Portland OR Mercedes oil change price shock therapy

[GeorgeRa]

Quote for of oil with oil filter change in Wilsonville OR MB sky high, $382, but they claimed using the special super-duper MB exclusive oil low ash, ouch. That is about 50% more than the previous change. McCoy is gone, need to check Salem MB, Matrix Westside and Sprinter Store in Tualatin.

With McCoy gone I wouldn’t be surprised if price gouging on Portland could spread. Perhaps oil price was dramatically increased, diesel V6 takes special #229.52 oil (MB designation) and it is expensive but I used the same oil last time. Unfortunately, 14 quarts volume is not helping.

[The Eyesore]

Doesn't seem like too hard of a DIY

How to CHANGE OIL in Mercedes SPRINTER Diesel V6

[GeorgeRa]

[QUOTE=The Eyesore;155596]Doesn't seem like too hard of a DIY

You are correct, certainly it is not rocket science. The only oil with MB spec 229.52 I found is MB oil. Mobil 1 used to sell one with MB spec but no more. Found a place with 229.52 MB oil at almost 40% lower oil change price. It seems as folks in Portland area are squeezing customers wallets to max for oil change.

[booster]

[QUOTE=GeorgeRa;155597]

Originally Posted by The Eyesore

Doesn't seem like too hard of a DIY

You are correct, certainly it is not rocket science. The only oil with MB spec 229.52 I found is MB oil. Mobil 1 used to sell one with MB spec but no more. Found a place with 229.52 MB oil at almost 40% lower oil change price. It seems as folks in Portland area are squeezing customers wallets to max for oil change.

Sounds like the kind of place that would tell you "If you have ask the price, you can't afford it."

[jrobe]

You can buy that oil from Walmart and have it shipped to the store or home for $84 for 15 quarts. Changing the oil on my Sprinter is much easier than a lot of vehicles I have owned.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-E...RoCAtsQAvD_BwE

[GeorgeRa]

[QUOTE=booster;155598]

Originally Posted by GeorgeRa

Sounds like the kind of place that would tell you "If you have ask the price, you can't afford it."

I used to go to Wilsonville MB, good service and they had reasonable prices. Something has changed, perhaps new ownership.

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by jrobe

You can buy that oil from Walmart and have it shipped to the store or home for $84 for 15 quarts. Changing the oil on my Sprinter is much easier than a lot of vehicles I have owned.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-E...RoCAtsQAvD_BwE

Recommended oil by Mobil is 228.52, not the required 229.52. Somewhere on the Sprinter Forum I read that Mobil 1 had to remove 229.52 rating due to lack of approval from MB. Walmart could have an old picture of the Mobil1 oil with 229.52 designation.

https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/...ynthetic-5w-30

[dmb496]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...DKIKX0DER&th=1

[booster]

Here is a link to the product data sheet that is currently on the Mobile website.


https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/...x-pdsdatasheet

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by dmb496

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...DKIKX0DER&th=1

I used to use Valvoline extensively, somehow it didn’t surface in my search when I searched for 229.52. I appreciate, thank you.

Originally Posted by booster

Here is a link to the product data sheet that is currently on the Mobile website.
https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/...x-pdsdatasheet

I think I understand how I made a mistake, I searched for 2013 Sprinter oil on Mobil site instead of later Sprinter years. 228.52 was a correct oil in 2013 but now the 229.52 is recommended by Mercedes.

I found Mercedes in Salem changing oil for $235, which would be exactly $100 to $110 over Valvoline + Mahle/Bosch/Mann oil filter. This cost could be justified but Salem is 45 min. away, a little far for just oil change but no headache of dealing with 14 quarts of used oil and dashboard warning resetting.

Interesting Google reviews for Wilsonville MB, many 5 stars with increasing number of one-star ratings. I have seen only one review in the middle; one-star ratings usually related to service with comments about recent ownership change to Swickard. I spent one hour on the phone with Wilsonville trying to get oil change exact quote, only response was it starts at $280. The next day someone called me with exact quote of $382. I had ½ minute phone call with MB Salem to get oil change details and exact quote of $235.


Thank you all for corrections and help.

