What makes up the 'A' and 'B' service
Discussion
Afternoon all. Hope you're keeping well.
With a little enforced time on my hands I'm hoping someone on here will be able to answer a question I've been meaning to ask for some time.
Despite searching the internet on numerous occasions, including trying the search function on here, I'm unable to find a definitive list of what makes up an 'A' and the 'B' services for my 2013 W204 C-Class 220CDi. That is - a list of what needs to be changed/what should be checked.
I have bought the Haynes manual for the car, but this seems to have slightly different information than the vehicle supplied owners manual (which itself isn't very clear).
Here's hoping someone can help and I can plan my future works (when the shops open to buy oil, filters etc.)
Stay safe.
Thanks,
With a little enforced time on my hands I'm hoping someone on here will be able to answer a question I've been meaning to ask for some time.
Despite searching the internet on numerous occasions, including trying the search function on here, I'm unable to find a definitive list of what makes up an 'A' and the 'B' services for my 2013 W204 C-Class 220CDi. That is - a list of what needs to be changed/what should be checked.
I have bought the Haynes manual for the car, but this seems to have slightly different information than the vehicle supplied owners manual (which itself isn't very clear).
Here's hoping someone can help and I can plan my future works (when the shops open to buy oil, filters etc.)
Stay safe.
Thanks,
Try this site:
http://lite.servicemercedes.co.uk/ess/pc/
It will ask which you want (A or B) but you could run it through for both and see what the differences are.
http://lite.servicemercedes.co.uk/ess/pc/
It will ask which you want (A or B) but you could run it through for both and see what the differences are.
A generally means minor, B is major. It isn't always as black and white as that though. A lot of the time there will be additional items required due to age and mileage, it's not uncommon for an A service to become more expensive than a B. I would check for you but unfortunately I'm furloughed until further notice 
A few hundred quid.
Just had an A for £390 and they didn't even notice the front valance thing hanging off, despite giving me assurances, "everything will be checked"
I think I'll go indie, I know come resale a dealer services history is worth more, but they're totally incompetent and too expensive.
Just had an A for £390 and they didn't even notice the front valance thing hanging off, despite giving me assurances, "everything will be checked"
I think I'll go indie, I know come resale a dealer services history is worth more, but they're totally incompetent and too expensive.
jimPH said:
A few hundred quid.
Just had an A for £390 and they didn't even notice the front valance thing hanging off, despite giving me assurances, "everything will be checked"
I think I'll go indie, I know come resale a dealer services history is worth more, but they're totally incompetent and too expensive.
That wouldn't have been missed at our place, but, did you point it out? Just had an A for £390 and they didn't even notice the front valance thing hanging off, despite giving me assurances, "everything will be checked"
I think I'll go indie, I know come resale a dealer services history is worth more, but they're totally incompetent and too expensive.
Chris, that's a useful link - Thanks (Sorry for the late reply).
I think there's a lot of generalisation going on though. By that I mean, I think as long as I know what each service (A&B) main items are, the general inspections that I would normally do (gaiters, brake/steering/suspension inspections, security of nuts/bolts etc.) more than look to cover things.
It does make me think that main dealers overheads must be huge, given what they charge. I know my time's my own, and things might take me longer but they definitely look to charge top dollar.
I think there's a lot of generalisation going on though. By that I mean, I think as long as I know what each service (A&B) main items are, the general inspections that I would normally do (gaiters, brake/steering/suspension inspections, security of nuts/bolts etc.) more than look to cover things.
It does make me think that main dealers overheads must be huge, given what they charge. I know my time's my own, and things might take me longer but they definitely look to charge top dollar.
Cooper1999 said:
Chris, that's a useful link - Thanks (Sorry for the late reply).
I think there's a lot of generalisation going on though. By that I mean, I think as long as I know what each service (A&B) main items are, the general inspections that I would normally do (gaiters, brake/steering/suspension inspections, security of nuts/bolts etc.) more than look to cover things.
It does make me think that main dealers overheads must be huge, given what they charge. I know my time's my own, and things might take me longer but they definitely look to charge top dollar.
Ask for discount. I think there's a lot of generalisation going on though. By that I mean, I think as long as I know what each service (A&B) main items are, the general inspections that I would normally do (gaiters, brake/steering/suspension inspections, security of nuts/bolts etc.) more than look to cover things.
