How much should an oil change run me on a new Mercedes?

Question

I was just quoted $115 isnt this a bit steep?

Answer 1

Not really. The recent generation of Mercedes require full synthetic lubricants, and take 7 or 8 quarts. So the oil alone will cost $40-50. Add around $12 for the filter and o-rings If the dealer does it, labor will be charged at $90-100 an hour. So $115 is about right. As long as they reset the service indicators, it won't have to be done too often: 10,000 miles on average.

As expensive as it is, don't be tempted to take it to a quick oil change place. For one thing, if the oil and filter should cost $65, and the quicky lube wants to charge $40 including labor, you know immediately that something is wrong. There are a few odd things about Mercedes that are a mystery to the average wrench jockey: it's intended to pump the old oil out the dipstick tube, cartridge oil filters, replacement of o-rings, the need for specific synthetic oils, the method of resetting the service indicator. It's not rocket science, but there's a lot of room for error. If the money is important, learn how to do it yourself.

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Judging from Kyle's comment below, this topic deserves a more detailed treatment:

1) Oil. Mercedes was sued several years ago for engine sludge buildup. As a result, they now require full synthetic motor oils from their approved list. Straying from their approved lubricants risks your warranty: http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html These premium oils sell for anywhere from $5 to $7 per quart. Your engine requires at least 7 qts, as opposed to the 4 or 5 qts required by American and Japanese cars. The last thing you need is for someone to forget the last couple of quarts.
2) Filter. Your oil filter isn't a spin on. It's a cartridge filter. Opening the cartridge without damage requires a special tool.
3)There are 4 rubber o-rings in the cartridge housing which MUST be replaced with each oil change, otherwise the filter won't filter. If the shop isn't familiar with European cartridge filters, you'll have to watch them to make sure the o-rings are replaced.
4) Your engine is designed for the oil to be extracted out of the dipstick tube. This requires a vacuum tank extractor. Your engine may not even have a drain plug. That will be a puzzle for cheapy lube.
5) Because synthetic oil is expensive, your car is equipped with an oil quality sensor and a computer. Based on the wear and tear on the oil and the miles you travel, the computer will tell you when it's time to change oil. Most of the time, it will allow you 10K miles, but it may be more or less depending on how you use the car. Being able to use your oil for an extended period offsets the cost of the change. Unless you want to get on cheapy lube's 3k oil change schedule, you really want someone to reset the computer with the correct factory procedure after your oil change. You don't want them to do this by disconnecting the battery cable, because then you will need to reset your radio and windows.

You can easily do this yourself if money is the only issue. But I wouldn't trust this to someone who thinks a Nissan is an exotic car.

Answer 2

I am assuming you are speaking American dollars. If so then $115 to change the oil is extremely steep. It also depends on which state/city you live in (as new york city is going to be more expensive than Albuquerque New Mexico

Now that being said, since it is Mercedes, and it is new, they may have special oil filters that are more expensive, and they may be using premium oil. But it still sounds really high.

If it is at the dealership, then you are getting ripped off. Dealerships are notoriously expensive for minor issues.

I would go to a local lube and oil shop, and ask them for a price quote. It should not run more than $50 for draining and replacing the oil, and changing the oil filter.

as I said above, the only reason it should cost that much is if the Mercedes has a special filter.

Answer 3

Probably best to use the dealer until the warranty/guarantee runs out. Then check around for MB specialist independent places. They may be more expensive than the guy on the corner but they will be cheaper than dealers. They generally do know what they are doing since some of them have trained in dealers. One independent place here has a German mechanic who trained with MB in Stuttgart.

As one of the other answers said, you should use synthetic oil for new models, you need to have the cartridge filter replaced and the engine service thingy reset.

Answer 4

I just got my cars oil changed at an oil change shop will full synthetic (which is like 5 bucks a quart) for about 45 bucks.

the only oil change that i could see costing that much is my dads 996 GT2. It takes 13 quarts of synthetic (that alone is about 70 bucks), and a 15 dollar oil filter.

and mercedes arent anything magical when it comes to an oil change. its just like any other car. its not like its a dry sump engine with turbos and such that all need to be changed (like the GT2. It has 5!! drain plugs). People who do it for a living (aka people at oil change shops) have seen dozens of cars exactly like yours. they know what theyre doing.

Answer 5

That sounds about the same as what I've heard for local MB shops. If you wanted a $25 oil change, you should have got a Ford.

It's a Benz. Nothing is cheap for them. Wait until you get into any serious repairs.

Answer 6

About $7-8 bucks a qt for Mobil 1 Syn oil times about 8qts, about $15 for an oil filter (German) not a Fram.
it adds up.
For god's sake don't go to a "fast change" store. You will probably get regular oil and a cheap Fram filter.

Answer 7

It is an A service it is more than just an oil change that is required for the car. The price sounds right. Check your owners manual on what they do.

Answer 8

just go to the local jiffy lube or someplace like that u dont need a specail place to do it just make sure they are not using recycle oil just ask them and watch them should be no more the 50 or 60 dollars even for ur car

Answer 9

You should have known that beforehand. You own a status symbol, you will paid ridculously higher prices for everything yo do to the car.

Answer 10

wow. thats a bunch more than i pay. i have an s430 and i only pay 75 bucks at the mercedes benz dealership. they will check your engine, brakes, and computer too. (and they wash your car really clean for free...=D)