T his Mercedes-Benz owner took his car to a dealership for a new battery. He was shocked by the price tag for the extra repairs they suggested. In a TikTok that’s generated over 23,700 views as of this writing, Robert Igotabs Jackson (@no_daysoff365) shares his latest dealership trip experience and considers doing his own maintenance going forward to avoid steep dealership prices. “It’s true when they say Mercedes maintenance is expensive,” he captions the post. Jackson says he initially asked about getting an aftermarket battery. The answer was no, he continues. “No, because when you take the battery out, it messes with the sensors. Mercedes is the only place that can do it,” he says he was told. Then the dealership quoted him $500 for a new battery. Jackson decided to get the service done at the dealership and was told it would take an hour and a half. “To change a battery?” Jackson says he asked. The dealership purportedly explained that “you gotta do the stuff to ensure the sensors are OK." Jackson agreed to get the work done and settled in to wait. When the bill came, the service technicians included quotes for some suggested repairs. These included rear tires, brake pads, and rotors, which were quoted to be around $1,500 in total, in addition to the new battery. “Wait, so you are telling me if I were to fix everything, it would be $1,500?” Jackson asked a worker. “Probably a little more, sir. Closer to 2K,” they replied. Jackson says he’s considering just buying his own brake pads off Amazon and doing the repairs himself. However, he worries about the sensors. All in all, this quote and interaction with the dealership left Jackson realizing owning a Mercedes is not cheap. “Moral of the story: Yes, Mercedes is expensive,” he concludes. “Must Be 1st Time In a Benz Dealership” Some viewers chimed in on the comments section to emphasize that dealership prices for repairs will always be high. “Mercedes are not expensive. Dealerships are!!!!” one TikTok commenter said. “No stealership for me. Only go there for any factory recall. I go to a local trusted independent shop where you can buy your own parts and they install it,” another shared. “All lies. I’ve had two batteries installed my other Mercedes my mechanic installed it. Find you a mechanic that can work on your car. Do not go to Mercedes,” a third commented. “Never use the dealer,” one insisted. “You need to find a certified mechanic, one who is well versed in Mercedes,” another suggested. How to Find a Certified Mercedes-Benz Mechanic According to J.D. Power, parts and labor costs will always cost more at a dealership service center compared to going to a local repair shop. That’s why many of the commenters suggested finding an independent shop or certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic to complete repairs. Finding a mechanic to work on a foreign luxury car like a Mercedes can be difficult, as not all mechanics are well-versed in German engineering. Websites like Benz Shops provide resources for finding independent Mercedes-Benz mechanics. Additionally, any Google search for “certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic” will reveal local mechanics. It’s best to consult reviews from Google, Yelp, Reddit, or Benz Shops before handing over the keys for service. Finding an independent mechanic may be useful, considering Mercedes-Benz placed 23rd out of 31 in Consumer Reports’ best car brands. Additionally, Consumer Reports ranked Mercedes-Benz in the bottom three of rankings for repair costs and maintenance. On average, the survey found Mercedes-Benz owners will spend around $3,300 in the first five years and up to $9,300 when owning the vehicle for six to 10 years. This estimated 10-year repair cost totaled up to be around $12,630 when owning a Mercedes-Benz. With all things considered, it may be useful to find an independent certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic to complete these repairs. Motor1 has contacted Jackson via Instagram and TikTok direct message. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz has been contacted via email. The story will be updated if either party replies. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team