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Service A at 10,000 Miles - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Long-Term Road Test
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Service A at 10,000 Miles - 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Long-Term Road Test
Our 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 went in for its first service appointment.
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I really need to quit my job and open a European car service center at my house. Drop off your Benz or Bimmer on my driveway, I'll drive it up my Rhino ramps to change the oil and only charge $150. I'll make a killing. Maybe have some Grey Poupon out to make it feel like a fancy place...
Yikes, a $230 oil change. Welcome to the wonderful world of 'luxury' car ownership.
Oh silly Edmunds, why did you choose the "small" package that "only" cost $230 when you could've given us a REAL laugh at what the "large" service package offered is. Yeah, everything needs to be replaced at 10k miles...
That oil must've come from an exotic oilfield, hand-processed, trucked by a Teamsters Int'l driver into the dealership, unloaded by six UAW employees, and performed by a mechanic with a Masters degree in oil changing.
It would be nice if you mentioned what their hourly rate is. Because what they did is pretty much what Valvoline does, in 15 minutes, for $45.
So, is the dealership billing you at $400/ hour?
So I asked about the price when I was getting CLA. They mentioned that the list price for the cartridge oil filter is about $110. So DYI would be about $150 only in oil / filter (no labor). This way $230 is quite reasonable. I actually got the 4 services package for $900 when I got the car (the 20K and 40K is more like $450 since they change other things as well).
That's actually not a bad price for an MB A-service. My wife's E-Class had another A recently and it was $340. Glad to see CLA buyers are getting at least a bit of a discount.
"So I asked about the price when I was getting CLA. They mentioned that the list price for the cartridge oil filter is about $110..." They told you that, did they? Well, at AutohausAZ.com, you can get it - the official M-B part - for $13.92. Or you can get the Mann-branded one (Mann makes the M-B OEM filter...) for about $11 on ebay, among other places.
The crush washer costs a quarter. Car takes just under six quarts of synthetic oil.
Fluid top-offs? What kind of fluid top-offs, besides washer fluid, does a car with 11,000 miles on it need? Do you really think there many safety-related parts that have crapped out in that number of miles?
There is a sucker born every minute.
mercedesfan, the fact that the E-Class service was $110 more than this car, for the same items, is proof that M-B absolutely, positively keyed those prices to what the market will bear...cost of parts and labor by the flat rate book had nothing whatsoever to do with it. Yeah, such a deal.
@fordson1, You're certainly not wrong. However, that is simply par for the course for luxury brands. Aside from Cadillac, they all charge ridiculous fees for basic services. However, you do get a few perks for that exorbitant sum. The most convenient being the free loaner car. Those perks certainly don't justify the upcharge, but they do soften the blow a little. Either way, it is what it is. You gotta pay to play. Cars are hardly the only luxury good that makes you pay for the "privilege". If you love the car and have the money it isn't a big deal.
"You gotta pay to play. Cars are hardly the only luxury good that makes you pay for the "privilege". If you love the car and have the money it isn't a big deal."
Luxury? Money? As of April 1 of this year, the average transaction price for a new car in this country was $32,000. MSRP on this CLA250 was $34,495. This is not an expensive luxury car and you do not need to "have the money" to buy one.
Sorry - do not want to quibble over minor details, but that's not a minor detail.
@fordson1, Indeed the CLA is cheap, but the average transaction price for a Benz in the US is just shy of $60k. You can't expect a company used to dealing with that type of clientele to change their entire service pricing structure for a single model line. Audi certainly hasn't with the A3 and BMW didn't with the 1-Series (after the free maintenance period ends, of course).
sorry mercedesfan this is my second post disagreeing with you tonight...
our bmw dealership used to charge $200 for an oil change for our e90. now it is $80; same price for the e46 generation. and i get an f30 loaner for the day... they have didn't price levels for 5-series, x3s, x5s, etc...
the rates are here:
http://www.dreyerreinboldbmwnorth.com/value-service.htm
it is possible...
