£1800 for b service!

[MrGreedy]

Southend MB, the extra
To ensure your vehicle operates to an optimum level, a Mercedes-Benz recommended Service includes Routine Maintenance & Additional Items.

• 
  Replace brake fluid -
  £95.86
  incl. VAT
• 
  Replace air filter element -
  £95.04
  incl. VAT
• 
  Replace fuel filter -
  £152.16
  incl. VAT

​

Those extras are not terrible prices for a main dealer in my view. Each one carries approx £30 additional cost vs doing it yourself or an independent, but much less mucking around if you get it all done at one time. Plus all genuine Merc parts of course.

 

[Skd884]

Thanks
They are charging just over 200 quid less.
Lakeside Mercedes were charging the same as
Southend MB a couple of months ago but now have upped
their prices to match Dartford MB. Dartford and several other
MB outlets were owned by Mercedes but this were sold about 2 yrs ago.
They always had the same price.

975 Vs 776 - a big difference for an extra 30 mins drive each way
I will sleep on it but weighed towards someone els

Lakeside will match the Southend quote as owned by the same group.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Southend MB, the extra
To ensure your vehicle operates to an optimum level, a Mercedes-Benz recommended Service includes Routine Maintenance & Additional Items.

• 
  Replace brake fluid -
  £95.86
  incl. VAT
• 
  Replace air filter element -
  £95.04
  incl. VAT
• 
  Replace fuel filter -
  £152.16
  incl. VAT

​

Try comparing to Sheffield Europa and then asking your local dealer to price match them.

 

[tylerdurden]

to be honest, the service plan for 3y is looking cheaper than any option including independents

 

[MSG2004]

Those extras are not terrible prices for a main dealer in my view. Each one carries approx £30 additional cost vs doing it yourself or an independent, but much less mucking around if you get it all done at one time. Plus all genuine Merc parts of course.

I agree and the reason I posted the second lot of figures was to compare se MB dealers servicing with Southend

Take away the extras from 975 and approx 776 and you are left with a massive bill that is really for oil/filter
change.
As I've said before, I've had the gle from new, only 23k miles on the clock, IMO its been over-serviced other than the oil and filter.
As this is the 8th service 975 or 776 is a lot of money for covering less than 2k miles since last service and as car is over 8 yrs old now -
I may consider other options. The only reason I may go for MB is Mobilio (Mobilio supported by RAC)

 

[MSG2004]

Lakeside will match the Southend quote as owned by the same group.

Thank you that is really helpful
Lakeside prices were 200 lower a few months ago and were always quiet a bit lower than the see London dealers. I guess as they are only a few minutes drive from Dartford MB and fully booked, they are going for same price unless someone asks.

 

[MSG2004]

Try comparing to Sheffield Europa and then asking your local dealer to price match them.

Thanks. The last time I asked and rang around they said no to even giving a pennies discount but then they were owned by MB
When I bought my car brand new in 2016, placed order early Jan 2016, I rang Dartford and they would not even budge a penny
so I bought the car from uo north and got a decent discount.

MB also provides Mobilio and that is another reason I can't see them matching another outfit.
FYI, we live in Kent.

 

[Skd884]

Thanks. The last time I asked and rang around they said no to even giving a pennies discount but then they were owned by MB
When I bought my car brand new in 2016, placed order early Jan 2016, I rang Dartford and they would not even budge a penny
so I bought the car from uo north and got a decent discount.

MB also provides Mobilio and that is another reason I can't see them matching another outfit.
FYI, we live in Kent.

Sheffield is an official mb service outlet.

 

[MSG2004]

Sheffield is an official mb service outlet.

Sorry, do you mean "Shiffield Europa" ?
We live in Kent and I can't see local MB matching them. Thank you again.

 

[Skd884]

Sorry, do you mean "Shiffield Europa" ?
We live in Kent and I can't see local MB matching them. Thank you again.

Yes.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks. The last time I asked and rang around they said no to even giving a pennies discount but then they were owned by MB
When I bought my car brand new in 2016, placed order early Jan 2016, I rang Dartford and they would not even budge a penny
so I bought the car from uo north and got a decent discount.

MB also provides Mobilio and that is another reason I can't see them matching another outfit.
FYI, we live in Kent.

