First time Mercedes owner - service due, help

[Vpac]

Purchased a 2014 Mercedes C-Class before covid lockdown. Got a message on the screen that 'Service B' is required which is the full service.

Can't call Mercedes anymore as all their phones are off. Can only book online.

I wanted to ask how can I check the service history as there is no paperwork and i'm told it's all on the MB database?

Also the quote I got online from MB garage is nearly triple what I can get from Halfords and they have said they will update the database but will use generic parts. There's an indy garage who said they will be able to use authetic MB parts (costs bit more than Halfords) but can't update the MB database.

Just wondering what the situation is with the Service history, how do I get around updating it if I get it done from an Indy garage? Also how can I check the service history myself?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Ring your local MB independent garage. They'll answer the phone, or call back reasonably quickly.
Explain the situation. They'll look it up for you on the database and give you a quote for the work required.
Labour charge will be less than half that of MB, and they'll be creative about fixing things rather than the generic "remove and replace" of MB.

Can't comment on who's good near Rochdale, but there'll be a recommendation along here within the hour. (See below)

 

[Vpac]

Thanks mate

There is a Dronsfield in Oldham that is a Mercedes specialist.

Just want to know about the Service History though - can I check this online myself for my own car? Or can I not just update it myself if I've got the service done from an Indy garage and got the paperwork/invoices etc? Sorry if I'm coming across like a noob!

 

[Teego]

For info, B service is not a full service. It is just an oil and filter A service with extended inspection. There may be other items due depending on where you are in the service cycle. E.g. air filter, brake fluid change, etc etc.
If Halfords have access to the MB database, can they download the service history for you?

 

[Vpac]

For info, B service is not a full service. It is just an oil and filter A service with extended inspection. There may be other items due depending on where you are in the service cycle. E.g. air filter, brake fluid change, etc etc.
If Halfords have access to the MB database, can they download the service history for you?

Thanks. Have you ever or anyone else bought a Service Plan with Mercedes? They are doing 20% off right now and I wouldn't mind buying say 3 services from them as the price isn't too bad up front cost is £1100 but I'd really like to talk to someone at Mercedes as I'm not sure if it will include all the extras they add on the service. For example the Service B at Mercedes Whitefield I'm getting the following quote on their website:

£298 Service B plus additional items:
£33 Replace dust filter
£98 Replace brake fluid
£79 Replace air filter
£130 Replace fuel filter
£385 Automatic transmission: carry out oil and filter change

Total then comes to about £1050!! So I don't know how their Service plan for 3 services is nearly the same price.... really confused.

The local Indy garage has quoted me £300 with generic parts or £480 with MB parts. Drosnfield Oldham has quoted me £600 which is better than MB but still pricey.

 

[Mr. B]

Take your V5 into your local MB dealership and ask them for a digital printout of the service history for starters.

 

[markjay]

a. This will tell you what your car is due:

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

Though keep in mind that the info in not specific for your car's VIN, so the information provided is generic and it assumes that the car has been maintained to the manufacturer's schedule so far (which unfortunately you can't verify at current).


b. With MB, there's a Service A which is engine oil and filter change plus a list of checks., and a service B which is the same as Service A, but with the cabin/pollen filter changed as well, and a longer list of checks.

All other service items (brake fluid, air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, ATF, etc) are done when due, and they are not linked specifically to a Service A or Service B. It is called 'Additional Items' and they are costed on top of whatever the garage charges for the Service A or Service B.

As an example, a quote might look like this: 'Service B £460, Brake Fluid Change £110, ATF change £420' etc.


c. You should really only take the car to an MB dealer, or to a reputable independent MB specialist. And avoid a generic garage (even if they do use original MB parts).

There are three reasons for that. The first is that a generic garage will likely only change the engine oil and filter, but not carry-out the relevant checks. The second is that a generic garage will not have access to the MB Digital Service Book, so won't know what has been done to the car already, and won't be able to update the MB Digital Service Book once the service has been carried-out. The third is that a dealer or a specialist will have the MB STAR Diagnostic Computer, which will allow them to query the car for any pending faults.

