Specialists in Berkshire / Hampshire

[Kinky]

I want someone to give my newly acquired 93 E280 estate a thorough and honest going over and a major 122k service (and check a dodgy temp gauge).

I'm extremely reluctant to go for a main dealer, and would much prefer to use someone whos as honest as the day is long.

I live near Ascot and work in Basingstoke and would be extremely grateful for any pointers to someone reliable in or around those areas or somewhere inbetween.

I'm aware of George Fraser in London and Andy Gayle in Birmingham and they would be plan B (and I'd be happy to travel to either) - but with serious work commitments over the coming weeks it's unlikely I'd be able to afford the time off.

Many thanks in advance,

K
"Carpe Vehiculum" - Sieze the engine

 

[BaldGuy]

K,

I too live in Berkshire and have not found anyone to use, so I went the George Fraser route...
Bloody top bloke...

 

[Kinky]

Cheers for that Greg.

I've ended up booking it in at the main dealer in Basingstoke. The consolation being it's a 40% discount on Labour charges and they can fit me in this Saturday.

I've got a 2nd hand Rolls Royce garage/dealer across the road from me here, who seem to have a secondary specialisation in MB, so I might pop over there at the weekend and have a chat.

Watch this space ...

Thanks again.

K

 

[Brian WH]

Do they lend you a Roller when it's in?

 

[Kinky]

he he .... dream on !

Good point though .... I will ask (for reference) ... as my mum always say - if you don't ask you don't get.

Another Roller dealer has recently opened up about 100 yards away - so we have 2 in the space of 100+ yards ... but he tends to deal with the old classic ones.

I wonder where he takes them ........

 

[Kinky]

Well,

Having kinda drawn a blank on localish MB specialists I resorted to going to Tony Purslow - the MB main dealer in Basingstoke. For the record - I do have a local MB dealer (Greenoaks) only 5 mins away - but all I've ever heard about them from MB owners has been negative - hence my not calling them.

I called them Thursday to get a quote for a major 'B' service (£350ish) and some extra work - brakes, gearbox, temperature (£100ish). I was more than happy with this quote so I booked it for Saturday (yesterday).

They open at 08:00 and I arrived at approx 07:45. I was immediately greeted by Mike (asst. Service manager). There was no waiting round until 'opening time' (unlike Ford where I did have to wait - even though all the staff were there!).

He talked through what they were going to do, and asked for more details/info on the extra work I wanted doing.

I got a call at about 11:00 to tell me all was going well and that there was no problems with the car. The only thing of any concern was that the front pads had about 1-1.5k miles left on them. Did I want them replacing?

I arrived at 1:00pm to pick up the car where I was again greeted by Mike. We spent the next 30+ mins going through the service and all the work done, including comprehensive detail on the extra work I wanted doing. In addition - the engineers report highlighted 19 'problems' with the car. These were all along the lines of (front headlight chipped, OSF tyre worn on edge, electric aerial broken, rear wiper almost worn .... you get the idea - nothing major or serious.

Whilst we were going through this detail the car was being washed and valeted. In addition it was commented at the outstanding condition of the car for the age/mileage (9.5 years old and 122k on the clock with 1 owner from new).

The final cost came to £422 which I was more than impressed with and I came away a very very happy chappie, and fully 100% confident with the car - it just had a major service and no faults with it.

Bottom line - this is the 2nd best customer service I have ever experienced (2nd only to Fernhurst who serviced my TVR) and better by a long long loooong way from any other dealer I've experienced (BMW, Ford, Honda, Vauxhall, Mazda and Renault). The only other dealer who comes close is SGT in Taplow for my Alfa servicing.

I will have absolutely no hesitation in going back to them for future work and I do highly commend Mike for his customer service and attitude.

I don't know if £422 is expensive compared to specialists - but as we appear to have none localish (that's known about anyway) I'm quite happy to continue to deal with Tony Purslow - and the costs I certainly found acceptable - certainly for real peace of mind. Admittedly yes - it is more expensive than all the other cars I've had (TVR and BMW come very close) - but it's a quality brand and marque, and that can cost.

Having read through this and other forums regarding experiences with main dealers (some stories quite horrific) - I was dreading the whole experience, but I honestly cannot fault them on any aspect whatsoever. I also know that it's really only the bad stories that get highlighted and therefore creates a negative impression - but not in this instance.