Sheffield Europa is a Mercedes-Benz main dealer in Sheffield, so it includes Mobilo. Instead of selecting Dartford on the online quoting tool on the MB website, select Sheffield Europa.

Europa are the least expensive main dealer I have found in the UK, so an ideal candidate for price matching at your local dealer, or at the very least know what the difference in price is when booking.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Sorry, do you mean "Shiffield Europa" ?
We live in Kent and I can't see local MB matching them. Thank you again.

Personally I’d ask the question as my main dealer price matches them, so others might too. If price of main dealer servicing is a concern - but you would like to retain Mobilo - then it’s maybe worth a call.

 

[SteveX]

Prices for Sytner SW . Swindon area are:

£305.00 for minor service
£303.64 for Transmission service

This year mine is £1090.70 + £303.64, total £1394.34 (B service with

Cabin filter, brake fluid, plugs, engine oil, sunroof clean / lube, air filters, transmission service.

They haven't mentioned rear diff /shrugs.

They asked this year if I wanted a service plan, so I asked them to send me details:

2 services and 2 MOTs - £1584, or £66 p/m (over 24 months), so I guess its interest-free. But when I responded what does it cover on the next two services she just said "With regards to your question. The only things that will be covered by the service care plan will be if they are recommended at the time of service based to the age/mileage. If they were due to be done at previous services these items would not be covered by the care plan and would come at a charge to yourself. Not to worry though we would double check what is due and when before carrying out any work on the vehicle and also would keep in contact with you."

That's pretty useless them not explaining what exactly I am getting on the services for the money... they could just turn around and tell me in December that the gearbox isn't included or plugs or something, and charge me £100's more, so I may as well not bother, just keep the money in the bank and get a quote for the B service again with extras closer to the time...

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

That's pretty useless them not explaining what exactly I am getting on the services for the money... they could just turn around and tell me in December that the gearbox isn't included or plugs or something, and charge me £100's more, so I may as well not bother, just keep the money in the bank and get a quote for the B service again with extras closer to the time...

They can only tell you what’s due when the time comes because the additional items are due based upon age and mileage, and hence what is included will depend upon when you have those services performed and the mileage at that point in time.

If it is due, then it will be done. They won’t be able to charge you more for additional items which are due - they would only charge you if you insisted that additional items be performed outside of the schedule, ie to catchup on missed items from the past, or to do things ahead of schedule.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Prices for Sytner SW . Swindon area are:

£305.00 for minor service
£303.64 for Transmission service

This year mine is £1090.70 + £303.64, total £1394.34 (B service with

Cabin filter, brake fluid, plugs, engine oil, sunroof clean / lube, air filters, transmission service.

They haven't mentioned rear diff /shrugs.

They asked this year if I wanted a service plan, so I asked them to send me details:

2 services and 2 MOTs - £1584, or £66 p/m (over 24 months), so I guess its interest-free. But when I responded what does it cover on the next two services she just said "With regards to your question. The only things that will be covered by the service care plan will be if they are recommended at the time of service based to the age/mileage. If they were due to be done at previous services these items would not be covered by the care plan and would come at a charge to yourself. Not to worry though we would double check what is due and when before carrying out any work on the vehicle and also would keep in contact with you."

That's pretty useless them not explaining what exactly I am getting on the services for the money... they could just turn around and tell me in December that the gearbox isn't included or plugs or something, and charge me £100's more, so I may as well not bother, just keep the money in the bank and get a quote for the B service again with extras closer to the time...

If you go onto the mercedes book a service online , enter your reg or vin. It'll tell you what's required, gearbox service is normally year 5 or 77,500 miles based on 7g+ and 9g transmissions. £300 to £400 at most independent specialist if that's the one thing you'd like doing.

 

[SteveX]

Thanks guys. The thing that is annoying is before I bought the car, I spoke to their central booking line / service line (Sytner) and the lady was very useful and went through the entire digital service record with me.

She said this year it’s due b service, gearbox, including plugs etc. She said she couldn’t give me a price as it’s due Dec 25, so I just said ‘if I booked it today what would it cost’ then she told me. But the lady about the service plan gave me a price, so she should know what the next B and A service includes surely? At least if time dependent.

I get if I haven’t done the mileage that may say x doesn’t need doing, but all the same, the quote should still be based on work and they should have an idea of what that work is.

Anyway, for now I just decided not to bother - the only benefit of paying them so it’s locked away and I don’t spend the money But I’ll just get a quote closer to the time.

