Most owners of newish MBs don't understand that they are paying £357 for an oil and filter change - they think the car is being "tweaked" or "cleaned" or "adjusted" and it is this that keeps it running sweetly. They have no real idea what is involved in changing the oil and filter nor how much the oil and filter costs.
So to them £357 is the price to keep the £20k - 30k "investment" running reliably and keeps any warranty in place. On that basis it looks like a reasonable deal and the main dealers have few profit opportunities to pay for the expensive showrooms and overheads.
Once in a while a savvy owner comes along and gives them hell but as you observe you are not the first - and they have had years of experience to deal with it - make you feel like you are a cheapskate for even questioning it.
What MB have not worked out is that it also has an impact on owners' decisions to replace their cars. There is no way I will buy another new or newish MB and be forced into the servicing web of the main dealer network.
So to them £357 is the price to keep the £20k - 30k "investment" running reliably and keeps any warranty in place. On that basis it looks like a reasonable deal and the main dealers have few profit opportunities to pay for the expensive showrooms and overheads.
Once in a while a savvy owner comes along and gives them hell but as you observe you are not the first - and they have had years of experience to deal with it - make you feel like you are a cheapskate for even questioning it.
What MB have not worked out is that it also has an impact on owners' decisions to replace their cars. There is no way I will buy another new or newish MB and be forced into the servicing web of the main dealer network.