Need advice on servicing w176 A180 auto for first time

[hasbulla18]

Hi guys, I got myself an A class 2018 (A180 auto) couple months ago, it's my first mercedes and I am not quite familiar with servicing. From what I have worked out, one year or every 10,000 miles you need service A, then second year or 20,000 miles it's service B, so according to schedule, Year 1 A, Y2 B, Y3, A, Y4 B, Y5 A, Y6 B(it's only done 13,500 miles since 2018, so only factoring years).

My dealership gave me 4 year warranty if I service it at MB dealership.

So basically it has full service history (from MB) and I can see what it had;

1) first service was A as they only did oil, filter, seal rings, washer fluid.
2) Second service in 2020 was for oil, battery, pollen filter, brake/clutch fluid which I assume is B?
3) Then year 3, they did oil, battery, oil filter, combination filter, I assume it's A.
4) Year 4, before I got the car, they did seal rings, oil filter, oil, brake fluid, spark plugs, air filter I assume it's B?

Now it's due 5th service for year 5, cars dashboard is flashing that B7 service is required (from googling apparently B7 is old code which means automatic transmisison fluid and filter needs changing ,but it also says it needs changing at 30-60k miles) and MB website suggests I need B? So does that mean I need B again? As per schedule it should be A for year 5? I'm quite confused on this one, not sure if they didn't reset counter properly or didn't do proper B last time and it needs B again?

 

[markjay]

Welcome.

What does ESS say?

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

lite.servicemercedes.co.uk

Also, if you want to stick to dealer servicing to keep the 4 years warranty, consider taking out a Service Plan before you book it in for the next service:

Service Plan

www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

 

[markjay]

Also, I suggest that you ask the dealer to provide you with the actual printout of the Digital Service Book (DSB) from the MB central computer.

The official DSB printout will show exactly what service was carried out, A or B, each year.

 

[hasbulla18]

Welcome.

What does ESS say?

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

lite.servicemercedes.co.uk

Also, if you want to stick to dealer servicing to keep the 4 years warranty, consider taking out a Service Plan before you book it in for the next service:

Service Plan

www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

Thank you for the response It keeps saying that there's an error, tried like 5 times..

Is service plan actually chaper? It shows that 2 services for my car is £960, so hypothetically if I pay for my B service now which is £400, and then next one should be A, which is ~£200? so it will work out as £600 for 2 services, so taking service plan would mean that I would overpay £360? 3 is £1,440

Also, I suggest that you ask the dealer to provide you with the actual printout of the Digital Service Book (DSB) from the MB central computer.

The official DSB printout will show exactly what service was carried out, A or B, each year.

Dealer actually provided one and it doesnt say whether it's A or B, just says 15,500 km service and 62,000 km service and lists what was done, which I also listed, and by looking at A and B service, it seems that last one was B as they did more than just an oil change. I am trying to reach dealer for 2nd day to find out

 

[markjay]

The cost of any MB service will depend on what additional items fall due at the same time.

But under a service plan, the price for each service is fixed, regardless of what needs to be done.

And so, an MB service plan will be cheaper IF there are a lot of 'additional items' due during the future services covered by the plan.

In your case, if the car is due an ATF and filter change this year, then a 2-year service plan will be worthwhile.

It will cover this year a Service A plus ATF change, then in 2024 it will cover a Service B plus brake fluid change and cabin filter.

If you opt for a 4-year plan, it will also cover a Service A in 2025, and then in 2026 a service B, plus brake fluid, air filter, cabin filter, and spark plugs.

 

[hasbulla18]

The cost of any MB service will depend on what additional items fall due at the same time.

But under a service plan, the price for each service is fixed, regardless of what needs to be done.

And so, an MB service plan will be cheaper IF there are a lot of 'additional items' due during the future services covered by the plan.

In your case, if the car is due an ATF and filter change this year, then a 2-year service plan will be worthwhile.

It will cover this year a Service A plus ATF change, then in 2024 it will cover a Service B plus brake fluid change and cabin filter.

If you opt for a 4-year plan, it will also cover a Service A in 2025, and then in 2026 a service B, plus brake fluid, air filter, cabin filter, and spark plugs.

