B-service

[dokalj]

How much would one typically cost from an Indie?

What else is involved that is major..apart from the oil and filter?

Jdokal

 

[ingin]

In Aus, a B service is about GBP 380 and it includes quite a great deal of work. I do not defend the price but I would suggest several hours of work required. If you have a good, honest independant then I am sure they will do the right thing if they want to stay in business.
Look at your service bbok, it details all that is performed on both A and B services. Really it comes down to you. I don't really think the MB dealers are that much more expensive and you at least do have some recourse.

Regards

 

[jaymanek]

We charge £240 + vat for a B service..

 

[npuk]

Mercedes-Benz ESS

 

[BlackC55]

I charge £265 inc vat for a B

 

[dokalj]

For a ML270 CDI? £265?

 

[ernie]

B Service Costs

You could probably 'negotiate' a B Service for about £300 if you dig in your heels at a main dealership outside the Central London area. Worth trying....they can only refuse!

Ernie

 

[w124coupe]

You could probably 'negotiate' a B Service for about £300 if you dig in your heels at a main dealership outside the Central London area. Worth trying....they can only refuse!

Ernie

just done exactly that - £284 inc brake fluid swap (its an SBC E class CDI).

 

[dokalj]

just done exactly that - £284 inc brake fluid swap (its an SBC E class CDI).

Hi W124coupe,

Which dealership was this?

Jdokal

 

[dokalj]

Thanks Ernie

 

[dokalj]

MB Watford will do a B - Service for £399 fixed price. Although they say I need my coolant changing, another £145.

Jdokal

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The last time our ML270 CDi was serviced we had a service contract on the car and so it was all done money no object - suspension dampers, ball joints, and everything due on the service schedule. It will be due again shortly and so I'll be getting prices soon.

Definitely shop around - even between MB dealers. Give the mileage to your dealer and ask that they tell you which additional items will be required, and ask for a breakdown for the service itself, and then each additional item separately.

Additional items are the mileage related stuff like spark plugs (not on a diesel though ), brake fluid change, transmission fluid change, etc.

I did it for my C32 in the Summer of 2009 and found this variety - all are MB main dealers:

Most expensive (an MBUK owned MB main dealer): £980
B-Service: £495
Fuel & air filters: £310
Brake fluid: £175

My usual (franchised MB main dealer): £459
B-Service: £280
Fuel & air filters: £127
Brake fluid: £52

Other (franchised MB main dealer from a different group): £445
B-Service: £275
Fuel & air filters: £125
Brake fluid: £45

I ended up using my usual franchised MB main dealer. Actual final price was £379 for B-Service, all filters including fuel filters, brake fluid change, ATF level check, STAR scan, valet (a good job too), and a thorough shakedown.

I supplied the oil which cost £43 for 8 litres, which is about half the cost of buying the oil from the main dealer. If I'd not needed the additional items - only the B-Service - and supplied my own oil then it would have cost £199, plus the £43 for oil from CostCo.

Remember that includes the magic and mandatory AMG mark-up: call and ask for a price on a C-Class and they give you one price, but once they twig that it's an AMG the price goes up!! Never understood that as the service is surely the same!!

They spotted that the pilot bushing looks like there's some weaping and so it went back the following week to be replaced under parts warranty.

No nasty surprises, and service book stamped. Very please with the service and price.

The two dealers closest to home - one MB Retail one MB Franchise - both refused to budge on price, weren't helpful when I called and quoted more than double than I actually paid.

Should make a mental note to call dealers tomorrow...

 

[dokalj]

The last time our ML270 CDi was serviced we had a service contract on the car and so it was all done money no object - suspension dampers, ball joints, and everything due on the service schedule. It will be due again shortly and so I'll be getting prices soon.

Definitely shop around - even between MB dealers. Give the mileage to your dealer and ask that they tell you which additional items will be required, and ask for a breakdown for the service itself, and then each additional item separately.

Additional items are the mileage related stuff like spark plugs (not on a diesel though ), brake fluid change, transmission fluid change, etc.

I did it for my C32 in the Summer of 2009 and found this variety - all are MB main dealers:

Most expensive (an MBUK owned MB main dealer): £980
B-Service: £495
Fuel & air filters: £310
Brake fluid: £175

My usual (franchised MB main dealer): £459
B-Service: £280
Fuel & air filters: £127
Brake fluid: £52

Other (franchised MB main dealer from a different group): £445
B-Service: £275
Fuel & air filters: £125
Brake fluid: £45

I ended up using my usual franchised MB main dealer. Actual final price was £379 for B-Service, all filters including fuel filters, brake fluid change, ATF level check, STAR scan, valet (a good job too), and a thorough shakedown.

