Digital Service Report Mileage Discrepancy and Covid 19 Restrictions

[sjprime]

Well after spending an hour quietly as it was 7:30am trying access my cars through the icebergs that had enveloped them overnight and frozen every hinged component rigid (I now know I should have cleared the 2" of snow from the previous day off) I managed to prise the doors open.

My car was booked in for for its 5th service (A + ATF) at local main dealer. Unfortunately no courtesy car due to Covid and so I was dropping off and wife was following me and I was collecting later that evening. Despite stopping on route due to TPMS light coming on for two tyres low pressure I managed to make my time slot at a very sterile service desk and arranged to collect that evening, which I duly did, nothing to sign, paperwork presented.

Looking through the paperwork prior to filing away I have noticed that an incorrect mileage has been entered on the DSR paperwork amounting to an increase of 1500mls, more alarming is the fact that I have only done 700mls in the last year.
I have realised that due to the last years Covid problems I have only used my car to drive down to Cornwall in August for our holiday which nearly did not happen, it had not turned a wheel since the previous service in Dec 2019 or left the drive since our return. The sorry looking thing has been left on trickle charge, leaning against the fence gathering moss and algae. Looking at fuel records I put £10 in last Dec 2019 and filled up with £70 in August for our holiday, £80 for the full year!

I wont frighten myself with working out the true cost per mile covered taking into account Services/MOT/Insurance/RFL/Depreciation etc but assume it would have been cheaper to have a private chauffeur on standby until this Covid is under control.

But regarding the DSR situation is it possible to have the mileage discrepancy corrected? At my current usage I will not have reached the recorded total in two years time, assuming I still have my car.

 

[markjay]

Well after spending an hour quietly as it was 7:30am trying access my cars through the icebergs that had enveloped them overnight and frozen every hinged component rigid (I now know I should have cleared the 2" of snow from the previous day off) I managed to prise the doors open.

My car was booked in for for its 5th service (A + ATF) at local main dealer. Unfortunately no courtesy car due to Covid and so I was dropping off and wife was following me and I was collecting later that evening. Despite stopping on route due to TPMS light coming on for two tyres low pressure I managed to make my time slot at a very sterile service desk and arranged to collect that evening, which I duly did, nothing to sign, paperwork presented.

Looking through the paperwork prior to filing away I have noticed that an incorrect mileage has been entered on the DSR paperwork amounting to an increase of 1500mls, more alarming is the fact that I have only done 700mls in the last year.
I have realised that due to the last years Covid problems I have only used my car to drive down to Cornwall in August for our holiday which nearly did not happen, it had not turned a wheel since the previous service in Dec 2019 or left the drive since our return. The sorry looking thing has been left on trickle charge, leaning against the fence gathering moss and algae. Looking at fuel records I put £10 in last Dec 2019 and filled up with £70 in August for our holiday, £80 for the full year!

I wont frighten myself with working out the true cost per mile covered taking into account Services/MOT/Insurance/RFL/Depreciation etc but assume it would have been cheaper to have a private chauffeur on standby until this Covid is under control.

But regarding the DSR situation is it possible to have the mileage discrepancy corrected? At my current usage I will not have reached the recorded total in two years time, assuming I still have my car.

I had my car serviced at the dealer three weeks ago. All documentation was sent by email, and on arriving home and checking the DSR I realised that the dealer has entered incorrect information. I replied to their email explaining the issue, and had the mistake corrected within 10 minutes with an apology.

In my case the car was booked for a Service B, but the DSR showed that Service A was carried-out.

It seems that they have corrected this simply by deleting the erroneous service entry and created a new one instead.

The service history is now showing correctly on both the print-out provided by the dealer and on the Mercedes Me website.

So drop them an email... they should be able to fix it quite easily.

 

[sjprime]

I had my car serviced at the dealer three weeks ago. All documentation was sent by email, and on arriving home and checking the DSR I realised that the dealer has entered incorrect information. I replied to their email explaining the issue, and had the mistake corrected within 10 minutes with an apology.

In my case the car was booked for a Service B, but the DSR showed that Service A was carried-out.

It seems that they have corrected this simply by deleting the erroneous service entry and created a new one instead.

The service history is now showing correctly on both the print-out provided by the dealer and on the Mercedes Me website.

So drop them an email... they should be able to fix it quite easily.

I have just re-checked DSR paperwork after your post and it is the reverse of yours, it was booked in for "A + ATF" and it shows as "B" carried out, with all items ticked. ESS is for "A" service, surely there are additional items on each level so it makes me wonder on the integrity of the DSR if it is being uploaded with false incorrect details and can be altered to suit at a later date.
I have spoken to the service dept and they said service "A" was carried out and they will amend DSR service to "A" and correct the mileage, new paperwork to be issued.
I feel as though my car as just been clocked in front of me

Incidentally it was one of your previous replies to me that made me decide on taking out a 4 year service plan, it finishes at next service which is a Year 6 Biggie. I think in terms of the services it has covered it has been a cost saving against PAYG as it has taken in all of the big ones (years 3-6) but it also seems very wasteful when I have only covered <2500mls in 3+yrs.
eg change of pollen filter when car has only done two journeys of 300mls since last changed, if I was paying off service plan I would not think it could be justified to change it. Had I done more miles between services maybe I would think I had had my "monies worth" My previous BMW was Condition Based Servicing and cost next to nothing to service, infact I over serviced it as I like to change the oil and filter annually on these oil burners, it also had a proper service book which was a joy to thumb through the pages with all the dealership stamps, not a generic sheet of A4 paper.

