Hi is this a Rip or what

[glojo]

go the whole hog and fit them as well?

just pop into MB and ask them to "stamp here"

There are any number of folks that sipply their own oil and that makes a huge saving, I cannot see anything wrong at all with supplying the plugs PROVIDING they are the correct item

 

[buccal]

My B service was £360 on saturday. Plugs had been done previously.

My local specialist quoted £320 so went with MB.

 

[Phil Thomas]

Hi have just phoned Whiefield Mercedes Benz for a B Service , and im having a stiff Whisky now quoted me ,,sit down,are you Ready
B Service £325.00 , then £280 for Spark Plugs and £170 for 3 filters thats £775.00 +vat.........

i can buy top of the Range NGK Iridum park plugs x 4 for £60.00 , so im affraid my mercedes if not have mercedes benz stamp it will be having a stamp off my mechanic who as been going for 40yrs and in is passed work for Bmw for 10yrs in service and left to start is own bussiness.

£280 for 4 plugs is this for Real are they gold plated...........

Paul at Whitefrield Mercede Benz

I believe that they use menu pricing that should cover the basics like filters (for time charged that is). Challenge them!! Try getting MB Direct in Central Manchester to give a quote.

Manufacturers cannot now insist that using someone else for servicing invalidates the warranty.

I have the basic servicing done by MB and do other things myself or at someone else cheaper. I have had goodwill work done nonetheless.

 

[Spinal]

If I remember well, my dealer's standard charge is £195 per hour for labour - that certainly explains the figures you were quoted...

You also get your MobiloLife warranty renewed by servicing at the dealer...

M.

 

[kwakdonut]

If I remember well, my dealer's standard charge is £195 per hour for labour - that certainly explains the figures you were quoted...

You also get your MobiloLife warranty renewed by servicing at the dealer...

M.

 

[wemorgan]

If I remember well, my dealer's standard charge is £195 per hour for labour - that certainly explains the figures you were quoted...

I will never cease being amazed by the labour rates of main dealer mechanics. I thought they were nearer £100/hour, which even that is too high.

I work in an engineering consultancy which has significant IT overheads and senior engineers with PhD's are charged out at £80/hour I believe.

 

[glojo]

Manufacturers cannot now insist that using someone else for servicing invalidates the warranty.

What you are saying is perfectly correct

No one can force anyone to have a car serviced anywhere.

No one can force me to use Shell petrol or any other brand, BUT

If you want to maintain the mobilio warranty then Mercedes-Benz can and do insist that you comply with their terms and conditions of this extra warranty.

Please do not get confused or perhaps cause confusion.

Mobilio is different from the European warranty that comes with the car

 

[Phil Thomas]

The Blackburn dealership charges £109 plus VAT, and charges 10% less - £98 - for cars over 3 years old.

 

[glojo]

I am not a car dealer or an accountant but there are several dealership here in the South-West that have recently gone into receivership.

It would be easy to suggest that if they lowered their prices then they would not go skint, but my guess is they had already thought of that?

I dread to think of the overheads that are incurred just to open the doors of these large complexes??

Who mentioned Veterinary Surgeons and their costs?

 

[johnsco]

Hi have just phoned Whiefield Mercedes Benz for a B Service , and im having a stiff Whisky now quoted me ,,sit down,are you Ready
B Service £325.00 , then £280 for Spark Plugs and £170 for 3 filters thats £775.00 +vat.........

I've obviously spent all my life in the wrong job.
Every day I am more amazed by the rip-offs I read about.

 

[crockers]

I am not a car dealer or an accountant but there are several dealership here in the South-West that have recently gone into receivership.

It would be easy to suggest that if they lowered their prices then they would not go skint, but my guess is they had already thought of that?

I dread to think of the overheads that are incurred just to open the doors of these large complexes??

Who mentioned Veterinary Surgeons and their costs?

Why would you use a Vet to service your car??? ................

 

[wemorgan]

Why would you use a Vet to service your car??? ................

for carstration?

 

[verytalldave]

My neighbour used one to service his Reliant Kitten................

 

[Dryce]

It would be easy to suggest that if they lowered their prices then they would not go skint, but my guess is they had already thought of that?

Depends on their overheads. There's a trap that you fall in when business drops sharply. Cutting your prices may destroy your margins by a greater extent than the business gained.

I assume that MB dealers get a high proportion of in-warranty cars for basic servicing. High margin because customer is either prepared (or feels obliged) to pay for FMBSH over the warranty period.

If new sales drop across the board they lose that bread and butter work. If you discount you do it because you are competing with other dealers for a shrunken pool of customers. You only gain if you take work from other dealers.

And once customers give up maintaining a FMBSH then the dealers have probably lost them for good.

The loss of Service+ probably hasn't helped either.

 

[Rory]

The loss of Service+ probably hasn't helped either.

I think that's an incredibly stupid move by MB UK and the replacement basic service scheme is absurdly expensive both compared to what servicing would cost if you PAYG and to the same scheme from BMW. I've no idea what MB are thinking of.

I've seen several accounts that suggest MB dealer workshops are *really* struggling - I know my local one doesn't have a service manager anymore and last time I rang up for a service appointment they could have done it the next day!

 

[wxmclk]

I've seen several accounts that suggest MB dealer workshops are *really* struggling - I know my local one doesn't have a service manager anymore and last time I rang up for a service appointment they could have done it the next day!

I tend to agree.My local MB "stealer" can usually book me in for next day or days at worst. I also detect on my latest visits a definite change in attitude by service staff (not as keen to help, less interested, perhaps even slightly "off"). I am of the opinion that my MB main dealer is on the slide.

 

[Rory]

I am of the opinion that my MB main dealer is on the slide.

Looking at your location we might be talking about the same place!

 

[glojo]

Depends on their overheads. There's a trap that you fall in when business drops sharply. Cutting your prices may destroy your margins by a greater extent than the business gained.

I assume that MB dealers get a high proportion of in-warranty cars for basic servicing. High margin because customer is either prepared (or feels obliged) to pay for FMBSH over the warranty period.

If new sales drop across the board they lose that bread and butter work. If you discount you do it because you are competing with other dealers for a shrunken pool of customers. You only gain if you take work from other dealers.

And once customers give up maintaining a FMBSH then the dealers have probably lost them for good.

The loss of Service+ probably hasn't helped either.

Smug grin on face regarding Service plus

The local Bentley Dealership was there one day and gone the next...

Quite literally

It closwed for the evening and overnight all types of lorries arrived and striipped the place.

Next morning it was an empty shell. No stock, no equipment, nothing.

It might have been the local ***** (PC brigade please add whoever you wish) but the bottom line was it went bust.

Our local Commercial Mercedes-Benz Dealership went into liquadation but after about four weeks it has re-opened under a different name. I fear times are indeed hard and the hourly rate is what it is.

 

[prprandall51]

Why would you use a Vet to service your car??? ................

Because all cars are now fitted with cats in the exhaust system.

 

[wxmclk]

Looking at your location we might be talking about the same place!

Mmm. I think so too. By all means feel free to PM me if you want to discuss this offline Rory.