SW20S

They pad all kinds of stuff. I really got taken for a ride when I did the first A service on mine, they added a side to side tire rotation (staggered tires) and replaced the magic vision wipers for $250, total bill was almost $1,000 for an A Service. I took it to a different dealer for the B service and the next A service and the service rep there was astonished how badly I had been taken for a ride.

I'm coming up on my 40k mile B service and I'm probably going to let my independent mechanic who did my brakes do it, I have to see what the cost difference is.

W205C43PFL

I heard BMW has something call "Vehicle Check"? Is that similar to Service A and Service B of Mercedes. However, the "Vehicle Check" occurs every 3-4 years? Instead of Service A/B every other year for A then B then A etc. ?

tx170754

Brake service before 40K.... what was that ?

SW20S

Yeah it needed new brakes front and rear at 30,000 miles

badq45t

I was looking at the bill I had for the A service which also included an AUX battery replacement and ended up nearly 1k even with a coupon. they flippin' charged me $14 for wiper flluid and $50 for checking fluid levels. Never again, I have an aftermarket warranty now but my Indy will get the next B service, he invested in an expensive computer tool and can reset the B service. Looking at the Autobahn Motors (redwood city, CA--Bay Area) website they want over $1,000 for a B service and it only shows that they will be doing oil change and "checking" other stuff...cannot believe that and they use Mobile 1 ,my indy uses Motul for his MB, Audio and BMW customers.

I sure did like the free loaner car and the fresh coffee but bye bye for service to them.

Jay04SL

Completed this over the weekend. Came out great (literally). Was not too dirty but you can certainly tell the difference w new fluid. Can't even see the level in the master cylinder reservoir now without holding a light up to it. 49K miles and pretty sure it hasn't been done.

S_W222

Yeah but why do they pad all this kind of stuff without even asking? I’ve dealt with nearly 4 different BMW dealers, every single one of them called me in advance to confirm the services being done, cost, and asked for my verbal approval. At Mbenz, they seem to have a habit of padding and adding services to pile up additional dollars to the bill. I hardly think it is a corporate thing, but it seems to be happening with everyone else to at Mbenz dealers.

S_W222

$50 for checking all fluids… hmmm. That’s just insane. At least what I’ve noticed isn’t an isolated dealer practice then.

SW20S

Because thats how they make money. Thats not unique to MB dealers, car dealers have been adding stuff to factory maintenance forever. I was given a list of items at MB and a price and I agreed to it beforehand, I just was new to MB and didn't realize those things weren't part of the factory interval, in short...they took advantage of me but that was my fault because I didnt research what needed to be done beforehand.

W205C43PFL

It seems like they like to add (or suggest) Nitrogen Fill up, Fuel Cleaner, Fuel additives?

SW20S

Side to side tire rotations, wiper blades, those things, AC duct services, etc

W205C43PFL

Yup, sounds like you got them all.
Tire rotation is now part of service "B" depending on which dealership you go to I guess do they still use A and B?

SW20S

Tire rotation should be part of the service, but not when you have staggered tires. They charged me $100 to move my tires from one side of the car to the other which is just ridiculous. All MB dealers use A&B, its just the way MB service is designed.

W205C43PFL

Ok agree that is ridiculous.

As for the A&B I heard some dealerships just called it 10,20,30,40,50K etc. mile service and no longer use A/B but that isn't true for many dealerships.

S_W222

I was not given the chance to approve or authorize any of these additional items. What i authorized was service B as I recall (or A) in general, but apparently, their definition of service B/A is different from that in the manual. I read the manual before I took the car to the dealer and my “expectations” were that service B is defined the same way as the maintenance manual. I have to admit that partially it is my fault for not asking them to itemize exactly what they list under service B to spot any additional “dealer added” items, but I did not. I was not told about the cost beforehand, and when I saw the 800-900 USD total, I knew there was more behind it than just engine oil, filter and the engine air filter. I would have certainly declined the key-fob batteries replacement, fluid re-fill, and fuel stabilizer and the like. At 4 different BMW dealers, 4 different states: fluid re-fills are free, and they never added anything beyond the maintenance manual. I think my point is, for new MBenz members “ask and read in detail what you’re being offered and what you are paying for” during 10K miles / annual service. Can’t blame the dealer, but wish they follow the BMW approach (at least those I tried).

W205C43PFL

Fuel stabilizer. that is just... not necessary unless it is a garage queen.

tx170754

At every service interval I tell the dealer what I need while making the appointment, it is usually the oil change, maybe the air and cab filters, brake fluid and that is about it. If I need a tire rotation it can be done to any tire installers where I live.
They do a "complete" check of the car but, since I don't keep my cars too long, the mileage doesn't justify any " extras "
Key fob batteries, fuel stabilizer, "fluids" re-fill, etc is total BS.....

SW20S

I haven't seen any MB dealers doing that, but in Lexus world where I came from the services were broken out like that. Lexus dealers added craopas well.

So they didn't give you a price for the service before they completed the service? Dealers definition of what is an A or B service often includes more stuff than the factory recommends, thats all dealers and all models, but they should quote you a price upfront. In my situation they quoted a price upfront and I agreed, but I didn't know they were padding that price with stuff that was above and beyond. They told me "$750" for the A service, but that included $250 for wipers and $100 for rotating the tires side to side, so the price for what the factory says the A service should be in reality would have been $400.

You should ALWAYS ask what is being done and make sure its just what the factory recommends.

W205C43PFL

I could had sworn I read a thread on people sharing similar experiences of dealerships dropping the A/B model but I couldn't find the thread anymore.

S_W222

It could be partially my fault, but yes, they did not share the cost in advance. When I took my former W222 for the first 10K service, I assumed it’d be similar to all other BMW vehicles and services I did, and I just dropped in the keys and didn’t ask for details besides asking for Service B. When I returned, I was first shocked that the total was $850, I reviewed the service they did, paid, and left realizing I screwed up.
I had a 2008 GL in the past and a 2003 S-class, but never had to deal with similar non-sense added items (NC state at that time). I’ve mainly owned BMWs in the last few years since then, then my W222 was my first MBenz after switching/owning a few BMWs. Obviously things have changed at MBenz dealers nowadays. Lesson learned, not a big deal, now I specifically ask for an itemized list in advance.