[Stoked]

What would you guys say is a reasonable price for an oil change?
I'm unable to do it myself, because one, I have no idea how to and I'm not a car person at all, and two, I live in an apartment complex and we aren't allowed to work on our cars here.

I contacted Jiffy Lube, and they said they'd charge me $80 total.
I contacted Smart Madness, and they said around $150 total.
I'm guessing that the Smart Dealership in West Covina would be on the pricey side as well.

My local Jiffy Lube said they have quite a few Smarts that they do the oil for, do you think that would be my best bet? For those who don't change their oil themselves, how much do you typically pay in total for service and product? This is my first time getting an oil change with my car, since I work from home and don't put on as many miles as others.
Thanks!

 

[Smart Bob]

If I were you, I wouldn't go to the least expensive location. Too easy for someone to strip the threads on the oil pan. Madness should be just fine if you do not want to go to the smart Center Service Dept.

 

[1983JZR3W]

I do my own oil changes and the cost from the local auto parts store is about $55.00 for the products. The only oil I use is Mobile 1 0W40 and the Mobile M-108 filter. The Mobile 1 is synthetic as specified by smart.

I guess $80.00 is not too high if they supply the correct oil and filter. I have read some nightmare stories about taking a smart to the "quickie lube" places. Use your best judgement.

 

[jzchen]

From a dealer, not West Covina though because I was always advised the selling dealer will take care of you. West Covina did help me replace a CHMSL under warranty because water had gotten into it. Selling dealer replaced the radio/nav under warranty when that started acting up:

Service 1: $195.17
Service 2: $270.82
Service 3: $280.10
Service 4: $423.61

For a 451: At 65 Nm, the torque for the drain bolt is really high, relatively to the other cars in the household. I just changed the oil on a '12 E63 and it was 30 Nm drain bolt, 25 Nm oil filter. Torque spec for the smart oil filter is 14 Nm, again for the 451. That one is on the low side from personal experience. The drain bolt (451) is really big, which is probably why someone might over tighten it.

Car under warranty? I took the smart in to the dealer while it was under warranty, but that's just me....

Anyways, Walmart sells 5 Qts Mobil 1 0W-40 for $25.47 right now. (I'd use that in either car, personally.) Can't really tell whether you have a newer 453 or the older 451, but for a 451 the Bosch D3300 oil filter at Walmart is $13.25. (I think you can get a similar deal from AutoZone with a Mobil 1 filter if you pay a few dollars extra.) I use this to help me measure the amount:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/FloTool-Measu-Funnel-7pc/16889147

Service literature says 3.4 L, Google gives equivalent 3.59274 Qts, about 3.6 Qts.

Free shipping, or pick up in a local store.

Mine just went out of warranty November of last year. I'm going to do the next service myself. Look in the Service Booklet to see what else is needed...

You could pre-measure the amount of oil so they don't overfill, and bring the oil and filter to a place. They would just charge labor. I've used Jiffy Lube in the past, a long time ago. They charge a lot for synthetic oil. Maybe $20 labor if you bring your own. So total would be about $59 plus tax, and you'd have 1.4 Qts left over for next time. You'd know they didn't over fill, which is part of the issue with Jiffy Lube, the service guy wants to give you your money's worth for the synthetic and tends to over fill. Just not sure how tight they'd tighten the bolt or filter...

 

[stevenjb]

The last oil change done was by a Mercedes independent service shop for $99. They changed the oil and coolant (additional charge) plus reset the service reminder.

 

[TheFadingTheory]

$99 is what the Mercedes dealer charges us to change the oil on each of my four Mercedes, one of which is an SUV. I assume that when it's time for me to have the oil changed in the Fortwo it would be the same price, or less and that includes the free coffee, soda and fruit as I sit on a nice leather chair.

The last oil change done was by a Mercedes independent service shop for $99. They changed the oil and coolant (additional charge) plus reset the service reminder.

 

[OliverB]

My dealer has fresh donuts too!

 

[HerbalCar]

Try and learn how to do it yourself and you'll save a lot of money!

 

[Rustedwrench]

You are asking the wrong question. The proper questions are: What additional checks are done during a oil and filter change service? What oil and filter is used and does it meet the oe specifications (that means approved by the oe, not recommended)?

European vehicle makers do not have oil change intervals, they have time/mileage based services.

Not everybody can or wishes to do the service themselves and the op explained why. The question then is, do you want the least qualified person, that being the owner who knows nothing about the process, working on the vehicle?

 

[jzchen]

You are asking the wrong question. The proper questions are: What additional checks are done during a oil and filter change service? What oil and filter is used and does it meet the oe specifications (that means approved by the oe, not recommended)?

European vehicle makers do not have oil change intervals, they have time/mileage based services.

Not everybody can or wishes to do the service themselves and the op explained why. The question then is, do you want the least qualified person, that being the owner who knows nothing about the process, working on the vehicle?

At times the dealer overfilled mine. I know because I checked the level at home. (Yes, even at the prices I paid!). Some owner involvement is a good idea....

 

[Stoked]

You are asking the wrong question. The proper questions are: What additional checks are done during a oil and filter change service? What oil and filter is used and does it meet the oe specifications (that means approved by the oe, not recommended)?

European vehicle makers do not have oil change intervals, they have time/mileage based services.