Great advice, really appreciate this mate! It now made it a lot clearer to me.

I have spoken to the dealer who did past 4 services, they said that it had A B B and A, and the reason last one was A but actual work done was for B, because in 2020 and 2021 they did two Bs in a row, so apparently it was unfair to charge ex owner for B service again due to their mistake so they put it on the system as A, despite all filters and oil and brake fluid + spark plug changes etc.. They said they cant amend it to B now as technically it was a B. My local MB dealer said that they cant do an A now either as according to system it needs B lol..

So your advice is spot on, as far as I understood ATF needs to be done 30-60 miles or 5 years? In which case my car is about 5 years old hence why B7 service (ATF) is showing on dashboard, so 3 year service plan should work great and much cheaper as you suggested! Only B is £400, and ATF I assume is around £300-£400?

 

[markjay]

To clarify:

Service A is engine oil and filter change, and some checks

Service B is the same as Service A, but with some more checks. Also, Service B includes replacing the fob batteries, and on some models it also includes cabin filter change.

But everything else: ATF and filter change, brake fluid change, air filter change, and spark plugs change - is additional. None of these are included with either Service A or Service B.

In Year 4 (2022), your car would normally have Service B, plus the following additional items: brake fluid change, air filter change, and spark plugs change.

So regardless of whether the dealership recorded a Service A or Service B, all of these additional items were due last year anyway.

 

[hasbulla18]

To clarify:

Service A is engine oil and filter change, and some checks

Service B is the same as Service A, but with some more checks. Also, Service B includes replacing the fob batteries, and on some models it also includes cabin filter change.

But everything else: ATF and filter change, brake fluid change, air filter change, and spark plugs change - is additional. None of these are included with either Service A or Service B.

In Year 4 (2022), your car would normally have Service B, plus the following additional items: brake fluid change, air filter change, and spark plugs change.

So regardless of whether the dealership recorded a Service A or Service B, all of these additional items were due last year anyway.

Thank you, that makes sense, I just had a look at service plans and basically they seems to include all those additions you mentioned? It seems to work out at £480 per year, so that would be pretty much all I have to pay a year, without any additions if I sign up for a service plan? (except wear and tear items obviously)

 

[tygertyger]

Thank you, that makes sense, I just had a look at service plans and basically they seems to include all those additions you mentioned? It seems to work out at £480 per year, so that would be pretty much all I have to pay a year, without any additions if I sign up for a service plan? (except wear and tear items obviously)

Definitely worth doing the maths and as others have said check what additional items are due. B A B services on a three year plan sometimes, but not always, worth considering. Or find a reliable Ind.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Welcome to MBClub.

Thank you, that makes sense, I just had a look at service plans and basically they seems to include all those additions you mentioned? It seems to work out at £480 per year, so that would be pretty much all I have to pay a year, without any additions if I sign up for a service plan? (except wear and tear items obviously)

I believe the service plan recently changed and now includes an MOT test, but check before signing.

Pro tip: Also if you pay monthly then you must use your final service within 12 months of the service plan ending, ie your final payment. If you pay up front you have 10 years from the date of purchase so you can choose which service to pay for with cash and which service to cover with the plan.

 

[hasbulla18]

Welcome to MBClub.


I believe the service plan recently changed and now includes an MOT test, but check before signing.

Pro tip: Also if you pay monthly then you must use your final service within 12 months of the service plan ending, ie your final payment. If you pay up front you have 10 years from the date of purchase so you can choose which service to pay for with cash and which service to cover with the plan.

Yeah shows MOT included on website, so that's additional ~£50 savings. I plan to pay monthly so 3 services, this year and in 2 following years should work for me.

Definitely worth doing the maths and as others have said check what additional items are due. B A B services on a three year plan sometimes, but not always, worth considering. Or find a reliable Ind.

Going to revise a bit better today before signing up for it, but so far it seems that it will save quite a chunk of money, as @markjay said, I would need ATF as per dashboard service message, which is £400 for B + ~£300-400 for ATF + filter change, then next service I would need break fluid and air filters. So overall it seems that service plan would work out cheaper.