More specially regarding Halfords, ask them if (a) they follow the manufacturer's recommendation and carry-out the full list of checks as pre Service A or Service B, (b) if they have access to the MB Digital Service Book to know what has been done so far, what is due now, and then to update the MB Digital Service Book on completion, and (c) if the have MB STAR and will use it to scan your car as part of the service. The same questions apply to any non-MB-dealer garage you intend to use. All reputable specialists will answer Yes to all three.

d. In order to be able to see your car's service history online, you will need to do all of the following:

- Create a Mercedes me account here: Daimler - Mercedes me connect - landing page - welcome

- Register your car's VIN by adding it to your newely-created Mercedes me account. If the car was already registered with Mercedes me to a previous owner, and he/she did not remove the car from their Mercedes me profile, then you will need to call the Mercedes me helpline on 00 800 9 777 7777, or via this page General support request , to get this sorted.

- Get the next service carried our at an MB dealer, or by a specialist with access to the MB Digital Service Book. Once the service has been completed, the garage will issue you with a printer Digital Service Record, showing what has been done to the car, and more importantly it will have a code at the bottom of the page, called SeCCode, which you will need in order to be able to see the car's service history on the Mercedes me portal.


e. There are members on here with access to the MB Digital Service Book, one of them might see this and offer to email you a printout.

Alternatively, if you contact any MB dealer, or a specialist with access to the MB Digital Service book, and present the V5C, they will be able to provide you with the same printout free of charge.

 

[markjay]

Thanks. Have you ever or anyone else bought a Service Plan with Mercedes? They are doing 20% off right now and I wouldn't mind buying say 3 services from them as the price isn't too bad up front cost is £1100 but I'd really like to talk to someone at Mercedes as I'm not sure if it will include all the extras they add on the service. For example the Service B at Mercedes Whitefield I'm getting the following quote on their website:

£298 Service B plus additional items:
£33 Replace dust filter
£98 Replace brake fluid
£79 Replace air filter
£130 Replace fuel filter
£385 Automatic transmission: carry out oil and filter change

Total then comes to about £1050!! So I don't know how their Service plan for 3 services is nearly the same price.... really confused.

The local Indy garage has quoted me £300 with generic parts or £480 with MB parts. Drosnfield Oldham has quoted me £600 which is better than MB but still pricey.

MB Service Care Plan is about as cheap as you can get MB servicing for, unless you happen to know a friendly specialist with very very keen prices (some are, most aren't) .

 

[Vpac]

Mr. B, cheers. I will be visiting my nearest Mercedes showroom this weekend and take the V5C and get the history.

Markjay, wow thank you for that. Very detailed response! Can I just ask you bit more about what you said below:

b. With MB, there's a Service A which is engine oil and filter change plus a list of checks., and a service B which is the same as Service A, but with the cabin/pollen filter changed as well, and a longer list of checks.

All other service items (brake fluid, air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, ATF, etc) are done when due, and they are not linked specifically to a Service A or Service B. It is called 'Additional Items' and they are costed on top of whatever the garage charges for the Service A or Service B.

As an example, a quote might look like this: 'Service B £460, Brake Fluid Change £110, ATF change £420' etc.

So I've checked online for a one-off Service B on Mercedes website and this what they have quoted me it totals to £1023. The 'additional items' are optional and I can un-tick them if I want to:

£298 Service B plus additional items:
£33 Replace dust filter
£98 Replace brake fluid
£79 Replace air filter
£130 Replace fuel filter
£385 Automatic transmission: carry out oil and filter change

Obviously I want all of those doing.

They are also offering Service Plans if I want 2, 3 or 4 services and currently offering 20% discount if I pay it all upfront. Each service would cost £365 so if I go for 3 services its £1095. I just want to know whether this service plan includes all those 'additional items' because I'd be stupid not to pay for 3 services when they are offering the same thing as a one-off. Or does the service plan not include those additional items??

I have attached screenshots of both if that helps.

 

[Vulture]

The service care plan includes the additional items. Just checked last years service done under the service care plan and it was a B service + brake fluid change and I paid £0.00 on the day

My next service is going to be Service A + gearbox oil and filter and dust filter = £844.94
The service plan for 2 years with the discount comes to £729.60 so I'll be buying that soon

 

[Vpac]

The service care plan includes the additional items. Just checked last years service done under the service care plan and it was a B service + brake fluid change and I paid £0.00 on the day

My next service is going to be Service A + gearbox oil and filter and dust filter = £844.94
The service plan for 2 years with the discount comes to £729.60 so I'll be buying that soon

If it includes then I'll be going with Mercedes direct!

