Oil Filter Change with Royal Purple Synthetic
Brake Fluid Flush
Fuel Injector's Cleaned
Rear Differential Fluid Changed (Does an MB have this?)
Fuel Filter
Cabin Filter
Air Filters
Rear Brake Pads
Warranty Work:
Valve Cover Gasket Leaking
TQ Strut Bushing (no clue what this is)
Lucas Car Care's MB trained tech combed the car front to back and only found those two issues. Today's total is $1350. It hurts.
Much cheaper than the dealer price was though, which is the best part. If anyone is in Houston, Lucas Car Care is great!
Side note - Thankfully my plugs aren't due yet, I cannot believe there are twelve of them on a 6cyl! My Transmission and plugs will be serviced at my next B-Service.
I hope I don't have the car then! ~laughs~
__________________
2003 Mercedes-Benz C240 5AT - 65.4k miles
1999 Honda Accord EX-L 4AT - 128.2k miles
1996 Honda Accord LX 4AT - 120.6k miles
The car is still at the shop and I just remembered about the VDO screen going out when its hot outside, so I called the shop and they're going to call me later with the cost of replacement. Very happy for that warranty!
Vehicle: 2003 C320 Coupe\71 220 gas, 4-speed\95 Talon TSi AWD\97 J30\79 GS1000S\80 SR500\'69 Datsun 2000
Location: glorious Galt CA
Posts: 83
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Originally Posted by MBC240
Oil Filter Change with Royal Purple Synthetic
I thought Mercedes mechanics were immediately whisked to hell if they didn't use Mobil 1.
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Brake Fluid Flush
Replaced the brake fluid. A whole-system transfusion of fresh fluid. Good for the ABS internals.
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Fuel Injector's Cleaned
Eh. A fancy spray-can of solvent run through the injectors. Doing the same thing the detergent in gasoline does on a continual basis. I'm not sold on the "need".
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Rear Differential Fluid Changed (Does an MB have this?)
Well, it better. It's a heavy oil with friction components that deal with the sliding faces of the hypoid gearset, as well as lubricant for the axle bearings in the differential. Time for a trip to How Stuff Works.
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Fuel Filter
Cabin Filter
Air Filters
Routine maintenance, and the bread-and-butter for shops worldwide. They seldom need replacement, unless you're just pulling into Dakar after they Rallye, but they're fairly cheap.
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Rear Brake Pads
Done on an as-needed basis, and unusual that the rears would need replacing before the fronts. Consider yourself lucky they didn't sell you new discs as well.
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Warranty Work:
Valve Cover Gasket Leaking
TQ Strut Bushing (no clue what this is)
This is probably the rubber donut that locates the suspension strut. Along with the valve cover gasket, jobs that the warranty company will readily approve and yield a good profit for the shop. The "need" is always a matter of degree.
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Side note - Thankfully my plugs aren't due yet, I cannot believe there are twelve of them on a 6cyl! My Transmission and plugs will be serviced at my next B-Service.
I hope I don't have the car then! ~laughs~
Not so much a hard job as just a fussy one. It's a little fussy to get to a couple of them, but not so much if you have a few key tools. And yes, you have two plugs per cylinder. Not all that uncommon.
__________________ Mike Tovey monument, Amador County
Rear Differential Fluid Changed (Does an MB have this?)
MBZ dealership will do this for you, but it is not part of any scheduled service. I had inquired about a differential flush, and my dealership wasn't even sure of a exact price quote to give me. They had the nerve to tell me that the differential oil should never have to be replaced...
__________________ My Car;02' C230 Kompressor Sportcoupe[115,000 Miles] Modifications: ASP Overdrive Pulley - NGK Iridium IX Sparkplugs - Kompressor Silencer Removed ---------------- Clear Side Indicator Covers
My B service is approaching prob around september. My car currently only has 25k on it so I don't think it should be that expensive, just filters replaced again.
I thought Mercedes mechanics were immediately whisked to hell if they didn't use Mobil 1.
The tech is a former Mercedes Dealer Tech who now works for an Ind shop. Royal Purple is just as good, if not better than Mobil1.
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Originally Posted by Defiant
Replaced the brake fluid. A whole-system transfusion of fresh fluid. Good for the ABS internals.
It needed it too, the fluid was very dark.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Defiant
Eh. A fancy spray-can of solvent run through the injectors. Doing the same thing the detergent in gasoline does on a continual basis. I'm not sold on the "need".
