Walmart vs. D.I.Y - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Benzima · #1 04-09-2004, 05:50 PM

I know there are tons of oil and Walmart threads, but my search did not reveal the info I was looking for, so please bare with me.

After 2 years of being a chicken, I finally decided to change my own oil in my 1999 S420. I paid about $79 to get this special electric pump, ~$12.00 for a filter and about $37 for 8 quarts of Mobil1 0/40W. So, just for oil and filter I paid about $49.00. My Mechanic use to charge me ~$45.00 for an oil change. I just called Walmart and they charge ~$15.00 for the oil & filter change (for 5 quarts) plus another ~$14 for the additonal 3 quarts. That would be about $32 including tax and stuff. Al most a 35% savings. No mess no hassle, & no oil to dispose of. It seems that letting Walmart change my oil is the smart move. Am I missing something?

Thanxxx in advance.

PC Dave · #2 04-09-2004, 06:14 PM

I think Wal-mart charges around $5/quart for Mobil 1. Are you sure they'll do your oil change with an OEM filter and synthetic oil? They'd be losing money at that price, even at their wholesale cost.

olpos · #3 04-09-2004, 06:27 PM

although it does not save much to do your own oil change,you don't have to wait for some one else to do it. and you control the quality of your parts and labor
wal mart gave you the price for bulk dino oil. mobil 1 is about 5 dollars a quart,even for them. dino oil is about 75cents a quart for them.
if you are just starting to work on your own car,before you drain your oil, takes your keys from the ignition and put them on the passenger side on the floor.don't pick up the keys till you are 110 percent sure the car is full of oil and your oil filter is on.
when you start the car get out of the car quickly and check that the oil filter is not leaking.
if your filter seal blows,you will lose most all your oil before you can get back in the car. it happens very fast.even if you use dealer parts, check for leaks asap. wal mart has insurance for this, you don't.
did not mean scare you, doing your own work is really worth it.
have fun
good luck
rich

compress ignite · #4 04-09-2004, 06:35 PM

It's entirely possible that you may be able to have sam walton's
heir's conglomerate safely and efficiently change your oil... but..
To reinstall tire/rim assemblys "wm" uses no torque wrench
(just the "Torque to lbs. inserts" for an air hammer wrench).

I know of "wm" automotive employees with A/P (airframe/
powerplant certifications);but then I have seen other employees, whose ability to check tire air pressure, I would have trouble believing.

(no I can't explain how or why anyone with an A+P license
is rotating tires at "wm".)

The question would be does your S-420 get it's oil changed
by the person, who has it's best mechanical interests as
primary objective?

I'll be honest with you I would not let the DEALER in the
city where I lived change the oil on a 300 SD I owned !

You can SAFELY change your own oil (research proceedure first)or with due diligence find a reputable independant. OR
blow the big bucks and visit an authorized M.B. dealer

fj bertrand · #5 04-09-2004, 06:51 PM

Will Wal Mart fix your car when it breaks down? Support your local merchants. They don't send the money to Benton Ark every night.

neanderthal · #6 04-09-2004, 07:08 PM

case of mobil one is about 23 dollars at costco. i think its eight quarts.

fahrgewehr2 · #7 04-09-2004, 07:14 PM

You bought a top of the line Mercedes-Benz, but you want to save a few dollars on an oil change by going to wal mart?

How many 140 cars does wal mart service per year?

If you want it done right, take this car to a real MB shop, or do it yourself.

#8 04-09-2004, 09:42 PM

There are many advantages to changing it yourself, but you can take more advantage by pulling the drain plug and draining it out the bottom.

If you will change it after driving in on Friday night and immediately change clothes and pull the plug, you can then let it drain overnight. By pulling the plug while hot you are draining the oil while all the gunk is churned up in the oil. By draining it overnight, you get every last drop of oil out and the last drops are the gunkiest of what you get out.

There will be those who will argue that sucking the oil through the dipstick tube will get more out, but don't believe it. Additionally draining it out the bottom gives you a chance to regularly look around underneath for leaks, loose bolts or for anything else that might be awry.

I have changed my own oil all my life. I just won't trust my car to a stranger. I won't even let anyone else pump fuel into my car. If I WERE to decide to let someone else change my oil, Wal Mart would certainly be at the bottom of my list.

Good luck,

Ali Al-Chalabi · #9 04-09-2004, 11:11 PM

The oil that Wal-Mart uses for their oil change is the Supertech (Wal-Mart Brand). You can buy this off the shelf for barely more than $1 per quart!!!

So, they are spending essentially less than $10 on oil and I bet they don't use an OEM filter and they are charging you more.

omegabenz · #10 04-10-2004, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Benzima
Am I missing something?

You are missing a dealer service!

Oil changes are very important for an engine, especially a mercedes engine, they need to be well lubricated and they can last.

The dealer inspects a lot of other stuff in an oil change. You should go talk to your service advisor and see the two pages of check lists they do when they change their oil. Some things I can think of, is inspection of rubber parts, inspection of all the other places that require fluids, check air pressure.

Do you think walmart employees even know how to do that?

Remember Mercedes techs, have to be in the upper 10%- 15% of their class to even get into Mercedes school.

william rogers · #11 04-10-2004, 01:50 AM

I wouldn't trust Walmart to change the oil in my deep fryer............

William Rogers........

Benzima · #12 04-10-2004, 01:55 AM

Ok. I now see what I was missing. I wasn't sure, so I asked.

Thanxxx guys.

jrmd01 · #13 04-10-2004, 02:07 AM

When I was in my teens I used to work for a store. That store also had an automotive section which did oil replacements. I personally saw the young kids there using cheap oil and charging the full price for the more expensive brands. For those who just requested to add a quart or two of oil; they unknowngly got used oil. The kids working there got this oil from their own cars (or sometimes their friends). They use the new oil you bought on their cars or sell them to their friends at half the cost.

I know it's unethical, but what do you expect from non-professionals teenagers---these discounted oil change places are not all crooked, but I think alot of them are. If you are bent on not changing your own oil yourself, my advice is to physically watch them put oil in your car....I would go as far as to ask them to open the bottle in front of me so that I know for sure that it's new oil and not used oil from their own cars.

I know a lot of the mechanics will blast my post....I am just posting what I personally saw with my own eyes when I was a teenager working at one of these places.

PhilK · #14 04-10-2004, 02:55 AM

I had a Ford Festiva (everyone laugh) a few years back, and I took it to walmart to get the oil changed between dealer visits without incident.

However, on all my MB's I've stuck to doing everything I can myself. It's comforting knowing things are done right (especially oil changes), and I know who to blame if something breaks / fails/ tec. in the process.

omegabenz · #15 04-10-2004, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PhilK
I had a Ford Festiva (everyone laugh) a few years back,

No shame in that. My best friend has one. I custom made brackets to put in mercedes benz seats from a 300D, they came out beautifully. Girls really liked him, and the seats. =) It's all about the charm, not the car.