Just Endured My 10K Service

pabille · 10-24-2008, 02:34 PM

Wow what a process. First of all, I understand that each dealership is an independent franchise and I can't judge all dealerships by my experience. Second of all, because of their independent nature, prices are not uniform. Thirdly, we only have to do this every 10K.
Now for the drama. I made an appointment online. After two days, I received no call back so I called them. They gave me a time. I didn't know this at the time, but I was supposed to be given a service adviser name. On the phone the quote was $200 for the service. It cost me $180. Sort of a bargain, huh? I got there and had to wait 20 minutes while they found who was supposed to be my service adviser. This service department also quoted me a service time of at least 2.5 hours. I waited two hours and forty minutes. Before and after it was done I asked why it takes so long. Both times the answer was, "Because it's a Smart." We all know how easy it is to change oil and I would have done it myself if this dealership would have honored my oil change as valid warranty service. I think "Because it's a Smart" means you go go to the back of the line while I service some E-classes and a few S-classes.
I own a Miata and complain about the Mazda service department. It takes 50 minutes to perform similar service there. My wife's Honda get's in and out in less than 40 and it's jam packed. Even good old American Saturn is faster in less than 90 minutes.
I also checked prices and times three other dealerships that were a little further and it was either no one was available to answer my questions or it was the same deal.
Fellow Smarties, I'm just ranting about my experience so don't flame me.
Love the car. Hate the dealerships.

fmaxwell · 10-24-2008, 02:54 PM

I feel for you, but I think that it will get better. The weak economy will lead to more orphan smart cars, less demand, a lot less demand for Mercedes luxury cars, more people putting off service or doing it themselves, and independent garages competing for your maintenance and repair business. That kind of thing can make a dealer very cooperative.

jediknight36 · 10-24-2008, 02:59 PM

I just dont understand why it costs so much. Does it cost that much for similar service on a Mercedes?

Dougdavis6 · 10-24-2008, 03:03 PM

I thought that oil changes performed by the owners HAD to count towards keeping the warranty valid. That's the case for most cars here, as long as you have records and proof (IE receipts). What is Smart doing extra for $180-200 during that service that requires someone pay 5-10X more than they should for an oil change?

burtandnancy · 10-24-2008, 04:48 PM

I have to say something good about American car service. I have an '08 Caddie CTS. My usual service is always less than 1/2 hour, including a car wash, and cost approximately $62.50 for a filter and Mobil 1. They even e-mail me with various reports including tire pressure. Sometimes I wonder why I park the Cad and drive the smart. O yes, because its more fun...
ps: On the freeway at 70/75 mph theres not a great deal of difference in mpg...

robotbill · 10-24-2008, 04:48 PM

$110.00 per hour for labor alone for Mercedes.

Macaw · 10-24-2008, 06:19 PM

I just did my own 10k service and I spent 1-1/2 hrs. Did everything the service booklet said to do (this is more than an oil change). Now part of that was going to evilution website to get the real instructions on resetting the maintenance timer. And advance auto parts had 5qts mobile 1 and filter for $29.95.