Rumor: Mercedes-Benz to drop free scheduled maintenance in 2005

[djdragan]

here's what Auto Spies says.............


Could it be true?

I just got off the phone with MB customer service to try to confirm this rumor and although it’s not official yet, they’re seriously considering it.

The nice person at the other end of the line told me that their studies are showing that the “flexible maintenance system� is affecting the longevity of the vehicles…

They also said that MB is also thinking of going back to mandatory service every 3000 miles because of problems owners are experiencing with their cars.

Isn’t it interesting that they are thinking of making this radical re-adjustment so soon after many of their dealers have newly remodeled and expanded service areas?

It makes you almost wonder if it was part of the plan…

They’re also looking for customer feedback so here is ours:

IF YOU DO THAT, IT WILL BE THE KISS OF DEATH! WE ALSO GUARANTEE THAT THE DAY IT’S ANNOUNCED, THE LEXUS, BMW AND AUDI TEAMS WILL BE POPPING CHAMPAGNE CORKS!!!!!

MB: Are you guys crazy? With the miserable reliability statistics you guys have been showing over the last few years, can you possibly think the customer isn’t already gun-shy when they’re thinking of buying your cars? So let’s see…let’s get rid of complimentary service for our customers so we can REALLY give them a reason to leave our brand for BMW, Audi, Lexus or Infiniti.

The only good part of this idea is you EXTENDING the factory warranty to 5 years/60,000 miles.

[pointman]

wow, thats some garbage imo. i think that mb just doesnt care cause their sales are almost never affected. the kind of clientel that mb has is the kind that search for the lucrative well known three pointed star.

mb needs some new management.