San Diego Mercedes-Benz Service and Repair

Servicing Mercedes at Independent Motorcars

Here at Indepeservice ndent Motorcars, our Mercedes-Benz service center is focused on what’s best for you and gaining an understanding of your vehicle.

When you come to our shop for the first time, it is a priority for us to give you a clear explanation of the condition of your vehicle, what needs to be fixed immediately and what you will need to address down the road.  This provides you the complete picture of your car and all the information you need to make a decision when it comes to your bank account and your Mercedes-Benz.

It gives our customers the ability to make their own choices at an affordable cost rather than the stress and hassle that you may experience at a dealership.

No Nonsense, No hassle, the Way Service Should Be.

When you buy a new vehicle from a Mercedes-Benz dealer your car will come with a 4-year 50k mile warranty,  but you do not receive any complimentary Mercedes-Benz Service.  Items such as oil changes, brake jobs, and tune-ups are service costs that are out of pocket moving forward even though you are under warranty.

Your service is your choice. We believe that your first oil change should be covered with a new purchase.

Any Service A or Service B can be completed by Independent Motorcars at our San Diego service center.

Our rule is to treat client vehicles as if they were own or a family member’s vehicle, as well as advise our customers in the same fashion when it comes to any Mercedes-Benz repair need.  This has given our customers’ vehicles the opportunity to remain reliable for them for a length of time. Our work carries the same warranties that you would get from the dealerships.

We have the latest Mercedes-Benz specialized tools diagnostic software which is crucial for proper care and repair of your vehicle.

Our Mercedes-Benz service center is conveniently located in the central San Diego Area right off of the 805 and Miramar Rd., about a half-mile from the UTC/La Jolla area.

Mercedes-Benz Service A (oil change)

Service Time – 45-60 minutes

Frequency – Every 5,000 miles is recommended

If you are serious about the years you want out of your Mercedes, a proper oil change schedule is important in order to avoid engine build-up and premature failure of internal components.  The latest Mercedes-Benz maintenance schedule recommends a Service A every 10k miles. At Independent Motorcars, we endorse a 5k mile interval for this affordable, quick service, for a multitude of reasons.  An oil change is the cheapest way to increase the lifespan of your engine, and it puts the professional eyes of a Mercedes-Benz Mechanic / Technician on your car to identify any issues or concerns, greatly cutting your chances of being stuck on the side of the road. During every Service A we also follow a detailed multi-point inspection of your vehicle to ensure it stays reliable and that its performance is optimized.

You are never required to book an appointment for an oil change, just swing by!  Keeping your engine internals clean and properly lubricated as well as getting an overall check of the vehicle are two things that a regular Service A will provide.

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Mercedes-Benz Service B – The Major Tune-up

Service Time – 4-5 hours

Frequency – Every 30k miles or 2.5 years

The Mercedes-Benz Service B can be quite confusing when you look at the information provided by their website.  While the Mercedes-Benz maintenance recommendation is to have a Service B every 20k miles, there are items at 30k that really should be included.  In short, we recommend a Service B every 30k miles so long as you are following a 5k mile interval for the Service A.  Our Service B includes new spark plugs, an oil change, along with all serviceable fluids such as the differential and transmission.  This service also replaces all filters changed such as the fuel filter, cabin filter and air filter.

This service includes a thorough inspection of all vehicle electronics and driving components.  Below is a sample outline of the components that we address and inspect:

• Brake Rotors and pads along with a brake fluid test
• Suspension components are gone through including struts, shocks, control arms, and tie rods
• Tire condition and wear to identify if an alignment issues need to be addressed
• Components in the cooling system including the water pump, radiator, hoses and associated parts
• Go through all drive and serpentine belts for cracks and belt tensioners for noise or age
• Look for any fluid or oil leaks around the cooling system, engine, transmission, power steering, etc.
• Functions of all power windows and sunroof, horn, turn signals, wiper blades, headlights, etc.
• A full scan of computer systems, control modules and reset all service intervals with our diagnostic software.

