£471.16 for an oil change and wiperblade!

[RichieRuss2000]

Just had a dealer quote for a B Service... I will never skimp on servicing and don't mind paying however how is it feasible to charge £471.16 for what is effectively an oil/filter change + a wiper blade (which they put on the wrong way last time)

Furthermore they will charge another £100 to change the brake fluid. I thought that a B Service meant they replaced more parts and that was why it cost more? Am I missing the point?

I have a couple of niggling faults with the car ESP/BAS fault lights, front headrests don't go all the way down, etc must I service it at the dealer to maintain the warranty?

I live in Bucks, are there any MB specialists in the area?

Was wondering if this is how much we are conned when servicing how much are they conning us in the forecourts...

Cheers RichieR

 

[frog1520]

I thought a B service was more extensive than an oil change too!

If its any consolation, the stealer charged me 850 quid to fix a sticky wiper on my C180!! I nearly fell off the bloody chair.....

Claimed they had to replace the wiper motor and linkage or something. Always seemed a bit steep to me - I could hire someone to sit on top of the car and clean the windscreen with a sponge for that...

Oh yeah, and they didnt even put a new wiper blade on for that!!!

 

[Brian WH]

I have a couple of niggling faults with the car ESP/BAS fault lights, front headrests don't go all the way down, etc must I service it at the dealer to maintain the warranty?

Cheers RichieR

The straight answer is YES, must be serviced by a recognised MB service provider. ie the Dealer in the main.

 

[fuzzer]

I have been told by the woman at the service desk that the only diference is that they change the pollen filter ...

truth or lie ... i don't know but would it surprise you ??

 

[Shude]

The straight answer is YES, must be serviced by a recognised MB service provider. ie the Dealer in the main.

The tin-pot, backstreet garage around the corner from me is able to do MB warranty work though, so you might be surprised if you ask around!

 

[marcos]

I am currently using an independant to carry out the servicing on my Vito fleet and he can carry out all the service work and the warranty is still void. He can actually carry out a certain amount of warranty work too.

 

[Paul Grainger]

I only ever have 'a' services done on my car. The same with my previous MB's. Never gets questioned when I have traded in cars...

Question....Does it have a full main dealer service history sir?

My reply...Of course, fully stamped and up-to-date.

I do all of the other stuff myself. Always buy MB parts, and always keep the receipts in the service history pack.

It works for me....

Paul G

 

[RichieRuss2000]

I have been told by the woman at the service desk that the only diference is that they change the pollen filter ...

truth or lie ... i don't know but would it surprise you ??

Sorry forgot they did mention the pollen filter, (Guess that's some paper job). So thats Oil and Filter change(£20) + Pollen Filter(£2) and Wiper Blade(£2) They really are stealers! Are there any good MB specialists in Bucks that can also do the warranty work?

Cheers RichieR

 

[fuzzer]

Sorry forgot they did mention the pollen filter, (Guess that's some paper job). So thats Oil and Filter change(£20) + Pollen Filter(£2) and Wiper Blade(£2) They really are stealers! Are there any good MB specialists in Bucks that can also do the warranty work?

Cheers RichieR

The pollen filter is about £20 tho

 

[Ralph]

And 2 AEROTWIN wiper blades (without fitting) are £39.50, not £2 each. [not exactly :bannana: :bannana: ] .

You cannot fit traditional blades on. They have to be the new style AeroTwins.

Anybody know a cheap source?

 

[fuzzer]

And 2 AEROTWIN wiper blades (without fitting) are £39.50, not £2 each. [not exactly :bannana: :bannana: ] .

You cannot fit traditional blades on. They have to be the new style AeroTwins.

Anybody know a cheap source?

Thats shocking ......

 

[uumode]

Just had a dealer quote for a B Service... I will never skimp on servicing and don't mind paying however how is it feasible to charge £471.16 for what is effectively an oil/filter change + a wiper blade (which they put on the wrong way last time)

Furthermore they will charge another £100 to change the brake fluid. I thought that a B Service meant they replaced more parts and that was why it cost more? Am I missing the point?

I have a couple of niggling faults with the car ESP/BAS fault lights, front headrests don't go all the way down, etc must I service it at the dealer to maintain the warranty?

I live in Bucks, are there any MB specialists in the area?

