Do you supply your own oil for dealer servicing?
Discussion
I've heard people mention on here that they do.
Do the dealers try and talk you out of it - they must make a large proportion of the profit on a service from the inflated per litre charge for oil? Do you get a discount of the same on the cost of the service (my local MB dealer group has fixed price servicing)?
I'm due my first oil service in a month, and would like to supply my own oil both to save on the cost as I can get the correct MB spec Mobil 1 from Costco at a very good price, and also because I've heard comments that the Mobil 1 is superior oil to the Castrol Edge that MB use.
I wanted to get a few opinions/experiences to see what is the accepted 'norm' and what sort of discount off the service price should I be aiming for?
Do the dealers try and talk you out of it - they must make a large proportion of the profit on a service from the inflated per litre charge for oil? Do you get a discount of the same on the cost of the service (my local MB dealer group has fixed price servicing)?
I'm due my first oil service in a month, and would like to supply my own oil both to save on the cost as I can get the correct MB spec Mobil 1 from Costco at a very good price, and also because I've heard comments that the Mobil 1 is superior oil to the Castrol Edge that MB use.
I wanted to get a few opinions/experiences to see what is the accepted 'norm' and what sort of discount off the service price should I be aiming for?
For many years now, I've supplied the oil for my cars at service time. You may well find resistance from your MB dealer, but persevere and insist that you supply or you will take your business to another dealer. They normally back down eventually, but do ask first for the cost of the oil on its own if they supply. I normally find I can supply the same or better spec oil for half the price the dealer will charge.
Oh, and if you supply in multiples of 5 litre container, make certain they give you the remaining oil, or leave the container in the boot of your car. I have to ask every time or the buggers will try and keep it.
I mentioned on a different thread about oil some time ago that a friend of my sons, who works for Castrol, has the responsibility of testing rival oils and he told me privately that Mobil 1 outperforms even their own Castrol Edge products in all important areas. In his opinion, it is the best oil available to the general public for use in road cars. For that reason, I have used nothing else for years.
Hope that helps.
Oh, and if you supply in multiples of 5 litre container, make certain they give you the remaining oil, or leave the container in the boot of your car. I have to ask every time or the buggers will try and keep it.
I mentioned on a different thread about oil some time ago that a friend of my sons, who works for Castrol, has the responsibility of testing rival oils and he told me privately that Mobil 1 outperforms even their own Castrol Edge products in all important areas. In his opinion, it is the best oil available to the general public for use in road cars. For that reason, I have used nothing else for years.
Hope that helps.
I used to do this and the dealer certainly didn't object at all. I also find they will discount their oil massively. My own view is that the frequency of oil changes is more important than the particular brand of oil used. The quality range of leading brand 0W/40 oils I should imagine is quite narrow (i.e. the worst will be 90% as good as the best, even though it is less than 50% of the cost) whereas the benefits to be had from changing your oil and filter every 5,000miles rather than every 15,000miles are huge. In other words: if you want the best for your engine, spend you money on oil changes, not oil.
Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 7th August 15:31
Thanks guys, very helpful.
I think it was the other thread you're referring to that helped convince me Mobil 1 was the way forward! This will be the first service but I think this car is a long-term keeper (I always say that though!) so want to use the best oil I can - if it's less expensive then that's always a bonus.
I'll have a chat with my local dealer, I know the standard price for the A service so will see what they offer if anything by way of a discount.
I think it was the other thread you're referring to that helped convince me Mobil 1 was the way forward! This will be the first service but I think this car is a long-term keeper (I always say that though!) so want to use the best oil I can - if it's less expensive then that's always a bonus.
I'll have a chat with my local dealer, I know the standard price for the A service so will see what they offer if anything by way of a discount.
r129sl said:
whereas the benefits to be had from changing your oil and filter every 5,000miles rather than every 15,000miles are huge. In other words: if you want the best for your engine, spend you money on oil changes, not oil.
