As with any service be it A, B or C and many other auto dealers have their own little name for it, is only as good as the person doing the job. Regardless if you are at the dealer or at an independent shop.

I have seen reports for similar routine service plans that range from about $199 on upwards of $500. Most of them are basically an oil change. With the fancy name of "Service A" or whatever your dealer may call it, there is usually a detailed list of inspections and services that are to be performed. Usually most GOOD shops will automatically do the following things with an oil lube and filter service-

(1) Drain oil and replace oil filter
(2) Lube chassis and door hinges
(3) Check tire pressures
(4) Remove tires and rotate/balance if needed
(5) Inspect brakes, suspension, axles, transmission, exhaust, engine and everything else that is visible.
(6) Check tire pressures
(7) Fill up with new oil and check all remaining fluid levels

This sort of service known as an OLF (Oil Lube and Filter) can range anywhere from $30-$150.00 depending of the amount of oil your vehicle takes and the grade you wish to use. This sort of service is NOT typical of your local Jiffy Lube or Express oil change that boast 30 min service. These sorts of inspections and such take time and many quick oil change joints just have a pit and the tires are not usually removed.

A quick oil change place is rather expensive also considering that many fast oil change places will focus on selling the following items weather your vehicle needs them or not-

(1) Fuel filter
(2) Air filter and PCV
(3) Wiper blades
(4) Engine cleaning additives

I think everyone knows that the quick oil change places usually have under-paid people whom are rookies of the profession whom sit in a pit all day. You would be surprised to know that even if a fuel filter is rusted to hell and looks like the original filter installed some 100,000 miles ago from the factory, a quick oil change will simply look the other way rather than have to waste the time to replace it. Meanwhile someone with a vehicle less than 30,000 miles new will be chastised about how Important it is to replace the filter every 30,000 miles. I have seen this sort of thing a lot and while our facility is mostly major service I have to admit that performing a good OLF for under $50.00 seems like wasted time to me. On my own car I spend about an hour changing the oil, inspecting and lubing everything.

The best bet is to get to know the tech who is working on your vehicle. If the tech seems like an ass-hole and his service writer henchmen keep you out of the shop, it is time to find another shop where you feel welcome. Good service will usually accompany a good feeling afterwards (LoL I know that sounds funny) but if the place you take your car for service does not give you this warm fuzzy feeling then its likely your vehicle will be treated no different.

You could put a billion inspections on paper, but the bottom line is if your in a hurry, or your shop is less than friendly, the service to your vehicle will be lacking. I wish I could get people to pay me $380+ for an oil change, hell for that kind of money for what I consider a proper OLF people would walk out of here feeling like they got blown afterwards grinning from ear to ear. For that kind of money I would let them back in the shop and allow them to crawl as far up my ass as they felt necessary.

Its all about the Service.

Hope that helps.

P.S. If you have time please share with us exactly what your dealers Service A consist of and how much it cost.