Mercedes-Benz cars made since 2004 have the new Flexible Service Scheduling system installed, which monitors the car’s usage and your driving habits and the level and condition of various fluids and figures out when the next service is due.  I’m told that nagging is a popular pastime in Germany, so I reckon it’s no surprise that their cars nag you too.  But for those absent-minded among us, and those who drive their cars a little harder then normal, it’s useful all the same.  You don’t buy a car like this to just run it into the ground.  That’s a waste of money for one thing, and an insult to all the work the engineers and factory workers put into making it for another.

You also get a booklet which outlines the recommended intervals, apart from the FSS system.  My experience has been so far that the FSS system tracks pretty well with the typical recommended servicing intervals anyway.  But not exactly.  This time around, Traveler gave me an 800 mile extension on the 25,000 mile Service ‘B’ interval.  I suppose that’s because I don’t drive it like a bat out of hell and I keep changing the oil at less then half the recommended interval.  Oil, even synthetic oil, is cheap.  Engines not so much.

800 miles before my Service ‘B’ was due, Traveler started nagging reminding me that its service ‘B’ was needed in 800 miles.  I have an analog speedometer with a lovely gauge circling around an LCD screen that displays various messages to me from time to time, in addition to a host of other readouts I can choose from such as the odometer and travel computer.  Every time I put my key in the ignition the speedometer display would nag helpfully remind me that service ‘B’ was due in 800, then 700, then 600, then 500, then 400, then 300, then 200 miles.  You know you have to give in.  So this morning I took Traveler in for its service ‘B’

Service ‘B’:

• Inspect windshield wiper inserts and service windshield washer system (Replacement of wiper inserts additional*)
• Inspect and rotate tires, record tread depth, and correct tire pressure. (Wheel balance additional*).
  (excludes AMG, Sports Models, SLK, and vehicles with staggered wheels)
• Engine oil change and oil filter replacement (Includes Mobil 1 synthetic oil)
• Lubrication service (Includes hood hinges, lock cylinders, striker plates, sun roof tracks and top off all fluids)
• Cooling system inspection (Includes antifreeze protection level, hoses and clamps)
• Brake inspection (Includes check of pad thickness and condition of discs, fluids and lines)
• Inspect heating and ventilation dust filter, replace if needed. (Replacement additional*. Dust filter prices vary by model)
• Function check (Includes warning lamps, headlights, exterior lights, seat belts, windshield wiper and washer)
• Inspect and lubricate throttle linkage
• Check and clean air filter
• Reset flexible service system counter
• Inspect front axle ball joints; check steering play and power steering clutch; and rear differential levels
• Inspect Poly V-Belt for condition
• Inspect starting and charging system and service battery
• Inspect climate control refrigerant 

…which cost me all together $425.31.  Whew!  But this is one reason why I didn’t get an ‘E’ Class.  The ‘E’ is bigger then I need anyway, but although I could probably have afforded the payments for one, I almost certainly couldn’t have afforded both the payments and the servicing too.  And you don’t buy a car like this just to run it into the ground. 

They gave my car a nice wash and interior cleaning and gave it back to me.  I’m happy to say my 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 has almost 26,000 miles on it now and not a single thing has gone wrong or needed fixing.  Nothing.  That car is still as solid as a vault and the best thing I have ever driven.  Mercedes definitely has its groove back…

Mercedes-Benz quality increasing, dealer profit decreasing

Mercedes-Benz dealerships have not only been hit hard by the slow car sales in recent months, they are also losing money in the service department. It seems that the increased Mercedes quality is finally paying off for consumers – not so much for dealers. Compared to 5 or 6 years ago, dealers were making record profit for servicing Mercedes vehicles, which cost Daimler millions in warranty cost. Ever since, Mercedes has pledged to increase quality and to bring consumers back the trust in the Mercedes brand.

It’s great to see that people have less quality issues these days, and just one way to see this is the decrease in customers visiting the service center, in some areas up to 30% less.

Warranty service comes out of the factory’s pocket not the dealer’s.  So this is good for Daimler but not so much for the dealers.  On the other hand, who do you want doing the routine servicing on a car like this?  Not Jiffy Lube.  You don’t just pull the plug on the oil pan on one of these and just let the old oil drain out, because the plug is situated a little higher up on the side so that if it accidentally comes out all the oil won’t leak out of the engine while you’re driving.  To properly do an oil change on a Mercedes you have to pump the old oil out or you won’t get it all.  Think Jiffy Lube will do that?  If the dealers maintain a certain level of service quality that drivers expect for cars like these, then they won’t have to depend on the cars breaking down to make money.  And besides, cars that are always breaking down drive customers away.  Just ask GM, Ford and Chrysler where Toyota and Honda got their U.S. customer base from.

Normally I’d take Traveler on a nice long road trip now…but that’ll have to wait for warmer weather.