'A' Service Experience

[whitenemesis]

Just back from having an A service carried out at my dealership. I was quoted £200 on the phone and this was clearly printed on the job sheet I signed when handing the key over.

I had a relaxing coffee and read in the waiting area, inspected the latest crop of cars in the showroom. One rather nasty Light Green Smart with a matt finish and a lovely silver E350 Cab with Flamenco Red leather

90 min later service completed (I declined the valet) and I was on my way. I paid £199.40 inc VAT.

Service Team Leader advised the polyvee belt was showing signs of wear but would be checked again next service. The parking brake had been adjusted and STAR had detected the a/c flaps were "out of sync", a/c checked and flaps normalised, error codes cleared. (I had noticed a slight whistling from the a/c but hadn't mentioned anything.)

Also commented my rear diff seals were checked and found OK, no weeping!

I found a full 1litre bottle of screen concentrate in the load cubby. Presumably as I had only recently topped up they couldn't add any and just left it for me. Well I had paid for it in the service, so that was good of them.

All-in-all very good service, yes, only what one should expect but pleasing all the same

Well done MB Swindon!

 

[kwakdonut]

Overall, I have found MB Swindon to be very good although their parts department is not great, being situated out on the shop floor!

Glad you had a good experience. Credit given when due and all that....

 

[crockers]

Agee. Have always found MB Swindon helpful.

 

[whitenemesis]

Is it usual to do a road test as part of an A service?

 

[markjay]

Is it usual to do a road test as part of an A service?

When I last asked about A service (in London, I might add), I was told by the dealer that 'MB do not allow much time for this service, we don't even take the wheels off, it is just an oil service with a few more checks really'.



So well done MB Swindon

(markjay quickly googles the distance from London to Swindon)

 

[mbenz76]

Just booked my E350 in for the first A service. Quoted £199 inclusive at MB Sheffield and told that it takes 1 1/2 hours max if I want to wait.

Is it worth me calling around and trying to get the cost down or is £199 about right?

 

[Rory]

Is it worth me calling around and trying to get the cost down or is £199 about right?

You won't get it any cheaper from a dealer unless you supply the oil.

 

[mbenz76]

Thanks. I don't think it's that expensive to be honest. My Renault Laguna used to cost about that, so was expecting a lot more from MB.

Not that I'd complain at it being cheaper, but if it's only pennies to be saved I won't waste my time.

 

[rf065]

Thanks. I don't think it's that expensive to be honest. My Renault Laguna used to cost about that, so was expecting a lot more from MB.

Not that I'd complain at it being cheaper, but if it's only pennies to be saved I won't waste my time.

The A service is not a big deal, it's the B service that really kills you!

Russ

 

[The _Don]

I paid £111 for an A service on my c43 (supplied my own mobil 1) at mercedes orpington whom i highly recommend.

 

[mbenz76]

The A service is not a big deal, it's the B service that really kills you!

Russ

And the B is likely to cost how much? Is it that bad?

I am guessing B is 12 months after A?

 

[splang]

about £350 for a B isn't it? Assuming nothing extra..

 

[rf065]

about £350 for a B isn't it? Assuming nothing extra..

Never assume nothing extra with Mercedes, £568 for my first B service at 20,000 miles, and I supplied my own Mobil 1 to keep the cost down. Needless to say, I've never been back since.

Russ

 

[GP801]

For those of us with older cars(over 7years) some dealers are offering seriously good rates. £99.00 A service £149 B sevice on c,e,clk, slk classes. Includes courtesy car, valet and MOT for £15 at Blackpool, Bolton, Blackburn, Preston, South Lakes. My local dealer in Sussex ,who I must say is very good, has today offered to match the prices.

 

[mbenz76]

Never assume nothing extra with Mercedes, £568 for my first B service at 20,000 miles, and I supplied my own Mobil 1 to keep the cost down. Needless to say, I've never been back since.

Russ

Bloody hell! I assume you "needed" a lot of work other than the base service?

I considered signing up for the service plan that the MB dealer does which is the fixed monthly cost and covers all the servicing costs over 3 years. Assuming I keep the car after 3 years, I can get it to cover the B onwards. Works out cheaper than if I actually paid for the servicing.

 

[whitenemesis]

It's the time / mileage based extras that bump up the price.

 

[mbenz76]

My car is 1 year old in March when it gets it's A and will have about 7k-8k on it by then. I expect to do similar mileage next year so the B will be at around 14k-15k miles. I wasn't expecting too many mileage hits due to low mileage to be honest.

Not sure what each service checks/changes. Is this listed somewhere?

 

[whitenemesis]

In you service book?

Or perhaps here?

Mercedes-Benz ESS

 

[rf065]

Bloody hell! I assume you "needed" a lot of work other than the base service?

Sadly not, apart from a brake fluid change it was just a normal B service. Mercedes charge extra for service items like filters etc which you would assume were part of any service price, but not with them.

The £568 price is wrong though, it was "only" £468, just looked at the receipt. It would have been at least £568 if I had not supplied my own oil.

Russ

 

[Rory]

For those of us with older cars(over 7years) some dealers are offering seriously good rates. £99.00 A service £149 B sevice on c,e,clk, slk classes. Includes courtesy car, valet and MOT for £15 at Blackpool, Bolton, Blackburn, Preston, South Lakes. My local dealer in Sussex ,who I must say is very good, has today offered to match the prices.

I bet they're not using fully synth MB229.3 or .5 oil at those prices, which is an issue if you want to stretch out the service intervals. But it's fine if you do a reasonable mileage and get a service every year.