I supplied the oil which cost £43 for 8 litres, which is about half the cost of buying the oil from the main dealer. If I'd not needed the additional items - only the B-Service - and supplied my own oil then it would have cost £199, plus the £43 for oil from CostCo.

Remember that includes the magic and mandatory AMG mark-up: call and ask for a price on a C-Class and they give you one price, but once they twig that it's an AMG the price goes up!! Never understood that as the service is surely the same!!

They spotted that the pilot bushing looks like there's some weaping and so it went back the following week to be replaced under parts warranty.

No nasty surprises, and service book stamped. Very please with the service and price.

The two dealers closest to home - one MB Retail one MB Franchise - both refused to budge on price, weren't helpful when I called and quoted more than double than I actually paid.

Should make a mental note to call dealers tomorrow...

Hi Bobby Dazzler,

Thanks I see you have taken a considerable amount of time to reply to my thread.

Appreciated!!

Do you know if there are any service plans I can take out? Also though if I tried going in for a service would MB refuse the ball joint work as it has already been stated?

Jdokal

 

[trainer]

I had a quote from a main dealer for £369 inc vat for oil + filter change, replacement air filter, checking tyre pressures, tread depth and break wear. My regular indie will do the lot for £243 inc vat and change the gearbox oil at the same time.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Hi Bobby Dazzler,

Thanks I see you have taken a considerable amount of time to reply to my thread.

Appreciated!!

Do you know if there are any service plans I can take out? Also though if I tried going in for a service would MB refuse the ball joint work as it has already been stated?

Jdokal

No problem.

The service plan I had on our ML - Service Plus - has been discontinued by Mercedes now. It cost them too much as it covered wear and tear on pretty much everything too. I believe there is a product for new cars, but I don't think it would cover the W163 ML now.

To be fair servicing isn't so bad as there's plenty of room to do a deal and shop around. Repairs are more costly though as you're finding out with the ball joints. That was covered by Service Plus as I had them replaced. IIRC at undiscounted retail prices the last service was about £5k worth - ball joints, suspension struts, etc.

 

[dokalj]

No problem.

The service plan I had on our ML - Service Plus - has been discontinued by Mercedes now. It cost them too much as it covered wear and tear on pretty much everything too. I believe there is a product for new cars, but I don't think it would cover the W163 ML now.

To be fair servicing isn't so bad as there's plenty of room to do a deal and shop around. Repairs are more costly though as you're finding out with the ball joints. That was covered by Service Plus as I had them replaced. IIRC at undiscounted retail prices the last service was about £5k worth - ball joints, suspension struts, etc.

Ouch 5K!! I am really getting worried now about my ML. Well my car is booked in at Wayne Gates this Saturday for the gearbox service and new rear pads. He's charging me £260, however I am scared that once he starts taken the gearbox apart something else breaks. e.g. when he takes the electric plug out of the circuit board it could snap, so I would need to buy another circuit board; he says.

Anyone know of an Indie near Watford, Ruislip, Southall, Harrow? That a lot of people go to?

Well Bobby Dazzler, I went in with 2 of my undertray's off and came out with the gearbox problem. As you probaly know one of the undertrays cover the gearbox from underneath. So if that wasn't missing we wouldn't have seen the gearbox leaking oil.

What could happen if my gearbox is left as it is, what sort of things should I notice about the gearbox when I drive it? When I saw the electric plug it was covered in OIL!

Jdokal

 

[w124coupe]

Hi W124coupe,

Which dealership was this?

Jdokal

Worcester

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The electrical connectors seap oil (on all models with the same transmission, not just ML) and replacing them will only cure for a short time.

In fact I had a new one on my C-Class in Summer 2008, and it was replaced in Summer 2009. IIRC it's only about a tenner for the part, but of course fitting and ATF top up will add to the cost.

Leaking is different though!! If you can see drips on the floor then that's more than the usual electrical connector fault. If it's just dampness around the connector then it's not something you need fix in an emergency, but best get it done when you can.

What are you getting for your money on the gearbox service? I suspect a fluid change?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

PS Don't let the ML bill being circa £5k scare you. Cars on MB Service Plus get anything and everything done if the dealer can get authorisation for it.

The only thing that probably had to be done was a broken spring (which comes with a damper when replaced), and even then I hadn't noticed - flagged at the MOT.

 

[AndyPCD]

I have heard mixed things about wayne gates some good some bad.

I have done some rectification work on cars after they have been to wayne gates.

But have spoken to other people who have been there and are happy with the service they got there