Sprinter Service B Maintenance

[CASERTA]

I have a 2012 MB ERA Sprinter RV. Have close to 25,000 miles and am about to get a Service B as per schedule. I am a bit shocked that the local MB dealer would want a minimum $800, and perhaps more than $1000, if the fuel filter and water separator needs to be replaced. I spoke to a non-MB mechanic and he said that he could do the Service B for $250, other than replacing the fuel filter and separator. He didn't think the vehicle, at 25000 miles, would require the fuel filter and water separator be replaced.

Could anyone comment as to whether or not they believe the fuel filter and water separator should be replaced? Does anyone have any comments as to the the MB Service B maintenance schedule ?

Thanks!


Paul

[gerrym51]

Escargot wrote:

gerrym51 wrote:

Escargot wrote:
Haven't "rued" the day here yet either.

PS FYI: Not all members of rv.net are boys. Thanks.

Escargot-2006 pleasure way is NOT the current sprinter van-NO modern emissions controls-No DPF etc. that is what causes most of the problems on sprinter van rv's

Apologies. I read the fore-warning of "rue the day" as a general comment regarding Sprinters, reinforced by fastpaddlers comment since we have the same PWs.

Thank you for the correction.

the op's post was a 2012 sprinter van. the post 2007's are the one's with the issues and the big prices.

[Escargot]

gerrym51 wrote:

Escargot wrote:
Haven't "rued" the day here yet either.

PS FYI: Not all members of rv.net are boys. Thanks.

Escargot-2006 pleasure way is NOT the current sprinter van-NO modern emissions controls-No DPF etc. that is what causes most of the problems on sprinter van rv's

Apologies. I read the fore-warning of "rue the day" as a general comment regarding Sprinters, reinforced by fastpaddlers comment since we have the same PWs.

Thank you for the correction.

[booster]

30 mpg--I assume you mean Imperial gallon?

[gerrym51]

Escargot wrote:
Haven't "rued" the day here yet either.

PS FYI: Not all members of rv.net are boys. Thanks.

Escargot-2006 pleasure way is NOT the current sprinter van-NO modern emissions controls-No DPF etc. that is what causes most of the problems on sprinter van rv's

[Escargot]

Haven't "rued" the day here yet either.

PS FYI: Not all members of rv.net are boys. Thanks.

[Fastpaddler]

2 years. One oil change. No problems. 30mpg. I am not 'rueing' yet. Hopefully such luck will continue. My V10 Winnebago had its problems plus a V10 which went into limp mode. They are all just machines, really....

[kendall69]

CASERTA wrote:
I have a 2012 MB ERA Sprinter RV. Have close to 25,000 miles and am about to get a Service B as per schedule. I am a bit shocked that the local MB dealer would want a minimum $800, and perhaps more than $1000, if the fuel filter and water separator needs to be replaced. I spoke to a non-MB mechanic and he said that he could do the Service B for $250, other than replacing the fuel filter and separator. He didn't think the vehicle, at 25000 miles, would require the fuel filter and water separator be replaced.

Could anyone comment as to whether or not they believe the fuel filter and water separator should be replaced? Does anyone have any comments as to the the MB Service B maintenance schedule ?

Thanks!


Paul

Ford had THE WORKS for $29.00 - for essentially THE EXACT SAME THING Mercedes wants $800.00.

This is what I've been saying since I got my 2007 Sprinter. You MAY save some fuel dollars buy in the LONG RUN you will be paying more that an RV running a V-10 gas engine in repair costs VS service costs.

I just spent 2K from a MB dealer to clear a "code" and they kept it for 10 days.

All you fan boys that love your Sprinter will rue the day.

[CASERTA]

Sorry for tardiness in reply. Thanks to all who provided comments. Thought I would respond one last time for those who may have a similar concern in the future. I did find a mechanic who used to work at MB who says he charged me 20% less than what MB would charge for a similar service. Still cost me $600 . This included a new fuel filter but not a rotation of tires. I tried Freightliner and they did not want to service the vehicle. Other mechanic shops seemed to indicate they had never worked on a Sprinter but I thought it prudent to stay with a mechanic familiar with my vehicle. From your comments, future maintenance will be expensive. Still, I enjoy my 2012 Sprinter (ERA) very much.

[Fastpaddler]

KalTire, Canadian tire store chain here, rotate and/or check tires pressures including rear airbag pressures for FREE. Of course, i bought my tires from them.

[Sailordive]

Look for a Freightliner shop that does Sprinter work. They are much cheaper and have the same training. I had a SoCal MB dealer refuse to rotate the tires they said it was to big for them even though they were a MN Sprinter store. Les Schwab did that quickly for a reasonable price.

[avanti]

Bumpyroad wrote:

avanti wrote:

It certainly doesn't matter who does the service. That would be illegal in the US.

If the service .............

but the coverage could be denied, then it would be up to the owner to bring a suit against a company with scads of attorneys on retainer.

That could be said about any legal responsibility of any business. Not going to happen. And, if it did, there would be spec lawyers lining up to represent you for free. The courts are VERY unsympathetic to that kind of thing.

you would have to prove that the service was done properly, not the opposite.
bumpy

Don't think so. Under the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act, the burden would be on the the warranter.

[Fastpaddler]

I just take my PW to the MB dealer. They do lots of commercial Sprinters here, old and new. Ford service on my previous E350 V10 rv etc wasnt cheap either.

[Bumpyroad]

avanti wrote:

It certainly doesn't matter who does the service. That would be illegal in the US.

If the service .............

but the coverage could be denied, then it would be up to the owner to bring a suit against a company with scads of attorneys on retainer. you would have to prove that the service was done properly, not the opposite.
bumpy

[avanti]

Bumpyroad wrote:

avanti wrote:

Oilman wrote:
According to what I have read on this and other forums The Mercedes dealer is the only one who can flush the brake fluid properly. The dealer level software is used to activate the valving on the ABS unit to get the proper flush.

A flush done by a non dealer will not be able to flush the ABS unit.
I don't really know if this matters or not but this is what I have read.

I will be ready for my "B" service soon and if it weren't for that requirement I think I would just do the service myself.

There is much controversy as to how important the ABS activation thing is during a brake flush. Here is one discussion:

http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20218

A couple of things to note:
1) The brake flush is NOT part of the "B" service. It is to be done every two years.
2) Some third-party scan tools can activate the ABS system, so you may have alternatives to the dealer.
3) Many people believe that you can do a DIY purge by exercising the ABS system on a gravel road.

would failure to have this done by a MB service center with the proper equipment, etc. be cause to deny some warranty coverage.
bumpy

It certainly doesn't matter who does the service. That would be illegal in the US.

If the service isn't done properly, then warranty coverage could be denied if and only if they can demonstrate the the improper service contributed to the failure. The law is pretty clear on this.

Now, does not exercising the ABS count as "improper service"? It might. But, any failure for which warranty was denied would have to be plausibly related to the omission.