30 quid collection charge for servicing

[markjay]

It's kind of predictable ... company pushes annual service contract .... then quotes high prices for out of contract maintenance.

And then we get the posts about what good value the service plans are ..... because .... well at dealer service pricing ... they are.

Forget that MB dropped the longer service interals (for the benefit of the customer ..... of course .... oh yes and they will tel you customers were asking for it or saying they prefered it .....)

So of course on that basis the £960 quoted makes perfect sense to the vendor who wants to reassure their customer that the service plan is terrific value.

I wonder what they would actually charge somebody not on the service plan ..... ?

Odd that older cars can become cheaper to service ... or that MB dealers might offer 'value' servicing.

Agreed. Though to be fair to MB, we know that there are significant price differences between dealers (as can be seen on the online quoting tool), so we should really get a few quotes before accepting that £960 is the going rate. But, again, agreed in principle.

As for 'value'... it's a derivative of scarcity. Does a small two bedroom flat in my area worth £1m? No, it's not 'good value' - but only if you can get it for less. Which, sadly, you can't... so it is 'good value'... I guess.

 

[geoffus]

There are lots out there that will service your car for much less.

Mercedes 9G-Tronic Automatic Transmission | Gearbox Oil & Filter Change

Your Mercedes Benz gearbox is a very sophisticated piece of engineering that needs to be looked after with regular oil changes. The smooth system is computer controlled with very fine engineering tolerances. If the gearbox oil is dirty, it will damage other parts and affect performance. Dirty...

www.pscautocentre.co.uk

 

[Jonesy161]

Thank God I live in the NW, just had (mb oil) and filter change + brake fluid service........£95 + vat.

 

[gr1nch]

To make the service plan better value I paid for the first A service myself, then took the service plan on the next three, BAB over three years. At £42 per month it lessens the pain but it's still about double an independent.

 

[MSG2004]

When I bought my service plan, paid full price but then a few days later noted the 200 price reduction. As I had a 14 day cooling off period, I called back and they gave me the 200 off. (I was checking my docs, logging in and reading up on T&C on the net when I noted the new/temp price.)

I bought the car brand new in 2016 and knew we'd keep her for 6 years at least and aware the 5th service inc ATM fluid change. Therefore
I went for the 4th yr, 5th yr and year 6 IE B+A+B and the 'A' inc the ATM change.

My previous MB a C class once it was three years old, only had the oil changed from kwikfit saved a couple of thousand i guess over the 5 years following the 3 with MB servicing. The C class was petrol so less to mess up I guess. The GLE a much more complex car especially the crappy AdBlue/Nox and low mileage, short trips.

 

[MSG2004]

Btw - In London, I think all of the main MB outlets are owned by MB and they all quote the same price.

 

[Skd884]

Btw - In London, I think all of the main MB outlets are owned by MB and they all quote the same price.

Use Lakeside, much better £.

 

[Dryce]

The GLE a much more complex car especially the crappy AdBlue/Nox and low mileage, short trips.

Is it really more 'much more' complex to service - apart from parts of the drive train (which typically don't need much looking at) - than say a Skoda Superb diesel?

Or is it just that when a car sells for more money then the dealers decide that the customer can pay more to get it serviced?

 

[W1ghty]

Is it really more 'much more' complex to service - apart from parts of the drive train (which typically don't need much looking at) - than say a Skoda Superb diesel?

Or is it just that when a car sells for more money then the dealers decide that the customer can pay more to get it serviced?

You cynic buddy

 

[MSG2004]

Use Lakeside, much better £.

True, that is outside the M25 and owned by an independent, hence the lower prices but its on the other side of the river

 

[MSG2004]

Is it really more 'much more' complex to service - apart from parts of the drive train (which typically don't need much looking at) - than say a Skoda Superb diesel?

Or is it just that when a car sells for more money then the dealers decide that the customer can pay more to get it serviced?

You make valid comments as most of the work carried out if you believe them is visual inspections. Hence my post re my C class/petrol only having the oil and filter changed every year from 4th yr on via kwikfit.