I am considering doing this, and am curious if changing my own oil inbetween services is as easy with a modern Mercedes as with an older car (i.e. easy if you have access to a set of ramps, a socket set and an oil filter wrench) or does it interfere with the online computer, invalidate my warranty etc.I'm happy enough to pay for an annual service to retain my mobilolife, warranty, service history etc but for oil changes alone I'd begrudge paying for interim changes if I can do them myself!
I agree about more frequent oil changes and always do these myself. These days my main car only does 10 - 11k per year and, to be honest, I don't bother changing the filter on these interim changes. I simply get the oil good and hot and use a suction pump to draw all the oil out before refilling with the fresh. No mess and takes no time at all to do. It then has the normal scheduled annual service with the dealer.
Last car was an 07 CLK and current car is a 12 C350CDI and both easy to do an interim DIY oil change.
Last car was an 07 CLK and current car is a 12 C350CDI and both easy to do an interim DIY oil change.
Edited by P.Nott on Tuesday 7th August 16:02
If you supply your own oil how do you know that they've poured it into your car unless you stand and watch them do it?
The mechanic could pinch or decant your container of lovely premium brand oil into an empty container for their own use and then fill your vehicle up with some cheap stuff they have knocking around.
The mechanic could pinch or decant your container of lovely premium brand oil into an empty container for their own use and then fill your vehicle up with some cheap stuff they have knocking around.
nullogik said:
If you supply your own oil how do you know that they've poured it into your car unless you stand and watch them do it?
The mechanic could pinch or decant your container of lovely premium brand oil into an empty container for their own use and then fill your vehicle up with some cheap stuff they have knocking around.
Well if you use someone like myself we work on an old fashioned idea seldom spoke of nowadays............honesty!The mechanic could pinch or decant your container of lovely premium brand oil into an empty container for their own use and then fill your vehicle up with some cheap stuff they have knocking around.
Now whilst I realise we are living an an age where the world and his wife seems to want to shaft you, there are some people around with integrity. Give them the benefit of the doubt and you'll live a happier life.
J
jith said:
Well if you use someone like myself we work on an old fashioned idea seldom spoke of nowadays............honesty!
Give them the benefit of the doubt and you'll live a happier life.
I've been let down by three different so called "Mercedes specialists" in the recent past over exactly that, a lack of honesty and/or integrity.Give them the benefit of the doubt and you'll live a happier life.
Sadly, not everyone is like you. I wish you were my mechanic!
Just a quick update, booked my car into Stratstone Mercedes in Glasgow and when asked they were happy to work out a price for me supplying my own oil.
I'm saving £84 on their service cost by supplying it myself, I can choose which oil I'd like (Mobil 1 as opposed to their choice of Castrol Edge) and my car only needs 5.5 litres which means they were charging £15-odd per litre. I know I can get it much cheaper than that, I'm sure Costco do it for the equivalent of £6 per litre so whilst I'll need to buy 2 x 5 litre bottles this time, I'll still save £24 and have lots left over for tops ups and will only need to buy 1 x 5 litre bottle next time. And they say us Scots are tight.....
They did talk me through their new service offering and I'm happy to see they now have various options, those like me who can drop the keys off first thing and pick it up last thing and need no frills get quite a saving in comparison to those that want a courtesy car, coffee while-you-wait, glossy magazines and a specific appointment time with a service advisor to take them through the service step by step and make them feel all warm and fuzzy!
I'm saving £84 on their service cost by supplying it myself, I can choose which oil I'd like (Mobil 1 as opposed to their choice of Castrol Edge) and my car only needs 5.5 litres which means they were charging £15-odd per litre. I know I can get it much cheaper than that, I'm sure Costco do it for the equivalent of £6 per litre so whilst I'll need to buy 2 x 5 litre bottles this time, I'll still save £24 and have lots left over for tops ups and will only need to buy 1 x 5 litre bottle next time. And they say us Scots are tight.....
They did talk me through their new service offering and I'm happy to see they now have various options, those like me who can drop the keys off first thing and pick it up last thing and need no frills get quite a saving in comparison to those that want a courtesy car, coffee while-you-wait, glossy magazines and a specific appointment time with a service advisor to take them through the service step by step and make them feel all warm and fuzzy!
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