When the dealership tells you list is $110 for the filter, and the price is actually $13.92, well, they pretty much called you a fool.
Let's not kid ourselves here. You paid $230 for a $45 service.
Maybe Edmunds should don an investigative journalist's hat, and examine the service pricing structures of these dealerships? You know, blow the lid on this BS.
But yeah, that means actual work. I'm not sure what we really learn from blindly accepting charges. We can get that info from any internet owner's group.
But let's be honest here. Edmunds would never do that as they'll never get any luxury loaners again.
I'm surprised by all the uproar over MB service prices. EVERY car service is cheaper if you get the parts yourself, and do it yourself. MB dealers charge what the market will bear, as does every other for profit business. Expensive cars have expensive service costs, who knew!
"Expensive cars have expensive service costs, who knew!"
You're absolutely right, except for the part about it being expensive. Oh, wait - that was your whole point, huh?
Ypu don't think the CLA is expensive? Perhaps not for a merc, but that car is no Camry.
@s197gt, That's actually pretty neat. I have never seen that before and I really hope it catches hold. Unfortunately, that is not the norm. I do give BMW credit, though, because they do charge a lot less for their oil changes than MB does. Our last couple of Bimmers have only been $150-$200 for basic service while MB is consistently in the $300 range.
throwback, a loaded-to-the-gills Camry is $36,543. That's two grand more than this CLA. Now, that's not the average Camry, but a Camry optioned similar to this CLA is around $32,500.
I think your frame of reference as to what is an expensive car may be a little out of date.
$110 oil filter. LOL They must use some really expensive paper to make that filter.
BTW Edmunds, what happened to the DODGE DART?
I've had 3 Infinitis and balked at some of the service prices. Lately they've been offering coupons for service. I just had both my M37x and my wife's JX serviced for $59 each. Oil change, fluids, tire rotation and car wash. No way I'd pay over $100 for just an oil change. You guys are getting robbed!
My Acura dealer gave me a $24.95 oil change card for my TSX, in a nice lounge with wifi, free Fivebucks, snacks, topped off with a wash and vacuum. Oh yeah, I can get a loaner too if I need it.
The ironic thing, is my car is made in Japan, and front wheel drive. The Benz is also front wheel drive, and made in Hungary!? .... Yeah...
Not everyone is a weekend warrior that has time to change the oil on their car for $50 in parts. Some of us have more important things to do. Others don't want to get their hands dirty. Others [retirees] just want to visit the dealer to burn time. Whatever the case, you assume that everyone is like you. And if they aren't, there's something wrong with them. Again, more nonsensical judgment. From a guy who has owned old beaters to very expensive Mercedes, I've driven many cars and have done tons of research on all sorts of cars. Because when you make a lot of money, a whole new market of automobiles opens up, so doing due diligence is not only important, but fun. And my research has shown that you get what you pay for. Period. Don't like the expensive prices for a Mercedes, don't buy a Mercedes.
The fact is you are arguing silly points to people who have money. They'd rather pay some grease monkey $250 for an oil change than do it themselves. Money isn't an issue, nor is the appearance of being money conscious. Being rich means you can pay a lot and not feel guilty or embarrassed, all the while getting some of the most attentive, fast-acting service available on the market. I won't go into details on the vast benefits of a Mercedes, as it appears arguing with you is futile. But, I can assure with great confidence -- there is a huge difference between a Mercedes and a Toyota, on all levels. Again, I won't bother with the details. That's something you might appreciate when you make a lot of money and finally understand that saving $100 on an oil change is a very low priority for people with money that want to own a fine luxury vehicle.
Anyone who buys any European car should be well aware of the service costs before writing a check.
Never owned a MB but have owned three BMW's and they can suck a wallet dry quickly.
In parts of California the MB dealers are pushing 200.00/hr. for labor! YIKES!