Good...ish service from a main dealer

[SG CL500]

Well, having sung the praises of my local dealer & their charges recently it nearly came back to haunt me this weekend.

For the first time since my service (in later September ) I had to lift the bonnet to refill the windscreen washer fluid (Mr Walker - strike me down with a bolt of lightening, I know, I know but I've hardly used it since) only to find that my oil filler cap had been left off (or loose - anyway it wasn't there) and oil sprayed onto the engine bay - remarkably little oil though, presumably as it has a baffle in there.

Phoned my local merc dealer (avoiding name & shame here) to discuss the issue and had it booked in to check over today. All OK up to the point when they phoned to say it was ready and they tried to charge me! We had a short but polite discussion with the young lady when i put across my point of view that I had no intention of paying for their incompetence and after a couple of hours of checking with the manger they confirmed no charge and delivered the car back to me.

At this point I was thinking of typing 'Result' - but actually all they're doing is righting something they did wrong in the first place anyway and I have been inconvenienced by having to drop the car off and stay in Cambs for the day - really needed to go to London. but hey - anybody can make a mistake and they did rectify it I guess.

(not posted in the "specialist across the uk" section as its a main dealer and i'm not exactly recommending them but feel free to move if you think appropriate)

 

[grober]

look on the bright side.

Cheer up it could have been the wheel bolts.

 

[Dieselman]

And it will have rustproofed the bonnet and engine bay.

 

[Ian B Walker]

For the first time since my service (in later September ) I had to lift the bonnet to refill the windscreen washer fluid (Mr Walker - strike me down with a bolt of lightening, I know, I know but I've hardly used it since) only to find that my oil filler cap had been left off

Tut tut and on a CL500 too. Yes there are baffles inside the rocker covers. Nice touch I think. Just make sure all the exposed harness's are cleaned off.

 

[Flash]

Well, having sung the praises of my local dealer & their charges recently it nearly came back to haunt me this weekend.

- Next time always lift the bonnet after a service/visit to Stealer and give the car a thorough inspection before/after and the areas that they worked on the vehilce (if able to view). At least it has been sorted now BUT the cheek of them wanting to charge you!

Did they valet your car as well and clean the oil in the engine bay?

 

[SG CL500]

They did a good job of cleaning the engine bay - most of the oil was on the inside of the bonnet - there was surprisingly little in the engine bay itself (but thanks for the pointer Ian). I don't let them clean the rest of the car - it usually come back worse.

Even I would have noticed the wheel bolts!

 

[BarryS]

I've just had mine in for warranty replacement to the parking sensors - only after having the car all day they realised that they didn't have the sensors in stock. I get the feeling that they don't bother to ensure they have the "likely" parts for a job. They just get the car in and if it's not in stock, get you to bring the car in again.

The only consolation is that they are keeping the car for a couple of days (I don't need it) and delivering it back to me. Sadly, like the first post, this pathetic service is considered some sort of result as it could have been worse!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

They just get the car in and if it's not in stock, get you to bring the car in again.

One of the things I've found with several MB dealers is that it takes several visits to diagnose, after which the parts are ordered, and then a further visit to repair/replace. Why is it that the Vauxhall dealer used to do it all on the same day - and it would be right first time?

I admit our MBs are more complex than our Vauxhall's were, but when a car comes in for a common fault, like a squeeking front anti-roll bar, there's a fairly good chance of needing the updated design of bush - but no it has to be ordered in. If a car is coming in for a dead headrest motor, there's a fairly good chance a new headrest motor will be required!!

The conspiracy theorist wonders if it generates additional income via courtesy car use for warranty work - is it £50 per day they can claim? One wonders...

 

[IanA2]

Phoned my local merc dealer (avoiding name & shame here)

If they are the same as the P'borough outfit then I am not surprised. I have found them to be the rudest and most unhelpful dealer I have ever come accross. Even though I bought it from them, I make a point of taking the M class to Northampton for services. Part of the Syntner group, much better, used them in MK as well. I think they own Bedford too.