TO DIY or NOT to DIY

[lenchoy]

Hi Guys

My 2004 C270CDI has covered 39000 miles and is due an A service.

I have phoned a MB dealer and they have quoted me £177 for the service providing I provide my own Mobil 1 oil which I can get for £23 for 4L from Costco.

Is this a good price?

I'm thinking that I could do the oil change myself but don't what else is covered in the A service.

I've search this site and others and it mentions that I may need to change the air filter and possibly the gearbox oil.

Many Thanks

Len

 

[whitenemesis]

Do you have your service book? It lists the jobs to be undertaken at each service / mileage / year

 

[Smiley]

ATF change will not be included in the £177 price anyway. You can probably leave the ATF for another yr / 10k miles. DO the rest yourself with genuine MB parts and keep the receipts.

 

[lynall]

Dont forget you will prob need 2 of the 4l tubs of oil, which than comes to roughly £225 for some one else to change the oil and have a poke around sounds dear to me.

Buy the tools to do the job (halfords) and the parts and it will still be a lot cheaper than £225 plus next time will only cost the parts.

Plus you get to see bits of your car you wouldnt normally see and hence learn a lot about the car.



Lynall

 

[Spinal]

A thing to keep in mind is that your mobilo-life cover may be compromised if the service history isn't full...

M.

 

[lenchoy]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll probably do the oil change myself, oil filter and air filter and top up any other fluids if necessary. I read somewhere that the activated charcoal filter may need changing but some bright button reckons a good powerful vacuum will do the job..is this true?

I dont think my glow plugs need changing yet.

As for Mobilo Life...well reading through the different posts its a gamble whether or not I'll need them given that I have AA membership already.

Any pointers or tips on what not to do when it comes to the oil change etc.

 

[rf065]

ATF change will not be included in the £177 price anyway. You can probably leave the ATF for another yr / 10k miles. DO the rest yourself with genuine MB parts and keep the receipts.

I think the ATF should be changed at 37,000 miles according to MB, not sure I would leave it as your next service may not be due till over 50,000 miles.

Russ

 

[striker600]

Hi Guys

My 2004 C270CDI has covered 39000 miles and is due an A service.

I have phoned a MB dealer and they have quoted me £177 for the service providing I provide my own Mobil 1 oil which I can get for £23 for 4L from Costco.

Is this a good price?

I'm thinking that I could do the oil change myself but don't what else is covered in the A service.

I've search this site and others and it mentions that I may need to change the air filter and possibly the gearbox oil.

Many Thanks

Len

Mb dealer in Sheffield told me service A inclueds parts oil & filter.Then they check coolant top up if required check screen wash,remove wheels check linings for wear,Extra £ to renew.Then they basicly check all bulbs & wipers tyre wear ect.Last year they quoted me £225. but since then i have had a mail drop from them for the price you were quoted.My opinion its basicly a expensive oil&filter change,your paying a lot of £ for a MB dealer stamp.I bought oil&filter from dealers,i used Shell ultra 5w/40 synthetic.Guy on parts dept.gave me 15% discount too.
If you do service yourself bear in mind the handbook says oil capacity is 6.5L,but when i did mine i added 5L ran engine for a few mins then checked oil level with on board computer,which said"add 1L oil" which i did.Then i got a length of flexible net curtain wire slid into workshop dipstick sleeve and marked on a "max" mark for piece of mind.
If you car has a full mb history & you want to keep up the mobi life then you will have to keep up the mb servicing.My car had 1 service done at a non mb garage so thats why i service it myself&save £ in the process.

 

[whitenemesis]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll probably do the oil change myself, oil filter and air filter and top up any other fluids if necessary. I read somewhere that the activated charcoal filter may need changing but some bright button reckons a good powerful vacuum will do the job..is this true?

I dont think my glow plugs need changing yet.

As for Mobilo Life...well reading through the different posts its a gamble whether or not I'll need them given that I have AA membership already.

Any pointers or tips on what not to do when it comes to the oil change etc.

Erm, no! The vac could revive the pollen filter but I doubt it. The activated charcol filter will need replacing because it's no longer 'active' i.e. it can no longer adsorb polluting gases. It's not something you can vacuum away