Klasse of Fulham - Recommended?

[christopherwk]

Has anyone been there? Just wondering, as they're not too far from me.
Any recommendations, or do they charge typical London labour rates?

 

[spanner]

They are good but you have others closer to you.
www.colinferns.com or TM Motors

 

[Sp!ke]

Hey christopherwk - we must be almost neighbours.

 

[christopherwk]

Thanks Colin Ferns sounds good, and very near.

I'm thinking about going down the independent route.

I knows it's nice going to a swish dealership, with valet parking, courtesy car, coffee, papers etc... (all this is to make you feel good, and to justify their £120/hour prices) but I'm also concerned that my car is one of many being looked at during the day, and I get the impression that the mechanic (or interactive technician, as they're called there) don't/won't look at my car as long or as detailed as an independent (I think they've just got a checklist they go through, with so many cars to look at, they probably do it quickly and the cars go in and out like on a conveyor belt) and there's little chance of talking to them, plus I got a different mehcanic each time.

I'd much rather have the same mechanic looking at my car, as they'll get to know it - quite quickly in fact considering my mileage!

 

[fenns]

Christopherwk,

I can offer you some feedback on Klasse based on very recent experience. Until late last year (when he unexpectedly died) we have always entrusted my 2.6 190E and more recently 3.2 A124 to Martin's Autos in South Wimbledon.

Anyone with experience of Martin Cheung will know he was a very rare combination of skill, total honesty and great kindness. Replacing him will prove very, very difficult.

We recently needed to have a slight mis-fire investigated plus one or two minor items attended to and as they are nearby, tried out Klasse. The 'tester' was Mrs. Sven who can cast an objective and critical eye better than I and often a garage's treatment of women is a good indicator (she also knows more about mercs than she ever lets on so can spot much mechanical bull**** at 100 paces).

In short, Steve at Klasse diagnosed faulty coils (and didn't go the wiring loom route even though he knew that I was aware of this weakness on W124s and could have exploited it); supplied an A class courtesy car but still delivered 'the beast' back to us as it was not possible for Mrs Sven to return it immediately; replaced the rear turn indicators with matching pair (those who know will understand the significance here).

Our first experience - specifically, mine on the phone and Mrs. Sven in person - was most favourable and despite being Fulham, not outrageously expensive at £400 all in (x3 coils & 1.5 hrs of labour).

Early days yet (I normally reserve judgement for 5 yrs +) but since you asked there it is.

I deliberated about passing on the next comment as it is not based on empirical evidence (although I have visited the premises) but I trust the friend who relayed his own expriences of Colin Ferns so for what it is worth: CF is tucked away down a short passageway running off a small residential street - very quaint and your perhaps many people's typical small indie. He is expensive, and, in my friend's experience very much so, even factoring his Kew/Richmond residency. His sepia tinted website may give a clue as to his typical clientele. My friend is somewhat pernickety but doesn't mind paying for top quality but felt the time taken to sort his problem was rather 'lengthy' for an expert in the marque. A subsequent visit to SS Motors in Woking reinforced this as the symptoms he explained were diagnosed in minutes by Jo Salomone and estimated at a cost half of CF. As I have stated this experience is second hand albeit from a trusted source so perhaps CF can be summed up as "Competent but Very expensive" ?

Hope this assists.

P.S. Were it not that bit too far to be convenient for us, I would have used SS motors as Martin held Jo there in high regard and that's good enough for me. SS are also the workshop of choice for Peter Crawley (classic M-B dealer par excellence) who I can also highly recommend - a gentleman in the classic sense.

 

[christopherwk]

Wow, thanks very much for your input, much appreciated. It's hard to know where to go for the first time, until you do, you won't know if they're good or not.

 

[chiefski26]

klasse come highly recommended by mercedes enthusiast magazine if its any help.

 

[spanner]

I deliberated about passing on the next comment

Not for long enough you didn't.

 

[Sorry Pete]

I trust the friend who relayed his own expriences of Colin Ferns... He is expensive, and, in my friend's experience very much so, .... A subsequent visit to SS Motors in Woking reinforced this as the symptoms he explained were diagnosed in minutes by Jo Salomone and estimated at a cost half of CF..... so perhaps CF can be summed up as "Competent but Very expensive" ?

I know CF is highly regarded by some on this forum, and everyone will have a different consumer experience no matter where you go. As with much that's posted on forums, it's usually for advice when things go wrong and as such, a picture skewed towards the negative whether it be regarding garages or opinions on a particular model of car.

That being said, I'll direct you towards my experience of Colin Ferns that I had a year ago: 20 months with my 300D

I do my own servicing now, and if I encounter any problems, I'll take it to George Fraser who I had a positive experience with 2 years ago.

 

[Ian B Walker]

I have heard good and bad about the 2 Indies you have mentioned. Being in the trade so to speak may I offer an alternative? As most southern members here make a trip to Horndean, you may be best suited to visit Ollie at PCS. Very good, reliable and does not offer bovine excrement.

 

[ChrisW6]

I just contacted Klasse of Fulham :: Mercedes Benz Specialists :: 0207 385 4157 for a Service B Quote. I was hoping to save on the £1000 quote from MB Brentford. Only to find they wanted to charge £100 more than MB. I guess they think Fulham residents are good for it.

Even though there website clearly states, "our quality of service remains at a peak yet at a fraction of the price", which is clearly rubbish.

Under the circumstance MB direct would be the better of the two.

 

[Scott_F]

I just contacted Klasse of Fulham :: Mercedes Benz Specialists :: 0207 385 4157 for a Service B Quote. I was hoping to save on the £1000 quote from MB Brentford. Only to find they wanted to charge £100 more than MB. I guess they think Fulham residents are good for it.

Even though there website clearly states, "our quality of service remains at a peak yet at a fraction of the price", which is clearly rubbish.

Under the circumstance MB direct would be the better of the two.

An eight year thread revival !

I would suspect if you pointed out to them that they are quoting more than MB and that not everyone in the area is a rich mug then there may be considerable room for negotiation.

 

[ChrisW6]

Hi Scott

Thanks for the question.

I would have expected that too. However unfortunately not.

Steve's initial reply was "Hi are you sure this is including fuel filter and air filter??", this was in relation to the MB quote. When I advised that yes it was, His reply was simply, "ok understand regards Steve".

Klasse may well however be worth every penny, I'm not saying they are a bad garage, in any way shape or form. I'm simply saying that based on my experience yesterday, that what they claim on the front page of their website, is not only misleading, but completely untrue.

I'm also saying that if the price of the manufacturer is the same as a third party, there's bound to be a greater safety net, or benefit, in choosing the manufacturer. Its common sense.

And yes this was a revival of an eight year old thread. I'd got their details through a google search and then cross referenced them on here, as a safety. Knowledge is power after all.

I've since contacted GermanTech who are coming in around £700 and just waiting for Wayne Gates in Harrow to come back to me.

 

[Scott_F]

I recently contacted three independents about servicing my Jaguar and anticipated a 30 - 40% saving compared to the main dealer but two of them were only about 20 quid cheaper although I haven't yet tried any negotiation.