Big service. Big Price

[jonnyc]

It's time for a 159000 mile service on my E300TD 1999.
There is a full MB service history so far, but I think this service along with other scheduled maintenance tasks will have me heading off to an independent garage due to the quoted cost.

The service indicator shows one spanner which should be an "A" service, but my dealer says from the car's service history it needs a "B" service.
Also needed due to the mileage is a change of coolant, air filter and brake fluid.

Cost is approx £500.

I fancy using an indie service garage, so does anyone have a Service report/checklist detailing all tasks performed by MB on a "B" service? I'm sure I've seen one here on this forum as a download, it looked like an MOT document.

Thanks

Jonny

 

[BlackC55]

All of the tasks performed are in the service book. Just have a look ato see what you really need.

 

[BlackC55]

Where in Hampshire are you?

 

[BTB 500]

Get quotes from a couple of main dealers. Many offer sizeable discounts on older cars, which can make them cheaper than an indi! For example Tony Purslow in Basingstoke will give you 40% off labour plus 10% off parts (car over 6 years old).

Keeping the full MBSH may be a good thing if your car develops rust problems.

 

[vijilants]

Forget about the rust warantee.....it is only valid for 8 years now. If your car is below 8 years, go around it very carefully and get the work done using the warantee.

Regarding the B service, the work done is minimal.

They replace engine oil, filter, change pollen filter, windscreen wiper blade. They then check brakes etc but anything other than oil, filter, windscreen wiper and pollen filter is extra.

To be honest, its a real rip off......if you are out of the bodywork warantee, take it to a good independant.....you will get much better value for your money and a more personal service

 

[SG CL500]

I *thought* the rust warantee depended on what was provided when the car was first sold - i.e. doesn't get changed on the whims of MB central.

I know the Mobiliolife cover follows this rule.

 

[BTB 500]

I *thought* the rust warantee depended on what was provided when the car was first sold - i.e. doesn't get changed on the whims of MB central.

I'm sure that's right.

With a FMBSH '99 car I would be very careful about taking routine servicing outside the dealer network.

 

[Glenn Smith]

I'm sure that's right.

With a FMBSH '99 car I would be very careful about taking routine servicing outside the dealer network.

Beyond six years you may have problems with the corrosion warranty, just to be extra sure make sure you have a dealer service minimum every two years and you should still get your 30yr warranty, note on newer cars the corrosion warranty as such does not exist and is part of what they term a care package which is renewed (free of charge) for two years when you have a dealer service, this exempts it from the block exemption rules, cars over six years old are also exempt from this, although i did get my c230 repaired free of charge at 6.5yrs old, last MB service was at 3yrs old the rest done by me and stamped by me so its always worth a try.

 

[fuzzer]

It's time for a 159000 mile service on my E300TD 1999.
There is a full MB service history so far, but I think this service along with other scheduled maintenance tasks will have me heading off to an independent garage due to the quoted cost.

The service indicator shows one spanner which should be an "A" service, but my dealer says from the car's service history it needs a "B" service.
Also needed due to the mileage is a change of coolant, air filter and brake fluid.

Cost is approx £500.

I fancy using an indie service garage, so does anyone have a Service report/checklist detailing all tasks performed by MB on a "B" service? I'm sure I've seen one here on this forum as a download, it looked like an MOT document.

Thanks

Jonny

Hardly a big price , i was expecting into the thousands with the thread title. Seems perfectly normal for the car.

 

[Shude]

Hardly a big price , i was expecting into the thousands with the thread title. Seems perfectly normal for the car.

Seems cheap compared to the £1002 I handed over for a service plus all the extras in early 2005.

 

[Pietre]

Mine is a 99 reg and i have full MBSH with 164000miles. just had 2 new wings fitted a few months ago, so mine is now 8 years old and I have been told nothing of any changes.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Mine hasn't seen a dealer for 25,000 miles, it now has 187,000 on the clock.

£500 is a joke really. The car isn't worth enough to justify it.

