What is the maintenance cost of Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz?

In this article, we find out the  maintenance cost of Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz and answer the following question: what are prepaid service packages? Which is more reliable: Mercedes Benz, Audi or BMW? Lastly, some tips to increase reliability and reduce maintenance costs.

What is the maintenance cost of Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz?

Mercedes Benz, Audi and BMW are all German car manufacturers with similar products in the luxury passenger car segment. The service intervals of Mercedes Benz and Audi are the same, 10000 miles or 1 year. BMW recommends preventive maintenance at 5000 miles or twice per year and main service at 10000 miles or one year. 

All three companies follow the same service plan which is service A followed by service B. Service A is a minor or the first service while service B is a major service. The cost of service for Mercedes Benz, Audi and BMW are given in the table below. 

These prices are approximate costs as the total service cost will depend on the condition of the vehicle and respective labour chargers at the dealerships.

Service type/companyService AService B
Mercedes Benz200$ to 500$600$ to 1000$
Audi120$ to 140$450$ to 700$
BMW150$ to 400$800$ to 1100$

Mercedes Benz service is not just limited to the oil change, Mercedes Benz cars are the most advanced cars on the roads today and there are many critical components present on the vehicle. All the functions are checked according to the service check sheet of respective models.

The approach to maintenance is different in BMW, Audi and  Mercedes Benz. When a vehicle reports for service in a Mercedes Benz dealership, it is completely checked according to a model-specific check sheet and any additional work is identified. This benefits the customer as there are fewer workshop visits and the vehicle is ready for use in the next service cycle.

Audi also follows a similar method to Mercedes Benz, the vehicle is completely checked and any additional jobs are highlighted to the customer. BMW on the other hand performs basic maintenance and does not perform any additional checks unless customer concern is present.

This allows for faster turnaround times for the BMW cars followed by Audi and Mercedes Benz. All three companies provided express service options but it has changed more compared to standard service.

What are prepaid service packages in Mercedes Benz, Audi and BMW?

BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz provide service packages that can greatly benefit the customer. Service packages can cover the cost of spare parts and labour at the time of periodic maintenance.

Mercedes service package is called star ease, depending on the market Star ease service packages are available which greatly reduces service times and service costs. These packages can be purchased anytime and can cover the costs of servicing for up to 10 years.

Star ease packages are of two types compact and compact plus. Compact plus covers up to 200000 km/ 10 years. While the star ease compact can be purchased for up to 10 years without any mileage condition. 

The cost of star ease packages depends on the model. Visit the nearest dealership for the latest prices. The star ease packages can be transferred if the vehicle is sold.

BMW ultimate care is the prepaid service offered by BMW but it is only available for the original owners. 2017 onwards maintenance plan covers service cost for 3 years or 36000 miles, the 2016-2016 models service plans covers up to 4 years or 50000 miles.

Authorised Audi dealers offer Audi car care, plans are available for 10000 miles up to 80000 miles. Service plans help to lock the service price at the time of purchasing the vehicle and benefit the customer in the long run.

Which is more reliable: Mercedes Benz, BMW or AUDI?

Mercedes Benz is more reliable when compared to BMW and Audi. The sales figures are proof of this as Mercedes Benz sells the highest number of models in the luxury car market.. Mercedes Benz also has factories on 4 continents and the dealership network and after service is miles ahead of BMW and Audi.

A recent study was conducted on the reliability of Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi cars. During the first year of ownership, the repair cost and preventive maintenance costs of all companies are similar. However, as the mileage starts to increase, Mercedes Benz is the least expensive, BMW is in the middle and Audi is the most expensive to maintain.

Mercedes Benz also has fewer electrical and mechanical issues followed by the BMW. Audi has the most number of faults which makes it the least reliable out of the three companies. The cost of suspension and steering components which will need replacement after 100000 miles is less for premium models in Mercedes Benz and Audi. But the costs of batteries and major service in BMW & Audi is less than the Mercedes Benz car.

Mercedes Benz and BMW offer 3 to 5 years standard warranty with unlimited km while Audi offers 4 years standard warranty. All three companies have extended warranty plans. Mercedes Benz provides the longest warranty coverage that is up to 6 years from the date of purchase.

After 6 years as the vehicle starts to rack up mileage, Mercedes Benz’s superior engineering and build quality shines through and the cost of major repairs bills are significantly less when compared to BMW and Audi.

TIPS for maintaining the reliability of the vehicle

  • After starting the engine, wait for a few seconds before starting the journey so the warm-up phase can finish. This also makes sure the engine oil is circulated entirely in the engine.
  • Never operate the engine in full loads for an extended duration, keep the RPMs fluctuating. Operating an engine at constant or high rpm puts unnecessary strain on the engine components.
  • Visually inspect the engine compartment for visible oil or coolant leaks. If the oil or coolant level is low then the engine can be damaged due to overheating.
  • Consult a workshop if EOBD malfunction or abnormal noise is coming from the engine while driving.
  • Follow the service schedule and replace parts like air filters, fuel filters etc so the engine can continue to function properly.
  • Do not modify the engine or any exhaust components to increase the power output.
  • The parking place of the vehicle should be covered and clean as rodents can damage the electrical lines in the vehicle.
  • Clean the water drains holes near the windshield as they can get jammed and water can enter the vehicle.

Conclusion

Mercedes Benz is considered the most expensive car to maintain but the maintenance cost of BMW and Audi is also significantly high. However, Mercedes Benz cars can easily last for more than 10 years with fewer reliability issues compared to Audi and BMW which make it the less expensive car to maintain in the long run.

References

FAQs: What is the maintenance cost of Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz?

Is Audi more expensive to maintain than Mercedes?

yes, Audi is more expensive to maintain than Mercedes Benz. as the mileage starts to increase, Audi is more likely to break down than Mercedes Benz. the repair cost and the availability of spare parts is also a problem in the Audi.

Which is more reliable Audi BMW or Mercedes?

Mercedes Benz is the most reliable followed by BMW and then Audi. some Audi models are cheaper to maintain.

Is Mercedes BMW or Audi more expensive?

Mercedes Benz is the most expensive followed by BMW and then Audi, Audi sells some basic models to keep the cost low. There are no advanced driving functions and the model has only the minimum required number of airbags