Dealer or not to dealer?

[CLS47]

Hiya guys,

I just bought a 06 CLS and i can honestly say i love it ! However, when i bought it the service book was blank bar the initial, the seller told me the servicing was up to date and that the book just needed stamping. I contacted Merc and sure enough Merc Glasgow agreed to stamp it.

Thats when i noticed the service books last stamp (B service 46500) and the onboard computer differed. The computer says a Type C is needed in 10054 miles. The CLS is now on 61000 miles a large gap i thught?.... I assume that a service was carried out elsewhere and i can't find out where Mercedes say they need to carry out a full service to bring me back in line (£1000 reduced to £600).

Long story short, warrenty has run out, should i get extended warrenty and maintain the mercedes servicing or find a specialist local and go with that in the future? Whats your expeirence/advice.

Cheers in advance for any help

Mick

 

[kwakdonut]

Find yourself a good Indy

 

[buccal]

Can you contact the previous owner to try and fill in the gap? Would be nice resale wise to keep the merc history if you could fill in the space, otherwise indy

 

[bpsorrel]

My S211 has just come out of warranty and I certainly won't be topping up MB dealer's bank balances from now on! My plan is to use a good indie and put around £1K a year aside for the possible fault here and there. If I have no faults after a couple of years, there's a couple of grand towards the next car!

 

[BlackC55]

Us independents tend to take more care than the dealers as its OUR business.

 

[st4]

Hiya guys,

I just bought a 06 CLS and i can honestly say i love it ! However, when i bought it the service book was blank bar the initial, the seller told me the servicing was up to date and that the book just needed stamping. I contacted Merc and sure enough Merc Glasgow agreed to stamp it.

Thats when i noticed the service books last stamp (B service 46500) and the onboard computer differed. The computer says a Type C is needed in 10054 miles. The CLS is now on 61000 miles a large gap i thught?.... I assume that a service was carried out elsewhere and i can't find out where Mercedes say they need to carry out a full service to bring me back in line (£1000 reduced to £600).

Long story short, warrenty has run out, should i get extended warrenty and maintain the mercedes servicing or find a specialist local and go with that in the future? Whats your expeirence/advice.

Cheers in advance for any help

Mick

Get the booked stamped up for sure. If MB are going to service the car and have knocked the bill down by £400 its still a pricey service so there must be additonal work being done. Try and get them to pay more and have it serviced by them this time (as MB won't cover any indie costs and if they are footing the bill to this extent, the dealer will be the cheaper option) and thereafter go down the indie/specialist route.

 

[kwakdonut]

It is a C Service=3 hours minimum probably equates to £300-£400 of the bill!

 

[CLS47]

Well I got the book stamped up so thats sorted but trying to find out the previous owner is like asking Jordan to keep her clothes on The Data Protection act stops Mercedes from telling me the last owner ( a Lease company)

The vehicle docs should be back soon so will try get them that way Thank you for the advice on this matter guys. Do the specialists carry out all the bits and bobs on the car like Mercedes would?

 

[w124coupe]

There will have been a service (by someone able to do an Assyst reset) at about 58,000 miles based on your info.

Where did you buy the car from? If a dealer then the car must be "as described" - they described the servicing as up to date so they MUST provide evidence - no invoice and no stamp is just not good enough. Recourse is easy via Trading Standards if they don't.

Go back to the seller and reject the car if they can't substantiate the full service as this was part of the "offer" you accepted - or THEY get it serviced again at their cost.

A private sale has the same requirement (i.e. to be "as described") BUT your recourse there is more messy - you have to sue them for your loss (the cost of the missing service) if they will not play ball. Small claims will cover it and you WILL win if you have an advert describing full service history.

Absolutely no way should YOU be looking to pay out £600 (or the idie equiv) and allow someone to break the law.

My view on Merc or Indie when (just) out of warranty is this:

Merc gives Mobilo so you should budget for the same type of breakdown/recovery/Homestart or decide you don't want it.

Merc gives a higher chance of "goodwill" repairs if something expensive fails in year4. A dealer getting your service revenue will push MBUK harder.


You need to weigh up the savings - which will depend on your mileage - and then decide.

Edit: last owner will be on the V5....

 

[kwakdonut]

Do the specialists carry out all the bits and bobs on the car like Mercedes would?

They should have STAR and also use genuine MB parts. Make sure you check first though!