This crappy diesel and short trips with the added problems of Adblue is not really for a driver like me. This is my first diesel in the donkeys years of driving though we had a Grand Cherokee as well before that was fine as she was taken on long trips.

The only petrol version of the GLE I bought at the time, the one I was aware of was the AMG, I could not justify the cost for that.

 

[markjay]

True, that is outside the M25 and owned by an independent, hence the lower prices but its on the other side of the river

Come on, the Dartford Crossing is only two pounds fifty.......

 

[Skd884]

Come on, the Dartford Crossing is only two pounds fifty.......

£2 With a account

 

[markjay]

You make valid comments as most of the work carried out if you believe them is visual inspections. Hence my post re my C class/petrol only having the oil and filter changed every year from 4th yr on via kwikfit.

The inspection is more than just visual checks, but yes, if you have the skills and space to do it yourself, no need to pay the dealer or a specialist to inspect your car.

 

[markjay]

£2 With a account

View attachment 122180

Yes, but is it worth opening an account for the sake of two crossings per year.....?

 

[guhvies]

Come on, the Dartford Crossing is only two pounds fifty.......

Or could use Rotherhithe/Blackwell tunnel and brave the traffic.

 

[guhvies]

Yes, but is it worth opening an account for the sake of two crossings per year.....?

Do what I do, join Costco and buy fuel there...

 

[markjay]

Or could use Rotherhithe/Blackwell tunnel and brave the traffic.

I use to travel through there almost daily.... the queues were beyond ridiculous. Even when they had 3 lanes in one direction.

 

[MSG2004]

Come on, the Dartford Crossing is only two pounds fifty.......

It's not just that it's the headache of a very good chance being stuck in a massive traffic backlog at least one way. TBH, real reason is that my hands become very sweaty and my foot starts coming off the acceleration pedal as we near the apex of the bridge and even though I'm look straight ahead and not over the bridge it never helps - so bridge crossing last resort only. IE scared of heights, no jesting.

Asides that, I now have the MB three service plan. The local dealer did remove the 30 quid charge when I asked booking to have a word with them.

Last night I was looking at the 5th year service for a another MB/GLE that was coming up her 5th service a service A with sub 30k miles - it was around 860 - so they vary the price all year round I think but it is still a lot.

You guys may recall my post here that when my C was 4 years old and I kept her until just after service 8 - all i had done was changed engine oil and filter via fast fit but it was a petrol car and covered about 7k miles per year.

You will often save over a 100 pounds if not a lot more if you have your car service outside the M25 by puka MB dealership.

 

[markjay]

It's not just that it's the headache of a very good chance being stuck in a massive traffic backlog at least one way. TBH, real reason is that my hands become very sweaty and my foot starts coming off the acceleration pedal as we near the apex of the bridge and even though I'm look straight ahead and not over the bridge it never helps - so bridge crossing last resort only. IE scared of heights, no jesting.

Asides that, I now have the MB three service plan. The local dealer did remove the 30 quid charge when I asked booking to have a word with them.

Last night I was looking at the 5th year service for a another MB/GLE that was coming up her 5th service a service A with sub 30k miles - it was around 860 - so they vary the price all year round I think but it is still a lot.

You guys may recall my post here that when my C was 4 years old and I kept her until just after service 8 - all i had done was changed engine oil and filter via fast fit but it was a petrol car and covered about 7k miles per year.

You will often save over a 100 pounds if not a lot more if you have your car service outside the M25 by puka MB dealership.

Agree about the QEII bridge.... also applies to some multi layer flyovers in the US....

Yes, you can save a bundle by opting for specialist servicing, and that's great. The bit where we see things differently however is regarding oil and filter changes only and no inspections. Personally, I am reassured that the car us being professionally looked over (by the dealer or by a specialist) duting A and B service. I don't think that MOT is sufficient, not for me anyway. Personal opinion...

(Obviously, for those who have the skills and physical space to inspect their own cars themselves, that's not an issue)