C200 Servicing

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Bladerunner

New Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2003
Messages
6
Location
Tamworth,Staffs
Car
C200
I am a first time Mercedes owner (1998,C200,auto,59,000 miles) and my service symbol has just showed its ugly face. I have read several comments about silly prices charged by M-B dealerships. I can't make my mind up whether to book it in to a pukka Mercedes dealer, a local independant Merc specialist (Prestige Cars,Tamworth), or get a Haynes manual and do it myself ! I am also new to this forum, and wondered what views other owners had.:confused:
 
Hi Bladerunner,

Welcome to the forum :)

Do you know if you are due an A (small) or B (large) service? Your service book should give an indication of what is required. I would take it to the dealer and ask them to quote you for a service and what other maintenance actions they recommend how much the total bill is likely to be. Then take it to your fave independent for a comparison.

My last A service from a dealership came in at £135. Whereas my last service, which was a B, totalled £950 :crazy:

S.
 
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Originally posted by Steve_Perry
I would take it to the dealer and ask them to quote you for a service and what other maintenance actions they recommend how much the total bill is likely to be.
The stealership computer is able to work out from the age, mileage and what maintenance is recorded in the book what parts of the car require servicing.

I had my car in for a B service at the stealership once and I got a phone call from the servicing guy to tell me that I needed to have some brake pads changed. I asked how much it would cost and I was told the price. I said it was a shame that they had already quoted me a lot of money for the service anyway (like over £500 IIRC!) and he said he would see what he could do. The bill came in at exactly what they had originally quoted, the parts had ALL been given a discount of up to 30% in some cases to pull the total down to the original quote! :D

You don't get the same prices and the same services from every stealership, it is best to find out where other forum members in your area recommend. Do I see that you're in Tamworth? You definitely ought to try Mercedes-Benz Tamworth (used to be called "Monarch" AFAIK). I have heard good things about them and have had good customer service from them in the past (although I've never been there ;) ).

A member called Jaymanek may have more information about them :) .
 
Hi Steve,

It looks like my last service was an "A", bad news considering how you were stung for! Guess I will do as you suggest, and get some quotes. Does a "B" service always follow an "A", or is it mileage dependant ? I have only done 7,000 miles since last service (when I bought the car), my service light is indicating days left, not miles.
Cheers for the reply.:)
 
Blade,

As Shude has said the dealer will be able to determine which service is required from your car's history, or what the ECU tells the diagnostic computer. Services don't necessarily alternate between A's and B's.

S.
 
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Originally posted by Steve_Perry
As Shude has said the dealer will plug your car into their diagnostic computer and then determine which service is required. Services don't necessarily alternate between A's and B's.
Steve, the computer I was referring to was a dumb-terminal behind the servicing counter, nothing quite as high-tech as the diagnostic computer ;) they just put the VIN in and looked at the service book for what had been done previously. It produced a schedule with prices against it and that's what they used as a quote.
 
Thanks guys, I will take my car along for a quote or two. I live about a mile away from Monarch, Tamworth, so I guess I should try them.
I've heard Andy Gale near B'ham is a pretty good "independant" ?
 
Originally posted by Shude
Steve, the computer I was referring to was a dumb-terminal behind the servicing counter, nothing quite as high-tech as the diagnostic computer ;) they just put the VIN in and looked at the service book for what had been done previously. It produced a schedule with prices against it and that's what they used as a quote.
Nick, That's why I edited my post :p but it seems I still wasn't quick enough :D

S.
 
Originally posted by Steve_Perry
Nick, That's why I edited my post :p but it seems I still wasn't quick enough :D
So what, do you want me to edit the quote I put in my reply or what? :p ;)
 
Originally posted by Shude
So what, do you want me to edit the quote I put in my reply or what? :p ;)
Umm nope, no edits needed :)

Blade,

Andy has a very good reputation, you can try a search on this forum for 'Andy Gayle'. He is also a regular poster to another UK based MB forum.

S.
 
Whereas my last service, which was a B, totalled £950


Wow thats a lot of money for a service, my last one cost me £60 including Mobile 1, DIY is the way to go :D Buy a good workshop manual & do it yourself. Then you know it's been done right & you've not been ripped off. Invest in the best tools ie Snap-On & you'll not go far wrong.
 
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Monarch are excellent, i started using them after i decided Gerard Mann of Coventry were rubbish.

Just emphasise that they must ring you if anything extra is needed like pads etc just so you dont get a huge shock when they give you the bill.

I would recommend Monarchs to anyone.... especially the parts dept.
 
I tend to agree with Glideman but for one exception, the all important stamp in the book. Ok, for me, with a fairly dated car, I do all my own (even done a head swap and a steering box swap in the front drive much to the ammusment of the neighbours) and to be honest get a kick out of the end result, knowing that if the book says plugs at 0.8mm the plugs get set at that etc etc.
 