I'm not either and I was a bit skeptical but it was part of the fuel filter service anyways so I let it go.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Defiant
Well, it better. It's a heavy oil with friction components that deal with the sliding faces of the hypoid gearset, as well as lubricant for the axle bearings in the differential. Time for a trip to How Stuff Works.
Yea I'll have to research that. Glad they changed it then.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Defiant
Routine maintenance, and the bread-and-butter for shops worldwide.
They seldom need replacement, unless you're just pulling into Dakar after they Rallye, but they're fairly cheap. Done on an as-needed basis, and unusual that the rears would need replacing before the fronts. Consider yourself lucky they didn't sell you new discs as well.
Well I did have a look at the two air filters before I bought it in, I was going to replace them myself but I didn't have the right screwdriver at the time. Next time I'll do it myself. The fuel filter was an important one though, I don't think that was ever changed.
As for the brakes, I was surprised too because on my dad's Volvo you have to do discs and pads all at once. He just had his brakes done for the first time in 140k at the Volvo dealership on his 2004 S40, it was $1200!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Defiant
This is probably the rubber donut that locates the suspension strut. Along with the valve cover gasket, jobs that the warranty company will readily approve and yield a good profit for the shop. The "need" is always a matter of degree.
Shoot I was hoping they would find more things to fix under warranty. I want all $1250 worth of that sucker by 2010 or 90k. I think once the VDO screen is replaced, it will have paid for itself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Defiant
Not so much a hard job as just a fussy one. It's a little fussy to get to a couple of them, but not so much if you have a few key tools. And yes, you have two plugs per cylinder. Not all that uncommon.
It was a first for me, I've never owned a German car before. I' still have my old Accords in the driveway (Orig owner of a 96 and 86 Accord).
Overall, while I am in sticker shock, it is a Mercedes, and I accept that it has a bunch of overpriced maintenance. I'm just happy that I won't have to do another major B-Service for another 2 years or 26k Miles. I'm also quite impressed that it has not broken down, I really had zero reliability expectations for this car when I got it from CarMax in January of 2006 with 48k miles on it.
It has impressed me so far, with only one electrical gremlin, and that is the rear tail light bulbs keep going out. I have a bag of bulbs in my trunk, and am dealing with it. I can't wait to see what it's like for the next 2 years. Then I'll have to really consider dumping it, as my warranty will be expiring.
My B service is approaching prob around september. My car currently only has 25k on it so I don't think it should be that expensive, just filters replaced again.
I doubt it. You're probably simply due for an oil change and all those inspections.
It has impressed me so far, with only one electrical gremlin, and that is the rear tail light bulbs keep going out. I have a bag of bulbs in my trunk, and am dealing with it. I can't wait to see what it's like for the next 2 years. Then I'll have to really consider dumping it, as my warranty will be expiring. Go Benz!
Why don't you just replace the rear tail lights with LED bulbs. The only thing you should experience is a malfunction error whenever you utilize your rear fog which will clear the next time you turn on your car.
Why don't you just replace the rear tail lights with LED bulbs. The only thing you should experience is a malfunction error whenever you utilize your rear fog which will clear the next time you turn on your car.
[quote=MBC240;2944091]I had the B-Service done on my C240 today.
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Oil Filter Change with Royal Purple Synthetic
$8/quart times 8 is $64. Add in 15 for an OEM filter + $1 crush washer and it comes out to $80 parts. add in $5 environmental waste disposal and 1/2 hour labor at $100/hr and total cost is $135.
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Brake Fluid Flush
1hr of labor + $50 in fluid so $150
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Fuel Injector's Cleaned
1 bottle of Chevron Techron at $15.
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Rear Differential Fluid Changed (Does an MB have this?)
Yes. 1 hour of labor + $40 in parts = $140
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Fuel Filter
$20 for the fuel filter + 1/2 hour labor = $70
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Cabin Filter
charcoal activated filters are expensive. Glovebox needs to be removed for this one. 1/2 hour labor and $100 in parts for a total of $150
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Air Filters
15 minutes of labor and $30 for regular air filters. Total is $55
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Rear Brake Pads
Just the pads? I hope your rear rotors were well within spec. 1/2 hour labor + $80 in parts for a total of $130
That comes out to a total of $830 not including the warranty work which I assume was free.
Most people are under the assumption that MB's are super expensive to maintain and when they get a bill for $500 for anything, they just whine and whine. Electronics on MB's are ridiculously expensive, but besides that, maintenance stuff is either 3rd party or competitively priced with other car companies.
It's just labor and unscrupulous practices of even independent shops that screws things up.
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