Before I was under assumption that service A-B would include additiona items like ATF and stuff, I was not aware that they are charged in addition to service B cost. So I will just get 3 or perhaps 4 year service plan, as I have 4 year warranty from dealer if I service at MB garage, and then switch to indy garage or just do it myself after warranty runs out, I am quite technical when it comes to manual work, after watching filter/oil change and air filter change on youtube, it's not that complicated at all.

I am just quite cautious with indy garages in my area (east midlands) as there is a lot of negative feedback around local ones. Many friends/colleagues would take cars to indy garages and then they would pay for things that havent been done and end up going to dealer garage lol

 

[rayaans]

Is the warranty a dealership warranty or a MB warranty?

Tbh I would take it to a well known Mercedes specialist. I paid £385 for an A service and ATF change and like £230 for a B service at a specialist. You'd get a lot more for your money

 

[hasbulla18]

Is the warranty a dealership warranty or a MB warranty?

Tbh I would take it to a well known Mercedes specialist. I paid £385 for an A service and ATF change and like £230 for a B service at a specialist. You'd get a lot more for your money

The warranty is from dealership with RAC. So not sure how good that is but I've read contract and it covers pretty much everything except wear and tear items, as long as I service it at MB it will be valid. So not sure whether my rationale behind this is correct lol. I was thinking that if something breaks and costs me a grand or so, the MB servicing will pay off, but if nothing breaks then it wont really, but I guess peace of mind is good also

 

[rayaans]

The warranty is from dealership with RAC. So not sure how good that is but I've read contract and it covers pretty much everything except wear and tear items, as long as I service it at MB it will be valid. So not sure whether my rationale behind this is correct lol. I was thinking that if something breaks and costs me a grand or so, the MB servicing will pay off, but if nothing breaks then it wont really, but I guess peace of mind is good also

If its an RAC warranty it can be serviced anywhere. It won't stipulate that it has to be serviced at a main dealer. It will only say that it has to be done according to the manufacturers servicing schedule. So realistically you can go anywhere to get it done as long as you have proof i.e. an invoice that the service has been carried out.

Bear in mind that the warranty will have conditions attached to it including where you can take the car for repair. You will also likely need to pay £50 + VAT for an initial diagnosis / or the initial diagnosis cost entirely.

Most of the time if you have an RAC warranty and you take it to MB dealership for repair, you will have to pay the full cost and then have it re-imbursed / or cost you depending on what plan you have as they may say that they won't cover the MB labour or genuine part prices

 

[hasbulla18]

If its an RAC warranty it can be serviced anywhere. It won't stipulate that it has to be serviced at a main dealer. It will only say that it has to be done according to the manufacturers servicing schedule. So realistically you can go anywhere to get it done as long as you have proof i.e. an invoice that the service has been carried out.

Bear in mind that the warranty will have conditions attached to it including where you can take the car for repair. You will also likely need to pay £50 + VAT for an initial diagnosis / or the initial diagnosis cost entirely.

Most of the time if you have an RAC warranty and you take it to MB dealership for repair, you will have to pay the full cost and then have it re-imbursed / or cost you depending on what plan you have as they may say that they won't cover the MB labour or genuine part prices

Thanks, that was good explanation One of guys I know actually works at RAC approved garage so I might as well do everything there, he also said that if something needs repairing under warranty he can chip in some extras lol

Actually my local MB were quite rude and useless, the "sales advisor" who talked through service didn't really seem to know anything and was staring at girls asses constantly, while talking to me, he would literally stop talking and not respond to me for few seconds and stare at girls. Whatever I asked he didn't know.

So might as well just service it at independent garage next service, probably for A class it's not worth it as other guys on this forum suggested

 

[tonysmb]

If its an RAC warranty it can be serviced anywhere. It won't stipulate that it has to be serviced at a main dealer. It will only say that it has to be done according to the manufacturers servicing schedule. So realistically you can go anywhere to get it done as long as you have proof i.e. an invoice that the service has been carried out.

Bear in mind that the warranty will have conditions attached to it including where you can take the car for repair. You will also likely need to pay £50 + VAT for an initial diagnosis / or the initial diagnosis cost entirely.

