CLA220d service cost

[cjm68]

Hi everyone,

My first post, hoping someone can offer a little advice.

I bought a 2021 CLA220d from a MB dealer in March - it had 42000 miles when I got it and has 44500 now.

It has a service due next Feb, which (according to the Mercedes App I have) is an interim service. When I get a quote for this online via MB, the service A cost is quoted at £649. Is this reasonable?!

A service plan quote is £960 for 2 services and 2 MoTs....so considerably cheaper.

I have read that this includes breakdown cover, but this still seems a lot given that it's just an oil/filter change plus checks.

Maybe I have underestimated the costs of owning a Merc!

Thanks for any advice.

 

[st13phil]

There is a comprehensive ServiceCare FAQ at the top of the section in which you’ve posted this question, which will answer your questions regarding what it does and doesn’t offer.

As a general rule, PAYG servicing at a Main Dealer is more expensive than taking out a ServiceCare plan. I'm sure you can work out why that is.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!

 

[cjm68]

There is a comprehensive ServiceCare FAQ at the top of the section in which you’ve posted this question, which will answer your questions regarding what it does and doesn’t offer.

As a general rule, PAYG servicing at a Main Dealer is more expensive than taking out a ServiceCare plan. I'm sure you can work out why that is.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!

Ahhh OK, many thanks - I'll try to find the FAQ. I did read a few posts where owners discussed costs, but I didn't think any of them were as high as £650 for a service A. Thanks.

 

[st13phil]

Labour rates at Main Dealers have always been high, but seem to have increased significantly over the last couple of years. My suspicion is that the price you’ve been quoted is not just for a basic A Service, but includes additional time or mileage based items.

 

[DSM10000]

It's only "reasonable" if you think it is.

Is there a reason you wish to use Mercedes for servicing?

 

[cjm68]

It's only "reasonable" if you think it is.

Is there a reason you wish to use Mercedes for servicing?

Well, not specifically, no.

Before this I had an old Peugeot diesel, so when I got the Merc I thought I'd better take it to a main dealer because it's still only 3.5 years old.

Maybe I'll look for an independent instead. I knew it would cost a bit but £700 for a service A and MoT sounded a bit high. Which is why I asked others if they thought it was reasonable. To me, it's high.

I'll keep digging, thanks.

 

[ALFAitalia]

When I see some of the service prices bandied about on this site it just makes me even happier that I do all my own work. No offence to the OP... but its just a four pot derv... one of the simplest cars to service... not so much as a spark plug to change! How they can justify £600 plus to service one I don't know. If I could not do the work myself I would definitely be finding a good indie to do it for me.... but even those are no longer as cheap as they were compared to main dealer... but still better values with often better attention to detail. The local ALFA one that friends use has a fantastic rep....The thousands I've saved diy-ing have far outweighed any possible loss from the car not having a mdsh when I sell...especially as I keep records and bills for everything that I buy for or do to the car.
Lord knows how much a main dealer would have charged me to replace my recent blown turbo on my V6.....rather more than the £300 ish that it cost me... including gaskets and oil I suspect!

 

[DSM10000]

When I thought the Turbo needed replacing my Independent was quoting around £3000 to supply and fit.

 

[DSM10000]

Well, not specifically, no.

Before this I had an old Peugeot diesel, so when I got the Merc I thought I'd better take it to a main dealer because it's still only 3.5 years old.

Maybe I'll look for an independent instead. I knew it would cost a bit but £700 for a service A and MoT sounded a bit high. Which is why I asked others if they thought it was reasonable. To me, it's high.

I'll keep digging, thanks.

Is the car under any warranty?

 

[cjm68]

Is the car under any warranty?

I think it came with a years free warranty when I bought it, so that would expire in March next year. Not too sure I'll extend it though - I don't really do many miles these days.

Although......

I do get a lot of 12v battery warnings, and the stop/start never works (even though it's still reasonably new) so maybe I can claim for a new battery. Not sure. Again, I'll check.

 

[ALFAitalia]

When I thought the Turbo needed replacing my Independent was quoting around £3000 to supply and fit.

Ouch....

 

[DSM10000]

I think it came with a years free warranty when I bought it, so that would expire in March next year. Not too sure I'll extend it though - I don't really do many miles these days.

Although......

I do get a lot of 12v battery warnings, and the stop/start never works (even though it's still reasonably new) so maybe I can claim for a new battery. Not sure. Again, I'll check.

