Oil changes
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Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Dallas suburbs
S550
Oil changes
I use a great, non-Mercedes mechanic for most service on my s-class (my 7th) and my wife’s e-class. Once in a while I’ll use the closest, quicky oil change place just for an oil change.
Is there anything I should be concerned about when the quick guys do the work? I only use them for oil changes between the big services.
Is there anything I should be concerned about when the quick guys do the work? I only use them for oil changes between the big services.
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From: Suburban Maryland
2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
Just be sure they are using the right oil. You may need to bring it to them .
Full Synthetic 5W-40 or 0W-40 motor oil that meets Mercedes-Benz specification MB 229.5.
Full Synthetic 5W-40 or 0W-40 motor oil that meets Mercedes-Benz specification MB 229.5.
Last edited by smiles201; May 26, 2026 at 10:06 PM.
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S63, GLE580, BV250
Main concerns would be them neanderthalling the drain plug, filter housing, not fitting the gasket properly, over/under filling w/ oil, incorrect viscosity.
Secondary, not as concerning, concerns: Oil approval not being MB229**, a change here and there with it wouldn't be a problem.
If you are changing your oil every 5,000 miles, I would recommend sticking with a trusted shop. There's enough time/mileage w/ the oil that you don't need to rush in to a quick lube. Once you are nearing 5k, just keep it in mind that you should get it done within the next 1k miles.
Secondary, not as concerning, concerns: Oil approval not being MB229**, a change here and there with it wouldn't be a problem.
If you are changing your oil every 5,000 miles, I would recommend sticking with a trusted shop. There's enough time/mileage w/ the oil that you don't need to rush in to a quick lube. Once you are nearing 5k, just keep it in mind that you should get it done within the next 1k miles.
Last edited by vincheung; May 27, 2026 at 12:17 AM.
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2001 S600 V12 Sold, 2011 Jaguar XFR Sold, 2017 S550 4-Matic, 2018 S63 AMG Sedan
Sometimes time is more valuable than anything else, so a qucik in-and-out at one of these places has some appeal. There's a "Valvoline Instant Oil Change" place near my house that literally always has a line of cars. You couldn't pay me enough money to take my car there, but there's obviously people who value something different. Time really is the one thing that has more value than money. For me it's more convenient to order oil from FCP euro and perform an oil change myself than it is to make an appointment at the dealer or an independent shop.
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2014 S63 2010 ML350 Bluetec 2009 SL550
Isn't there an old saying that goes something like "you can do something well, you can do something cheaply and you can do something quickly, but you only get to pick two of the three choices" ?
The only way I would ever consider a quickie oil change place would be if I brought my own oil, and I stood there and watched the tech. Otherwise I cannot see risking what is a $50k motor in a > $100k car to save time, money or both.
The only way I would ever consider a quickie oil change place would be if I brought my own oil, and I stood there and watched the tech. Otherwise I cannot see risking what is a $50k motor in a > $100k car to save time, money or both.
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I would not take my S Class to a quick lube place. I use one for the Pacifica all the time but not the S Class. My dealer has a quick walk in service, it takes an hour and I bum around the showroom, and its done right for only a little more than the quick lube place.
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If my dealer, or a quality indy shope closeby, had a quick service available I'd do it. But no way I'd take my car to a quick service place.
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My indy shop will do it quick too, but theres nothing to do there and he's only $20 cheaper than the dealer. The showroom keeps me entertained. I get just the oil change at the 5k intervals and the full A/B service on the normal schedule, for those I get a loaner.
Quick lube place isn't going to use the MB Spec oil, they're not going to replace the drain plug like they're supposed to, etc. Dealer or Indy will. Quick lube place is $170, dealer is $200. No brainer. Quick lube place is $110 for the Pacifica but you have to add 4 quarts of oil for the Mercedes.
Quick lube place isn't going to use the MB Spec oil, they're not going to replace the drain plug like they're supposed to, etc. Dealer or Indy will. Quick lube place is $170, dealer is $200. No brainer. Quick lube place is $110 for the Pacifica but you have to add 4 quarts of oil for the Mercedes.
Last edited by SW20S; May 27, 2026 at 04:56 PM.
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2020 S560, 2014 SLK55 (Prev. 2016 S65, 2013 SLK350, 2008 CLS63, 2006 E350, 2006 CLS500, 2005 C230K)
Those places are why you see people driving around dragging their engine paneling on the ground. I have seen some cut/bend the panels so they don't have to remove a few screws.
Do you really want a random person (maybe the new teenager) with zero interest in doing the job right to put their hands on your car?
Also they are not going to use the right oil.
Do you really want a random person (maybe the new teenager) with zero interest in doing the job right to put their hands on your car?
Also they are not going to use the right oil.
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Those places are why you see people driving around dragging their engine paneling on the ground. I have seen some cut/bend the panels so they don't have to remove a few screws.
Do you really want a random person (maybe the new teenager) with zero interest in doing the job right to put their hands on your car?
Also they are not going to use the right oil.
Do you really want a random person (maybe the new teenager) with zero interest in doing the job right to put their hands on your car?