Not everybody can or wishes to do the service themselves and the op explained why. The question then is, do you want the least qualified person, that being the owner who knows nothing about the process, working on the vehicle?

Totally! I 100% agree. My main point of the post is to just make sure I'm not getting taken advantage of, and ripped off. So I was just curious what other people pay.

 

[ArthurRW]

I took my 2016 passion to the dealer and he's charging $250 for the 10k service, they still have the car after a week! Replacing gas tank (free), replacing motor mount (free) and replacing bottom encapsulation panel ($). Panel is cracked, and no replacement in the US so one has to come from Germany. I've got a loaner, which is good since it looks like it'll be a total of at least 2 weeks I'll be without my car.

 

[lockwriter]

Difficult question in your case. If the car is under warranty, despite the fact that service outside of MB can maintain the warranty, the manufacturer can always claim you did not fulfill all the warranty requirements. I may be naive, but I have always had the dealer perform regular interval service during the warranty period. The cost was (BMW motorcycle) minimum $500.00, mostly for an oil change, but I rarely left the dealership for under a grand. On one car, I continued dealer service because independent garages nearly ruined my Subaru. That said, I bought my Smart used with about 28000 miles on it, and it still had two months warranty left, which I did not need. Now, I do my own simple service... oil change, intake air filter, cabin air filter (a major dealer ripoff) and brake pads and rotors or shoes, and weekly tire check. I have researched independent garages in my area and interviewed those whose names appear on this forum. So far, I have hit a dead end, but I think I found one that is qualified. I will interview them this weekend. Not everyone is willing to get their hands dirty doing their own work. I am a mechanical engineer that studied automotive technology with machine design. I don't mind working on cars and motorcycles if I can, which has become less "shade tree" possible with processors running the whole show. However, I did purchase computer access diagnostic software for my motorcycle that keeps the dealer honest. No more "Your knuwten valve is biased by the flog sensor which must be replaced for $800.00.". Remember, a dealer service center is a profit center. Bottom line... if you can't do it yourself, find a reputable garage who do will simple things and take it to a Mercedes Smart Center (not just any MB dealer). for the complex things. Just my opinion.

 

[jimvw57]

Be careful about who does the oil changes. The oil plug is a weak spot on these cars as the oil pan is aluminum and the plug is steel, they tend to get really tight because of the different materials and how they react to heating and cooling. I (and others) have ended up with stripped threads in the oil pan and that is not an easy fix. I now drain the oil from the top using what they call a "Topsider" oil extractor. it removes the oil using the dipstick tube and does a great job. The first smarts (450's) did not even have oil drain plugs.

There is a torque specification or the il drain plug. Most quick change places just crank the plug down and don't care as long as it doesn't leak.

 

[Ramona Carol]

I am a new 2013 passion owner. I was wondering where to go to get my oil changed. I bought it used from a VW dealership. They said I could bring it back there but unsure of it. How, what do I need to do to ensure that I choose the right person? The nearest Smart dealership is 2 hours away.

Thanks.

 

[Rustedwrench]

Be careful about who does the oil changes. The oil plug is a weak spot on these cars as the oil pan is aluminum and the plug is steel, they tend to get really tight because of the different materials and how they react to heating and cooling. I (and others) have ended up with stripped threads in the oil pan and that is not an easy fix.
There is a torque specification or the il drain plug. Most quick change places just crank the plug down and don't care as long as it doesn't leak.

There is one reason and one reason only for oil pans to get stripped and drain plugs to be too tight. That is because approximately 99.938629% of the people who change oil in vehicles do not use a torque wrench on the drain plug. That includes so-called professional mechanics. They might be the worst because, "I've been working on cars 30 years and I know what I'm doing." Sure. Most people do not even know there is a torque spec for the oil filter.

I have been working on cars for 50 years and I have never had a drain plug or oil filter that was too tight or a oil pan that stripped. Lucky? I don't think so.

 

[jimvw57]

True but most cars have a softer plug than the threads in the pan. The drain plug strips out before the oil pan does, but not on a smart. I spent a lot of time servicing cabs that had oil changes once a month and most of them used a rubber plug that did not depend on threads to seal them. If someone else over tightens a drain plug, how is that your fault when you remove it?? One of the reasons I stopped working on cars. Got tired of fixing other mechanics mistakes without getting paid for it.

 

[ca smartone]

I am a new 2013 passion owner. I was wondering where to go to get my oil changed. I bought it used from a VW dealership. They said I could bring it back there but unsure of it. How, what do I need to do to ensure that I choose the right person? The nearest Smart dealership is 2 hours away.

Thanks.

Welcome to SCoA, your location would sure help...

 

[Jo e Lefors]

To those who do their own oil changes.
Does the 451 smart have a crushable aluminum washer on the drain plug?

 

[lockwriter]

I agree... My last car was serviced only by the local dealer. On a recent service, the wait time was especially long for a simple oil change. When the car was finally finished I was told the pan had to be replaced because the oil drain threads were stripped. I immediately began my "blau breath" about how the dealer was the only one who ever worked on this car. They were quick to tell me I was not being charged for the pan replacement admitting it was their error. The Quickee Oil Change shops are not the only ones making mistakes, but they are quick to deny any responsibility. I will not let any franchised oil changing shop near my Smart.