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Short answer...Yes.
Service A is normally under $400. Anytime there are no details it's cause for suspiscion. Itemized costs should be a minimum requirement with any service. But just like the mechanic, you left out a ton of details so we're left to make a ton of assumptions.
If your dad's car is a Bughatti or McLaren he got a heck of a deal!
Make - Model (W222) but Year - Miles - Modifications/previous history, etc. can all be helpful in answering a question accurately.
Plenty of threads here with people arguing and complaining about service prices at dealerships. These are businesses with hourly rates that have to pay rent, salaries, insurance etc. Obviously always a good idea to shop around, or use an Indy for routine stuff. But even an Indy isn’t necessarily cheap. Labor rates have gone up considerably in recent years. I just changed a brake light bulb on my wife’s car. Cost me $1.50 for two bulbs on Amazon and five minutes of my time. Even my Indy wanted $150 to change a bulb.
Having said that, for a Service A, that’s high. Even on my AMG a basic Service A was quoted to me three years ago at something like $350. I then bought the 3-year prepaid maintenance plan, which at the time was a 30% saving over paying individual. Then inflation and tariffs hit and labor rates went up over the last three years, so the savings ended up even higher.
Last edited by superswiss; Mar 4, 2026 at 05:29 PM.
Yes, much of this depends on where you live. I live in a major metropolitan area in California, so you'd think prices would be like the above, but no. It's actually quite reasonable around here. That's largely because I have like 5 MB dealerships within 30 miles, so there is competition and they are all busy as heck. The service bay at my dealership is usually packed any day of the week with up to three lanes of cars lined up all the way into the parking lot, so they have tons of volume. But if you only have 1 or 2 dealerships and the closest one is a 100 miles away then guess what? They have no competition and can charge whatever.
2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
It is not a total ripoff. You have the joy of being charged an amount that only the elite tolerate, though other luxury brands can also be overpriced. And, if the car is still under waranty, you are creating goodwill. If waranty service is required things will go smoother. If there is a problem after the waranty period is gone, you may get a price break, as you are a loyal customer.
It is not a total ripoff. You have the joy of being charged an amount that only the elite tolerate, though other luxury brands can also be overpriced. And, if the car is still under waranty, you are creating goodwill. If waranty service is required things will go smoother. If there is a problem after the waranty period is gone, you may get a price break, as you are a loyal customer.
There's definitely truth in this. I've saved thousands of dollars in goodwill over the years. For example I had a $6000+ transmission repair in my previous Audi. A $100 sensor went kaput that required taking the transmission out and open it up. Without me having to do anything, the Audi dealership went to battle for me contacting Audi USA. They then dropped the price to $5000, which was what Audi reimburses for this repair while under warranty, and Audi agreed to a 50/50 split, so at the end it was "only" a $2500 repair.
There is also the free loaners to be considered, which you typically don't get at a cheaper indy. For example the above repair took 3 weeks during which I had a loaner. A rental car for that period would have been another few hundred dollars. Not that I would have needed one as we have a second car and I don't daily drive, but for those who need a car while theirs is in the shop, this is not to be overlooked.
Yes, much of this depends on where you live. I live in a major metropolitan area in California, so you'd think prices would be like the above, but no. It's actually quite reasonable around here. That's largely because I have like 5 MB dealerships within 30 miles, so there is competition and they are all busy as heck. The service bay at my dealership is usually packed any day of the week with up to three lanes of cars lined up all the way into the parking lot, so they have tons of volume. But if you only have 1 or 2 dealerships and the closest one is a 100 miles away then guess what? They have no competition and can charge whatever.
We have like 7 here locally too, prices are still like that. All depends if one or more of them want to try and compete on price or not.
A service with a cabin filter for a 222.... That figure is right on the money at the dealership.
Your getting a factory trained tech doing the work. OEM parts. Done right.
Or try the aftermarket and wonder if the drain plug gasket got replaced, did they use an oil that is up to the task; quality filters? Did wheel bolts get torqued? How about greasy foot prints on the mats and grease on the headliner.
Or try the aftermarket and wonder if the drain plug gasket got replaced, did they use an oil that is up to the task; quality filters? Did wheel bolts get torqued? How about greasy foot prints on the mats and grease on the headliner.
You find a good independent mechanic none of these things are a concern...in fact they're less of a concern with a good independent mechanic than they are with the dealer.
I have had cars damaged by dealers, delivered to me stained and all...had to bring the car back for a job improperly done (my S560 was leaking oil after the valve cover job and they had punched a seal and had to redo it) never have had anything like that happen with one of my independent mechanics.
For me the dealer is all about ease. You roll in, get a nice loaner, they're open late so pickup and dropoff is easy...if anything I am confident the independent mechanics do better work for less.
We have like 7 here locally too, prices are still like that. All depends if one or more of them want to try and compete on price or not.
Or more likely, the reason is found in who owns these dealerships. If they are all owned by the same 1 or 2 large dealership groups, then there's no real competition. When I said 5 dealerships, I meant different owners, not multiple locations with the same owner. With California being a pro-consumer state, these groups can't own multiple locations within close proximity. It triggers antitrust laws. There was a case recently actually where one of these groups tried to acquire multiple locations and got shot down by the state. The state specifically stated that consumer prices would go up. More often than not, higher prices is the direct result of nobody stopping the elimination of competition.
