Car's value For Main Dealer Service History Vs Independent Specialist

[Will]

I initially had a four years / 6 services plan (no longer available) then MB offered me a two years / 2 services plan for £1,000. I had a minor service and a major service done including break oil change and gearbox oil change so the plan was worth it. Now the same plan for the next two services without any extra work does not look attractive. I have never had my brakes pads, discs or tyres changed by the MB, atrocious rates.

If it’s just due a minor A service with little in the way of additional work then probably worth just paying directly for this service if using MB, and revisit your options next time around (menu price/service plan/indi)

Not sure where abouts in London you are located but MB Guildford who are just a short drive down the A3 are competitively priced for older vehicles using their ’Platinum’ program - a vehicle like yours would qualify for 40% off labour and they tend to be cheaper than some of the other main dealers anyway, I have always had good service from them.

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[Teego]

When buying I want to see evidence not stamps. So if the book has stamps I want to see supporting invoices. Without stamps invoices are good. Best would be a box file with every scrap of paper since new. Takes a certain type of owner to do that. I go further and put everything on spreadsheets... yes, that's plural.

 

[markjay]

...Made me wonder how good a service plan really is as you lose the ability to negotiate.

True.

It's amazing value when it covers ATF change, spark plugs change , breaker fluid change, air filter change, etc... no need to haggle then

But it's poor value when it covered just basic services and one break fluid change.

 

[kianok]

True.

It's amazing value when it covers ATF change, spark plugs change , breaker fluid change, air filter change, etc... no need to haggle then

But it's poor value when it covered just basic services and one break fluid change.

The discount I’ve achieved for this service has paid for my ATF change which is due next service.

And so the game goes on.....

 

[Tahushi]

It would also depend on what sort of service items are required, and where you have it serviced. Some main dealers are very competitive on price.

I recently had my 2013 GL serviced and MOT’d at MB for £133 including VAT - (A-service plus cabin filter) and the MOT for £30. I supplied the oil, they supplied the rest. Cant really argue with that and I doubt there would be much room for savings shopping around. My local testing station charges £45 for MOTs alone.

Don’t forget you receive Mobilo cover and breakdown assistance with MB servicing, so you may need to allow for breakdown cover at the very least if you decide to move away from that

Mobilo assistant option is good but there is a catch. Most of the time MB send independent rescue services rather than MB own specialists so they are only good for fixing basic problems or towing your car away. The way Mobilo works, in case of a breakdown, if they can't fix your car, and the car needs to go to the garage to get it fixed, they will only take it to a MB main dealer service centre so if it is out of warranty, you are left with no choice but to cough up huge main dealer repair costs.

 

[Tahushi]

If it’s just due a minor A service with little in the way of additional work then probably worth just paying directly for this service if using MB, and revisit your options next time around (menu price/service plan/indi)

Not sure where abouts in London you are located but MB Guildford who are just a short drive down the A3 are competitively priced for older vehicles using their ’Platinum’ program - a vehicle like yours would qualify for 40% off labour and they tend to be cheaper than some of the other main dealers anyway, I have always had good service from them.

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I am in Twickenham so may be I will check will MB MB guildford when the time comes. I don't mind driving a little further if the saving is decent and if they can do while you wait.

 

[SlimJim]

I'm a bit on the fence with my E63 and main dealer v Indy.
In the past I've always used an indy and been extremely happy with the work carried out by them. But the car in question was a lot older. 15 years old when I finally sold it last year.
Now the 63 is nearly 6 years old and has FMDSH up to now. Next service is a B service in September and I think I may need an ATF change as well (its a 7G+ on 31k miles) so it won't be cheap at the dealers.
I'm edging toward using my indy again with the DSB being updated and supplying the oil. I too will be keeping this one for a few years yet so I doubt much will be made of using an indy v a main dealer by the time it comes to selling on.
I also know the car gets a thorough inspection and any defects pointed out and attended to at the indy. I am well aware too of some main dealers recommendations on changing discs and pads well before time so want to avoid that nonsense.
I've got 4 months to choose anyway.

check that the ATF has not already been changed. My car is 5 year old and is due an ATF change this October. If your car is 6 yr old, it may have been done last year, with a full MBDSH.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Here's a thought: look at the asking prices for nine year old cars like yours in Autotrader ads: similar spec, similar mileage etc etc.

Now see if there's a difference in asking price, or if anyone makes a fuss about main dealer history etc.

Obviously "asking price" isn't "achieved price," so it's only an indicator, but it'll give you an indication of whether the premium of Main Dealer service is worth the extra to you.

I put a high value on regular servicing by either an Indy or a main dealer. I'm amazed how often people who buy cars don't even inspect the history, preferring only to buy on condition, mileage and spec.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

To answer your question - yes, it’ll undoubtedly be worth “more” with full main dealer history - I’d certainly expect circa 10% more - but the cost to payback ratio won’t stack up so well...

 

[markjay]

On the occasion that I Px-ed a car, the dealer had a cursory glance at the service book to see that all the stamps were there, then set it aside with the rest of the car's documents. No questions asked. A private buyer might try and 'leverage' it to reduce the price, but if they wan't the car, they will be bluffing they will buy it regardless.

 

[esscee]

Within warranty then obviously use dealer, but after that tried and trusted "Indy's" ought to be sufficient, as info should be on the MB digital system anyway. If a buyer not happy with that then let him walk away.

 

[markjay]

Within warranty then obviously use dealer, but after that tried and trusted "Indy's" ought to be sufficient, as info should be on the MB digital system anyway. If a buyer not happy with that then let him walk away.

