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A1 Service

26K views 36 replies 12 participants last post by  Rapidfirerob  
#1 ·
The dealer wants $645 for this service. I called a good local shop that works on Mercedes vehicles. $195. Let me think about this...
 
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#7 ·
First is A, then B, then A1.
 
#3 ·
Hmm... I see your dilemma. If your local shop does not use white gloves then the choice is obvious.
 
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#8 ·
Exactly! ?
 
#4 ·
Hard to see how they can even attempt to justify this price.
 
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#6 ·
Life is strange! It's the SF Bay Area. Cha Ching!
This is the third service, by the way. First is A, then B, then A1.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Had my third service done at the trusty independent MB service shop I've used since the '70s - $170.14

Lest one assume it's a budget operation, owners of '30s 540Ks and '60s Gullwings and modern top of the line models regularly entrust their cars to this shop for service.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Guys, it is not surprising that the local car repair shop , even if it specializes in MB, will cost less than the Mercedes Benz service shop. The latter will claim their technicians have all been fully trained and certified in repairing MB cars, and they have much larger overheads...

I mean think of it, they have to hire a hot looking receptionist to take appts, what about some MB centres hiring good looking women to greet you at the doors, and the sophisticated Latte/Capuccino/Expresso machines they provide for free. And the courtesy cars they loan out to clients. They have got dedicated service advisors to handle the large volume of customers, and making sure everything goes clockwork in terms of schedules. Some even have fancy car wash stations to wash their client cars.
And last but not least, some even have new high tech buildings which welcome their clients...

I know, I know, ... who cares about all this stuff.. just get us the nice price for the service right? But this is the real business world,... there is obviously a proven marketing strategy in this, that makes car dealers like MB do all their fancy stuff, to warrant charging an arm and a leg...

But I do agree their prices are significantly higher than the local shop... so don't go to them... find your reliable local shop guy, and get it done there. There are people who own mercedes cars, who are also practical pragmatic people, who looks at the value and cost of a service... and there are MANY MB car owners, who could care less about the higher cost at the MB service shop, just name the price, get it done right first time, make sure its convenient and hassle free.

I am not supporting MB shops charging the high prices, just stating the reality that it is what it is... (But the $600 for the service A is quite ridiculous IMHO).
 
#12 ·
I had a small warranty problem last year that necessitated going to a prominent and glossy dealership. Everyone there was really polite, and I got free coffee - each of the 13 times back & forth that it took to finally resolve the issue as well as the new ones created in fixing it.

My time is money. I go where I get the most reliable service.
 
#17 ·
i did my first service myself, and second b service myself. when i was about to do the brake fluid flush,, i found out the oil is super clear and bright ... so i called a shop and they advised me to wait for 3rd year (3rd servicE) so i skipped on that one.


each service so far barely costed me $50.
 
#23 ·
Got my inexpensive A1 done today. Excellent local shop that works on BMW. Mercedes, Mini Coopers. Washed my car too.
When I brought the car in he asked me if I wanted to pay $195 or $645. I told him it was a tough choice, but I'd go with $195 this time around. ?
 
#24 ·
Got my inexpensive A1 done today. Excellent local shop that works on BMW. Mercedes, Mini Coopers. Washed my car too.
When I brought the car in he asked me if I wanted to pay $195 or $645. I told him it was a tough choice, but I'd go with $195 this time around. 
Actually I find that $195 for service A to still be too expensive. Basically it is mainly a synthetic oil filter change. The rest are simply checks. I just changed out my oil last Dec for $30.00 DIY.

But because I got the prepaid pkg, I didn't mind. As the prepaid pkg is covering the more expensive services, which was what I was after.
 
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#33 · (Edited)
I never usually succumb to the prepaid options when I buy a new car. Luckily this time I did.

It was $1,200.00 for all service to 50K ($240.00 per service). This is not the cheapest by any means but, it has worked out for me this time. Historically, I've always continued to take a new car to the dealer until the warranty runs out. Then I switch to a trusted local shop as in many cases with brands other than MB the dealership is a training ground for mechanics. The dealer will send them through the official "whatever brand" training process. Then the best & brightest of them either become the service manager (who rarely touches a car again) or they leave and start their own shop. This often leaves only the newbies, middle-of-the-road or the unmotivated guys left to work on cars at the dealership.

In this case, I have no regrets - MB (as mentioned by mav238) gives me a loaner every time I'm in for service plus the other perks (car wash etc.). My particular dealer has an excellent service staff and manager. They have even done non-covered work at no cost. They have cleaned out my HVAC system's jammed fan assembly of a mouse nest, given me an all wheel alignment and a touch-up paint kit as well all for $ 0.00. Early on I had an issue with the pano roof and for having my car longer than usual they wrote an $850.00 check to me for my inconvenience (even though I had a very nice loaner the whole time). One can be fairly certain that the dealer will usually be using O.E.M. parts as well.

This time I lucked out, the $1,200.00 (and the occasional dozen donuts) was very well spent.