Or more likely, the reason is found in who owns these dealerships. If they are all owned by the same 1 or 2 large dealership groups, then there's no real competition. When I said 5 dealerships, I meant different owners, not multiple locations with the same owner. With California being a pro-consumer state, these groups can't own multiple locations within close proximity. It triggers antitrust laws. There was a case recently actually where one of these groups tried to acquire multiple locations and got shot down by the state. The state specifically stated that consumer prices would go up. More often than not, higher prices is the direct result of nobody stopping the elimination of competition.
They actually vary. Euro Motorcars owns 2, Herb Gordon owns Silver Spring, Tysons is Penske...the others I would have to look up
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Originally Posted by JohnLane
A service with a cabin filter for a 222.... That figure is right on the money at the dealership.
Your getting a factory trained tech doing the work. OEM parts. Done right.
Or try the aftermarket and wonder if the drain plug gasket got replaced, did they use an oil that is up to the task; quality filters? Did wheel bolts get torqued? How about greasy foot prints on the mats and grease on the headliner.
I was just about to say, the Cabin Filter and Key Battery boosted the price a couple hundred. So I wouldn't call it a ripoff.
If you can find a qualified independent with lower hourly rates and who will install your own parts you might beat that by a couple hundred. Marking up every quart of oil, the filter and the washing fluid adds up in a hurry. But then of course you're substituting your time for theirs, hunting for parts. Sometimes that's smart, sometimes it isn't.
There are a bunch of "under-utilized" people and lavish real estate around dealerships that has to be paid for at all costs. So people call them "stealerships" for a reason.
That "luxury" feeling they cultivate isn't free. It's extra marketing expense that you pay.
Aftermarket shops mark up parts; just as the dealers do. This is an important part of how they make a living.
No question lower hourly labor rates are generally charged in the aftermarket.
The dealership has to charge what they do to pay for the cafe, nice clean surroundings in a safe part of town.
That and dealer techs are expensive. They mostly really know their stuff. Current cars keep them on their toes.
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
I understand John. My indies don't mark up parts to me, they'll install whatever I ship or bring them, and I don't think that kind of relationship should be ignored.
They're already 4x their labor costs in their hourly rate, so if they can't make money on that why are they in business. Techs make about $45 an hour and their hourly rate is $180.
But for OP, like I said, unless he has such a relationship already and is prepared to hunt his own parts, the dealer isn't ripping him off.
As we both have said, it's the "fat" in the business model that he's paying. Cooking out that fat is non-trivial.
I was just about to say, the Cabin Filter and Key Battery boosted the price a couple hundred. So I wouldn't call it a ripoff.
If you can find a qualified independent with lower hourly rates and who will install your own parts you might beat that by a couple hundred. Marking up every quart of oil, the filter and the washing fluid adds up in a hurry. But then of course you're substituting your time for theirs, hunting for parts. Sometimes that's smart, sometimes it isn't.
There are a bunch of "under-utilized" people and lavish real estate around dealerships that has to be paid for at all costs. So people call them "stealerships" for a reason.
That "luxury" feeling they cultivate isn't free. It's extra marketing expense that you pay.
maw
Cabin filter and key fob battery as well as wiper blades are standard items for the service with no additional charge. Looks like OP's old man didn't even get the wipers replaced.
Originally Posted by maw1124
I understand John. My indies don't mark up parts to me, they'll install whatever I ship or bring them, and I don't think that kind of relationship should be ignored.
They're already 4x their labor costs in their hourly rate, so if they can't make money on that why are they in business. Techs make about $45 an hour and their hourly rate is $180.
But for OP, like I said, unless he has such a relationship already and is prepared to hunt his own parts, the dealer isn't ripping him off.
As we both have said, it's the "fat" in the business model that he's paying. Cooking out that fat is non-trivial.
maw
Yes, my indy installs parts that I source myself as well. I have TireRack ship tires to them for installation and I source other parts from FCP Euro as they have lifetime replacement warranty. Send back the worn parts and get full credit. My indy is also fair and orders refurbished parts when the car is a few years old instead of paying OEM money for the things I don't bother sourcing myself.
Aftermarket shops mark up parts; just as the dealers do. This is an important part of how they make a living.
No question lower hourly labor rates are generally charged in the aftermarket.
The dealership has to charge what they do to pay for the cafe, nice clean surroundings in a safe part of town.
That and dealer techs are expensive. They mostly really know their stuff. Current cars keep them on their toes.
Sure, question is though do you want to pay for that stuff?
Originally Posted by superswiss
Cabin filter and key fob battery as well as wiper blades are standard items for the service with no additional charge. Looks like OP's old man didn't even get the wipers replaced.
Magic vision wipers are typically charged on top for S Classes, just the wiper blades are $200. That charge of mine did not include the wiper blades because I told them not to replace them.
I am myself an old man. Been changing my own oil in all my cars and machinery for 50+ years, and will continue to ($75 for 10 qts + filter, BTW). Told my kids they can take my car keys away when I have to start paying someone $600 to do it for me.
Sure, question is though do you want to pay for that stuff?
Magic vision wipers are typically charged on top for S Classes, just the wiper blades are $200. That charge of mine did not include the wiper blades because I told them not to replace them.
I bought Magic Vision heated blades blades off eBay for $50 a pair. They look and perform as OEM..
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