From the legal perspective, your warranty is unaffected even if you don't service the car at a dealer during the first 3 years, as long as the car is serviced by a garage to the manufacturer's schedule and using original service parts (in the US, BTW, use of original service parts is not mandatory, just that they are of good quality and meet the manufacturer's specifications).

That said, I would personally still stick to dealer service during the warranty period, I imagine it will eliminate some possible hurdles in the event of a warranty claim.

 

[Tuercas viejas]

From the legal perspective, your warranty is unaffected even if you don't service the car at a dealer during the first 3 years, as long as the car is serviced by a garage to the manufacturer's schedule and using original service parts (in the US, BTW, use of original service parts is not mandatory, just that they are of good quality and meet the manufacturer's specifications).

That said, I would personally still stick to dealer service during the warranty period, I imagine it will eliminate some possible hurdles in the event of a warranty claim.

Its all covered by the Moss Magnusson acts in the US
Tuercas viejas

 

[Denis O]

I would be more likely to buy a car with an indy history. At least then you know that servicing has been done properly by a mechanic that knows what they're doing, not an apprentice who's never had to fix a problem, just replace a part.

As for the value, I just traded in a Smart for 2 which I had serviced for the last 6 years. I had saved all the invoices and the dealer who took it in part x was quite happy it had full service history.

 

[ToeKnee]

I wonder how much truth there is to the comments re main dealers only having apprentices do servicing work?

 

[Tuercas viejas]

On this side dealers employ what are called Lube Techs.
This is an entry level job into the industry. It attracts just above minimal wage levels because its regarded as a low skill job & a shop loss leader. .
On this side again, an apprentice who has done several years of private for profit based tech college tuition costing him a minimum of $35,000, is best employed in the repair stalls not draining oils and changing filters etc..
As an apprentice in the 1960's in Gloucester, all dealer service work was done by apprentices. When expediently convenient for customer narratives we were mentioned as "fitters'!
An old English term for those engaged in machine shop activities, that in "zee aulden days" was part of an auto apprentices' training but really nothing to do with basic service work.
Tuercas viejas

 

[Tuercas viejas]

I would be more likely to buy a car with an indy history. At least then you know that servicing has been done properly by a mechanic that knows what they're doing, not an apprentice who's never had to fix a problem, just replace a part.

As for the value, I just traded in a Smart for 2 which I had serviced for the last 6 years. I had saved all the invoices and the dealer who took it in part x was quite happy it had full service history.

A good post this, as a reference to a good independent doing dealer level service work is equal if not better .
.Just out of interest:- what is the intrinsic interest in using a franchise dealer for basic service work when its outside of dealer capture?
I am exploring (prompted by forum posts) why it seems Brits prefer franchise dealer services when a large majority of Americans "go" good Independent once the warranty term has expired or even immediately after purchase/acquisition.
Tuercas viejas

 

[ToeKnee]

For me it was cost. I had two big services coming up with an A in-between. The price difference between indy and dealer service plan was only £110 over the three years, add mobillo and it was a no brainer.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I wonder how much truth there is to the comments re main dealers only having apprentices do servicing work?

Having an apprentice doing the servicing may not be such a bad thing because they’ll be taking their time to do it by the book. A different manufacturer and a very different decade but my experience tells a tale.

Around 30 years ago I had a BMW 520i that I put in to West London’s leading dealership for a service just before driving to Austria for a holiday with the family. on the way down we were happily cruising along an Autobahn at around 120 mph when my young son commented about a strange noise from the back. I slowed down the pulled off at the first opportunity to check. It took me a while to eventually discover what appeared to me to be the fuel filter mounted the wrong way round. Not being able to hear any noises at below 100 we continued with our holiday at a more sedate pace.

The day after returning home I took the car back to the BMW dealership and asked them to check the fuel filter, which had a large embossed arrow pointing in the direction of the petrol tank. I hadn’t Eve finished my coffee when the service manager came over and told me that everything was fine. He said that the filter was actually the right way round. After pushing him to explain to me what the arrow was for, all he could say was that the workshop foreman had checked the car and assured him that it was right.

I refused to accept this and eventually managed to persuade them to put the car back up on the ramp so we could look at it together. Standing under the car with the service manager and foreman I was starting to get a bit agitated when they both insisted that the filter was the correct way round, saying that there was no way that they’d make a mistake. The foreman insisted that the raised lip on the filter was the input side.

Then a young lad (who I later learnt was an apprentice) having heard our “discussion” came over and bravely said that the filter that they had fitted to my car was a new design that included an arrow to show the direction of the fuel flow. After much sputtering about how the raised lip had always been the indicator for orientation of the filter, they eventually agreed to refit it the right way around. I do hope the apprentice didn’t get into trouble for interfering.

The incorrectly fitted filter probably affected the car’s performance and I was concerned that the high speed drive under these conditions might have put undue strain on the fuel pump. The people who didn’t know which way round to install the filter assured me that it wouldn’t be a problem, but they refused to put any sort of guarantee in writing. I never used them again.

The thing is that had the apprentice serviced my car, the chances are that there wouldn’t have been any issues. It was the misplaced familiarity of an experienced technician that resulted in what could well have turned out to be an expensive mistake. I wonder how many other ’experts’ miss things out or get things wrong because their familiarity with the process leads them to believe they can do it without having to concentrate too much or look at the instructions.

 

[Harrythedog]

A full MB service history will be a good selling point, unfortunately it’ll be for the next vendor not for you