I'd take it to a local mechanic you can trust and get everything done there instead. The main thing is that you use the correct oil, and also use MB coolant.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tom.jeffs4/car stuff/merc tech/Assyst/

 

[vijilants]

Ive just been through all of this with Mercedes. Mine is a Jan 1999 w202 with FSH. I had a major fight with mercedes to get the car repaired via warantee for rust and it went to the very top of mercedes UK.

Anyway, because I caused a big stink, as a matter of goodwill they decided to repair it, but the warantee is definitely 8 years now. Had this confirmed last week when the car came back and I was told that the repairs were a goodwill gesture. This was from MBUK in Milton Keynes and it was their head of bodywork that dealt with my case as my useless local dealer refused to deal with it because of the age of the car.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

My understanding was that all the bodywork repairs were considered goodwill - not just those that are for cars close to an age threshold, or having escalated it to the top.

Something to do with Mobilo not actually being a warranty or guarantee IIRC.

 

[jonnyc]

My friendly local dealer checked my service history, then checked with MB in Germany for the warranty claim. Some of the rust area was repainted, but any previous paintwork wasn't covered, ie accident repairs. The paint depth monitor was run over the whole body.

 

[glojo]

but the warantee is definitely 8 years now. Had this confirmed last week when the car came back and I was told that the repairs were a goodwill gesture. This was from MBUK in Milton Keynes and it was their head of bodywork that dealt with my case as my useless local dealer refused to deal with it because of the age of the car.

Someone is telling porkies

Quote:
MobiloLife offers free repair by a Mercedes-Benz Authorised Repairer in the event of the bodywork perforating due to corrosion from the inside out.

Up to 30 years´ cover.

Could you please post the link or correspondence that differs from the current latest information please.

I think most repairs we read about are all good will gestures and we have read a number of posts where owners have no service history and are fortunate enough to get goodwill repairs plus we read posts of members that have a full service history (note the wording) and sometimes they either do not get a repair, they have to pay a percentage, or it's a goodwill repair.

I thought the dealer was just the go between. We report the defect to the dealer, the dealer reports the defect to Mercedes-Benz and then Mercedes-Benz authorise the repair? Are you saying the dealer refused the repair without contacting Mercedes-Benz?

Regards
John the curious

 

[jaymanek]

Also most dealers say you have to have owned the car for 6 months in order to be able to claim!

 

[merc180k]

This is something that I still don't get. How can they repair for some and not others? Should there not be a blanket policy so that Mr Mercedes Owner knows where he stands when he buys a new car?

I'm lost - have a full MB service historyand last service was done at 59k, due another in c.8k and I'm thinking a local garage would take better care. If car rusts after 5 years, so be it and I'll buy a new one. Am I being somewhat naive?

 

[uumode]

The MB cost includes Free MOT (which you need to pay anyway worth about £50) and free breakdown cover worth about £50+

so if you use breakdown cover, that is roughly a £100 saving.

(with 40% off labour and 10% off parts for the older Mercedes).

- free aircon recharge of coolant. free anti-bacterial decontamination, and free air con performance check, free car wash, and free mints

from Tony Purslow under the Platinum Plus scheme for older cars.

Just today I had my free MOT, with free wash and vacuum, I even think they waxed the car as well (some residue of wax... or was that me from last time ).

Fantastic service, and relatively competitive prices compared to a good specialist Indie - perhaps even slightly cheaper if you factor the above in.

Otherwise bargain basement Kwikfit type places is at the other end of the spectrum providing you keep your eyes on them. Not sure if they could manage a Mercedes spark plug change though if it takes as long as Mercedes say it does.

 

[uumode]

This is something that I still don't get. How can they repair for some and not others? Should there not be a blanket policy so that Mr Mercedes Owner knows where he stands when he buys a new car?

I'm lost - have a full MB service historyand last service was done at 59k, due another in c.8k and I'm thinking a local garage would take better care. If car rusts after 5 years, so be it and I'll buy a new one. Am I being somewhat naive?

Some Mercedes rust faster and more extensively than you might think, like 4 doors, 4 arches, bonnet and two front wings in 4 years from new.

But yes, it depends on how long you keep the car, for the change car every 3 years folks, it doesn't really matter.