[GeorgeRa]

Interesting costs difference, exactly $150 less for oil change in Salem MB vs Portland (Wilsonville MB). I had some errands to take care off in Corvallis so on the route there I had oil change done in MB in Salem, made appointment earlier. 45 min waiting, nice service, slightly less than the quoted price. Must be something special about The Capital of Portlandia.

[MsNomer]

That is TEN TIMES the cost of an oil change in our PM.

[booster]

Originally Posted by MsNomer

That is TEN TIMES the cost of an oil change in our PM.

Good oil and good filter is more than $23.50 for me on our Chevy. Oil $25+ depending on sales and filter about $6 for Wix. Around here (Minnesota) you might get the mystery oil out of the 55 gallon drum and the cheapest filter made for $23.50.

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by booster

Good oil and good filter is more than $23.50 for me on our Chevy. Oil $25+ depending on sales and filter about $6 for Wix. Around here (Minnesota) you might get the mystery oil out of the 55 gallon drum and the cheapest filter made for $23.50.

Originally Posted by MsNomer

That is TEN TIMES the cost of an oil change in our PM.

If I would be repeating my DIY camper van today it would most likely be based on Promaster, less likely Ford. In 2013 in US, we only had 2 tall van options, Sprinter or Nissan NV. Nissan didn’t have many followers so DIY accessories were not there, and it was not the best-looking van. It was very reliable in contrast to Mercedes.

I like driving our van, quet and decent handling. In the beginning it reminded me driving our VW Westfalias.

Must be a good reason why Fiat and its siblings (base for Dodge Promaster) own camper vans market in Europe.

[jrobe]

I don't think there is much difference between oil change costs for my diesel Sprinter RV and my Toyota gas SUV. The diesel gets changed every 10,000 miles with 14 quarts of oil (MB recommends every 20,000) and my SUV gets changed every 5,000 miles with 6 quarts each time (Toyota recommends every 10,000 miles). I change my own oil and it is about the same costs in both vehicles. This assumes my time is worth nothing because the gas SUV takes twice as much time for double the number of oil changes.

[MsNomer]

Ah, I missed the $235 number and only saw the $385.

Yeah, 2013 was one year too soon. I got lucky—according to my VIN, my PM may be within the first 5,000 manufactured. It turned 257,000 miles yesterday. Although it is marketed in the US as a cargo van, it seems designed to be built out into a campervan.

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by jrobe

I don't think there is much difference between oil change costs for my diesel Sprinter RV and my Toyota gas SUV. The diesel gets changed every 10,000 miles with 14 quarts of oil (MB recommends every 20,000) and my SUV gets changed every 5,000 miles with 6 quarts each time (Toyota recommends every 10,000 miles). I change my own oil and it is about the same costs in both vehicles. This assumes my time is worth nothing because the gas SUV takes twice as much time for double the number of oil changes.

I used to change oil by myself, since going on retirement I prefer to g to dealers. But Honda Accord oil change was less than $40 and about the same will be for our Honda CRV.

Somehow a Sprinter work van and $380 for oil chamge is oxymoron, especially if 40 miles away Mercedes dealer charges $150 less.

[Sleeping Dog]

Maintenance and repair costs were the exact reason that I avoided Sprinters when we were researching Class B's.

[Rlum]

Originally Posted by GeorgeRa

Quote for of oil with oil filter change in Wilsonville OR MB sky high, $382, but they claimed using the special super-duper MB exclusive oil low ash, ouch. That is about 50% more than the previous change. McCoy is gone, need to check Salem MB, Matrix Westside and Sprinter Store in Tualatin.

With McCoy gone I wouldn’t be surprised if price gouging on Portland could spread. Perhaps oil price was dramatically increased, diesel V6 takes special #229.52 oil (MB designation) and it is expensive but I used the same oil last time. Unfortunately, 14 quarts volume is not helping.

I do not have a diesel yet. Am looking at purchasing one. I have always been afraid of the maintenance costs on these motors. Living in Southern California, I have heard stories of oil changes costing $800 or more. Also read MB oil is very specific. Mobil may not meet the MB standards? $382 must be from a dealer? For Southern California, non dealer is probably around $300? Hope you find an excellent non dealer mechanic.

[jjrbus]

Originally Posted by Sleeping Dog

Maintenance and repair costs were the exact reason that I avoided Sprinters when we were researching Class B's.

Amen to that. It can be difficult to find someone to work on my Chevy 3500.