K
The Kinkmobile

 

[Richard W]

Hi K,

From your description you live the other side of the A30 from me...... I live on the edge of the common.

My experience with Greenoaks was poor, would you go back to Purslows at Basingstoke? How did you negotiate the 40%? etc etc.

Are you're in a position to meet - mini Berskshire GTG, Greg how 'bout you too? :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

R

 

[Kinky]

If I said the speed camera on the A30 (Waitrose side) was at the end of my back garden (technically) then you know exactly where I am.

As for you .... from what I can see of your pic ... are you around by the vets?

And yeah - I'm always up for a meet - anytime anyplace.

As for Tony Purslow - yes I personally will be going back there again - no hesitation. The reason for the 40% discount is due to the car being over 8 years old - BMW have the same thing called 4+, but theirs is for cars over 4 years old with a 50% discount.

Note the 40% MB discount is on labour only - not on parts.

The only reason I choose them is because they're round the corner from where I work - and whilst I don't work Saturdays - it was still convenient enough.


K

 

[Richard W]

Yes - quite right, just over the bridge in fact!

Spotted Majestic in your pics so guessed where you are.

We can walk to Exchequers (was the Hutt?) sometime.

Found out the guy who sold me mine was telling porkies about the history, the £541 bill on his account (how many people have an account at the dealers.....?) wasn't a service at all - it was just for the tyres! it hasn't had a service for 12k......

So it looks like funds will be very short - buying it and servicing it!

R

 

[Kinky]

Richard,

Yeah - I'm up for a beer anytime. The hutt, chequers, or whatever they decide to call it this week sounds like a plan (especially as the guinness is usually pretty good in there (got a funny story about that actaully - but I'll save that for whenever)).

To be honest I'd prefer a Friday - any Friday will do.

K

 

[Richard W]

Happy man today:bannana: :bannana:

I phoned the guy last night, he knows the mechanics and got them to do it as a 'cash job' so at least it's got fresh oil in!

R

 

[BaldGuy]

Yeah I'm up for a meet chaps.....Can't do this Friday though due to a funeral....

Give me a bell when you have a date...

07775 851973

 

[Richard W]

Hi Greg,

Sorry to hear about a funeral - as they say one out-one in, my wife gave birth at 12:42 this afternoon - 4lb 15oz boy - to be known as Hugo!

More chuffed than buying the ML!!!!:bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

So GTG is out for a while I'm afraid - it was a cesarian and I've got my daughter to look after!

R

 

[BaldGuy]

Congrats 2 u and your wife.....

 

[Kinky]

Looks like we do have some MB specialists on our patch. Check out http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=758

K

 

[GregE240]

K, you asked how prices compare with a specialist.

Andy Gayle quotes £164 + VAT for an ASSYST B service. Add another £33 onto that if you want Mobil1 as opposed to the Mobil semi synth they usually put in (Christ, that was a debate and a half, me in the Mobil 1 corner and Andy in the semi synth corner.....)

So pretty much £230 all in.

 

[Kinky]

Greg,

Cheers for that very invaluable peice of info ....

Hummmm ... a day in Birmingham for my next service methinketh.

 

[Philirv]

Hi Kinky,

I realise you already got your car serviced, but there is a very good specialist close to you in Reading - he even has a very professional website (that's where all the labour goes ).

http://www.jgriffiths.co.uk/

I reckon the equivalent in a main dealer would be what you spent, about 400 +

To give you an idea of cost here's my latest 69,000 mile service bill:

Oil Filter 6.40
Screenwash 1.00
Injector cleaner 5.50
wiper blade 7.08
Bush 6.48
Poly belt 29.21
Castrol GTX MAgnatec (7 lit) 32.20
Labour to service to mileage and replace anti roll bush and Poly V drive accessory belt 112.50

Total 200.37 + Vat

The previous service was also something similar in price.

John Griffiths is very knowledgeable about W124's in general, and provided a lot of help in forcing my 'Signature' warranty (turned out to be a 3rd party crap warranty from RAC) to pay out in full for a new head gasket and hydraulic adjusters.

The other thing is they do the service if you bring it in early enough on a saturday morning.

Hope this saves a few quid.

 

[Kinky]

Philirv,

Cheers for that - very much appreciated.

This is the 2nd time they've been positively recommended.

(and thanks for the e-mail too).

K