Most of the time if you have an RAC warranty and you take it to MB dealership for repair, you will have to pay the full cost and then have it re-imbursed / or cost you depending on what plan you have as they may say that they won't cover the MB labour or genuine part prices

OP, whilst the above poster's quote might be correct with regard to the comment "it can be serviced anywhere", you have stated that the dealer said it has a 4-year warranty "if serviced at MB dealership" and also that you've read the Ts & Cs and they stated it must be "serviced at MB".

It may well be an RAC warranty but it might be specific to MB rather than a generic RAC warranty. The only people who can give you a definitive answer are the warranty providers.

The Ts and Cs will determine what is required: I know one person who took the salesman's comments as 'fact' and voided their warranty as they didn't comply with the Ts & Cs.

 

[hasbulla18]

OP, whilst the above poster's quote might be correct with regard to the comment "it can be serviced anywhere", you have stated that the dealer said it has a 4-year warranty "if serviced at MB dealership" and also that you've read the Ts & Cs and they stated it must be "serviced at MB".

It may well be an RAC warranty but it might be specific to MB rather than a generic RAC warranty. The only people who can give you a definitive answer are the warranty providers.

The Ts and Cs will determine what is required: I know one person who took the salesman's comments as 'fact' and voided their warranty as they didn't comply with the Ts & Cs.

Hi Tony,

Thank you for the response, I did have a look and it does say that it needs to be serviced at supplying dealer or Mercedes approved garage, by which I guess they mean MB? Every MB garage I've seen is represented by Sytner, Lookers etc. So I guess same thing what dealer said, has to be serviced at MB.

My local two MB dealerships are represented by sytner

 

[Shadgrind]

Technically you don’t have to take it to a main dealer, EU law I think it was stated that this was unfair practice, also again technically you can do all the servicing yourself if you keep receipts. I don’t know if they would put it on the DSR (DIGITAL SERVICE RECORD) or whatever Mercedes calls it.

Personally I think that main dealers are some of the worst, they often have kids that have little practical experience working on cars, or in my case once a brand new motorbike Yamaha R1, kid forgot to tighten the oil drain plug, of course I spotted this straight away after the engine seized on a roundabout and the sump was coming towards my head, new engine and bodywork was offered at first but I held out for new bike leathers (one piece) and £500 for my stress.

I do have this strange ability to enjoy crashing, that’s probably why I took up racing bikes and also why I have a 6” plate in my arm, after crashing on track and getting run over by a Buell 1200, doing about 90mph, I was enjoying my crash until he ruined it, nice high side about 10’ in the air landed on my backside sitting wit my arms propping me up,I thought to myself, that was a good’un followed by the sound of the approaching bike.

Two weeks in hospital broken radius in my arm dislocated shoulder and elbow, smashed shoulder blade, ribs 2, 3 and four broken, punctured lung, oh I was also winded quite badly, someone in the medical centre at Mallory Park said you were lucky 1” to the right and you would either be paralysed or dead, I felt lucky (sarcastic emoji). The bike had about 250 miles on it, I was running it in, hard. I had financed it for five years, that was more painful than the crash.

Oh, and that was when I found that morphine doesn’t work on me, they gave me some at the track. When I got in the ambulance, was asked if I had had anything for the pain,I said no, was given more, at the hospital same question, same answer. I told them I was still in a lot of pain they gave me more,five mins later I asked again and they said 5 more (five what I don’t know). Refused after that, when I was in hospital they gave me my own ‘porta morphine machine’ “just push this button if the pain gets too bad” spent all my time repeatedly pressing it, didn’t think it was working.

Ah, the memories, never raced again but have had a few bikes, when my arm started working again after three months (right) but I waited until I had my first of two strokes (left sided weakness).

 

[tonysmb]

You (Shadgrind) are possibly thinking about the manufacturers' initial warranties, where that (not having to use main dealer for servicing) is correct. However, based on the OP's comments, my understanding is that the OP's warranty is not the manufacturer's original warranty, so the EU ruling doesn't apply (there are rules around unfair terms but that is probably outside this debate and, in any event, legal challenges are unlikely to be cheap, so you'd be weighing up pros/cons of any action).

However, if the OP's warranty in question states 'mercedes approved garage / workshop' for servicing, many, but not all, mercedes specialists are mercedes-approved, whereby Mercedes allows them to access/update Mercedes' digital service history.

