What do Service A and Service B mean in Mercedes-Benz maintenance?
3 Answers
In Mercedes-Benz maintenance, Service A and Service B are service codes for vehicle maintenance. Service A is a minor service, while Service B is a major service. Below is an introduction to the contents of minor and major vehicle maintenance: Contents of minor service: A minor service generally refers to the routine maintenance items performed at the manufacturer-specified time or mileage to ensure vehicle performance. It mainly includes changing the engine oil and oil filter. Contents of major service: Inspection of the engine, chassis, and transmission; replacement of the oil filter, cabin air filter, and engine air filter; cleaning of the engine and throttle body; inspection of the wheels and braking system; replacement of spark plugs; replacement of the engine belt; cleaning of the air conditioning system; inspection of the battery.
As a long-time Mercedes owner with five years of experience, let me explain the difference between Service A and Service B. Each maintenance visit is like a routine health check-up. Service A is more basic, primarily involving oil and filter changes, plus over a dozen inspections including tires and brake pads. Service B is considerably more comprehensive - it includes all Service A items plus air filter and cabin filter replacements, with brake fluid changes every two years typically done during this service. The key is their alternating schedule. My car goes in every 10,000 kilometers - if it's Service A this time, next will be Service B, and so the cycle continues. Mercedes' maintenance design is quite logical, phasing component inspections to avoid overwhelming everything at once. Regular maintenance brings peace of mind - the engine sounds smoother and fuel consumption stays consistent. Always follow the maintenance schedule - skipping a Service B could lead to excessive wear on certain components, which would be costly.
Having repaired Mercedes-Benz vehicles for a decade, I understand the core difference between Service A and Service B lies in maintenance depth. Service A focuses on routine care: mandatory replacement of genuine engine oil and oil filter, followed by checks of fluid levels, tire pressure, and chassis condition—the entire process takes about an hour. Service B is essentially a PLUS version of Service A, adding four critical items: replacement of engine air filter and cabin air filter, thorough brake system inspection, spark plug inspection (mandatory replacement at 60,000 km), and OBD diagnostic scanning. These services alternate by mileage—e.g., Service A at 10,000 km, Service B at 20,000 km. I recommend keeping work orders to clearly track part replacement cycles, which also benefits resale value.