 

[markjay]

I have just re-checked DSR paperwork after your post and it is the reverse of yours, it was booked in for "A + ATF" and it shows as "B" carried out, with all items ticked. ESS is for "A" service, surely there are additional items on each level so it makes me wonder on the integrity of the DSR if it is being uploaded with false incorrect details and can be altered to suit at a later date.
I have spoken to the service dept and they said service "A" was carried out and they will amend DSR service to "A" and correct the mileage, new paperwork to be issued.
I feel as though my car as just been clocked in front of me

Incidentally it was one of your previous replies to me that made me decide on taking out a 4 year service plan, it finishes at next service which is a Year 6 Biggie. I think in terms of the services it has covered it has been a cost saving against PAYG as it has taken in all of the big ones (years 3-6) but it also seems very wasteful when I have only covered <2500mls in 3+yrs.
eg change of pollen filter when car has only done two journeys of 300mls since last changed, if I was paying off service plan I would not think it could be justified to change it. Had I done more miles between services maybe I would think I had had my "monies worth" My previous BMW was Condition Based Servicing and cost next to nothing to service, infact I over serviced it as I like to change the oil and filter annually on these oil burners, it also had a proper service book which was a joy to thumb through the pages with all the dealership stamps, not a generic sheet of A4 paper.

A few points:

- The Service Care Plan is a simple transaction where you agree to purchase in advance an X number of services and pay in installments for them. However, the timing of the services is still of your own choosing, and you are not obliged by the plan to 'consume' the services exactly 12 months apart. If you feel that you would like to have the car serviced after (say) 18 months instead of 12 due to low mileage, then you can still do so regardless of whether you are paying for the services via the Service Care Plan of PAYG.

- The Service Care Plan is a great option if you prefer dealer servicing. Some people will prefer an independent garage, and I can't argue with that. There's a lot to be said for having a walk under your car with a trusted specialist, compared to the Chinese whispers system of communication via the 'Service Advisor' with the tech working on your car at the dealer.

- Whether you opt for a specialist or a dealer, in either case the key is to have access to a good one. The Service Care Plan is useless is all the dealers in your area have poor reputation.

- In my case, the dealer was MB's flag dealership in the UK. This was the forth service I had with them, and in all previous occasions they were very good and I would even say exceeded my expectations. This last visit, in early December, was the first time that things didn't go as well. There were quite a few other issues relating to miscommunication and confusion on their part, with the repeated excuse that they were short-staffed 'due to Covid'. This was particularly disappointing since they are not local to me, and I had to travel an hour in each direction, which was well worth it in the past 3 occasions, but not so much this time.

 

[sjprime]

I agree.
My car was purchased at 11 mths old and serviced at 3000mls prior to collection, which as it was Jan registered also put a 1st service in its registered year, not a problem as Xmas is probably best for me due to work commitments, and it got to be serviced and MOT before warranty expired. The negative being that now I get the coundown/service overdue nag screens and Commands offer to contact service throughout Dec. Just pushing the service back to Jan would in my OCD eyes make it look to me as though it had skipped a service ie DSR showing last serviced 2019 then 2021 on its birthday, I have only just come to terms with the -10 days Time Remaining
Although age and depreciation will become the main value killer in my situation, I would like to assume that the minimal mileage, unmarked condition and Full MB Service History may although not significantly increase its value, will make it easier to sell over others when the time comes.
For me, if I were in the market to purchase a car I would want it to have been Main Dealer serviced and on schedule. The majority of cars I have purchased have been nearly new and kept for far too long. If only I could have serviced when the mileage limit had been reached I would never have had any serviced (now that's a thought)

 

[Jobsworth]

It’s very easy to go back and correct entries on the DSB, but only the dealer/garage that created the record can alter it. On my system anyway.

 

[grumpytosser]

Southampton said they updated my miss recorded service mileage but they haven't

 

[sjprime]

Well the mileage was updated/corrected but showing the wrong service B instead of A.
DSR record of A,B,A,B,B does nothing to help my OCD moments.

 

[Jobsworth]

Well the mileage was updated/corrected but showing the wrong service B instead of A.
DSR record of A,B,A,B,B does nothing to help my OCD moments.

A ‘B’ is a more comprehensive service than an ‘A’, so the discrepancy is at least a positive one.

 

[sjprime]

A ‘B’ is a more comprehensive service than an ‘A’, so the discrepancy is at least a positive one.

It is, but my next and final one on service plan is Year 6 - Service B, brake fluid, fuel filter, air filter, pano roof. so not a cheap one to finish on.
Dealership confirmed only an A had been carried out despite the paperwork, but I would not want them to try and fob me off next time saying only an A is due.

 

[markjay]

Keep the pressure on... they can and they should change the service record.