Also they are not going to use the right oil.
Also, dealer techs don't change oil either. They employ lube techs that aren't much more trained than the ones at a quick lube place. Oil changes aren't rocket science, 1 hour of training and someone is qualified to change oil. If you want a real tech changing your oil you should go to an independent mechanic.
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With the dealer we have the illusion of special treatment for a special price. With Jiffy Lube no such illusion, but you can watch what they are doing. There have been numerous successful civil suits for damages against jiffy lube. I have a local service station that is well regarded and I sometimes take my wife's 2018 glc to them for an oil change. I supply the materials.
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My Dad had a friend years ago who had the oil changed in his new then 98 GS400 and they didn't fill the oil back up, or didn't tighten the drain plug or something and the engine seized, JL had to buy them a new engine.
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From another thread, forgot where but depending on the MB dealership instead of mentioning service A or B you can just say oil change I think the forum member was only charged 150 or something for the job instead of couple hundreds to a thousand for Service A or B again pricing varies by dealership and yes it was also a W222.
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From another thread, forgot where but depending on the MB dealership instead of mentioning service A or B you can just say oil change I think the forum member was only charged 150 or something for the job instead of couple hundreds to a thousand for Service A or B again pricing varies by dealership and yes it was also a W222.
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While an oil/filter change is standard for A and B services, and a brake fluid exchange is standard for B service, everything else seems to vary by dealer and customer as to what's included and what's an up-charge. I recall one forum member reporting that a dealer refused to reset his oil service interval annunciator because that was included only with the full A service, and not with the lesser cost oil/filter change. Attitudes like that is why I DIY.
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While an oil/filter change is standard for A and B services, and a brake fluid exchange is standard for B service, everything else seems to vary by dealer and customer as to what's included and what's an up-charge. I recall one forum member reporting that a dealer refused to reset his oil service interval annunciator because that was included only with the full A service, and not with the lesser cost oil/filter change. Attitudes like that is why I DIY.
Mercedes has a clear description of an A and B service, dealers add stuff on to that but an A Service is an oil change, tire rotation if possibke, key battery, and checks and inspections. B Service adds cabin air filter, brake fluid exchange. Then you have larger intervals such as 50k with engine air filter and spark plugs.
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Those cost of those "inspections" are complete BS and a huge money maker for the dealer. OF COURSE my indy does those same inspections during every oil change, and only takes a few minutes.
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Delta for the O/C A Service for me is ~ $400...so tire rotation, $100 for that at the dealer is fair IMO. So delta is now $300...inspection...$50 IMO is fair. so now we're at $250...key battery? $50? $200....I think the A Service cost is still unjustifiable mathematically but it is what it is.
Last edited by SW20S; May 28, 2026 at 10:29 AM.
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The description of A and B services, such as that at https://www.mercedesbenzofdenver.com...b-service-.htm is typical of what most dealers provide as a baseline. As I said, some dealers might provide more to favored customers, or simply set their service fees high and include things like tire rotation. One thing you can be sure of -- nothing is for free. (There was a recent forum post referencing a CA MB dealer that was running a special on A and B services, both which were priced more than $1,000.) Associated with the A and B service indicator are cryptic service codes that define additional services that are required at higher mileage intervals, such as gearbox fluid exchanges and spark plugs. Many owners are clueless until they pull into the service bay for their usual oil change only to discover that the A service at 50K miles is going to cost them several thousand $$. That's why pre-paid maintenance is a scam -- it gets you in the door for the oil change, but you don't get out the door without paying much more.
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Prepaid maintenance includes A and B services, you shouldn't be paying anything additionally at the dealer. If you're going to use the dealer, prepaid maintenance actually will save you some money. Of course the prepaid maintenance is over by 50k miles which is when real maintenance happens...plugs etc.
I use the dealer for the small services because its easy, I could save a couple hundred dollars taking it to my independent but I get the loaner etc at Mercedes. Big stuff, brakes, spark plugs etc I take to the independent.
I use the dealer for the small services because its easy, I could save a couple hundred dollars taking it to my independent but I get the loaner etc at Mercedes. Big stuff, brakes, spark plugs etc I take to the independent.
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Thats true, but you aren't getting an A or B service then. Its more than just an oil change mostly the B Service, includes tire rotation and air filters etc. Oil change at my MB dealer as of last week when I had it done was $210 out the door. A service would add tire rotation, key battery and mrake inspections etc
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Prepaid maintenance includes A and B services, you shouldn't be paying anything additionally at the dealer. If you're going to use the dealer, prepaid maintenance actually will save you some money. Of course the prepaid maintenance is over by 50k miles which is when real maintenance happens...plugs etc.
I use the dealer for the small services because its easy, I could save a couple hundred dollars taking it to my independent but I get the loaner etc at Mercedes. Big stuff, brakes, spark plugs etc I take to the independent.
I use the dealer for the small services because its easy, I could save a couple hundred dollars taking it to my independent but I get the loaner etc at Mercedes. Big stuff, brakes, spark plugs etc I take to the independent.
