by years or by miles when scheduling maintenance sessions? Meaning if I come upon my next year or ownership but haven’t used it 10k since the last maintenance performed, should I do the maintenance or wait until it hits 50k miles?
2. The prepaid option my MB is either 2 services @ $1630 ($830 per) or 3 services @ $2290 ($763 per). Can I just bring this to pep boys and have them do the same work for less? Attached is the List of what MB performs for the above service.
3. I called pep boys and they didn’t know what the “Activated charcoal combination filter replacement” is. Any assistance with that?
And also what is the dust filter replacement? Is that the interior filter vs the entire air filter?
Sorry all - not a big car guy. But even less of a get ripped off guy.
2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
Can't believe no one responded to this. Any competent shop can work on a benz to some extent. I mostly go by mileage when past warranty. I would find an independent mercedes shop or dealer for transmission service and for plugs. My wife's 2018 GLC 300 is going strong at 20k miles (!) with minimal maintenance. We haven't yet done the transmission or plugs. Local service center does the oil. Anyone, even the owner, can change the filters. I have done so with little effort. Activated whatever is fancy name for an airfilter anyone can change.
Last edited by smiles201; Aug 22, 2025 at 04:04 AM.
Hi - I have a 2020 GLC 300 that I initially leased for 4 years, but bought it off the least last year. It is primarily a weekend car in NYC, with 38k miles on it.
Im almost due for my next maintenance and had 3 questions:
1. Should I go by years or by miles when scheduling maintenance sessions? Meaning if I come upon my next year or ownership but haven’t used it 10k since the last maintenance performed, should I do the maintenance or wait until it hits 50k miles?
You go by either....which ever comes first. Every 10k miles OR 1 year intervals.
2. The prepaid option my MB is either 2 services @ $1630 ($830 per) or 3 services @ $2290 ($763 per). Can I just bring this to pep boys and have them do the same work for less? Attached is the List of what MB performs for the above service.
You could, but I wouldn't recommend it. Take it to an independant Mercedes Benz certified shop if you don't want to pay for service at the MB dealership.
3. I called pep boys and they didn’t know what the “Activated charcoal combination filter replacement” is. Any assistance with that?
It's the cabin air filter....located under the glove box.
And also what is the dust filter replacement? Is that the interior filter vs the entire air filter?
It's the pre-cabin air filter....video below shows how to replace both
Do service annually on a time basis using 12k miles per year to calculate the service interval. Disuse is the worst thing for a car and your use case is below average from an annual mileage point of view.
Find an MB specialist shop, I would not take the car to Pep Boys. They don’t know the car as you stated in your first post.
Hi - I have a 2020 GLC 300 that I initially leased for 4 years, but bought it off the least last year. It is primarily a weekend car in NYC, with 38k miles on it.
Im almost due for my next maintenance and had 3 questions:
1. Should I go by years or by miles when scheduling maintenance sessions? Meaning if I come upon my next year or ownership but haven’t used it 10k since the last maintenance performed, should I do the maintenance or wait until it hits 50k miles?
2. The prepaid option my MB is either 2 services @ $1630 ($830 per) or 3 services @ $2290 ($763 per). Can I just bring this to pep boys and have them do the same work for less? Attached is the List of what MB performs for the above service.
3. I called pep boys and they didn’t know what the “Activated charcoal combination filter replacement” is. Any assistance with that?
And also what is the dust filter replacement? Is that the interior filter vs the entire air filter?
Sorry all - not a big car guy. But even less of a get ripped off guy.
Any help / tips is much appreciated!
Go by the annual schedule. Time degrades fluids and filters even with low miles.
Skip the prepaid plan. An independent Mercedes specialist will do the same work for significantly less than the dealer. Avoid generic chains like Pep Boys for this.
The activated charcoal combination filter and dust filter are both cabin air filters. One is a multi-stage filter that includes a charcoal element for odors, while the other is likely the standard particulate filter. An independent shop will know exactly what these are.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
