First of all - MB Bellevue has a fabulous service ...

First of all - MB Bellevue has a fabulous service department. Friendly, easy to talk to and accommodating. The facility is fabulous and the free coffee and donuts are a great treat. Chris the Service Writer was great...

So what's the issue?? A 40,000 mile check up for $1,200 is absurd (particularly when the car has 26,000 miles). Oil needs to be changed, yes but $450 for a fuel injection cleaning? $175 to protect the fuel system against the corrosive effect of ethanol? And the worst, $200 for a internal engine cleaning? I fell off the turnip truck, but not last night!

Everyone needs to make a buck...but this borders on outright fraud. We ended up paying $700 for an oil and brake fluid change (the later completely unnecessary, again IMHO). The rest of the charges were for 'inspections' ("Well sir we've confirmed that all 4 wheels still turn and the transmission is still there...")

I try not be a know -it-all, because I truly don't know these cars very well, but the automotive basics remain the same and if the Service Writer can't really tell me why a process is necessary, why would they do it? It does explain the lavish facilities...service departments must be huge cash cows when most of you clientele doesn't know the difference between an oil filter and toilet bowl.