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Mercedes-Benz Cooling System Service and Repair

Service Time – 4-6 hours

Frequency – Varies by model

Mercedes-Benz vehicles can all have one common issue that can lead to a sudden breakdown and a wallet breaking trip to your mechanic – plastics in the cooling system.  The typical engine operating temperature is north of 90 degrees Celsius and is constantly under pressure.  As the cooling system begins to age, many of the components begin to weaken or break down.  If your cooling system is original and you have more than 80k miles under the hood, chances are that you are primed for cooling system issues.  As operating temperatures continue to climb, proper attention to your Mercedes-Benz Cooling System becomes essential.

It is extremely important to keep your Mercedes-Benz engine from an overheating episode as this can lead to additional and unnecessary repairs.

At Independent Motorcars, we cannot stress enough the importance of addressing cooling system before it catches up to you and offers a free inspection of these components on a regular basis.  During a cooling system overhaul, we typically address the following items:

• Replacement of the water pump
• Radiator hoses and the radiator
• Replacing the coolant expansion tank and cap
• Thermostat
• Complete coolant flush
• The drive belts and belt tensioners

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Mercedes-Benz Pre-purchase Inspection and Warranty Inspection

Service Time – 1-2 hours

We want you to get the most bang for your buck when purchasing any used Mercedes-Benz or when it is still under a factory warranty, Certified Pre-owned Warranty, or extended warranty.  Pre-purchase inspections are essential for any car you entertain acquiring as it gives you a thorough picture of the overall condition of the car.  While services like Carfax can give you great information about the past history, we are more concerned with the present condition of the car and what the future will hold for any car you are thinking about buying.  During this inspection, we go through each vehicle with a fine-toothed comb to identify any service or maintenance issues currently present.  We will also do a complete exterior walk through of the car to identify any possible accident history or repairs made. Having a full report on a potential car will allow you to plan for repairs or further negotiate the price if the car is still of interest.

Our warranty inspections are similar to the pre-purchase. Most warranties are either purchased by the customer or added into the price of the car when purchased. At Independent Motorcars we want all of our customers to understand the full potential of their warranty.  Let us know which warranty you have, as well as how long the warranty will be in effect to take full advantage of it.  It is also recommended that you have your newer Mercedes-Benz inspected before your original factory warranty expires in the event that any issues are present and need to be fixed.

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Other Common Mercedes-Benz Repair, Service, and Maintenance items:

Mercedes-Benz Suspension

Control arms need to be looked over periodically as they provide stability to your chassis by linking your shocks/springs and steering components to keep the car in correct alignment. Shocks and struts should be checked for wear or to see if they need to be replaced.  It is crucial for the life of your tires and the handling of the vehicle that the proper suspension performance and alignment is consistently reviewed.

Mercedes-Benz Brake Service

Proper braking is important for the safety of you and your loved ones while traveling. When replacing brake pads and the rotors it is important to use the correct equipment for your driving style.  In most cases, the incorrect combination of a brake pad and brake rotors (discs) can lead to inferior braking performance or noise.  It is also recommended that you have your brake fluid checked and/or replaced at regular intervals for proper performance and to condition the rubber seals and o-rings in the brake system components.

Mercedes-Benz Power Steering Maintenance

The condition and level of the fluid in your power steering reservoir is a great place to start to understand its current state.  If the fluid is green or red and clear, you’re good! If the fluid is cloudy and dark, a really good flush of the system will extend the life of the power steering pump and other steering components like the steering rack or steering box.  Power steering leaks can be common and are typically addressed by replacing the hoses that deliver and return the fluid to the various parts of your steering system.

Mercedes-Benz Electrical Troubleshooting and Repair

Modern cars are not without electrical issues here and there.  Between Bluetooth, navigation and various active headlight and active suspension features, things might get complicated.  Having the correct training and diagnostic computers and equipment is important when trying to resolve these problems.  Independent Motorcars has the latest software available. If it is simply checking a service light, or more involved procedures such as coding and programming the various control modules, we have your back.

Mercedes-Benz Air Conditioning repair and A/C Service

Is your Air conditioning on the fritz or just not blowing cold?  This is most likely something as simple as needing an A/C recharge or you may have a leak somewhere in the system.  It is recommended you have your air conditioning freon recharged around every 5-7 years.  In some cases,  it could be a sensor or resistor that might be the trigger to your problems. Despite the complexities of air conditioning systems, there are common issues that may arise if you find your Mercedes not cooling down inside.

Not seeing your current issue here?

Contact us with any questions or for help with your current needs!  (858) 455-5836

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