Cheaper dealer servicing if in the South

[richard]

Ive just replaced my car, and asked the dealer about service contracts - anyway they told me that if the car is on a finance contract then you can take advantage of a fixed-price servicing contract.

So, I got them to quote for 3 years, 7k miles per annum (i.e 21k over
the life of Service, Maintenace & Tyres, which will just trip the 2nd service, and need at least 1 set of tyres), which comes out at <£50 per month on a SL55 (The SL55 seems to like being serviced at 10k miles exactly)

This is seriously cheaper than paying for 2 services, 1 set of tyres,and any other maintenance item and takes all the uncertainity out service costs.

So, I asked why it was so cheap. The answer is simple - the labour rate used for the calculation is averaged across all UK dealers. As I live in an area with a significantly expensive labour rate (£95/hour now I think), this saves a significant amount of cash- The only thing to note is that if you pay off the finance, then the service contract stops.

I asked about this because my mum just bought a new VW Polo 1.4SE. SMT for that, (at 5k miles per annum ...) will cost her under £13 per month, including the MOT after 3 years.

Richard

 

[RichardM]

One thing I don't like about service contracts is they control what work is done and which parts are fitted, for example what make of tyres are fitted and when. When mine needed changing 3 tyres were down to 2mm but one still had 3mm. They said they would only change 3! I convinced the guy it did really need 4 , but I couldn't choose the make of tyre. It worked out well as they did fit expensive tyres not a cheap brand.

 

[richard]

I'm very friendly with my local dealer, so I'm sure they'll do the right thing - also, I think SL55's are only approved with the Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres (by MB) so hopefully it wont be an issue

Cheers
Richard

 

[palcouk]

Servicing

Personally I combine my service with a 'booze trip' via Eurotunnel and go to the MB main dealer at Bulogne.
Labour £34/hr, cheaper parts
E220CDI, A service approx £100, B service + pads £250
190E, my wifes, major service £250
Thats even cheaper - much - than my local MB specialist.
Rates of course depend on exchange rate.
On my last E300TD, over 3 years, the service contract would have been more expensive than what I actually paid out, serviced in UK.