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Oil cost for A service

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paul243

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2017
Messages
37
Car
slk 320
Hi,
Just noticed that I have been charged £112 plus vat for oil during the A service for my SLK 320 and my ML 350 at my usual Indy.
The SLK takes 6.5 litres and the ML 8.5 litres.
Seems I can buy the relevant genuine Merc oil for around £40 for 5 litres.
Am I missing something here? I've never had a problem with the garage in the past.
Any comments before I quiz my Indy?
Thanks
 
paul243 said:
Hi,
Just noticed that I have been charged £112 plus vat for oil during the A service for my SLK 320 and my ML 350 at my usual Indy.
The SLK takes 6.5 litres and the ML 8.5 litres.
Seems I can buy the relevant genuine Merc oil for around £40 for 5 litres.
Am I missing something here? I've never had a problem with the garage in the past.
Any comments before I quiz my Indy?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Were these prices something you weren’t aware of when you booked the car in for the service ?
Have you used them before ?
If 8.5L at £70 plus a filter £15 at 30 minutes + a few more checks at 30 mins sounds right .
 
paul243 said:
Hi,
Just noticed that I have been charged £112 plus vat for oil during the A service for my SLK 320 and my ML 350 at my usual Indy.
The SLK takes 6.5 litres and the ML 8.5 litres.
Seems I can buy the relevant genuine Merc oil for around £40 for 5 litres.
Am I missing something here? I've never had a problem with the garage in the past.
Any comments before I quiz my Indy?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Give your local MB main dealer parts dept a call; you will find that 5 litres of genuine MB oil is about £22. You will pay a LOT more than that for the same oil supplied as a service at the same dealer.
Generally speaking, it's the same with everything; the price for parts delivered as a service is different to the price of the same parts delivered as take away parts. It applies to all car parts not just the oil; it also applies to plumbing or electrical jobs. It is trades people finding a way to make profit to fund their overheads.
Nothing new.
 
paul243 said:
Hi,
Just noticed that I have been charged £112 plus vat for oil during the A service for my SLK 320 and my ML 350 at my usual Indy.
The SLK takes 6.5 litres and the ML 8.5 litres.
Seems I can buy the relevant genuine Merc oil for around £40 for 5 litres.
Am I missing something here? I've never had a problem with the garage in the past.
Any comments before I quiz my Indy?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Are you saying that you have been charged £134 for the oil for both vehicles?

So you could buy 15 litres for £120. Your specialist has to order it, stock it, take his or someone's time to do this and to pay the invoice and possibly make a small overhead on the oil to help with other business costs (like NI!)

I am not sure that I see the problem?
 
paul243 said:
Hi,
Just noticed that I have been charged £112 plus vat for oil during the A service for my SLK 320 and my ML 350 at my usual Indy.
The SLK takes 6.5 litres and the ML 8.5 litres.
Seems I can buy the relevant genuine Merc oil for around £40 for 5 litres.
Am I missing something here? I've never had a problem with the garage in the past.
Any comments before I quiz my Indy?
Thanks
Click to expand...
It sounds about right. I used to supply my own oil many years ago, and back in 2010-ish the main dealer charged £13 + VAT per litre. That mark up is part of how main dealers and independent garages make a profit.

Did the total cost of the service cost the same or less than quoted when you booked? If so, then where the profit sits is of no consequence and there is no conversation to be had as the service has cost what they quoted.

Did you not get a quote before you booked the service? If not, then again there’s. I conversation to be had as you chose not to confirm how much the service would cost - it’s too late once the work has been done.

Next time ask for a price of the service is you supply the oil. Some will, some won’t allow that. If they do then don’t be surprised if it doesn’t knock the full £112 + VAT of the quote and resulting cost of the service.
 
paul243 said:
Hi,
Just noticed that I have been charged £112 plus vat for oil during the A service for my SLK 320 and my ML 350 at my usual Indy.
The SLK takes 6.5 litres and the ML 8.5 litres.
Seems I can buy the relevant genuine Merc oil for around £40 for 5 litres.
Am I missing something here? I've never had a problem with the garage in the past.
Any comments before I quiz my Indy?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Are you saying both cars together? That’s 15 litres, and at £40 for 5 litres it works out at £120.
Are we missing something?
If you are saying each car costs £112 then it’s expensive, are they using Merc oil or Castro Edge ?
I use Mannol 7715 and that’s only £20 for 5 litres.
 
Thanks to all,
To clarify, the oil for the SLK was £112 , £15 for filter and £99 for labour. All plus VAT. Exactly the same price for the ML. so yes £112 for each car
W1ghty said:
Were these prices something you weren’t aware of when you booked the car in for the service ?
Have you used them before ?
If 8.5L at £70 plus a filter £15 at 30 minutes + a few more checks at 30 mins sounds right .
Click to expand...

geoffus said:
Are you saying both cars together? That’s 15 litres, and at £40 for 5 litres it works out at £120.
Are we missing something?
If you are saying each car costs £112 then it’s expensive, are they using Merc oil or Castro Edge ?
I use Mannol 7715 and that’s only £20 for 5 litres.
Click to expand...
 
Is it an hour job?

If so your indys rate (plus VAT) is higher than the £80 plus VAT i pay, but still £100 less an hour than the main dealer charges.

Ref the oil, it's either high on one or low on the other as they require different volumes?
 
paul243 said:
Thanks to all,
To clarify, the oil for the SLK was £112 , £15 for filter and £99 for labour. All plus VAT. Exactly the same price for the ML. so yes £112 for each car
Click to expand...
£226 + VAT is quite a lot for an oil and filter change if that's all he did. But most likely it is all wrapped up in a "service" with lists of "checks" that mostly translate into 10 minutes look over the car on a ramp and top the washer bottle up.
Buy yourself a pela extractor and DIY.
 
There is often an oil disposal charge too which is sometimes itemised and sometimes not.

I got charged a silly amount for oil on a BMW motorbike service once and now tend to take my own or check the cost first. I don’t mind paying a slightly higher price but it can be ridiculous in some places.
 
Smiley said:
£226 + VAT is quite a lot for an oil and filter change if that's all he did. But most likely it is all wrapped up in a "service" with lists of "checks" that mostly translate into 10 minutes look over the car on a ramp and top the washer bottle up.
Buy yourself a pela extractor and DIY.
Click to expand...
I just did my own for the first time and dead easy. If I can do it, anybody can! About £40 which includes the cost of the oil filter wrench and oil pump which of course I can use again
 
Out of interest, how much does MB charge for oil change and filter when using up to 8 lts of oil?
 
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