Also how often do you need to service Mercedes? Is it a certain number of miles or months?

 

[markjay]

The service care plan includes the additional items.

As above.

The service is due every 12 months, or 15,500 miles, whichever is sooner.

 

[ShaunB]

If it includes then I'll be going with Mercedes direct!

Also how often do you need to service Mercedes? Is it a certain number of miles or months?

Also the service at Mercedes with entitle you to break down cover for 12 months too should you need to avail of it.
I have the service plan for my own E63, costs me £49 per month

 

[Vpac]

Right, some bad news... spoke to Mercedes today about signing up to their Service Plan but was told I need to pay the £1023 for the first service as shown in the screenshot in my post #9.

This is because the car has not had a service logged on their database at all. The previous owner did it all from an independent and was never logged on their database so they will have to do all of this work to bring it up to standard AND then I can purchase a service plan.

What does this mean for me then? I'm not forking out a grand for a service when Halfords are quoting me £300 and said they will log it on the databse. The only thing Halfords don't do is the Automatic Transmission oil change which Mercedes are charging me £385. I've checked at another garage and they are quoting me £240.

So I'm just wondering if I get all of this done should I be able to buy a service plan?

 

[Deleted member 149005]

That doesn't sound right - owners have had their cars serviced at an indy and then returned to a MB service plan.

Unless there is confusion about the need to pay up front to qualify for the 20% discount?

I very much doubt Halfords can update MB's DSR system and MB won't record any work not done by them.

 

[Vpac]

That doesn't sound right - owners have had their cars serviced at an indy and then returned to a MB service plan.

Unless there is confusion about the need to pay up front to qualify for the 20% discount?

I very much doubt Halfords can update MB's DSR system and MB won't record any work not done by them.

I spoke to Halfords and they said the update MB's system as it's the same with Audi and BMW. But they log all the cars on the database once every other month otherwise it would cost them loads to do it each time individually.

And in terms of the MB service plan, I spoke to someone in MB Stockport this morning and tried to hash it out but he said thats what I would have to do. I do find it bit strange because the previous owner last serviced it in Feb 2019 at an Indy and gave me the invoice with all the paperwork but I guess they didn't log it on the Database. I bought in Feb this year and was going to get serviced but had to delay because of Covid-19

 

[markjay]

Right, some bad news... spoke to Mercedes today about signing up to their Service Plan but was told I need to pay the £1023 for the first service as shown in the screenshot in my post #9.

This is because the car has not had a service logged on their database at all. The previous owner did it all from an independent and was never logged on their database so they will have to do all of this work to bring it up to standard AND then I can purchase a service plan.

What does this mean for me then? I'm not forking out a grand for a service when Halfords are quoting me £300 and said they will log it on the databse. The only thing Halfords don't do is the Automatic Transmission oil change which Mercedes are charging me £385. I've checked at another garage and they are quoting me £240.

So I'm just wondering if I get all of this done should I be able to buy a service plan?

In this case, just forget dealer service, and keep the car serviced with an independent.

MB are correct, to qualify for the MB Service Care Plan the car's service history needs to be up-to-date (or brought up-to-date before commensing the service plan). So that's a non-starter for dealer service.

Just use a good indie from now on, and make sure they update the DBS online (a good indie will have access to the MB DBS).

BTW, after you get all this done at an indie, the MB Service Care Plan won't be good value for you anyway, because the next services won't include any major items.

And I suggest an indie over Halfords, simply because with an Indie you can build a relationship - the car may need other thing apart from scheduled servicing, e.g. brakes, thermostat, etc.

 

[Dave Richardson]

I'd go for the Indy & give Halfords a very wide berth. No question in it mate

 

[ProfGURJ1976]

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

enter your no.plate it tells you the service info correct oil etc

 

[grimupnorth]

I go into Hooley Bridge Mill, Bamford Road, Heywood quite a bit.
There is a garage there who seems to work on mostly Mercedes, some older, higher end cars.
Think they are called A&A Motors, don't know if anyone has used them?