With regard to Mercedes dealer service costs, it is possible to obtain quotes online through the Mercedes online service system and those quotes can vary between dealers.

 

[hasbulla18]

Technically you don’t have to take it to a main dealer, EU law I think it was stated that this was unfair practice, also again technically you can do all the servicing yourself if you keep receipts. I don’t know if they would put it on the DSR (DIGITAL SERVICE RECORD) or whatever Mercedes calls it.

Personally I think that main dealers are some of the worst, they often have kids that have little practical experience working on cars, or in my case once a brand new motorbike Yamaha R1, kid forgot to tighten the oil drain plug, of course I spotted this straight away after the engine seized on a roundabout and the sump was coming towards my head, new engine and bodywork was offered at first but I held out for new bike leathers (one piece) and £500 for my stress.

I do have this strange ability to enjoy crashing, that’s probably why I took up racing bikes and also why I have a 6” plate in my arm, after crashing on track and getting run over by a Buell 1200, doing about 90mph, I was enjoying my crash until he ruined it, nice high side about 10’ in the air landed on my backside sitting wit my arms propping me up,I thought to myself, that was a good’un followed by the sound of the approaching bike.

Two weeks in hospital broken radius in my arm dislocated shoulder and elbow, smashed shoulder blade, ribs 2, 3 and four broken, punctured lung, oh I was also winded quite badly, someone in the medical centre at Mallory Park said you were lucky 1” to the right and you would either be paralysed or dead, I felt lucky (sarcastic emoji). The bike had about 250 miles on it, I was running it in, hard. I had financed it for five years, that was more painful than the crash.

Oh, and that was when I found that morphine doesn’t work on me, they gave me some at the track. When I got in the ambulance, was asked if I had had anything for the pain,I said no, was given more, at the hospital same question, same answer. I told them I was still in a lot of pain they gave me more,five mins later I asked again and they said 5 more (five what I don’t know). Refused after that, when I was in hospital they gave me my own ‘porta morphine machine’ “just push this button if the pain gets too bad” spent all my time repeatedly pressing it, didn’t think it was working.

Ah, the memories, never raced again but have had a few bikes, when my arm started working again after three months (right) but I waited until I had my first of two strokes (left sided weakness).

All my friends who had bikes crashed at some point, majority never got another bike and some did but crashed again lol, I like adrenaline and speed too but probably wont ever get a bike as I would crash 99% haha

You (Shadgrind) are possibly thinking about the manufacturers' initial warranties, where that (not having to use main dealer for servicing) is correct. However, based on the OP's comments, my understanding is that the OP's warranty is not the manufacturer's original warranty, so the EU ruling doesn't apply (there are rules around unfair terms but that is probably outside this debate and, in any event, legal challenges are unlikely to be cheap, so you'd be weighing up pros/cons of any action).

However, if the OP's warranty in question states 'mercedes approved garage / workshop' for servicing, many, but not all, mercedes specialists are mercedes-approved, whereby Mercedes allows them to access/update Mercedes' digital service history.

With regard to Mercedes dealer service costs, it is possible to obtain quotes online through the Mercedes online service system and those quotes can vary between dealers.

I called the dealer and they did say "MB approved garage/workshop" as you said, that also has to put it in DSR. So pretty much MB garage, as I couldn't find any nearby mercedes specialists who are MB approved. For example my friend works in RAC approved garage, but they don't have access to DSR and are not MB approved so apparently this RAC warranty would be void if I service my car there.

I just serviced my car couple days ago at local MB, and it was meant to have A, but previous MB services have DSR all over the place, they did A on first year and then 3 Bs in consecutive years, so I was meant to have A, but they told me I actually need B and also dashboard was showing B7 (which is for ATF), so they did A + ATF, but it was also due cabin air filter as it's been 2 years since last change, it wasn't showing on list of jobs done, I asked them why, and why they did A despite saying I need B/quoting B. They did say that apparently cabin air filter won't show on list of jobs done (said it was replaced) as apparently normally its not showing? Even though DSR for past 4 years does show cabin air filter changes? Also told me that Service A and B is just a "formality" there is apparently no difference between it, as they do same amount/level of checks on both services and just look at what needs to be replaced in addition lol