 

[markjay]

Thanks guys. The thing that is annoying is before I bought the car, I spoke to their central booking line / service line (Sytner) and the lady was very useful and went through the entire digital service record with me.

She said this year it’s due b service, gearbox, including plugs etc. She said she couldn’t give me a price as it’s due Dec 25, so I just said ‘if I booked it today what would it cost’ then she told me. But the lady about the service plan gave me a price, so she should know what the next B and A service includes surely? At least if time dependent.

I get if I haven’t done the mileage that may say x doesn’t need doing, but all the same, the quote should still be based on work and they should have an idea of what that work is.

Anyway, for now I just decided not to bother - the only benefit of paying them so it’s locked away and I don’t spend the money But I’ll just get a quote closer to the time.

Firstly, it's not clear what car you have, and what's the mileage on it.

Then, the service plan will cover any scheduled service items that will fall due on your next service. But it will not cover any items that fell due on previous services but were missed at the time.

This is important, because you say:

This year mine is £1090.70 + £303.64, total £1394.34 (B service with

Cabin filter, brake fluid, plugs, engine oil, sunroof clean / lube, air filters, transmission service

There is no scheduled service on any MB car that I know of, that includes all this items at the same time.

The likely explanation is that the list as described includes both items that will fall due at the next service (and will be covered by the service plan, if you opt for it), AND items that were missed during previous services (and therefore won't be covered by the service plan).

In this case, it would seem that you bought a car with either partial or no service history, I.e. there were service items that should have been done by the previous owners but were skipped at the time. Where did you buy the car from, and was it described as having 'full service history'?

 

[190]

Different brand with VW and I know that does make a difference but my recent experience of buying an approved used car was that the majority of the service histories on cars for sale at main dealers are appallingly bad. I did find a full service history car but that must have been one of a very few in the national network. In fact it was the only one in my choice of colour. My desire for FSH may seem a bit rich coming from someone who has DIY serviced but it was a differentiator between 3 short listed cars and the two with very poor history didn't have that reflected in the asking price.

My point is that some fastidious owners may be obsessed with FSH but the dealers do not seem to be and neither can the used buyers be or they would struggle to find a car to buy.

From my perspective the cost of MB servicing is getting obscene and I'd be surprised if many here would claim you get value for money. In the end it has to come down do whether trade in values are sufficiently higher for MB serviced cars compared with Indy serviced cars. Past a certain age I'd be very surprised if the additional cost of MB servicing pays off in the long run.

 

[ALFAitalia]

In the end it has to come down do whether trade in values are sufficiently higher for MB serviced cars compared with Indy serviced cars...

They wont be.....most dealers wont really care about the SH if the car checks out on the ramp.....especially of its not chopped in at a Merc dealer. Most private buyers wont care either as long as its got some. I've seen rubbish cars with full manufacturers service history and I've seen mint ones with next to nothing....my last ALFA fell into the latter category. And dealers realise that too.
You could have car with the best history ever.....that wont tell you if the previous owners ragged it from stone cold or bounced it off the redline everytime they drove it. To me a FSH is a bonus....I certainly would never base my purchase choice solely on it. The condition its in now and how it drives is far more important....to me at least.

 

[W1ghty]

Different brand with VW and I know that does make a difference but my recent experience of buying an approved used car was that the majority of the service histories on cars for sale at main dealers are appallingly bad. I did find a full service history car but that must have been one of a very few in the national network. In fact it was the only one in my choice of colour. My desire for FSH may seem a bit rich coming from someone who has DIY serviced but it was a differentiator between 3 short listed cars and the two with very poor history didn't have that reflected in the asking price.

My point is that some fastidious owners may be obsessed with FSH but the dealers do not seem to be and neither can the used buyers be or they would struggle to find a car to buy.

From my perspective the cost of MB servicing is getting obscene and I'd be surprised if many here would claim you get value for money. In the end it has to come down do whether trade in values are sufficiently higher for MB serviced cars compared with Indy serviced cars. Past a certain age I'd be very surprised if the additional cost of MB servicing pays off in the long run.

Someone on one of the MB forums recently had a story about their car trade in value . They initially said it doesn’t have a service history and then said a few minutes later oh I’m sorry I got mixed up , it does have a full service history . The difference in value was £200 .