It does make me think that main dealers overheads must be huge, given what they charge. I know my time's my own, and things might take me longer but they definitely look to charge top dollar.
Essentially:
A service is oil and filter change and some basic safety checks.
B service is same, plus pollen filter and key battery, and some more detailed checks.
There's then a bunch of "additional work" items done based on time/distance.
Brake fluid every 2yrs.
Air and diesel filter (or spark plugs) every 4 years assuming normalish mileage/
ATF change - this interval is all over the place, but probably 5yrs on a 2013 car. MB say it's a one-off, some owners get it done again.
The snag with the ESS system is it assumes work was carried out when due and it alsogets confused in the mileage and age get out of line, either if the car is doing very low or very high miles.
Dealer pricing comes up on MyService and note neighbouring dealers can be quite different prices. The pricing is also pitched to make ServiceCare, which is now available on any age of vehicle, look like a good deal, so it's artificially high.
"Mine" (MB Chester, and Inchcape dealership) discounts labour on older (i think 7yrs is the start point) cars by 50% and they always used to be up for a haggle on the overall price but then they just started referring me to MyService. At that point I switched to using an indie. I now get emails from the dealer offering to price match but I feel you have to use one or the other and I'm sticking with the indie.
Taking an older car to a dealer is asking for trouble as trying to extract the maxiumum amount out of you is a key target for dealer service operations. Last time mine went to the dealer it came back with a list of work that was similar to the value of the car.
A service is oil and filter change and some basic safety checks.
B service is same, plus pollen filter and key battery, and some more detailed checks.
There's then a bunch of "additional work" items done based on time/distance.
Brake fluid every 2yrs.
Air and diesel filter (or spark plugs) every 4 years assuming normalish mileage/
ATF change - this interval is all over the place, but probably 5yrs on a 2013 car. MB say it's a one-off, some owners get it done again.
The snag with the ESS system is it assumes work was carried out when due and it alsogets confused in the mileage and age get out of line, either if the car is doing very low or very high miles.
Dealer pricing comes up on MyService and note neighbouring dealers can be quite different prices. The pricing is also pitched to make ServiceCare, which is now available on any age of vehicle, look like a good deal, so it's artificially high.
"Mine" (MB Chester, and Inchcape dealership) discounts labour on older (i think 7yrs is the start point) cars by 50% and they always used to be up for a haggle on the overall price but then they just started referring me to MyService. At that point I switched to using an indie. I now get emails from the dealer offering to price match but I feel you have to use one or the other and I'm sticking with the indie.
Taking an older car to a dealer is asking for trouble as trying to extract the maxiumum amount out of you is a key target for dealer service operations. Last time mine went to the dealer it came back with a list of work that was similar to the value of the car.
Sheepshanks said:
Taking an older car to a dealer is asking for trouble as trying to extract the maxiumum amount out of you is a key target for dealer service operations. Last time mine went to the dealer it came back with a list of work that was similar to the value of the car.
Is that all?Sheepshanks said:
Essentially:
A service is oil and filter change and some basic safety checks.
There's then a bunch of "additional work" items done based on time/distance.
Brake fluid every 2yrs.
Yes most manufacturers are the same for the first service from new, its pretty much purely an oil and filter change so makes you wonder how they can ask for the astronomical prices that some do. We all know there is nothing special about the oil and can be bought by anybody for a tiny fraction of the cost that main dealers charge. A service is oil and filter change and some basic safety checks.
There's then a bunch of "additional work" items done based on time/distance.
Brake fluid every 2yrs.
Yes of course they need to make a mark up due to overheads.....but it shouldn't be bordering on extortion.
Brake fluid renewal has always been a bug bear of mine, because the vast majority of cars will not require it on any grounds after only 2 years, but at least it is always an optional item at additional cost so can be refused.
Audi recommend it at 3 years from new then every 2 after that.
For brake fluid I just give the brakes an Italian test. High speed, then braking as hard as I can, down hill, almost to a stop. Accelerate to high speed, then brake hard again almost to a stop. Once more, and if the brakes are still working well, the fluid doesn’t need changing. My reasoning is that in my normal driving the chances of having to brake that hard from that speed more than once are around zero.
If my indy specialist says the fluid needs changing, I let them do it, because I know they don’t take the proverbial.
If my indy specialist says the fluid needs changing, I let them do it, because I know they don’t take the proverbial.
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff