How much!!!

[Rory]

You must be mad to pay what the dealers ask just to say 'I took it to dealers' or for the stamp.

I use the local franchised dealer mainly because the car only needs servicing every couple of years and I rely on the Mobilo coverage (I don't use the car much but do long journeys in it), so I'd have to cost in annual breakdown and recovery. They do the MOT cheap and guarantee (within some limits) that it will pass its next one.

Also, until my current inter-action with the dealership, they've been amenable to negotiate pricing. They now have a new service manager and he seems much less interested in retaining the dealerships relationship with me.

The other thing is that, until recently, there wasn't a recognised decent indie within easy reach. Even now, the dealer is still nearer than any of them.

 

[markjay]

As above.

Some dealers are not much more expensive than indies, will negotiate, will discount older cars etc, and as said it can be a small difference especially considering that a service is only needed once a year (or two, depending on model).

The advantages of dealer service are as said Mobilo and the rust guarantee where applicable.

Also, the rationale behind having a dealer-stamped book is that a potential buyer will look at it and say 'this car was maintained without trying to save on servicing', leading to the (admittedly somewhat unfounded) conclusion that the car was well looked after in all respects.

But - my car had its three first services done at MB dealers, and I gave up on dealer servicing after having a very bad experience in 2009 with one of London's largest MB dealerships (owned by MB UK, incidentally)... So Olly PCS have been looking after my car for the past four years and I am very happy.

So for me it's not about cost. I fully support the notion of MB dealer service, if you manage to find one that will do a proper job. I didn't....

 

[Tinytots]

Why is brake fluid important?

Heat generated under braking, especially under heavier breaking or prolonged breaking, may affect the brake fluid which can only work if it is liquid and not so hot that it has become vapour. Therefore the boiling point your brake fluid achieves is critical to efficient braking as temperatures above the boiling point form vapour bubbles in the system, potentially resulting in brake failure.

Like I said driving like Jenson or thrashing round Silverstone for hours on end

Have you noticed it is firms who supply this service say it requires regular changing

We have the most modern and refined fluids known to date, but they say it needs changed every couple of years

This is a real easy money maker in my view

Changing brake fluid isn't rocket science, why do they charge so much for doing it

 

[markjay]

Brake fluid is quite cheap, around a fiver iirc.

Garages charge for their mechsnics' time, the cost is almost entirely due to labour charges, not materials.

It's not rocket science, but it's somewhat time consuming and fiddly, even with a suction pump.