My first service cost me only $65 and consisted of me taking a short trip to the Mercedes dealer to buy a $20 filter, then down the street to R&S Strauss for $45 worth of Mobil 0W/40 Synthetic.

I then proceeded home, printed out the do it yourself first service document you can find in the respective forum, and went ahead and did it. Took me about a half hour, plus getting the parts. For the first service, most everything is just BS besides the oil change. (Check liquid levels basically)

Not everywhere carries the oil, I actually had to go to a few places to find it.. call before you go...

The next service I will bring it in to the dealer, and then the one after that, I'll probably do myself, etc...

My dealer wanted 120 for the same thing I did.. I think one place I called wanted only 79.99... but why schedule an appointment, wait forever (it always takes longer at dealers than you expect), only to have a guy who doesnt give a **** about your car do the change.. I rather do it myself with the uptmost care, and of course, cheaper.