Our mantra for German cars is: maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. If you're diligent about maintaining your Mercedes, the vehicle will be more affordable and will run reliably for a long, long time. If you ignore your vehicle's maintenance needs, though, the repair problems and costs will add up quickly.
The team at VFC Engineering is here to keep your Mercedes running with the precision and high performance you expect from this legendary automobile.
How? With a combination of fair pricing, a superior warranty and a practical maintenance schedule.
Why Should I Choose VFC Over the Dealer?
We build German race cars. We've won two championships. If we can make the brakes, suspension and engine cooling system perform under extreme racing conditions, then we can certainly make your Mercedes purr as it sails west on the Eisenhower. If you want unquestionable talent, real-world experience and a commitment to perfection, you'll find all that at VFC Engineering.
Not to mention, the cost of our services tends to be 20 to 30 percent less than the dealer. (Keep in mind that the cost of a repair or maintenance service varies by procedure, vehicle age, mileage and general condition.)
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What Kind of Parts Do You Use?
We use only OEM, or original equipment, replacement parts on your vehicle. In many cases, the OEM parts makers have multiple lines for the same part—good quality, better and best. In some cases, the standard OEM part doesn't perform to our standards, and we will use the higher quality parts line.
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What is Your Repair Warranty?
We guarantee all repairs for 3 years or 36,000 miles. Our warranty is among the best in the business and reflects our confidence in the OEM parts and quality service we provide.
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Do You Offer an Auto Repair Financing Program?
Yes, we offer financing through Bosch Service. You can get 0 percent financing for 6 months on repairs of $299 or more. You can apply online for instant approval or ask us to email you a link.
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What Common Maintenance or Repairs Do You Recommend?
Here are the most common services or repairs we recommend for Mercedes:
Brake Fluid Flush
Have we mentioned that the air in Chicago is laden with moisture and humidity? This excessive moisture can cause a lot of problems with your car’s braking system. We recommend having your Mercedes brake fluid flushed every 2 years (regardless of mileage) or every 10,000 miles to prevent a mushy or soft pedal and corrosion of the brake system from the inside out—your caliper, brake lines, even the ABS module.
Cabin Air Filter
Because of Chicago’s climate and driving conditions, we recommend you follow the severe-duty maintenance schedule for your vehicle. This typically means changing the cabin air filter once a year to ensure you and your passengers are breathing clean air when you’re in the vehicle with the windows up. When available, we recommend an activated charcoal-style filter that cleans the air and prevents mold and mildew buildup.
Engine Air Filter
The same “severe duty” schedule applies to your engine air filter. We recommend replacing this filter every other year. And depending on availability, we’ll upgrade you to a cold weather or severe duty filter. (By comparison, the filters use in Arizona and California are thinner.) Even if you don’t put many miles on the car, it’s important to change the filter every other year, especially if the vehicle is parked outside. Even when the car isn’t being driven, the air filter is subjected to rain, cold and all the environmental elements, like high humidity. This takes its toll.
Induction Cleaning
Most modern engines have a direct-injected fuel system, which leads to a lot of carbon buildup on the valves and in the engine cylinders. This carbon needs to be cleaned or removed on a regular basis to ensure proper air flow for best overall engine performance. We recommend a cleaning every 18 months or 10,000 miles to enhance performance, increase fuel efficiency, extend engine life and reduce harmful emissions.
Fuel Filter
If you have a diesel engine, we recommend replacing the fuel filter annually because the quality of diesel fuel in the Midwest is generally poor. If you have a gasoline engine, you don’t need to worry about the fuel filter because it’s built into the fuel pump and cannot be serviced.
Oil Changes
We recommend synthetic oil changes every 5,000 miles or 5 months. And like all German cars, Mercedes vehicles require engine oil that includes additives specifically designed for European engines. Just matching the oil weight, such as 5W40, is not sufficient. If you don’t use a European-formula oil, you risk destroying seals prematurely and causing costly oil leaks. Changing the oil every 5 months also gives us a chance to inspect the entire vehicle and detect developing problems before they become major, expensive repairs.
Does your Mercedes need a straightforward oil change or a more major repair? We invite you to give us a try and experience first-hand what it's like to work with Mercedes experts who have an unmatched level of attention to detail.
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