Was wondering if this is how much we are conned when servicing how much are they conning us in the forecourts...

Cheers RichieR

B service is the BIG service, A service is the inspection or 'Oil' change one.
depends on the other things they change too, sparks/air filter/brake fluid/coolant etc. so the cost depends on the mileage/time of last service of the car too.
I was quoted on an A service for £500, so your B cost is cheap!

Today I just had an 'oil' inspection on my 1.4 Polo and that cost £421 because at 60k it had a new cambelt. I filled up my washer fluid to the brim before taking it in, just to see what they would do (as another MBclub UK member who also brimmed it, said their stealership managed to somehow cram in some extra screenwash and charge them for it!). VW in my case charged me for it, and left a full bottle of the stuff in the cabin ...as they couldn't cram it in you see . I would have been well annoyed if they had charged me for it and insisted they had put it in the washer resevoir!

An example of an expensive A service is if you have left the car in the garage for 5 years after a fresh B service-, almost all consumables will need changing, brake fluid, sparks, filters, oil again despite travelling zero miles.

 

[Will]

Richie,

I would look in the service book for what a 'B' Service comprises; I am sure it is more extensive than an Oil & Filter.

Can't speak for your dealer, but most charge close to £100/hr labour, so the total may be largely because of this (body checks, all wheels off, brakes/suspension check etc etc)
Say that the Oil/Oil Filter/Pollen Filter is around £70ish, then you have your wiper blades (no idea of cost), fitting for above items (maybe 1 1/2 hours), then the checks mentioned in the service book (maybe 1 1/2 hours).

That's where the £400 odd quid goes!

Will

 

[Steve_Perry]

My last service (B Service) was not a pleasant experience as far as my wallet was concerned. Linky

The previous A service was much more reasonable...
Hmm my car is due another A service in about 800 miles according to ASSYST. I can feel my wallet twitching.

S.

 

[guydewdney]

purslows in bracknell (iirc) are suposed to be good.

and if you have the charcoal activated filter like mine, then its 80 quid im a cheapskate and just put int he paper one though.

 

[roj]

My sister works as a service receptionist at a Ford main dealer and a short while ago she told me of changes to the servicing rules. Trading standards wern't happy with main dealers having , in effect, a monopoly on servicing if you wanted to keep your warranty valid. They brought in a rule that basically says as long as you use genuine ( ie MB) parts and can prove this then your warranty is still valid.
So you can do your own servicing and still keep the warranty! You should ask your dealer about this as some seem very reluctant to tell the customer. They let you go on thinking you will void the warranty if serviced elsewhere.

 

[uumode]

purslows in bracknell (iirc) are suposed to be good.

and if you have the charcoal activated filter like mine, then its 80 quid im a cheapskate and just put int he paper one though.

Purslows (Tony Purslow) are in Basingstoke and Guildford.. I use the one in Basingstoke. It's Greenoaks in Bracknell I think.

 

[uumode]

My sister works as a service receptionist at a Ford main dealer and a short while ago she told me of changes to the servicing rules. Trading standards wern't happy with main dealers having , in effect, a monopoly on servicing if you wanted to keep your warranty valid. They brought in a rule that basically says as long as you use genuine ( ie MB) parts and can prove this then your warranty is still valid.
So you can do your own servicing and still keep the warranty! You should ask your dealer about this as some seem very reluctant to tell the customer. They let you go on thinking you will void the warranty if serviced elsewhere.

That's true, though the warranty division put up more of a fight or find more excuses. Though I suppose you can get there in the end.
'Goodwill' that the main dealer 'can' supply won't be honoured anymore.

If possible roll up your sleeves and do it yourself
It used to cost me around £40-50 in parts to major service my Audi.

Also, Audi main dealers give bigger discounts on labour rates than MB or BMW on older cars, I got £25ph. Don't think an MB dealer would go there for older cars over 5 years old

 

[Tan]

Check out Brabus and Tony Purslows as they are both cheaper on servicing than the Mercedes owned dealerships.

B service at Brabus was £330ish

 

[MainMan]

I live in Bucks, are there any MB specialists in the area?

You could try Hughes of Beaconsfield. I had a B service done there for £320 (I provided the oil at a cost of £50). It's still a rip off of course.