Service A/service B???

[Herbie]

Hi, can someone tell me what the difference is between a service A and a service B on a w210 2001 e240 please? Mine is coming up for a service A and Im a newbie so all ideas/advice welcome. A question would be do I need to get all the work done at the dealership in order to get the stamp? Or can I have some elements done elsewhere to keep the costs down and then get the dealership to do the minimum for the stamp?

 

[Bugblatter]

I think an "A" service is little more than an oil change and once over though not particularly cheap. A "B" service is more extensive and even more expensive.

Your car is out of warranty now, so you could go to an indy, but I believe you have to keep going to the main dealer to keep "Mobilo Life".

I wouldn't have thought you could a bit done by an indy and a bit done by the main dealer, but I'm no expert.

 

[mark.t]

if you want to keep the M.B. stamp up to date then have a service only ....any major bits beed doing go to a indi

 

[MikeL]

A/B to G

Herbie,

Just had first service "B" (W211 3.2 Petrol) - Service indicator now says next service will be "G" in approx 9k miles, hope further up the alphabet doesn't push the price up!

Mike

 

[MBRyder]

Have a W210 E240 s/h Import from UK showing 30,000+ miles (but unlikely to be correct!)Currently showing "spanner" indicating service required but without any previous history what service is due?
What are the service intervals, what do they comprise and how do I determine which sequence is due?
Any assistance or comments welcomed.

 

[DITTRICH]

When the Assyst service system was first introduced, I think that it could destinguish between and A and a B by the number of miles the vehicle had covered since the last service. In my W202 handbook, I believe from memory the dividing line between an A or a B is about 13,000 miles. The handbook will show what is covered by an A and a B . The handbook will also show which fluids need changing and how often - coolant - brake - gear box oil (engine oil is changed at A or B anyway). Later on, as assyst got cleverer, A and B wasn't enough and newer models have all sorts of letters.
The cynic in me says that this system is simply a way to ensure you pay a trip to the garage to spend money at regular intervals! As cars get older, the best methods are to ensure that the engine oil gets changed regularly and that the car gets inspected - and then the mechanic tells you what needs doing and how much its going to cost. I confess I don't pay too much attention to service schedules and intervals. My C Class gets the once over every 10,000 miles regardless and the W124 gets looked at when the running temperature of the engine oil moves up by 5 degrees. There are always liitle things which need to get done, but in general I decide when and where and how much - I do not slavishly do something merely because there is some list of things to replace - I rely on my mechanics judgement.
Les

 

[splitpin]

The cynic in me says that this system is simply a way to ensure you pay a trip to the garage to spend money at regular intervals! As cars get older, the best methods are to ensure that the engine oil gets changed regularly and that the car gets inspected - and then the mechanic tells you what needs doing and how much its going to cost. I confess I don't pay too much attention to service schedules and intervals. My C Class gets the once over every 10,000 miles regardless and the W124 gets looked at when the running temperature of the engine oil moves up by 5 degrees. There are always liitle things which need to get done, but in general I decide when and where and how much - I do not slavishly do something merely because there is some list of things to replace - I rely on my mechanics judgement.
Les

Exactly as my C class has been maintained. I renew consumables & carry out interim oil/filter changes.

Splitpin

 

[tikw2124]

Hi, since owning my car (May 06) @ 120k miles, ASSYST has been indicating that a service 'A' is due @.... miles with one spanner. Now @ 131k miles, and 1k to service, ASSYST indicates service 'B' with two spanners is due .

Any one know why service has now changed from 'A' to 'B'?

 

[Rory]

Any one know why service has now changed from 'A' to 'B'?

Mine did that on its first service. It had said A until about 16000 miles and then changed to B. I'd already booked it in for an A and the dealer cheerfully did an A service, but it came back with the next service firmly showing B.

I'm sure there's some wierd algorithm going on inside Assyst. Some high mileage users say they only ever get B's. The system also knows that it's supposed to have a B service every 2 yrs, so maybe it figures that once you go a bit past a year without a service then you ought to have the B service when it comes in, because you won't be back again for a while?

 

[Birdman]

I think ASSYST allows up to two years between A and B services on the W210 although I suppose if you ignored the two year A service it might well flip over to a B.

 

[Kam]

i just get it sericed once a year from a Mercedes mechanic who also gets the book stamped. And then mid year i will change the oil myself.
I wouldnt follow the advise of mercedes they just want yout to keep coming in once year and have what they feel needs doing even if it is not necessary.
But then again my car is 7 years old.

P.s. dont go to mercs only in Hanwell for a service. My C240 went there last year and he done the service and then gave me a list of additional work that needed doing tht cost me over £1500. never again.....

 

[uumode]

A service essentially an oil change, I think is £500
and B is £800 - B includes a few more checks (similar to an MOT)
...at least it felt like those prices

with Mercedes, any other items such as spark plugs, air filters, fuel filters, carbon filters, are not included in the minor and major A and B services and are extra items since they are not changed at every B service. (from memory).

What work is required depends on the mileage of the car, every 40k miles would be the big B service needing sparks at £200 ish
fuel filter, carbon filter.

Tony Purslow offer a 40% off labour and 10% off parts so are very competively priced compared to the specialists.

Sorry all the above is from memory.... could be the odd wrong fact.

 

[robert.saunders]

Every service mine has had (and since new) is a B - oh the luxury of having a mere A service...........

 

[Dryce]

Just had first service "B" (W211 3.2 Petrol) - Service indicator now says next service will be "G" in approx 9k miles, hope further up the alphabet doesn't push the price up!

On the W211 the letter corresponds to an approximation of the number of hours to perform the service. Eg. C 2-3hrs, D 3-4hrs, E 4-5hrs and so on.

So I think you should start saving :