Thing is about the stamp in the book thing, how much are you going to lose in the time you have the car by not having a full service history? At £950 per service you'll still be quids in.

A common thing for garages to do is tell you that you only have 3,000 miles left on your brake pads, how do they know that? I'm very light on my brakes & may get another 12-2 years from the pads. They know all the tricks for getting money from your wallet, if your happy with that go for it ;)

Agree with what you say Ian, the big grin on yer face when you drive the car after doing your own work is priceless. After all it's hardly rocket science.

Anyone can do it.
 
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Originally posted by Glideman
Thing is about the stamp in the book thing, how much are you going to lose in the time you have the car by not having a full service history? At £950 per service you'll still be quids in.
No-one pays £950 for every service, not even Steve. He paid £950 because he had a LOT of work done. The actual service cost him about £350, the extra £600 was for other parts and labour. The B service is the major-mechanical service and is about twice the price of the A service which is just lubrication.

Just imagine that a service from a stealership costs about twice what it would cost to have it done by an independent or whoever. Some people won't even consider buying a second-hand mercedes if it doesn't have a full stealership service history, you're not talking about depreciation then, you're talking about your car having no value at all.
Originally posted by Glideman
Anyone can do it.
Here are my issues with that. I am mechanically inept! When I take my car to the stealership I know it stands a good chance of me being able to drive it at the end of the day - that's not neccessarily true if I service it myself! I would have to buy all the tools, I don't have a garage so do I service the car on the road? Do I have to buy ramps and things as well? When am I supposed to do this? How long does servicing the car myself take? Where do I get a star diagnostic computer (which is probably used every time a modern car is serviced).

In the end I would much rather pay someone else to do it. When it comes to things like brakes etc I want qualified people to check them, not me :) . Servicing the car yourself is fine if you are happy with your own competency or you have a second car you can use :)
 
I agree with Shude & GDC...

My A service as I stated earlier in the thread was approx £135. The £950 biggie covered alot of extra maintenance tasks and parts on top of the standard B service schedule.

Whilst I know how my car/engine works, even to the details of what type and how many spark plugs my engine has, this doesn't mean I would be competent at changing them (I used to on my old Peugeot). Like Shude, I also don't feel I have the facilities or tools at home that would enable me, or anyone else to carry out a service on my car.

My plan was, and currently is to have a bare service at the stealership to maintain the full dealer service history and any other tasks that are required can be carried out by an independent that I trust. My plans didn't quite work out at the last service so I decided to get all the work done by the dealership and yes I ended up paying for that. Who knows? as the car gets older and dealer stamps mean less and less I might switch tack and get all service work performed by an independent specialist.

I was kinda reluctant to post at length in this thread when my views have pretty much been aired to death in my 'robbed at the dealer thread'.

S.
 
I am always amazed by people who comment, (complain), about sevicing costs for their MB.

Don't these people check these issues before they purchase, or do they ignore the matter because logic will dictate that they cannot afford what they buy.

MB produce excellent vehicles that will last forever IF they are looked after. No one should consider buying a used MB without all the right stamps, the consequences are unthinkable.

For those who wish to comment (complain) about the costs should consider getting a **RD, V***hall or other average vehicle.
I'll stay with MB as long as I can afford it.

;-)
 
Originally posted by Steveatki


No one should consider buying a used MB without all the right stamps, the consequences are unthinkable.



A bit harsh I would have thought. Depends if you think the dealers are value for money or not.

The money is not my complaint, just the service I get for that money. Some charges just cannot be justified.
 
Originally posted by Steveatki

MB produce excellent vehicles that will last forever IF they are looked after. No one should consider buying a used MB without all the right stamps, the consequences are unthinkable.

;-)


Are these the same Muppets that keep filling our two cars up with too much oil and saying , its ok , just drive on home and we will send someone out first thing in the morning .Causing a Mobilo Life callout ? Causing wasted time , Not really giving a stuff about their customers as long as the car is out within their 1.345345564 hour time allocation.

If they spent as much time looking after the car as they do searching high and low for extra work i.e. youve only got 8mm of tread left on your tyres .. :p

The only reason our cars get done at a dealer is to keep the warranty and Mobilo life cover. Thats the be all and end all of it for everyone im sure you will find.
 
Originally posted by GrahamC230K
The money is not my complaint, just the service I get for that money. Some charges just cannot be justified.
Exactly on the button G.!!

Anyone remember the £70 MAS as fitted to commercial vehicles that usually sells for £250+ on passenger models? Just one example from many and it's not only MB that have extortionate labour rates.

Don't get me wrong Steveatki, as long as I can afford to stick with MB then I will too as I am a very big fan. However, if I think dealers are taking the pi$$ when it comes to charging for services rendered then I will voice my dissatisfaction. I've also known about MB service costs long before I entered into MB ownership. Your comments remind me of a recent trip to the dealership though ;)

S.
 
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