When it costs me less than $30 a year to do it myself or take it to a quickie lube if I want yes it is too much! An MB engine is not something special that a quickie lube guy can not do. The only thing I notice that is diferent is the fact that MB uses the under body noise encapsulation panels that most cars do not have. So they have to take 4-8 bolt fasteners off that takes a whopping minute to do when on a lift! Not worth the extra money to me. Just because the Stealership has a three pointed star on sign does not mean they change oil any diferently than anyone else on the planet. Still drain the oil and put new oil in! Funny how that works. And yes $30-$60 a year is all it will cost me to do it myself on the W203 with its 10,000 mile oil change schedule. Now if I take it to the Dealer for those two service's in a year it will be much more. $140 for Service A and around $300 for Service B. That is $400+ a year in oil changes!

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~Jamie
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2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. ContiExtremes on the C7's.

1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

I have to laugh because I just got a 300e 1988 111k....first thing my friend said to me was "how can you afford those 200 dollar oil changes?"

What a misconception. I hate changing oil and always bring my cars to the cheapy places. I get it changed like clockwork at 3k miles.

However, when I noticed that this car has a top mounted filter, I read the posts and bought myself an oil extractor.

Then went to Pep Boys and got some oil on sale after rebate for 59 cents a quart. Got another case for the summer at 89 cents after rebate.

Spent close to 5 dollars for a Bosch filter.

You do the math.

I may even start crawling under the Expedition and changing its oil.

One thing I like about MB of this era and engine size. It has to be one of the easiest DIY to work on. Especially with the help you get on this site.

Two years ago, I would have never considered changing the tranny fluid, filter and gasket. It was a snap..a bit messy, but a snap. Figure what that savings is>

Lee
Greenville, SC

It all depends on what you want, a quick lube place will use a cheap filter and cheap oil. Also they screw things up left and right. I wouldn't trust any car to them much less one with a $10k+ engine. I do my own oil changes and save money while still using Mobil 1 and of filters.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I would stay away from any oil service with "jiffy" or "quicky" or "kwiky" or the like, in their name. First, look at the employees that work there. Second, it's legendary how many of those places have stripped drain bolts by using their improperly torqued air guns to fasten the bolts. Also legendary is their uncanny ability to either use the wrong o-ring or not use an o-ring on the drain anyway.

I found just a couple of simple tools and an oil recovery pump $75.00 was all that is needed to change the oil in my 300-E Good by $70.00 and free Lottas.
Besides I like to look over the parts and see waht hoes and fluids need topping off. I do not trust dealerships.
Bob Geco

It's amazing how much money one can save if they are willing to crawl on their back for a few minutes.

Conversely, It's amazing how much money people will pay to not have to crawl on their backs for a few minutes. Sometimes it's the same people who pay good money to go to a gym!

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

Most car dealers in our area (all make of cars) have realized they were loosing a lot of business to independent shops due to their pricing policies.
I don't mind paying $85.00/hour when I really need a specialist to work on my car. If I need a job done where expertize, knowledge, experience, expensive diagnostic/repair testing equipment is required, I'll pay the price.
An oil change, tire change/balance and routine work where a fresh-out-of-school junior mechanic with basic tools does the work does not warrant $85.00/hr.
Most dealers in our area have understood this and have set-up labor prices according to the complexity of the job to be done....and are gaining business back.
Driving a Mercedes is not a good enough reason to be the subject of highway robbery by dealers.

A $70 oil change at a dealership would not generally get you synthetic oil.

First MB oil change told me why it costs so much. There is no spin-on filter. You have tro pull the cartridge, pull apart the spindle, replace the crush washers, reassemble it and thread it on. It is a lot more troublesome than the spin-on type. Plus, the car takes 8.5 Qts of oil.

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Steve
1985 Mercedes 500SL Euro (Gray market)
1995 BMW 520i Euro (Gray market)
1992 BMW 525it Wagon
1994 Honda Del Sol Si

The car in question in no more difficult than a spin on filter, and holds about 7 quarts.

0W-20 Only Honda and Ford recommend that stuff so they can play games with the Feds on CAFE averages. Well, maybe NASCAR use it for qualifying.

Oil changes on my '93 190e 2.6 were never more than $35 at the dealership! I REALLY like Zimbrick European in Madison - they were very fair to me, and have competitve labor rates (at least I think so).

I'm wondering if services such as these are dictated largely by labor rates dependent upon where the service departments are located. For example, Zimbrick charges $85USD per hour in labor costs. I looked into service at Loeber Motors in Chicago and at Knauz in Lake Forest, and their rates were more like $130USD per hour. But then again, eveyrone in Lake Forest drives an MB and can surely afford it, so it's not a big deal!

-Michael.

I change my own and know it's done right that way. It takes me the same time to do my 97 Camry. I don't see anything more time consuming on any of the MBs I've owned (so far... ) compared to other cars.

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1994 C 280 117.5k, White (Good as new)
1997 Toyota Camry 149k Miles (Not so pretty anymore)

1990 190e 2.6 95k (Sold-Should not have)
1981 240d Stick ??? Miles...sold

That is what is in my W203 from the factory!

And I will not take mine to any lube shop after the Maint Agreement ends! It will be done in my garage like my W201 is. I do not mind spending 30 minutes of my time twice a year to do an oil change. That and the wife bought me a creaper from X-Mas and dad in-law bought me a nice aluminum floor jack, only 37 lbs......

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~Jamie
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2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. ContiExtremes on the C7's.

1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

Get the oil changed for my 190E at...Walmart! $16 and they use Quaker State but if you
don't want that they'll substitute any brand they carry for an extra $2 (I usually
use Castrol).
If you bring in your own filter (which I do, need an OEM filter) they'll also give
you a discount.
If you want synthetic it'll run $31 and you can use any brand you want.
Since Mobil 1's going for around $5 a quart it works out to practically no labor
charge.