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Difference between A and B services?

iliria

Active Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2013
Messages
152
Location
Cheshire
Car
W205 C200 Sport petrol (67)
What is the difference between the A and B service?

Would it benefit the car if I had an A service every year (instead of alternating between A and B) or is it a waste of money?
 
You wouldn't save any money having an A service every year. An A service is far less exhaustive than a B service and costs less.
There is a reason certain items are done every other service, and the B service covers them. An A service is nothing much more than an oil/filter change and an inspection of the car.
 
There are also certain items that are age/mileage related, brake fluid recommendation is change every 2 years, air filter every 4 years, not sure with a petrol what else is age related but one will be ATF/filter change which IIRC on a 205 would be 37.5k miles or 5 years, whichever comes first. The MB ESS site Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet is worth looking at.
 
If you look 6 or 7 threads down in this section then you will find one titled "Servicing list........" started by PCS, has all the info you need.
 
What is the difference between the A and B service?

Would it benefit the car if I had an A service every year (instead of alternating between A and B) or is it a waste of money?

A is the cheaper service so you seem to have that the wrong way around?

In practice there's little difference - the B service includes the pollen filter and key batteries being changed. Supposedly there are more in-depth checks on the car, but in practice dealers do their own vehicle health check anyway which is very comprehensive.

Things like brake fluid, spark plugs, air and fuel filters etc, come up on varying time/distance intervals and are additional to the basic A/B service.
 
B service is needed after a certain car age or mileage. You then rotate A and B every year going forward. B is a very detailed service and calibration to ensure your car works as optimally as possible.
Things like gearbox oil and sparks plugs have a different cycle based on miles or age.
 
A is the cheaper service so you seem to have that the wrong way around?

You are right, I have got it the wrong way around. What I meant was would the car benefit from having the most thorough service every year (in this case the B service).

Things like brake fluid, spark plugs, air and fuel filters etc, come up on varying time/distance intervals and are additional to the basic A/B service.

So if i had a B service every year it doesnt mean that the filters/oil/brake fluid, etc will be changed every year? Instead they will be changed when the mileage is at the required level or when the database shows they're due?
 
Correct. A is oil n filter only.
 
air filter every 4 years,

I would have thought that an air filter would need to be changed every year considering the amount of crap that it clears from the air that enters the car?

the B service includes the pollen filter

I assume the pollen filter is separate from the air filter?

air and fuel filters etc, come up on varying time/distance intervals and are additional to the basic A/B service.

Does that mean they are not included in the service price and I have to pay separately for them?
 
The service items that are priced on top of the Service A or Service B costs are:

Air Filter change

Cabin/Dust/Pollen Fiter (though on some models this is included in the price of Service B)

Fuel Filter change

Spark Plugs change (if Petrol)

Brake Fluid change

ATF and filter change (if automatic)

Panoramic Roof lubrication (if fitted)

Rear Axle service (some AMG models)

Coolant change (but usually this is only needed every 15 years)

But they are only priced on top of the service cost if you do not have a Service Care Plan. If you do, then all the due items are included in the fixed basic service cost. This is why the Service Care Plan is particularly effective when it covers services where several additional items are also required (because they become included but there's no added cost).
 
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Mercedes service schedules are a nightmare. Even their service desks dont know what will need doing until they hook it up to their computer. By which time you're already committed.
Two MB dealers could not tell me exactly what was needed before I booked my last service (first one after I bought the car). My dashboard said C. First dealer said, probably B + mileage related items. Second dealer said A plus mileage items. Kin hell.
So I booted up good old MS Excel and created my own schedule to 150k miles based on my handbook and detailed dealer schedules from the interweb. I then entered the service history so I could plan out exactly what was needed. Hey, the car had been overserviced by previous owners! Not surprised with all the confusion about MB schedules. So worked what was needed plus diff oil change as I couldn't find a record of it having been done.
Took it all to my indie who said his standard inspection was more thorough than A service. Plus, in terms of inspections, the MoT goes even deeper.
It took some effort but now I know what's going on.
 
Follow my schedule. Oil and filter yearly. Air filter fuel filter 2 yearly.
 
Big up markjay for the link :cool:

Service A 1 year then service B year later with oil change 6 month inbetween.
I actually tell garage what to do in addition to the usual service bits i.e. fluids, other filters, plugs etc
 
Chrishazle is correct...
 

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