Jiffy Lube - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ISmellDiesel · #1 01-01-2005, 08:17 PM

Forum, take notice that I have been advised by my local Jiffy Lube station in Pasadena, CA, that the corporate headquarters told their stores NOT to service 300d Mercedes anymore. I am not sure if if affects any MB or just the age and model of my Diesel. I have used JL very frequently when in a rush for an oil change and always furnished my own OEM Filter. Anyone wonder whay this is and perhaps anyone know the insider reason for this decision?

#2 01-01-2005, 08:44 PM

Too complicated for their employee's ability to change oil properly!

84300DT · #3 01-01-2005, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISmellDiesel

Forum, take notice that I have been advised by my local Jiffy Lube station in Pasadena, CA, that the corporate headquarters told their stores NOT to service 300d Mercedes anymore. I am not sure if if affects any MB or just the age and model of my Diesel. I have used JL very frequently when in a rush for an oil change and always furnished my own OEM Filter. Anyone wonder whay this is and perhaps anyone know the insider reason for this decision?

heh maybe they figured out it they take 7.9 qts of oil for a change..

whunter · #4 01-01-2005, 10:39 PM

would you trust them with a $38,000.00 USD car???

phidauex · #5 01-01-2005, 10:52 PM

Its not a 38,000$ car, its a 2400$ car. If everything is worth the same as it cost when it was introduced, then where has all the 'penny candy' gone?

However, I wouldn't trust Jiffy Lube with a 2400$ car either.

If you must get an oil change, at least take it to a place that does more than just oil changes. Dobb's is a local chain of tire/auto places that does tires, basic service and lube. I still prefer to do my own, but they are pretty reputable, and I wouldn't be ashamed to take my car there if I didn't have the 20 minutes it takes to do the oil myself. You can probably find a local shop or chain that is reputable who'll do your oil if you don't want to yourself. At least that way there will be a real mechanic around, instead of just a few grease-monkeys with no supervision.

peace,
sam

#6 01-02-2005, 12:32 AM

I won't trust anyone to change the oil in any of my vehicles anymore! I took the Jeep in to the dealership for an oil change a couple of months ago, and got it back with the oil filler cap missing and the oil filter so loose that oil was leaking around the top! What alerted me was the 'hot' smell of burning oil all over the bottom of the engine

Ridiculous. Not looking forwrad to doing that one myself, though, as the twist-on filter is a pain in the ass to reach, unlike the lovely setup on the 300D

#7 01-02-2005, 05:52 AM

They’re not all that bad. I used to work for a big chain down here they were very
thorough and informative for basic oil changes. They pushed the oil flush stuff and
Mobil 1 to much though

Left for better benefits

Hatterasguy · #8 01-02-2005, 10:24 AM

They only want to do cheap cars that they can spin on a .99 filter and put 4 quarts of cheap 10w-30 in. MB throw them off they need more oil, although I bet they still put in 10w-30.

If you need a quick change take it to a good shop or the dealer. Or just don't change it, if you leave the oil in their for 4k insted of 3k nothing will happen. Wait until you have time.

Back in highschool a girl I knew won a free oil change at one of the dance's. They were giving out prize's that local business donated. Anyway she took her VW in and they did everything fine, except they used probably the cheapist oil filter ever made. The can blew apart in a few miles dumping all of the oil and toasting her engine. The car wasn't worth much but it still had a lot of life left in it. Horror storys like this are all to common, if I ever need an oil change and don't want to do it the dealer is about the only place I trust enough.

Kestas · #9 01-02-2005, 11:43 AM

Knowing how things work in the corporate world, I can probably guess why they list MB as 'auto-non-grata'. Like you guys said, they can barely do a good job on regular cars. Now throw in more variables like a 7+ quart oil charge and a canister filter. Plus they probably had too many claims or complaints from MB owners when things weren't done to spec.

It's an easy corporate decision. They want to go after easy money with a low-cost labor force.

Wes Bender · #10 01-02-2005, 12:17 PM

Jiffy Lube corp headquarters is doing us MB dieselheads a big favor. I wouldn't trust them to service any car correctly, let alone my diesel. In addition to not having a filter, I bet they don't know the difference between S- and C- rated oils. The same can be said for just about all the quicky lube places.

Change it yourself, change it hot, make sure you pull the filter when the oil is draining (or before) so that the filter cannister drains too, use the correct grade of oil for your car and you will stand a much better chance of having that car on the road for many years.

(By the way, there isn't anything in that last paragraph that hasn't been said before on this forum, but the tone of the thread indicated that it needed to be said again.)

Happy New Year everyone,

Wes

DieselAddict · #11 01-02-2005, 01:48 PM

I totally agree with Wes. This is a blessing for all the Mercedes diesels on the road. There will be no more abuse of these cars by the incompetent monkeys at Iffy Lube.

phantoms · #12 01-07-2005, 09:30 PM

Went to the dealer today to get a oil filter for my 85 and they told me they didn't stock them. It would be $22 and probably Wed. before it was in. I asked him what they do when a customer comes in to get a service and he just stared at me. My guess is they call Napa and install a Napa/Wix filter.

dieseldiehard · #13 01-07-2005, 10:00 PM

A popular way for businesses to increase the bottom line is to reduce inventory, including spare parts and things, but for a MB shop to be out of oil filters carries this a little far IMHO.
This reminds me of a story, a friend needed a rebuild kit for a carburetor for an old Honda (car) so he called the local dealership, spoke with the service manager who quoted him a 1 day turnaround for a rebuild. But he then decided that was too much $$ so he wanted to DIY and went down to their parts counter where they told him they couldn't sell the only kit they had in stock because it was reserved for the service shop. I know this guy well, he's not a whiner, he verbally expressed great dislike for the local Honda dealership, ending in a shouting match I am sure. Never did get the kit there. Went to Kragen or Pep Boys as I recall. Paid less too.

Teach 'em a lesson! Go to your local auto parts place, or better yet call Phil at Fastlane and order some filters pronto.
Oh yes, Jiffy Lube is the last place to ever take your car, whatever you drive. There are small time INDY oil changers in many places, I have used them while on long trips, they are generally good, but I carried them my own filter, they deduct something for that and they even had diesel rated oil.

george_hannah · #14 01-08-2005, 10:55 AM

I had my regular cars oil changed at Jiffy Lube today. I asked the manager if they would change the oil in my three older diesel MB's. He said they would if I supplied the filter. He also said that there would be an extra charge for the extra oil used.

-George

SD Blue · #15 01-08-2005, 11:20 AM

In the past, over a period of ten years, I had a company car with a servicing contract and Jiffy Lube was one of the sub-contractors. Putting 65K+ miles a year on a vehicle, I have visited a lot of their facilities. As with all franchises, they are not all the same. I have visited some that were very professional and I would trust them with the servicing of any car. Others, I would chase away from my bicycle.

As to why they stated this "advisement", it is probably because the store had previous problems and the management did not want to face the risk on such an "expensive" car. (There are many who have no clue to the value.) I would lay pretty good odds that another Jiffy Lube nearby would say no such thing.