Freshly changed oil this dirty ??

[Captain Smerc]

Just had a look at my smart & C63 , both serviced Jan this year , oil still looks clean and golden' ish .

 

[steelnads]

I want a clean bowl filled with mineral water for 450 notes !

 

[toffee-pie]

450 quids for oil change, erm.......

 

[steelnads]

Haha.. Well I exaggerated a little. I had a B1 service, most of which is bul#x%t. The only bit I was interested in was the oil and filter change and the stamp in the book.

 

[BIRMA]

Haha.. Well I exaggerated a little. I had a B1 service, most of which is bul#x%t. The only bit I was interested in was the oil and filter change and the stamp in the book.

That's really all it is an oil change for the money from what I could see when they did my SL.

 

[markjay]

Not sure why the cost of a B service seemes extortionate to some.

There is a long check list for the B service. This takes time to carry out, and the garage rightly charge for it.

You can opt not to have all these checks done, and get the oil changed at Kwik-Fit instead, or DIY.

You can also carry-out most of these checks DIY, if you are mechanically minded and have access to ramp or lift, and have the time on your hands.

The reason buyers will pay more for a car with FSH is that having FSH is suppose to mean that the car was thoroughly serviced and checked throughout it's life.

So it's an free market.... service your car whichever way you like. But if you want it checked properly so that you can maximise its sell-on value, then you should be prepared to pay for the time of the garage who carries this out....

 

[markjay]

Of course, if a garage charges for a B service but does not carry-out the checks you paid them to do... that's a different matter.

What I do like about the Kia dealer I am using for my other car is that you get a printed paper document with a long checklist of items ticked one by one, and where applicable also comments relating to the condition of the items inspected.

Perhaps if every garage did that it would help inspire confidence.

 

[Mrhanky]

Of course, if a garage charges for a B service but does not carry-out the checks you paid them to do... that's a different matter.

What I do like about the Kia dealer I am using for my other car is that you get a printed paper document with a long checklist of items ticked one by one, and where applicable also comments relating to the condition of the items inspected.

Perhaps if every garage did that it would help inspire confidence.

That sounds like a great idea and gives confidence, especially with comments added.

 

[grober]

I suspect most people maintain an MB service record in the first 3 years of ownership to fulfil the terms of their warranty.

 

[StuartK]

I suspect most people maintain an MB service record in the first 3 years of ownership to fulfil the terms of their warranty.

As long as it's been serviced using genuine parts your warranty is ok.

The more worrying part is when you take Mercedes finance PCP which most do on new cars there are penalties for not having it serviced at MB.

 

[KeithJG]

My engine oil is the same colour as in the OP`s pic. but mine is a diesel and driven hard.

So what is being said really goes against what owners want to look for when buying a Merc. ........Service History.....it seems as though it means nothing to how the car has been looked after. So therefore the extra expense of Main Dealer Servicing does not equate with the buying price when 2nd hand?

I just cannot understand being charged for filling up the washer bottle....when you can do that yourself...

 

[whitenemesis]

.....................

I just cannot understand being charged for filling up the washer bottle....when you can do that yourself...

My dealership always charges for washer top-up. Then leaves the bottle in the boot with any remaining concentrate

 

[markjay]

It makes no difference if the B service is carried-out by a dealer or a specialist, as long as they go through all the checks listed in the B service schedule.

As for finance companies... it is not just a simple case of drumming-up business for MB dealers. Rightly or wrongly, the fact is that buyers will pay more for cars with main dealer history, and this is reflected in the residuals. In this case the finance T&C merely reflect the market.

 

[markjay]

My dealership always charges for washer top-up. Then leaves the bottle in the boot with any remaining concentrate

Well this is one (good) way of dealing with this...

When I used to own a Vauxhall, their official position was that the scheduled service includes the labour cost for checking the screen wash level, and the act of topping-up if need be.... but the screen wash fluid was provided free of charge. In this way they resolved the issue of customers complaining that the screen wash bottle was already full... because the charge was for checking, not for the fluid itself.

But realistically.... yes we can check the screen wash lever, wipers, lights, seat belts, even brake pads, etc etc ourselves... but the garage has no way of knowing which customers are able and willing to do this. What would we say if a car left the dealer's premises following a service with an empty screen wash bottle...?

 

[Robdata]

Oil change

Just had a look at mine and it looks the same after service. The worse of it it stood for a week but the level is on minimum?

 

[Neil5489]

A car with main dealer history always looks good at sale time but you pay a premium to up keep it. My experience of main dealers hasn't always been great