Advice sought re 'recommended' work required from MB dealer after service.

[Stig2082]

Hi Chaps,

So, my 2008 CLS goes in for its 4 year service and I get some recommended work of replacing all 4 brake pads '70% worn' and discs - 'minimum thickness' (pads and discs front - £488, rear £488), and a front ball joint - 'slight play' (£329). So total of £1289, which is a bit of an ouch on the back of a £524 service. I have had the car since January and whilst I am in love with it, it has already had other ball joint replaced under warranty along with glow plugs which is a bit dissapointing. My suggestion to dealership that the £1289 is rather a lot of work required after 8,000 miles (done since Jan) has fallen on stony ground. The response is that they checked the car along MB guidelines and this is wear and tear. Assuming I get no where the question is whether it is cheaper to get the pads and discs done at an independent as this does not affect the warranty and would be cheaper? Also do wonder about these recommended things. When I had my W211 E Class MB Brentford gave me a eye watering list of things which needed fixing. I didn't do any of them and when the car returned a year later their advisory check didn't pick any of the same issues! However, assume the warning light will tell me when the pads do require replacing. Any advice gratefully recieved.

 

[markjay]

An indie will be cheaper, and you can ask for original MB parts to be used if you wish. In many cases an indie will also be better, not just cheaper (see Olly PCS).

Indie service will not affect the original 3 years warranty, which has now expired anyway, but you will lose 4th year goodwill warranty, anti-perforation warranty, and Mobilo roadside assistance.

Said that, to preserve the above, you could continue servicing the car at MB and have the book stamped by the dealer, but carry-out any non-service repairs separately at an indie.

On another note, at 4 years your car is likely to need some or all of the additional service items below:

Auto box ATF change
Air filter, fuel filter, and cabin filter change
Brake fluid change

 

[PXW]

Must be nearly out of warranty? If you are looking to keep the car for a while - it's already four years old, say you have it for another two or three, at 6-7 years old FSH matters, but FMBSH frankly doesn't. I would whip it round to a friendly Indy to get a second opinion on what needs doing now and what can wait, and leave it in their hands going forward....just say goodbye to £1800 trips to the main dealer....

 

[Rory]

I guess you're also being hit by "London" prices. Inchcape dealers, for example, show E Class (I assume yours will be the same, but that might not be correct) front pads and discs for £320. Fixed Price Repairs - Service - Inchcape Mercedes-Benz

 

[Stig2082]

thanks for the advice chaps. Seems getting brakes and pads done at an indie will be cheaper and perhaps better as you suggest. This will maintain the FMBSH which I need to keep for a while at least. Inchcape also seem worth a look!

 

[Simon_M]

New discs after only 4 years sounds harsh, has the car done that many miles and is there a think lip on the discs?

New pads after 4 years? Definitely.

 

[Stig2082]

Has done 56k miles

 

[markjay]

Mine had new disks at 3 years/30k. It all depends on how much and how the brakes are used, and this will vary wildly between motorway miles and in-traffic driving, slowing for speed bumps etc etc.

 

[Fady]

The last time the discs and pads needed doing on my W211 I just bought them from the MB parts dept. (including a sensor?) and got my local brake and tyre place to fit them for a nominal charge. Brakes is brakes innit!

 

[Tan]

Said that, to preserve the above, you could continue servicing the car at MB and have the book stamped by the dealer, but carry-out any non-service repairs separately at an indie.

This was what we have done with some of our Mercedes over the years, however MB Loughton and Dartford have said that unless we do the service and the additional service items they won't stamp the service book.

 

[grober]

For a bill that size I would deffo shop around a bit- even if its only to other MB dealers. Some dealers may even eMail you a quote on request.
ps it does make sense to renew both pads and discs at the same time-- recommended practice. The CLS is a big heavy automatic car so it will wear its brakes out.

 

[markjay]

This was what we have done with some of our Mercedes over the years, however MB Loughton and Dartford have said that unless we do the service and the additional service items they won't stamp the service book.

I am aware that some do and some don't. But - this relates to additional service items only.

Brake discs and the various suspension parts etc - as are repairs - are neither 'scheduled' nor 'additional' service items, and MB dealers will not be able to tell if these were done at an MB garage (on in fact that they were done at all).

So you can keep the FMDSH and still have various repairs (and brake discs) done at an indie.

 

[ShinyF1]

I used to get scheduled services done at Tony Purslow (MB Guildford now?) who stamped up the book, and all the recommended work by Olly at PCS. Once the car got beyond 8 years old and the 'rust goodwill time limit' I used PCS for all of the work.

 

[GP801]

I am aware that some do and some don't. But - this relates to additional service items only.

Brake discs and the various suspension parts etc - as are repairs - are neither 'scheduled' nor 'additional' service items, and MB dealers will not be able to tell if these were done at an MB garage (on in fact that they were done at all).

So you can keep the FMDSH and still have various repairs (and brake discs) done at an indie.

I had the discs/pads done on the 124 at MB dealer in Pontedera (Italy). Main dealers/service agents charge much the same as Indies do here. Olly at PCS spotted they were done by an official agent as they use a special grease. Suspect many others would not have known this.