Are Mercs expensive to service?

[Paul]

After deciding not to get the 190E for the wife, I got her a Ford Fiesta 1.3LX, 1996 (New shape) <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp;from E-Bay.

I decided to get it serviced at my local Ford Main Dealer so that we know it's all A1 for the winter.

Bearing in mind it's only a push rod engine, so no cambelt to change this is what we had done;

Full 60,000m service
New anti roll bar bushes at the front
New rear brake shoes
1 new rear brake cylinder
New rearwheel bearings

The total cost was £630inc! <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='mg:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='mg:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='mg:'>

And then it would not tick over correctly and had to go back AGAIN for them to fix it <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wallbash.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bash:'>

So if anyone ever tells you Mercs are expensive to service please tell them to go and buy a Ford and experience true rip off prices.

P.S: I love the Bananas <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>

 

[jimmy]

<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='mg:'>  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='mg:'>  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='mg:'> £630

I could give you the typical trade prices for those parts, not genuine Ford but just as good if not better quality, but I wouldn't want to upset you anymore than you are. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/dontgetit.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':dontgetit:'>

That is outrageous, are you sure the '0' should be on the end of that?

We giveaway, I mean sell Fiesta/Escort wheelcylinders for around £3-4 each. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/butbut.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':butbut:'>

 

[Dave B]

Paul,  that's a frighteningly expensive &quot;service&quot;...but you did have a bit of extra work done on the car.  Is it fair to say that labour charges were the main chunk of that bill ?

If so, think yourself lucky it wasn't a MB stealership doing the work <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/exclamation.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':exla:'>

The key thing to consider when buying a Merc (if you can afford to) is to buy from a MB dealer - the Signature  warranty is worth it's weight in gold.....and then some  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Shude]

I had my 1998 c230k serviced a couple of weeks ago, &quot;A&quot; service at 128,000 miles.

As well as the normal service, I had all the brake pads replaced, rear suspension bushes replaced, auto tranny cooling pipes examined, all the belts replaced and I picked up a couple of interior lights, a little AMG badge and a factory painted rear door handle off a 1999 w210 classic.  Total cost was £580.

Bargain compared to the fiesta  <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='mg:'>

EDIT: there was absolutely no reason to quote the whole first post in my reply... <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Dave Elcome]

I gave my 300TE a 120000 service last week, and very pleased with the price.

Filters came free from brother in law,  who works for the company that manufacture them for MB.

2X 4.5 Ltr containers of Magnatec, (which leaves me with 3 ltrs for next time).

I know everything has been done, coz i did it!!

Total outlay, £35 + a morning of my time.

Best so far i recon

<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>

 

[Billy]

Had the ML55 serviced last Month @ 10,000 miles

A Service
labour       &nbsp; &nbsp;   63.50
Magnatec (oil)  52.00
Sundries            8.50
Filter                4.80
Remote Battery  2.56

Total of £131.36 + vat

Washed &amp; valeted, collected &amp; delivered back with an ML270 CDi left behind.

I wonder if Ford could better that service???

<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>

 

[Aletank]

I've not had my 99(T) C200 serviced as yet but did enquire about servicing costs from MB before I bought the car and this is how i came to the understanding that it's reasonable.

I was told that a -
A Service is £140
B Service is £340

Now if you have one of these each alternative years it works out a average of £240 per year.

For that £240 per year you are getting your car serviced by the Main Dealer and for cars after 99, which is mine, Breakdown cover too which is worth about £80 per year so that makes it only £160 per year Which is pretty close to what you would pay for a Ford/Vauxhall etc

<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/banana.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bannana:'>

 

[Brian WH]

Also bear in mind that &quot;Once a Year Service&quot; might cost a lot, but it is usually only &quot;once a year&quot; with No major repairs in- between. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
Unlike some makes I have had in the past. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>

 

[Paul]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Dave B @ Oct. 16 2002,10:09)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Paul,  that's a frighteningly expensive &quot;service&quot;... Is it fair to say that labour charges were the main chunk of that bill ?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
The bill was split roughly 50/50 parts and labour <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> .

The best bit that I never mentioned was the air box lid is secured by 4 self tapping screws, these screw into the bottom part of the air filter box which is also plastic.

But the screws holes are a bit worn, Fords answer was to replace the complete air box assembly <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='mg:'> .

My answer, just put slightly bigger screws in job done, and not for the £120 that Ford wanted to replace it

 

[Mark300SL]

Just had the lube service on my SL - £265 inc VAT

However the next one is £750 plus whatever they find wrong


Mark

 

[fuzzer]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Paul @ Oct. 16 2002,20:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">[quote=
The best bit that I never mentioned was the air box lid is secured by 4 self tapping screws, these screw into the bottom part of the air filter box which is also plastic.

But the screws holes are a bit worn, Fords answer was to replace the complete air box assembly <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/omg.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='mg:'> .

My answer, just put slightly bigger screws in job done, and not for the £120 that Ford wanted to replace it</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Did they not tell you before they did all this ? &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

 

[Paul]

The air box I told them to leave and did it myself.

The other stuff I knew most what was needed and they advised me about brake cylinder etc.

I just did not for one minute expect the total bill.

I worked out their labour rate and it is around £60 p/hour <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Shude]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Aletank @ Oct. 16 2002,16:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">for cars after 99, which is mine, Breakdown cover too</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Mobilo or something right? &nbsp;I think that only lasts for 4 years, mine ran out in June this year <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Aletank]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Mobilo or something right? &nbsp;I think that only lasts for 4 years, mine ran out in June this year </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I started a new thread Mobil-Life/Service 24 for this Shude, I wasn't sure if it was goin slightly off topic from the original thread &nbsp; <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[V12]

Yeah, just today my sisters fiesta went in to have the heater repaired...

They found out it was the valve, cost her £94 for parts and fitting, when she could have bought the valve for £6(i think) and had me fit it free, its only a 45min job or so... <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>