The stop /start issue is almost certainly a battery but they are generally wear and tear items and often excluded from warranty claims.

You really need to get those warnings checked, in the unlikely event it is the alternator that would be a significant cost, plus, if left, you may be stranded with a failed battery.

 

[markjay]

Hi everyone,

My first post, hoping someone can offer a little advice.

I bought a 2021 CLA220d from a MB dealer in March - it had 42000 miles when I got it and has 44500 now.

It has a service due next Feb, which (according to the Mercedes App I have) is an interim service. When I get a quote for this online via MB, the service A cost is quoted at £649. Is this reasonable?!

A service plan quote is £960 for 2 services and 2 MoTs....so considerably cheaper.

I have read that this includes breakdown cover, but this still seems a lot given that it's just an oil/filter change plus checks.

Maybe I have underestimated the costs of owning a Merc!

Thanks for any advice.

Welcome.

To clarify:

Mercedes Benz services alternate between Service A (minor) and service B (major). The difference is that more things are being checked during Service B than Service A.

An Interim Service is an additional engine oil and filter change, with no checks, typically done at the 6 months point. This is recommended for vehicles operating in unfavourable conditions, e.g. being driven in town around the clock with frequent stops, police patrol cars, post delivery vehicles, etc.

The point is that Service A isn't an Interim Service, instead it's a scheduled minor service.

 

[markjay]

Also, I am not familiar with the specific service intervals for the CLA, but as the next service will be a year 4 service, your car will likely also need to have the brake fluid, fuel filter, and air filter replaced, all of which are charged on top of the base cost of Service A or B. If the above all need doing, then £649 from a dealer isn't unreasonable (though you may, of course, prefer to take the car to an independent specialist, who will do it for less).

 

[cjm68]

The stop /start issue is almost certainly a battery but they are generally wear and tear items and often excluded from warranty claims.

You really need to get those warnings checked, in the unlikely event it is the alternator that would be a significant cost, plus, if left, you may be stranded with a failed battery.

I'll get it checked at the service - had hoped it highly unlikely an alternator issue but you never know!

 

[cjm68]

Welcome.

To clarify:

Mercedes Benz services alternate between Service A (minor) and service B (major). The difference is that more things are being checked during Service B than Service A.

An Interim Service is an additional engine oil and filter change, with no checks, typically done at the 6 months point. This is recommended for vehicles operating in unfavourable conditions, e.g. being driven in town around the clock with frequent stops, police patrol cars, post delivery vehicles, etc.

The point is that Service A isn't an Interim Service, instead it's a scheduled minor service.

Thanks - my app says it is a "maintenance service" - so if this isn't even a 'service A' I am not paying £650! I'll call them to ask.

 

[cjm68]

Also, I am not familiar with the specific service intervals for the CLA, but as the next service will be a year 4 service, your car will likely also need to have the brake fluid, fuel filter, and air filter replaced, all of which are charged on top of the base cost of Service A or B. If the above all need doing, then £649 from a dealer isn't unreasonable (though you may, of course, prefer to take the car to an independent specialist, who will do it for less).

Thanks for the info - I will call them tomorrow to check.

 

[markjay]

Thanks - my app says it is a "maintenance service" - so if this isn't even a 'service A' I am not paying £650! I'll call them to ask.

a. Do you have a printed copy of the Digital Service Book (DSB)? Did you get one from the seller when buying the car?

b. The car will tell you 30 days prior to when the next service is due, what it expects needs doing. You can go into the ASYST menu in the instrument cluster and check for yourself. If you post the code here, we'll tell you what's due.

 

[cjm68]

a. Do you have a printed copy of the Digital Service Book (DSB)? Did you get one from the seller when buying the car?

b. The car will tell you 30 days prior to when the next service is due, what it expects needs doing. You can go into the ASYST menu in the instrument cluster and check for yourself. If you post the code here, we'll tell you what's due.

Hi,

I bought the car from Mercedes Blackpool but wasn't given any hardcopy, no.

My Mercedes app displays the attached - can't find anything in the display about a service code, but it's not 30 days yet so I guess it may not be there yet - at the moment I am rather unfamiliar with the menus.

Thanks for your help....

 

[markjay]

I suggest that you walk into the dealership with a photo ID and your V5C, and ask for a printed copy of the DSB. This will provide you with a starting point, and also from that point on, you'll always know what's due next without having to rely blindly on dealers' quotes.