W203 'A Service' - Supply own oil and Parts??

[withey]

My 2006 W203 is due what I assume will be an A Service soon (it had a B Service about 12 months ago) and is now verging of 30k miles.

From the ESS Guide it will need an Oil and Filter change. Generally speaking is it best to leave it to the garage or should I consider supplying the oil and filter?

Is there anything else that may be required?

 

[markjay]

If going to MB Dealer, it will be better if you supplied your own oil, as they do charge quite a lot for it, but make sure that the dealer is happy with you bringing the oil (some are).

The 'parts' in this case is the oil filter - not sure it's worth it as it is not expensive anyway.

But do ask for the Micro-Fibre (long-life) oil filter as opposed to the standard paper filter, and as they will be using 229.5 oil, you should also ask for the instrument cluster to be set up accordingly i.e. '229.5' oil giving you 13k to next service rather than the standard 10k.

And, depending on age and what has been done so far, you may also need the following:

ATF change (if auto)

Spark plugs change (if Petrol)

Brake Fluid change

Coolant change (early W203s only, later cars are on 15-years interval)

Air filter charge

Fuel filter change

Cabin filter change (if was not done at last B service)


Having said that... best option would be to find a good independent who won't charge the moon for oil in the first place... if you are in the South East then check out Olly (BlackC55) at PCS : Mercedes Benz & Smart specialists | Prestige Car Service based in Portsmouth, Hampshire

 

[withey]

Great thanks.

I was planning on going to PCS, been there a couple of times now...wouldn't trust anyone else! I'll leave it to them with the oil and other bits

 

[dtr]

Get your own oil. Most places will either put cheap oil and heavily overcharge, or it will cost an arm and leg for decent oil. I've been stung before.

 

[robotech]

Thanks for the post

 

[Rory]

Get your own oil. Most places will either put cheap oil and heavily overcharge, or it will cost an arm and leg for decent oil. I've been stung before.

I hope Olly doesn't read that!

 

[Ian B Walker]

Get your own oil. Most places will either put cheap oil and heavily overcharge, or it will cost an arm and leg for decent oil. I've been stung before.

You won't get stung by either Olly or myself.

I hope Olly doesn't read that!

Or me come to think of it. Next thing you know will be the customer asking to borrow your ramps and spanners and doing it themselves and charging us for the privilege of advising him what to do

(said tongue in cheek)

 

[markjay]

You won't get stung by either Olly or myself.

Or me come to think of it. Next thing you know will be the customer asking to borrow your ramps and spanners and doing it themselves and charging us for the privilege of advising him what to do

(said tongue in cheek)

Normally, I wouldn't bring my own oil - or other parts - to the garage, even if it did save me a couple of Pounds.

But - when the Mercedes main dealer put in my car Shell Helix Ultra that costs £14.95 inc. VAT Retail at the local Shell petrol station, and charged me 14.95+VAT for the same stuff coming out of a very large barrel, that gets very very uncomfortable...

On my next service I went to Olly and he filled-up the engine high quality oil at very reasonable price, which made me realise that I really have no idea why I ever went to the MB dealer.

So let's put it this way... any garage that charges for oil so much that it would be worth my while to bring my own, is probably not a place I would want to go to in the first place. Oil conundrum solved